Chapter 56
Aria’s POV
My fingers trembled so badly I could barely take a screenshot of the banking app. One hundred million dollars. There had to be some mistake.
I tried three times before finally capturing the screen, then immediately sent it to Lillian.
Me: [Screenshot] Is this… am I seeing things? Is that really TEN MILLION Three dots appeared immediately, followed by a string of shocked emojis. Then:
Lillian: WHAT THE ACTUAL F Hold on. Let me count the zeros.
Lillian: 100,000,00. OH MY GOD. THAT’S TEN MILLION p>
Lillian: ARIA WHAT DID YOU DO p>
I sank onto the piano bench, feeling lightheaded.
Me: I didn’t do anything! It just appeared in my account!
Lillian: Remember when I joked about getting your husband to reimburse you for turning down his aunt’s ten million dollars? Well, damn girl, he doesn’t mess around!
Me: This has to be some kind of mistake.
Lillian: A $10 million “mistake”? Only Aiden Carter could transfer that kind of money as casually as I Venmo someone for coffee.
I bit my lip, staring at the screen.
Me: I need to talk to him about this. This can’t be right.
Lillian: Yeah, probably smart. Even for a billionaire, that’s not exactly pocket change. Though honestly, with how rich he is, maybe it IS pocket change to him.
Lillian: Btw, can you adopt me p>
Despite my anxiety, I couldn’t help but laugh at her message. That was Lillian— always finding humor even in the most absurd situations.
Me: Absolutely yes.
I glanced at the time: 3:47 PM. Aiden might be taking an afternoon nap, considering how he’d looked tired at lunch. But the thought of holding onto money that wasn’t rightfully mine—especially such an astronomical amount—made me too anxious to wait.
I headed downstairs first, checking the living room, dining area, and even glancing into his study. The entire villa was eerily quiet. Lucy and the other staff seemed to be nowhere around either.
Concluding he must be resting, I turned around and quietly headed upstairs.
I was walking toward my newly chosen guest room—I’d moved my things there this morning, not ready to share the master bedroom with Aiden-when his door suddenly opened.
“Finished with your piano practice?” he asked, his voice casual but his eyes sharp and observant as always.
Aiden stood in the doorway, looking impossibly put-together for someone who might have just woken up. He wore a black satin shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, that made his already striking features seem even more defined. The fabric caught the light as he moved, giving him an almost otherworldly aura.
“Finished practicing?” he asked, his deep voice breaking the silence.
For a moment, I forgot why I’d been looking for him. God, it was unfair how handsome he was-like some aristocratic prince from another era.
“I—yes,” I stammered, mentally slapping myself back to reality. “Actually, I was looking for you p>
His eyebrow arched slightly, and some of that cold, untouchable quality seemed to melt away.
“Come in, then,” he said, stepping aside to let me enter the master bedroom.”We can talk inside p>
The master bedroom was massive-probably twice the size of mine. The space was minimalist yet undeniably luxurious, dominated by dark colors and clean lines.
To the right was a sitting area with black leather sofas facing a marble coffee table. On the table sat an open bottle of red wine, clearly being allowed to breathe, and a half-empty glass.
My eyes inadvertently drifted to Aiden’s lips as he walked past me. They looked slightly stained from the wine, a deeper red than usual. Something about the observation made my cheeks warm.
“Would you like some?” he asked, noticing my gaze on the wine. “It’s a Château Margaux, 2010. Excellent vintage p>
“No!” I blurted out, perhaps a little too quickly.
The mortifying memory of last night—of me drunkenly throwing up on him-flashed through my mind, making my face burn with shame.
“I mean, no thank you. I’m good p>
He didn’t press the issue, simply nodding before picking up his glass and finishing what remained.
I couldn’t help but watch him—the way his throat moved as he swallowed, the elegant manner in which he held the glass, his long fingers wrapped around the delicate stem.
Everything about him exuded a natural refinement that seemed almost effortless.
Setting down the empty glass, he turned his full attention to me. “What did you want to discuss p>
I fumbled with my phone, unlocking it with shaky fingers and pulling up the banking app. Turning the screen toward him, I pointed at the obscene number of zeros.
