Chapter 97
Aria’s POV
I paused when I saw only Claire in the room.
Huh? Where’s Aiden’s nosy aunt?
I wondered if she’d gone to the bathroom after eating too much or something.
Claire rose from the sofa, eyes fixed on Aiden. “Aiden, I wanted to p>
She didn’t even get to finish before Aiden coldly cut her off.
“We have nothing to discuss, Miss Bennett. I don’t want my wife getting the wrong impression p>
His eyes flicked toward the door. The dismissal couldn’t have been clearer.
I kept my mouth shut, knowing my place in this bizarre scenario. Without Eleanor here, my role as plastic wife didn’t require me to speak up.
Surprisingly, Claire didn’t seem bothered by Aiden’s hostility. Instead, she smiled. “You misunderstand, Aiden p>
I watched that smile spread across her face, secretly impressed by her resilience.
Damn, she had nerves of steel! If it were me, I’d already be halfway out the door by
now.
Claire paused dramatically before turning to me. “I actually came to see Mrs. Carter today p>
Me? What the hell?
This was a tactic I hadn’t seen before.
Aiden’s expression grew even colder. “Why do you need to see my wife p>
Claire remained unfazed. She reached into her designer bag and pulled out a gift box, placing it on the coffee table. “Last night, Mrs. Carter saved my life. I’m here to thank her properly p>
“Mrs. Carter, this is just a small token of my appreciation. If not for you last night, I wouldn’t be standing here today p>
Throughout her little speech, Claire maintained that perfect smile, her eyes fixed on me with what appeared to be genuine gratitude.
I instinctively glanced at Aiden, my eyes wide with confusion.
He looked down at me briefly before responding for me: “Miss Bennett, perhaps just be more careful next time p>
Claire’s smile never faltered. “You’re right, Mr. Carter. Without your wife’s intervention last night, the consequences would have been unthinkable p>
She turned her attention back to me, eyes sparkling with hope. “Mrs. Carter, would you like to see if you like the gift p>
The way she looked at me—with that eager, almost pleading expression-made it impossible for me to refuse.
“I’ll take a look?” I said, framing it as a question while glancing at Aiden.
He didn’t object, which I took as permission.
Claire happily handed me the box. I untied the ribbon and opened it, only to find another smaller box inside.
What was this, Russian nesting dolls?
Was Claire setting me up somehow?
I hesitated, looking up at her. She still had that expectant look on her face.
Well, Aiden was right here. Even if Claire had bad intentions, she wouldn’t try anything with him standing right beside me.
With that reassurance, I opened the smaller box and found… a piece of paper.
No, not just any paper-a purchase receipt.
For a Steinway Model S baby grand piano.
While I was still processing this, Claire excitedly explained, “Do you like it? I spent
all night choosing it! The piano will be delivered in a few days p>
I checked the timestamp on the receipt 3:24 AM. She really had spent the entire night picking this out for me.
Maybe I’d misjudged her intentions.
But still, the piano p>
“I do like it, but… there’s already a piano upstairs,” I said awkwardly.
“Oh!” Claire’s face fell momentarily, but she quickly recovered. “That doesn’t matter. The one upstairs is from Aiden. This one is from me. The meaning is different p>
She wasn’t wrong about that.
As Claire continued persuading me to accept the piano, I found myself genuinely tempted. I had saved her last night, regardless of whatever game she might be playing.
Everyone in our social circle knew Claire couldn’t swim-Lillian had told me that yesterday-so I genuinely had rescued her.
This gift didn’t feel tainted at all.
Besides, Aiden and I are together now – but let’s be real, anything could happen.
If we broke up, that gorgeous piano upstairs? Definitely not mine.
“Your gift―” I began, but before I could finish, the receipt was snatched from my hands.
I watched in disbelief as Aiden smoothly returned the receipt to its box, closed everything up, and handed it back to Claire. “Get something else. She has no need for this p>
Claire completely ignored him, staring straight at me instead. “Don’t you like the piano p>
I felt suddenly trapped, like a cookie being squeezed from both sides.
Biting my lip, I chose my words
carefully. It’s not that I don’t like it. It just seems wasteful. I can’t use two pianes by myself Having one beautiful piano already makes me feet fortunate enough p>
“Miss Bennett, last night was nothing special. I just did what anyone would do. You
already thanked me publicly, which was more than enough p>
“It wasn’t enough!” Claire insisted, oddly determined about this gift situation. “Fine, if
not the piano, I’ll get you something else. What do you like, Mrs. Carter p>
What did I like?
Money, obviously. I liked money.
But I could hardly say that out loud, could I?
As I was mentally searching for something appropriate to say, Aiden’s cool voice cut
through my thoughts: “She likes money p>
Claire looked d startled for a moment
before her face lit up. She
immediately pulled out her checkbook, wrote out a check for five hundred thousand dollars, and handed it to me. “Money is
wonderful! Mrs. Carter has excellent taste p>
I stared at the check, completely bewildered about how we’d ended up here.
When I hesitated to take it, Claire misunderstood. “Is it not enough p>
And then Aiden had to make things worse: “Do you think my wife needs a mere five hundred thousand p>
Claire nodded earnestly. “You’re absolutely right. How about ten million? No, no, that’s still too little. Thirty million? I’m sorry my spending allowance is a bit limited this year p>
She actually sounded embarrassed about only being able to offer thirty million dollars.
She wrote out a new check and practically forced it into my hand “Please don’t think it’s too little! When get my year end bonus I make it up to you! I should go now and let you practice your piano p>
Before I could protest, Claire grabbed her purse and practically ran out in her high
heels.
I looked down at the thirty-million-dollar check in my hand, feeling more confused about my life than ever before.
After contemplating for a moment, I looked up at Aiden. “Aiden, can I ask you something that might sound strange p>
“Go ahead.” He walked to the kitchen island, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to me.
“Thanks.” I took a sip before asking, “Do all rich people just… hand out money to others like this p>
First Aiden randomly transferring a hundred million to me, now Claire casually giving me thirty million.
What was happening? Did I look like someone who couldn’t be corrupted by wealth?
At this rate, I was going to lose my moral compass entirely.
Aiden gave me a sideways glance. “No p>
“Then why did Miss Bennett give me money p>
His dark eyes held a hint of amusement. “I gave you money because you like
money. Miss Bennett gave you money for the same reason p>
“There are plenty of people in this world who like money,” I blurted out. “Why not
give it to them p>
“Because they’re not Aria Jones,” he replied simply.