Chapter 11
**Aria’s POV p>
Tonight, my apartment radiated a warmth and brightness that I hadn’t felt in weeks. As I sat on the couch with Lillian, our phones in hand, a wave of exhilaration washed over me. We were deep in the comment section of a viral post, and one by one, supportive messages rolled in, each one a dagger aimed at Sophia.
“Oh my god, check this out!” Lillian exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she nearly spilled her wine. She thrust her phone towards me, and I leaned in, scrolling through a torrent of scathing remarks that made my heart race.
“Sophia Clarke went from ‘poor fragile thing’ to ‘homewrecking witch’ real quick!” one comment read.
“Anyone notice how her ‘anxiety attacks’ always seem to happen when Liam needs to choose between her and Aria?” another chimed in.
“Imagine being so pathetic you need to steal someone else’s fiancé ON THEIR WEDDING DAY p>
A sense of triumph blossomed in my chest, filling me with a satisfaction I hadn’t anticipated. “This is… incredible. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but social media can actually be a force for good sometimes,” I mused, a grin spreading across my face.
“This isn’t just some social media magic,” Lillian pointed out, refilling our glasses with a knowing smile. “It’s the Carter effect. The moment Aiden’s company made your marriage official, it was like the entire world suddenly remembered you were the one wronged in all this. That man must have a team of PR ninjas working overtime p>
She was spot on. The timing of Aiden’s announcement had been impeccable- strategic, even. What I had done impulsively, he had turned into a masterstroke of public relations.
“I really owe him for this,” I confessed, surprised by the earnestness in my tone. Lillian raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and intrigue. “Well, well. Just a few hours ago, you were calling him a manipulative jerk, and now you’re practically singing his praises? Quite the turnaround p>
“It’s not like that,” I protested weakly, though I could feel my resolve faltering. “I just… I can appreciate a well-executed plan. He didn’t have to play along with my impulsive post, but he did. And he did it brilliantly p>
“Maybe he’s enjoying this revenge plot more than he’s letting on,” Lillian suggested, a playful glint in her eye. “Stealing Liam White’s fiancée right from under his nose? That’s got to feel pretty satisfying after years of business rivalry p>
I pondered her words for a moment. There had indeed been a hint of delight in Aiden’s voice during our call when he mentioned the drop in White Enterprises’ stock.
“Well, either way, I need to make sure I don’t screw this up when I meet his grandmother,” I said, a newfound determination surging through me. “I should bring her a gift p>
“Shopping!” Lillian clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. “I’m coming with you, no questions asked p>
“No lingerie stores,” I warned, raising an eyebrow.
“Why not?” she teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “Come on, Aria. You’re legally married to one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. You’d be crazy not to at least entertain the possibilities p>
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought I might strain something. “You’re impossible p>
“I’m practical,” she corrected, leaning in closer as if sharing a secret. “And this one,” she pointed at a particularly revealing black lace ensemble on my screen, “screams ‘I’m your wife now, deal with it p>
Despite my best efforts to stay focused, my mind drifted back to that morning in my living room when Aiden had knelt before me, examining my injured ankle. The memory of his strong hands cradling my foot, his touch both firm and gentle as his fingers traced my skin, sent a shiver down my spine. In my wine-loosened imagination, those same hands began to wander higher, sliding up my calf, past my knee, his gaze darkening as it locked with mine p>
“Oh my God,” Lillian gasped, pulling me from my reverie. “You’re actually thinking about it p>
I blinked rapidly, my cheeks flushing. “What? No, I’m not p>
“Yes, you are! You’ve got that glazed-over look. What were you just imagining? Aiden Carter carrying you over the threshold? Peeling off his perfectly tailored suit p>
“I was not p>
“Your face is redder than that wine we’re drinking!” she cackled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.
Just then, Martha, my housekeeper, appeared in the doorway, her expression a mix of professionalism and concern.
“Miss Aria, I apologize for the interruption, but Mr. White is at the door. He’s quite insistent on seeing you p>
Lillian and I exchanged incredulous glances, disbelief etched on our faces. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, half-laughing and half-annoyed. “Is there a full moon tonight or something p>
“Miss?” Martha prompted, her usually stoic demeanor revealing a hint of worry.
I squared my shoulders, drawing strength from the wine coursing through me. “Please tell Mr. White that I’m not available. Now or ever p>
“Very good, Miss.” Martha nodded, a small, approving smile playing at her lips before she disappeared back down the hall.
“That felt good,” I admitted, taking another sip of my wine, savoring the moment.
Lillian raised her glass in salute. “Pride looks good on you, bestie p>
A few moments later, the distant sound of rain began to patter against the windows, quickly escalating into a torrential downpour.
