Chapter 57
Aria’s POV
I slept like a baby that night. Maybe it was the cool breeze flowing through the window, or maybe it was pure exhaustion from all the emotional whiplash. Either way, I drifted into the strangest dream.
In it, Aiden was transferring all his assets to my name. “What’s mine is yours,” Dream Aiden said with uncharacteristic warmth. “It’s all our shared property anyway.” Then I ordered someone to deliver ten million in cash to the villa. I was sitting on literal piles of money, counting bills and laughing maniacally.
The shrill sound of my alarm jolted me awake. I touched the corners of my mouth and realized I’d been actually smiling in my sleep. As the details of the dream came flooding back, I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Oh God,” I muttered, horrified at my subconscious. Was I secretly plotting to rob Aiden blind? The thought was so disturbing I practically ran to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to wash away any lingering traces of that unsettling
fantasy.
After changing into jeans and a light sweater, I headed downstairs, ready for my lunch date with Lillian.
Lucy intercepted me at the bottom of the stairs. “Miss Aria, what would you like for lunch tonight p>
“Oh, I’m actually heading out,” I said. “Don’t worry about cooking for me p>
She nodded, then hesitated. “Will Mr. Carter be home for lunch p>
I realized I had no idea. “Let me check,” I said, pulling out my phone. I dialed Aiden’s number, half-expecting it to go to voicemail, but he picked up on the third ring.
“Yes?” His deep voice came through, sounding slightly distracted.
“Hi, it’s me,” I said awkwardly. “Lucy was wondering if you’ll be home for lunch p>
There was a brief pause. “No. Don’t wait up p>
“Okay. Thanks.” I hung up. Turning back to Lucy, I shook my head. “He won’t be back for lunch either p>
Lucy nodded. “I’ll prepare something light and leave it in the fridge for both of you, just in case p>
I thanked her and headed out, grateful for her thoughtfulness.
Lillian was already waiting at our favorite café when I arrived, two iced coffees on the table. She practically pounced on me before I could even sit down.
“Spill everything,” she demanded. “I’ve been dying all night! What happened with the ten million dollars p>
I glanced around nervously. “Could you say that any louder? I don’t think the people in the next county heard you p>
She rolled her eyes but lowered her voice. “Fine. Now talk p>
Taking a deep breath, I recounted yesterday’s conversation with Aiden—how he insisted I keep the money, how he’d given me his black card with seemingly unlimited access.
Lillian’s eyes grew wider with each detail. When I finished, she leaned back in her chair, stunned.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. “So now you’ve got ten million in your account AND his black card p>
I nodded miserably.
“And you’re upset about this because Her expression was completely bewildered.
“Because it feels wrong!” I hissed. “We have a contract. This wasn’t part of it p>
Lillian stirred her coffee thoughtfully. “Maybe he’s developing actual feelings for you p>
I nearly choked on my drink. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is Aiden Carter we’re talking about. He’s just… I don’t know, being thorough with our arrangement p>
“By giving you access to potentially ten millions of dollars?” She raised an eyebrow skeptically. “That’s one hell of a commitment to a fake marriage p>
I didn’t have a good answer for that.
“Anyway,” she continued, clearly enjoying my discomfort, “what are you going to do with all that money p>
“Nothing! It’s not really mine to spend p>
Lillian kicked me under the table. “You’re literally the worst rich person ever. At least buy the man a thank-you gift or something p>
I sighed. “Actually, I was planning to get him something. I need to replace the shirt I ruined when I threw up all over him p>
Lillian nodded solemnly. “Ah, yes. The great vomit incident of 2023 p>
I groaned. “Can we not call it that p>
She grinned. “Too late. It’s officially canon. A peace offering is definitely in order p>
After much deliberation, I settled on a beautifully tailored navy dress shirt from Tom Ford that would bring out the blue in his eyes.
It was ridiculously expensive, but seemed appropriate for the circumstances.
