Chapter 99
Aiden’s POV
I’d just checked my phone when it exploded with notifications. The “New York Elite” group chat was blowing up.
Ryan: What’s going on, Aiden? Why is Claire Bennett publicly thanking your wife? @Aiden
Ethan: I heard Claire might actually be interested in your wife… @Aiden
Michael: Your “Beyond Compare” looks pretty underwhelming compared to Claire’s grand public gratitude display @Aiden
Ryan: @Aiden Seriously, Claire’s making such a spectacle just to say “thank you” – hard not to question her real intentions toward Aria!
Ryan: @Aiden How does it feel to be in this situation, man?
How does it feel?
Heh.
I tossed my phone aside and got up from the master bedroom. I walked to the guest room door and knocked.
Aria seemed lost in thought when she opened the door. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me standing there.
“Did you see Claire’s thank-you statement?” I asked directly, my eyes not leaving hers.
Aria’s face flushed immediately, the tips of her ears turning pink. “I did p>
She looked adorably embarrassed.
“Hmm p>
I gave a noncommittal response. “I think you were right. That three million should be returned p>
“Huh? Oh! Right p>
It took her a second to catch my meaning, but understanding dawned on her face when I mentioned the money.
“Will you help me return the check?” she asked, looking relieved.
She clearly wasn’t comfortable dealing with Claire directly after all this.
“Sure,” I nodded.
Aria quickly turned around to retrieve the check. She practically shoved it into my hands like it was radioactive. “Thank you, Aiden p>
Her fingertips brushed against the back of my hand, and I caught the subtle scent of her perfume. She must have realized the casual contact because she immediately stepped back, glancing nervously at me to gauge my reaction.
I kept my expression neutral despite the warmth spreading from where her fingers had touched mine.
Looking down at the check, I made a decision. Slowly and deliberately, I tore it into pieces right in front of her.
Realization dawned on Aria’s face. “Of course… tearing it up is enough. It’s not cash that needs returning p>
The way her expression shifted from confusion to understanding was fascinating. She’d been so flustered by the amount that she’d forgotten something so basic.
After dropping the torn pieces into the nearby trash can, I turned back to her. “In the future, don’t accept things from others so easily p>
Aria nodded emphatically. “I won’t p>
Looking at her eager agreement, I felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch her hair. I kept my hands firmly at my sides. “If you want anything, I’ll buy it for you p>
To my surprise, she shook her head firmly. “If I want something, I’ll buy it myself p>
It wasn’t often that someone refused me so consistently. My expression cooled slightly. “Fine p>
As I turned to leave, her voice called me back.
“Aiden p>
“Something else?” I turned, fixing my gaze on her face.
Aria met my eyes with unexpected determination. “About that necklace… I really can’t accept it p>
I paused for two seconds, processing her words and the earnest look in her eyes. “I understand p>
Without another word, I walked out of her room.
I could feel her eyes on my back as I left.
Was she wondering if I was angry? I might have been, just a little. Not because she didn’t want my gifts, but because I couldn’t figure out what she did want.
Back in my study, I picked up my phone again. More messages had piled up from the guys, but I ignored them all. I pulled up Lucas’ contact instead.
“Find out what Claire Bennett is up to,” I texted.
Three dots appeared immediately, then: “Already on it, sir. Preliminary reports suggest she’s genuinely grateful, but there may be more beneath the surface p>
I put my phone down and walked to the window, staring out at the Manhattan skyline.
The “Beyond Compare” necklace had cost me over a million dollars, but that wasn’t
the point. Money had never been an issue for me.
What bothered me was that I couldn’t read Aria Jones. Most people were transparent-motivated by greed, power, or status. But she consistently turned down everything I offered.
A memory surfaced from earlier today. “I want to kiss you,” she’d blurted out, then immediately backtracked. The flush on her cheeks had been genuine, her embarrassment real.
