Chapter 52
Aria’s POV
The doorbell’s chime interrupted my thoughts about apology gifts. With a sigh, I went to answer it, pulling the door open to find an elegantly dressed woman standing on our doorstep.
“Hello? Can I help you?” I asked, momentarily confused.
The woman before me exuded wealth and sophistication in her custom Chanel suit, the black fabric adorned with delicate white camellias that accentuated her poised elegance.
“Ms. Jones, hello. I’m Eleanor Smith,” she introduced herself with a voice as polished as her appearance, extending a manicured hand.
I shook her hand hesitantly, still not understanding who she was or why she was here. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Smith p>
“Mrs. Carter, actually. I kept my married name p>
“Oh! Mrs. Carter, of course,” I corrected myself quickly.
Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, and for a moment, I felt like an object under inspection—one that had already disappointed.
After a moment of awkward silence, she clarified with obvious impatience, “I’m Aiden’s aunt p>
“Ah!” I exclaimed, the pieces falling into place. “You’re the aunt who’s been trying to control his life since his parents died p>
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. I immediately slapped my hand over my mouth, blinking innocently. “I’m so sorry! Sometimes my brain-to-mouth filter malfunctions. What brings you here today, Mrs. Smith p>
Her face tightened, clearly not appreciating my slip of the tongue. “Is Aiden home?” “No, he’s not p>
I paused before adding sweetly, “I thought maybe you came to see me, not Aiden.” Mrs. Smith’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Are you deliberately being disrespectful?” “Not at all!” I protested, hand flying back to cover my mouth in mock horror. “You really shouldn’t assume the worst in people, Mrs. Smith p>
Her face flushed with anger, the color creeping up her neck. “I am still Aiden’s aunt -his only living relative from his father’s side. As his wife, shouldn’t you at least invite me in rather than having this conversation on the doorstep p>
“But you said you were looking for Aiden, and he’s not home,” I pointed out innocently. “I assumed you’d want to leave since the person you came to see isn’t here p>
I’d intentionally distorted his logic, and though Mrs. Smith clearly saw through it, she couldn’t argue back directly. She let out a sharp breath.
“Enough games. I came to speak with you specifically. Step aside p>
With that command, she brushed past me into the house.
I rolled my eyes behind her back and followed her inside, watching as she settled herself on the sofa like she owned the place p>
Mrs. Smith glanced around critically before snapping her fingers at Lucy, who had just appeared from the kitchen.
“Bring me some tea,” she ordered without so much as a please or thank you.
Lucy looked at me questioningly, and I gave her a small nod. As she disappeared to prepare the tea, Mrs. Smith turned her attention back to me.
“So,” she began, studying me with calculating eyes. “You’re cleverer than you appear p>
I tilted my head, maintaining my innocent expression. “Thank you…I think p>
“Let’s not waste time,” she continued briskly. “I’ve underestimated you. After your first fiancé left you at the altar, you managed to marry my nephew within months. That takes a certain… resourcefulness p>
I remained silent, letting her talk.
“But make no mistake,” she continued, her voice hardening. “The Carter family will never truly accept someone like you. Aiden may have made a rash decision, but it won’t last p>
“That’s a bit hypocritical coming from you, don’t you think?” I replied with a sweet smile.
Her eyes flashed dangerously. Before she could respond, Lucy returned with a tea service, setting it down carefully before discreetly exiting.
Mrs. Smith didn’t touch the tea. Instead, she reached into her designer handbag and pulled out a check, sliding it across the coffee table toward me.
“Five million dollars,” she stated flatly. “It’s yours if you divorce Aiden within three months p>
I picked up the check, counting the zeros. It was indeed for five million dollars. My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested,” I said, placing the check back on the table.
In reality, I knew Aiden was worth much more than this paltry sum.
Mrs. Smith gave a cold laugh, as if she’d anticipated my response. She pulled out another check. “Another five million. Ten million dollars total if you divorce him within three months p>
Ten. Million. Dollars.
I swallowed hard, unable to deny the temptation coursing through me. Jones Enterprises had been struggling for years, with each year worse than the last. Our annual revenue probably didn’t even reach ten million anymore, let alone profit.
People said I married above my station when I got engaged to Liam, and they weren’t entirely wrong. My father wasn’t a natural businessman. The fact that he’d kept our company afloat this long was already remarkable.
Aiden’s aunt was being incredibly generous with her offer. If I wasn’t just a paper wife to Aiden, I might have seriously considered accepting.
Ten million dollars!
Who wouldn’t be tempted? With that money, my father could retire comfortably, and I could turn down those degrading commercial performances I sometimes had to take.
The more I thought about it, the more appealing it became. To avoid embarrassing myself, I clasped my hands tightly in my lap and forced myself to say: “In my heart, Aiden is priceless p>
Mrs. Smith immediately understood what I was implying. She stood up, fuming. “Then you’ll end up with nothing p>
She snatched both checks from the table and stormed out, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she left.
I watched her retreating figure, feeling like I’d just watched ten million dollars fly away right before my eyes.
God, I wanted that money so badly.