Chapter 16
Aria’s POV
My gaze was fixed on Aiden, his expression fierce as he confronted Liam. The air in the cramped hotel corridor was thick with tension, an electric charge that made every hair on my body stand on end.
Liam’s face twisted in disbelief, darting his eyes between Aiden and me, his attention lingering on the way Aiden’s arm was firmly wrapped around my waist, a possessive gesture that spoke volumes.
“You can’t be serious,” he scoffed, incredulity dripping from his words. “This has to be some sick revenge scheme, right? You and him?” He waved dismissively at Aiden, as if trying to swat away the reality of the moment. “This isn’t real. It simply can’t be p>
His words struck a nerve within me, igniting a fire of defiance. How could he be so certain that I hadn’t moved on? Without a second thought, I turned to Aiden, my hand reaching up to caress his cheek, and pressed my lips against his.
What I intended to be a fleeting kiss, a mere statement to rattle Liam, transformed into something electric. The instant our lips met, a surge of warmth coursed through me, leaving me breathless. Aiden paused, his surprise evident, but then his hand tightened around my waist, pulling me closer, as if he could shield me from the weight of Liam’s gaze.
When I finally pulled back, I noticed the color had drained from Liam’s face, replaced by a stark pallor.
I met Liam’s eyes with unwavering resolve. “Do you believe me now p>
“Twelve years,” he murmured, his voice trembling with disbelief. “Twelve years we shared. Was it all just so easy for you to throw away p>
“It meant everything to me,” I replied, my tone steady, each word carefully chosen. “Until you left me standing there, alone in a wedding dress p>
“That was a mistake”
“No,” I interrupted, cutting him off with conviction. “A mistake is forgetting an anniversary or misplacing a cherished memory. What you did was a deliberate choice. You chose her. And in that moment, whatever we had ended p>
“You heard her,” Aiden interjected, his voice low and dangerously calm. “It’s over p>
Liam’s eyes narrowed, a sneer curling his lips as he turned his attention to Aiden. “You think you’ve won something here? She doesn’t love you. She’s just using you to get back at me. I know Aria p>
“Guess you really have to hit rock bottom to get it through your thick skull,” Aiden replied, his voice icy and filled with contempt. “Let me show you p>
The chill in his tone sent a shiver down my spine, making my heart race.
Liam’s face flushed with anger, his expression a mix of disbelief and fury. “Aria, you can’t possibly love this man. Not after everything p>
Before I could respond, Aiden’s hand slid from my waist to cradle the back of my neck, turning me toward him. His lips captured mine in a kiss that was nothing like the gentle peck I had given him moments earlier. This kiss was fierce, possessive, and it ignited a fire within me.
His tongue brushed against my lower lip, sending shivers cascading down my spine. His other hand pressed against the small of my back, pulling me closer until I could feel the hard contours of his chest against me.
The kiss deepened, becoming almost scandalous for such a public setting, and I found myself responding instinctively, my fingers clutching at his lapels as if anchoring myself against the storm of emotions swirling within me.
When we finally broke apart, I was breathless, my lips tingling and my cheeks flushed with warmth.
“Goodbye, Liam,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions. “I genuinely wish you well p>
Without waiting for his reaction, I turned away, striding toward the elevator. Aiden’s hand settled naturally at the small of my back, guiding me forward with a sense of purpose. My father followed behind us, his silence a heavy presence.
The elevator doors opened immediately, as if even the machinery wanted to spare us from the awkwardness of the moment. Inside, I found myself sandwiched between my father and Aiden, who stood directly behind me. His presence was overwhelming in the confined space, the faint brush of his fingers against my back sending nervous energy coursing through me.
I instinctively stepped forward, trying to create some distance, only to feel those same fingers trail deliberately down my spine. Was he doing this intentionally? The tension was almost unbearable, and I opened my mouth, desperate to break the silence, to say something-anything-to alleviate the awkwardness.
