Chapter 71
Aria’s POV
“What’s inappropriate about it? You are my wife p>
My heart fluttered hearing those words. *My wife*. Not just a contract or a business arrangement anymore.
The possessive tone in Aiden’s voice made my heart flutter in ways I hadn’t experienced before. I found myself staring at his lips, wondering what it would be like to―
“Your assistant is looking for you p>
I snapped back to reality, quickly turning to see Summer waving frantically outside the car window.
“I should go,” I said, reluctantly moving to exit. “Thanks for… you know p>
“Of course,” he replied, his voice a smooth rumble.
As I stepped out, Aiden followed, unfolding his tall frame from the car in one fluid motion. The afternoon sun highlighted the sharp angles of his face as he came to stand beside me.
Summer rushed over, her face beaming with excitement.
“Aria! Elena just called and insisted you absolutely mustn’t leave! She’s personally coming out to apologize – says the whole thing is completely their fault p>
I opened my mouth to respond when Summer turned to Aiden. “Thank you so much, Mr. Carter! If not for your help, my poor Aria would’ve had to swallow this injustice! Can you believe it?
She’s the special guest performer with the closing piece, and they just kicked her out like that! Who could possibly stand for such treatment p>
I blinked in confusion. “Summer p>
“This may not be my doing,” Aiden interjected smoothly. “This is Aria’s own capability at work p>
Summer missed his meaning entirely, assuming he was being modest. “Oh, Aria is absolutely incredible, but she’s just too low-key for her own good!
Sometimes being too humble invites bullies. Every random nobody thinks they can walk all over her p>
I winced slightly. Summer had always been protective, but her unfiltered commentary in front of Aiden made me uncomfortable.
“Summer,” I tried again, but she was on a roll.
She caught herself mid-rant and looked at Aiden apologetically. “Mr. Carter, am I talking too much? I don’t mean anything bad, I just care about Aria p>
“I also care deeply about my wife,” Aiden replied, his voice calm but firm. “Ms. Summer, in the future, if you encounter similar situations, feel free to contact my secretary directly to handle them p>
Summer’s eyes widened. “Really? Wouldn’t that be imposing on you?” “Not at all p>
Before I could process what was happening, Aiden had produced a business card and handed it to Summer. “This is my secretary’s card p>
Summer accepted it with reverence, shooting me a triumphant look. “This time I can’t follow your lead, Aria. I won’t let you keep getting pushed around p>
I remained silent, watching my assistant practically glowing with gratitude toward my husband. There seemed little point in explaining now that I’d already set my own plan in motion.
I stole a glance at Aiden, remembering his words in the car. *Tables turned*. My heart rate inexplicably accelerated.
Did he actually intend to have Diana removed from the program? Was that something I even wanted?
“Mrs. Carter,” he said softly, interrupting my thoughts, “you don’t need to take these things lying down anymore p>
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “I wasn’t exactly taking it lying down p>
Aiden gave me a knowing look, his lips curving slightly. “I believe your event organizer is approaching p>
Following his gaze, I spotted Elena striding toward us, flanked by her staff. A little pride fluttered in my chest – my plan had worked perfectly. Just as I was about to point this out, Aiden spoke again.
“You don’t need to handle this alone p>
Before I could respond, Elena had reached us, her expression anxious and apologetic.
“Ms. Jones, I’m so terribly sorry! I just found out what happened in the dressing room. It was completely my fault for poor organization, causing you to p>
She stopped mid-sentence as her eyes finally registered who was standing beside me. Her expression shifted from professional contrition to shock.
“Mr. Carter?” she gasped.
The moment his name left her lips, another voice called out from behind her.
“Mr. Carter! Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? I would have arranged special seating for you. How terribly rude of us p>
The man hurrying toward us was Richard Hamilton, the benefit concert’s primary sponsor.
Elena’s face had gone slightly pale – she clearly understood the situation had just become much more complicated.
“Mr. Hamilton, you’re too kind,” Aiden replied coolly. “I’m simply here to watch my wife perform. However, she informs me her performance has been canceled, so we were just about to leave p>
The panic that flashed across both Elena and Richard’s faces was almost comical. “Mr. Carter, there’s been a misunderstanding!” Richard exclaimed.
He glanced questioningly at Elena, who quickly jumped in. “Mr. Carter, this is entirely my fault for poor coordination. Mrs. Carter is our featured closing performer!
We would never cancel her segment – she’s the highlight of our program p>
“Is that so?” Aiden asked, his tone deceptively casual as he turned to me. “It seems there was indeed a misunderstanding p>
He paused, and when he continued, his voice had hardened.
“However, I cannot tolerate my wife being disrespected. She’s put in weeks of
practice at home just to make sure she could perform tonight.
The moment I arrived, I found her being escorted out by your staff. I fail to see how she’s being treated as your headline performer.
If you’re not sincere about having her perform, we won’t waste any more of each other’s time p>
With that, he took my hand and turned toward the car.
I barely had time to process what was happening before I found myself being led away, my fingers enclosed in his warm grasp. Our car waited just steps away, but Elena and Richard weren’t about to let us reach it.
“Mr. Carter, Ms. Jones!” Elena called, dispatching an assistant with hurried instructions before rushing after us.
“Please give us another chance! I’ve sent someone to bring the staff who mishandled this situation so they can apologize properly.
The performance starts in less than thirty minutes, and as our closing act, perhaps we could discuss how to resolve this issue p>
Richard quickly added, “Mr. Carter, I promise we’ll make this right for your wife! The sun is quite strong today – perhaps we could continue this conversation inside p>
Their desperation was evident, taking turns to speak with carefully cultivated politeness. Had I been alone, I might have been persuaded by their earnestness. But Aiden remained unmoved. His expression didn’t change as he addressed the root of the matter: “From what I understand, my wife’s ejection wasn’t entirely your staff’s decision p>
The driver approached with an umbrella, which Aiden took and held over my head. “It’s quite sunny. Would you prefer waiting in the car?” he asked, his voice dropping to a gentler register reserved only for me.
His breath tickled the back of my neck as he leaned closer, and I felt a shiver race down my spine. Heat bloomed across my skin, climbing from my neck to my cheeks. When I looked up at him, those dark eyes captured mine, causing my heart to stumble.
“It’s… it’s not that bad,” I mumbled, my face warming further.
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake.
Aiden was giving me an opportunity to retreat from the confrontation, and I’d failed
to take it.
I searched for something to say that would allow us to step away privately before Elena could try to use me as a weak point.
But Aiden didn’t seem bothered by my response. He simply nodded and turned back
to Elena and Richard, his expression cooling considerably.
“Mr. Hamilton is right about the sun,” he said, his voice now businesslike. “So I’ll be direct p>
He stood straighter, his presence commanding.
“I’m protective of what’s mine. My wife is kind-hearted, but I am not. I have only one solution to offer: the singer who had my wife removed must leave, and your staff must publicly apologize to my wife p>
Elena’s shock was visible. “Mr. Carter, our event is quite high-profile, and Diana Hayes has significant public following. Removing her suddenly might reflect poorly on Mrs. Carter as well p>
Aiden’s response was immediate and unyielding: “Then find someone else for your closing act p>