As we were browsing through another store, Lillian dragged me toward a section I’d been deliberately avoiding.
“Come on,” she whispered mischievously, “let’s get you something fun to wear for your husband p>
I stared in horror at the lingerie display she was pointing at. “Are you insane? That’s way too much p>
“It’s just lingerie, Aria. Married people buy this stuff all the time p>
“We’re not that kind of married,” I reminded her, my cheeks burning.
Lillian grinned wickedly. “Not yet, maybe. But the way you talk about how he looks at you p>
“Stop it!” I begged, but somehow she still managed to persuade me into trying on a ridiculously expensive black lace set. It was actually quite tasteful-elegant rather than overtly sexual-but the mere thought of Aiden seeing me in it made my stomach do somersaults.
“I’m buying it for you,” Lillian declared when I refused to purchase it myself. “Consider it an investment in your future happiness p>
“You’re the worst,” I grumbled, but I let her buy it anyway, secretly planning to bury it at the bottom of my drawer forever.
As we were leaving that store, I froze. Coming toward us were two familiar faces: Emily White, Liam’s younger sister, and Madison Reynolds, walking arm in arm and laughing like old friends.
“Is that Lillian whispered, clutching my arm.
I nodded silently, hoping they wouldn’t notice us. No such luck. Emily’s eyes locked with mine, and her smile faltered momentarily before she nudged Madison and whispered something. Both of them glanced our way, then deliberately turned down another aisle.
“What the hell was that about?” Lillian muttered. “Since when are they friends?Emily used to talk so much shit about Madison p>
I shrugged, “Maybe the Whites and Reynolds are planning some sort of business alliance. “
“True,” Lillian nodded thoughtfully. “Not our circus, not our monkeys p>
“Exactly,” I agreed, relieved to put some distance between us. “Let’s get out of here p>
By late afternoon, my feet were killing me and my arms were laden with shopping bags. Lillian had to run to a dinner with her parents, so we parted ways outside the mall.
“I’ll just grab a taxi,” I told her, waving goodbye.
As I turned toward the taxi stand, a sleek black Bentley pulled up directly in front of
me. The passenger window rolled down to reveal Aiden, looking impossibly handsome in a charcoal suit.
“Get in,” he said, his tone making it clear it wasn’t a request.
I glanced back at Lillian, who was making ridiculous eyebrow wiggles and
enthusiastic thumbs-up gestures behind Aiden’s line of sight.
Rolling my eyes at her, I opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat. “How did you know I was here p>
“Lucy mentioned you went out with your friend,” he replied simply, as if that explained everything. His eyes flickered briefly to the shopping bags at my feet. “Productive day p>
“Just picking up a few things,” I said, suddenly self-conscious about the expensive shirt I’d bought him.
We drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Finally gathering my courage, I reached into one of the bags and pulled out the neatly wrapped box containing the Tom Ford shirt.
“This is for you,” I said, feeling oddly nervous. “It’s to replace the shirt I ruined the other night. You know, when I was I trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
Aiden glanced at the package, then back at the road. “You didn’t need to do that p>
“I wanted to,” I insisted. “Please accept it p>
He nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Thank you p>
As I was rearranging the other bags between us on the center console, the car hit a small pothole.
The sudden jolt sent the shopping bags tumbling, and before I could react, the glossy pink bag with the lingerie spilled open.
The black lace garment unfurled dramatically from its tissue paper wrapping, landing right across the gear shift like some kind of scandalous automotive decoration.
“Oh my God!” I gasped, lunging for it with the speed of someone trying to catch a falling knife.
But Aiden was faster.
He reached down and picked up the delicate fabric between his thumb and forefinger, lifting it slightly to examine it. His eyes never left the road, but something in his expression changed—darkened.
“Is this part of the replacement too?” he asked, his voice suddenly deeper, rougher.
My face felt like it was literally on fire. I couldn’t have been more mortified if the car had spontaneously combusted around us.