But my father cleared his throat first, his discomfort palpable.
“My apologies, Mr. Carter,” he said, his tone stiff and formal. “I should clarify about tonight. We were only here to settle matters with the White family, to make a clean break p>
I nodded quickly, eager to support him. “Dad’s right,” I added, casting a glance at Aiden that revealed a flicker of unease. “Liam had promised to kneel and apologize. That was the only reason we agreed to meet p>
I looked up at Aiden, anxious that he might think I still harbored feelings for Liam. To my surprise, his expression was calm, almost amused.
“I trust my wife’s judgment,” he said simply, his eyes locking onto mine with unwavering confidence. “I have no doubt she had her reasons for being here tonight p>
My father’s eyebrows shot up, and I could see a newfound respect forming in his gaze as he regarded Aiden.
When the elevator finally reached the lobby, we stepped out together, making our way toward the hotel entrance. Just before we reached the revolving doors, Aiden leaned down, his lips brushing my ear.
“Don’t forget to tell your father about the matter we discussed,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
My brows lifted slightly in confusion. What matter? Was he referring to the land deal? Or something else entirely?
His tone gave nothing away, and I didn’t dare to ask—especially not with Liam glaring at us from across the lobby, his expression filled with barely contained rage. Then, louder and with a hint of triumph, Aiden added, “I’ll call you tomorrow, Mrs. Carter p>
The emphasis he placed on “Mrs. Carter” was unmistakable, especially with Liam watching us closely from a distance. Yet, oddly enough, I didn’t mind. In fact, a small part of me reveled in it.
With a final nod to my father, Aiden strode away toward the valet stand, leaving us to find our own car.
“Well,” my father said once we settled into the back seat of our town car, his voice breaking the silence, “you’ve certainly grown up p>
I gazed out the window, watching the city lights blur past like fleeting memories. “I’m sorry, Dad. For everything. For being so stubborn, for not listening when you warned me about Liam p>
My father sighed deeply, a hint of weariness in his tone. “You know, when you first started dating Liam, I could see it in his eyes—that arrogance, that sense of entitlement. But you were so determined, so convinced he was the one.” He shook his head, a rueful smile playing on his lips. “And what father can deny his daughter anything that brings her joy p>
“I was such a fool,” I whispered, the weight of regret heavy on my heart. “No,” he said firmly, reaching over to squeeze my hand gently. “You were in love. There’s a difference. Besides, even if I had forbidden it, you probably would have run off with him anyway p>
I let out a soft laugh, surprised by how much lighter I felt. “Probably. I was pretty headstrong p>
“Was?” He raised an eyebrow teasingly, a hint of mischief in his gaze.
We fell into a comfortable silence, the cityscape passing by outside the window like
a distant dream.
Taking a slow breath, I finally spoke up. “There’s something I need to tell you p>
He turned to me, his expression quiet and attentive.
“It’s about the riverside property,” I said, my heart racing. “The one you gave me for
my twenty-first birthday p>
He nodded, his curiosity piqued. “What about it p>
I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts, then looked him directly in the eye.
“I’m going to bring it with me when I marry into the Carter family. As part of my
dowry p>
His expression shifted, surprise flickering across his features before something softer took its place.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“Yes.” I paused, gauging his reaction. “Aren’t you going to ask me why, Dad p>
He shook his head gently, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I told you before—if it’s your choice, I’ll support it. Always p>
After a moment, he spoke again, his voice softer now, filled with warmth.
“You know, all I’ve ever wanted-all your mother ever wanted-was for you to be
safe and happy.” His eyes glistened in the dim light of the car. “It doesn’t matter if it’s with Liam, Carter, or anyone else. Just… be happy, Aria p>
I leaned my head against his shoulder, just like I used to when I was little, finding
comfort in his presence. “I’m working on it, Dad. I really am p>
The road ahead remained uncertain, but for the first time, every step I took felt like it
was truly for myself.