“This,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “You transferred ten million dollars to my account. Why p>
Aiden glanced at the screen, his expression unchanged, as if the amount was completely ordinary.
“Is there a problem?” he asked calmly.
Was there a problem? Was he serious? I stared at him, completely bewildered.
“Yes, there’s a problem! This is ten million dollars, Aiden. Not one hundred, not one hundred thousand-Ten MILLION. This has to be a mistake p>
He moved to sit on the edge of the leather sofa, gesturing for me to take a seat opposite him. I remained standing, too agitated to sit.
“It’s not a mistake,” he said simply. “It’s compensation for declining my aunt’s proposal p>
My jaw dropped.”Aiden, that was just Lillian joking around! She wasn’t being serious
about you reimbursing me. I need to transfer this money back to you p>
His expression remained impassive. “As your husband, I should cover your
expenses. Besides, your friend might start questioning the legitimacy of our marriage if I didn’t do something to make up for you turning down an offer like that for me. “
I froze, a prickle of guilt rising in my chest.
Lillian already knew. I’d told her everything from the start-about the contract, the terms, all of it.
She was my best friend, and I trusted her completely.
Still, hearing him say that made something twist uncomfortably inside me.
I opened my mouth to defend her then closed it again.
That wasn’t the point right now.
“Even if we’re just pretending, a hundred million dollars is way too much,” I said,
forcing my voice to stay steady. “I can’t accept this p>
“What do you suggest then?” he asked, looking mildly amused.
“I’ll transfer it back,” I said decisively. “We don’t have to tell anyone. Lillian doesn’t need to know p>
His eyes fixed on mine with that penetrating gaze that always made me feel like he could see right through me. “Does my money burn your hands, Mrs. Carter p>
“Yes, actually, it does,” I admitted, flushing. “I’d feel much better if you just gave me your account number so I can send it back p>
I blinked up at him, trying my best to look persuasive. Something in his expression softened almost imperceptibly.
With a sigh that seemed more resigned than annoyed, he stood up. “Wait here p>
A moment later, he returned with a sleek black card in hand.
“Here,” he said, handing it to me.
My fingers trembled as I took it. I pulled out my phone again, opened my banking app, and started filling in the transfer information. But when I reached the final confirmation screen, an error message appeared:
“Large transfers must be completed in person at a bank branch p>
I looked up at Aiden helplessly. “It says I need to go to a bank branch for a transfer
this size. I just need your account number-can I take a picture of your card
instead p>
Aiden’s dark eyes studied me for a long moment before he said something completely unexpected:
“Keep the card. The PIN is my birthday. Use it for any formal events, dresses, shopping with friends-whatever you need p>
I stared at him, baffled. “You want me to keep your card p>
“It’s yours now,” he said matter-of-factly.
Wait, so this black card was now exclusively mine to use?
But if this was now my card to use, then what was the point of transferring the ten million back onto it?
In a daze, I thanked him and stumbled back to my own room, the sleek black card feeling impossibly heavy in my hand.
Once inside, I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The enormity of what had just happened hit me all at once.
Not only had Aiden given me access to ten million dollars—he’d also handed me a credit card with who knows what limit.
I was overwhelmed. This morning I’d been a normal woman (okay, a normal woman
in a contract marriage with a billionaire), and now I had more money than I could comprehend.
My phone buzzed with a new message from Lillian:
Lillian: So??? What did he say about the money p>
I stared at the screen, wondering how to even begin explaining what had just happened. What could I possibly say? “Oh, he told me to keep it AND gave me his credit card p>
Instead, I typed:
Me: It’s complicated. Need to tell you in person.
Lillian: OMG you’re killing me! Fine, lunch tomorrow? I need ALL the details!
Me: Deal.
I set my phone aside and looked at the black card again. The only marking on it was
the name of an exclusive bank and “Aiden Carter” embossed in raised letters that matched the card’s matte black finish.
What game was Aiden Carter playing? And more importantly, why did I feel like I was losing even though I didn’t understand the rules?