Martha reappeared, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Miss, Mr. White refuses to leave. He’s standing in the rain without an umbrella, insisting he won’t go until you speak with him p>
Lillian snorted, her laughter bubbling up. “Going for the dramatic romance novel approach, is he? Let him drown p>
“Martha,” I said, surprised by how calm I felt, “please inform security that Mr. White is trespassing and needs to be escorted off the property p>
“With pleasure, Miss,” Martha replied, a hint of satisfaction in her tone as she went to make the call.
Lillian clinked her glass against mine again, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “That’s my girl. Let him stand there getting soaked like the drowned rat he is p>
I leaned back against the cushions, an unexpected sense of tranquility washing over me. “You know what’s strange? A month ago, I would have rushed to the door the moment I heard he was here. Now… I just don’t care p>
“That, my friend,” Lillian said with a knowing smile, “is what we call growth. And it looks damn good on you p>
She raised her glass. “Cheers. To new beginnings p>
“To new beginnings,” I replied, smiling as I lifted my glass to meet hers.
**Liam’s POV p>
The rain hammered down relentlessly as I stood outside Aria’s building, water cascading down my face and soaking through my expensive suit. The doorman watched me with barely concealed contempt, occasionally speaking into his radio, undoubtedly reporting the sorry sight I was making of myself.
The downpour only intensified, blurring the streetlights and drenching me to the bone. After several more minutes of standing there like a fool, I finally succumbed and turned back toward the car, feeling defeated.
I slid into the backseat, slamming the door shut behind me, water dripping from my hair onto the pristine leather interior.
As I glanced down at my phone, I was met with a long list of missed calls and unread messages-none of which were from her. Ignoring them all, I immediately attempted to call Aria.
But the call didn’t go through.
A jolt of realization struck me. She had blocked my number. The finality of that
simple action hit me harder than I had anticipated.
Then a new notification flashed across my screen.
“White Group stock plunges nearly 7% after Carter Enterprises confirms marriage p>
My stomach twisted in knots.
Our company’s stock had indeed plummeted nearly 7%?! This wasn’t just a personal humiliation; it was a professional disaster as well.
I drove home in a daze, my mind racing with thoughts. This had to be some elaborate scheme. Aria wouldn’t-couldn’t-have moved on so quickly. And to Carter, of all people! The man had been trying to crush my family’s company for
years.
As I walked into the foyer, the atmosphere hit me like a physical force. Silence enveloped me, heavy and oppressive. Until my father’s voice sliced through the stillness.
“Are you satisfied now?” he asked, his tone dangerously quiet as he hurled his teacup against the wall near my feet. Porcelain shattered across the marble floor, the sound echoing ominously.
“Twenty years of friendship with Benjamin Jones, destroyed. The cast side property -lost to Carter Enterprises. Our stock in freefall. All because you couldn’t keep it in your pants p>
“Father, I can explain p>
“Explain?” My mother’s voice trembled with fury as she emerged from the sitting room. “How will you explain that you cast aside a respectable young woman for that —that manipulative little actress? Do you have any idea what people are saying about our family now p>
“Sophia is unwell p>
“Unwell?” Mother’s laugh was bitter, filled with disdain. “Every time she needs to get her way, she’s conveniently ‘unwell.’ I’ve seen her type before p>
My sister Emily leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed defiantly. “Just like the type Dad cheated with when we were kids. Funny how history repeats itself.” “Elizabeth!” Mother snapped, her face revealing the old pain.
“What?” Emily shrugged, unfazed. “I’m just pointing out that men in this family have a weakness for women who cry on command p>
“Enough!” Father shouted, his voice booming. Turning back to me, it dropped to a dangerous growl. “Fix this. I don’t care how. If Aria Jones wants to come back to you, we will welcome her with open arms. The wedding can be rescheduled, bigger and more lavish than before p>
I stared at him in disbelief, my heart racing. “She’s married, Father. To Aiden Carter.” “A marriage of convenience, no doubt,” Mother said dismissively, waving her hand as if brushing aside my words. “A reactionary decision made out of hurt and anger. She loved you for twelve years, Liam. Those feelings don’t simply vanish.” Emily snorted, her expression one of mockery. “Good luck with that. You think she wants anything to do with us now? She upgraded in every possible way.” “Emily, if you don’t have anything helpful to say, be quiet!” Father glared at her, but she merely shrugged and walked away, leaving tension in her wake. Father’s eyes narrowed, his voice low and menacing. “See that you do. Because if Carter’s merger with the Jones property goes through while you’re still mooning over that sick girl, you can forget about your position in this family’s company p>
I stood there, water dripping from my clothes onto the floor, feeling as though everything was crumbling around me.
“I’ll try to speak with her,” I promised, though dread twisted in my stomach. “I’ll make
this right p>
I used to know how to reach her. I used to be the one she ran to. But now… Emily’s parting words echoed in my mind, and doubt crept in like a slow, rising tide.
A knot of anxiety twisted in my gut-would she even take the out I was offering?
Would she still choose me?
And why did it feel like she was already slipping away?