I smirked, remembering how quickly she’d fled upstairs. If my phone hadn’t rung at that exact moment p>
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I turned to find Lucas at the door with a folder. “The Bennett situation,” he explained, handing me the documents. “Their PR team has been working overtime on this. It’s generating significant positive coverage for both Miss Bennett and Mrs. Carter p>
I flipped through the preliminary report. “And p>
“And,” Lucas continued carefully,
“there’s a rumor that the Bennett
Media Group is looking for a face to
represent their upcoming streaming platform dedicated to classical
performances. Maybe they’re
considering Mrs. Carter for their new clássical music initiative
That was unexpected. I closed the folder. “Keep me updated p>
After Lucas left, I found myself walking back toward Aria’s room. I stopped short of knocking. What was I doing?
Author’s POV
Claire Bennett’s public gesture had sent ripples through New York’s elite social circles. Not only had it confused many, but it had also directly slapped Eleanor Smith and Thomas Carter across the face, metaphorically speaking.
The Carter-Bennett marriage arrangement had been whispered about for five years now. When Claire returned to the country last year, the Carters and Bennetts had even dined together, practically confirming the rumors.
It wasn’t until this year when Aiden suddenly married Aria that the arrangement had faded into the background. But just yesterday evening, Eleanor had brought Claire to the billion-dollar gala – a statement that couldn’t be misinterpreted. While Aiden and Aria had obtained their marriage certificate, they’d never held a wedding ceremony. During social events, Eleanor consistently dropped hints about Thomas’s disapproval of Aria as a niece-in-law.
Thomas was now the patriarch of the Carter family, a man whose words carried considerable weight.
Connecting these dots, everyone assumed Aiden and Aria would eventually divorce, with Claire becoming the ultimate Carter bride.
Everything had been proceeding according to Thomas’s plan – he’d been preparing
to force Aiden and Aria to divorce so he could arrange an engagement between Aiden and Claire.
Then overnight, Claire seemed to transform into a different person.
Not only had she published that grateful statement online elevating Aria to near- sainthood, but she’d also had her father call Thomas to cancel the arranged marriage between their families. Thomas
When Thomas received the call from Claire’s father, he had no idea what was happening. He’d assumed Mr. Bennett was calling to discuss engagement details. Instead, Mr. Bennett had bluntly stated: “Since Aiden has someone he cares for, and marriage is about freedom of choice these days, we parents shouldn’t force things. Thomas, I think we should call off this arrangement between our families.” Thomas had been stunned into confusion. No matter how much he tried to persuade him, Mr. Bennett was determined to cancel the arrangement, leaving Thomas no choice but to agree.
After hanging up, Thomas’s face turned ashen.
Grace cautiously asked, “What happened? What did the Bennetts say p>
“What did they say? What could they say? They’re canceling the arrangement p>
Grace gasped, “What’s going on? Is it because of Claire p>
Looking at Thomas’s expression, Grace hesitated before passing him her phone. “I don’t understand what’s gotten into Claire. Last night she insisted Aria had saved her life, which was strange enough. But look at this – today she’s publicly thanking her p>
“Now everyone knows Aria is her savior. Of course she wouldn’t want to break up
her savior’s marriage. How would that look p>
Grace frowned as she spoke, then suddenly had a thought: “Thomas, do you think the Bennetts have wanted out of this arrangement all along p>
Thomas gave Grace a pointed look. “If they didn’t want the marriage, they could
have just said so directly. They wouldn’t need to orchestrate something this
elaborate p>
Grace was even more confused. “Then why is Claire putting Aria on such a high pedestal p>
Thomas couldn’t make sense of it either. Looking at Claire’s statement of gratitude on the phone, his face
darkened. “This Aria Jones has some skill. First she got Aiden to
marry her without any warning, and now she’s manipulated Claire into becoming her advocate p>
Thomas’s expression hardened. “I need to meet this Aria Jones myself p>
Aria was surprised when Thomas’s secretary called her. The caller’s tone had been incredibly arrogant, and they’d hung up before she could even respond properly. Aria found it ridiculous. Did Thomas Carter think she would just drop everything because he summoned her?
Hmph!
She wouldn’t go!
Of course, she still needed to inform Aiden about this development.
Aria stood up and left her room, only to find Aiden standing right in front of her door.
Her eyes immediately landed on his clearly defined eight-pack abs.
What a shockingly stimulating sight for this time of night!