Chapter 46
Author’s POV
Liam was stunned to see Aria at The Celestial. He’d been avoiding any place they might run into each other, but fate seemed determined to throw them together.
“Aria!” he called out instinctively, her name slipping from his lips before he could stop himself.
But his voice fell on deaf ears as Aiden had already ushered her into the restaurant, the door closing firmly behind them.
Liam’s expression darkened as he turned to his companion-Madison Reynolds, daughter of the Reynolds family, whose business dealings with the Whites went
back years.
“Miss Reynolds, perhaps we should reschedule for another evening?” he suggested, suddenly finding the idea of dinner unbearable.
But Madison wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away. She had been trying to secure a private dinner with Liam White for months. Now that she finally had him here, she wouldn’t let his ex-fiancée ruin it.
“Mr. White,” she said, her voice laced with a carefully crafted softness, “we’re already here. Surely one dinner isn’t too much to handle?” She paused, her eyes gleaming with quiet challenge.
“Besides, your former fiancée seems quite comfortable with her new husband. Or… is that what’s making you uncomfortable p>
Her words hit their mark. Liam stiffened slightly, pride pricked by the insinuation that he couldn’t stomach seeing Aria with another man.
“You’re right,” he said, adjusting his tie with forced composure. “There’s no reason to change our plans p>
Madison smiled, victorious. As the Reynolds heiress, she’d long been positioning herself as a suitable match for Liam White.
The scandal with Sophia had opened a door-and she intended to walk right through it.
As they entered the restaurant, Liam’s eyes immediately sought out Aria, who was being seated at a table by the window with the best view of the city lights.
He instinctively moved toward her, but froze mid-step when he saw Aiden’s hand gently brush against her lips.
The man’s touch was tender, and Aria’s shy, blushing response painted a picture of intimate affection that twisted like a knife in Liam’s chest.
He desperately wanted to go over and pull Aria away, but he knew he couldn’t. The painful reality was that Aria wouldn’t even look at him anymore.
The thought filled his throat with bitterness.
Beside him, Madison noticed how Liam had been staring at Aria since they arrived, his expression growing increasingly dark. When he seemed about to walk toward Aria’s table, she finally intervened.
“Mr. White, our table is this way,” she reminded him firmly.
Only then did Liam tear his gaze away, following Madison to their table on the opposite side of the restaurant.
Their table was about seven or eight meters away from Aria’s, but from the moment he sat down, Liam’s eyes barely left her.
Madison felt like a prop in someone else’s drama. Her frustration peaked, causing her to set down her silverware with unnecessary force. The noise finally drew Liam’s attention.
“Liam,” she said sharply.
When he didn’t respond, she tried again, louder. “Liam, could you show me at least some respect p>
“I apologize,” Liam finally said, forcing his eyes away from Aria to focus on Madison. “I think you should understand that I’m only here tonight out of courtesy and respect for you p>
He had never particularly liked Madison, and had only agreed to this dinner because Elizabeth White had practically threatened him into it. Had he known he would encounter Aria here, he would have refused regardless of the consequences.
“Is it because of Aria?” Madison asked, her face paling.
His lack of denial was confirmation enough.
After all these years, whenever Aria was around, Madison remained invisible to Liam. What was so special about Aria anyway?
If she truly loved him as much as everyone claimed, how could she marry Aiden Carter barely six weeks after their breakup?
Madison found Liam’s blindness laughable. “You really think Aria broke up with you because of Sophia? Don’t be naive, Liam. Even as an outsider, I could see nothing happened between you and Sophia.
Wouldn’t Aria, who supposedly knew you so well, see the same? After twelve years together, she married Aiden Carter within weeks. You think that was just because of what happened with Sophia p>
“Wake up,” she continued, twisting the knife. “She clearly wanted to marry into a powerful family! When she found someone from an even more prestigious background than yours, she jumped at the chance p>
Liam’s face turned cold. “She’s not that kind of person p>
“Then explain why she married Aiden Carter after knowing him for barely six weeks? Did they even know each other before? No! How could six weeks outweigh twelve years of history p>
“Who are you to talk about her?” Liam snapped, fury rising as he abruptly stood from the table.
Before leaving, he glanced over at Aria and Aiden’s table one last time.
The couple was engaged in conversation, Aria’s ears turning pink with whatever Aiden was saying. That blush cut through Liam like a physical pain.
He clenched his fists at his sides as Madison’s words echoed in his mind. Despite his doubts, rationality prevailed. Gritting his teeth, he turned and walked away.
She wasn’t that kind of person. She couldn’t be.
Watching Liam pause to stare at Aria for several long seconds before leaving, Madison nearly choked on her rage.
A waiter approached with their appetizers, and Madison finally redirected her attention, picking up her fork and knife. She decided to stay and finish the meal—no point wasting a visit to one of the city’s finest French restaurants.
Besides, she was certain her words had planted seeds of doubt in Liam’s mind.
She could be patient. With Sophia out of the picture and Aria married to Aiden Carter, it was only a matter of time before she, Madison Reynolds, would become Mrs. Liam White.