Chapter 110
Aria’s POV
I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body ached, especially my lower back. Last night with Aiden had been… intense. I couldn’t even remember falling asleep after our passionate lovemaking session.
Groaning, I stretched and rolled out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom. By the time I finished showering and made my way downstairs for breakfast, Aiden had already left for work. A note sat next to my coffee cup: “Had an early meeting. Dinner at 7? – A”
I smiled, tracing my finger over his handwriting when my phone rang. Lillian’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hey, what’s up?” I answered, taking a sip of coffee.
“My company’s doing a beach retreat next week, and I need a sexy swimsuit ASAP. Emergency shopping trip today p>
I laughed. “Why do you need a ‘sexy’ swimsuit for a corporate retreat p>
“Because Ryan from accounting will be there, duh! Pick you up in an hour p>
That’s how I found myself at Manhattan’s most exclusive swimwear boutique that afternoon, watching Lillian try on her fifteenth swimsuit.
“None of these are working,” she groaned, emerging from the dressing room in a red one-piece.
While Lillian continued her search, I wandered over to the lingerie section. A black lace set caught my eye, and I found myself lingering.
“Well, well, well,” Lillian appeared beside me with a knowing smirk. “Shopping for something to surprise Aiden p>
“What? No, I was just looking,” I protested, feeling my cheeks flush.
Lillian ignored me, waving over the saleswoman. “She’ll try this in a size 4, please.” “Lillian p>
“What? Just try it on. No commitment p>
Before I knew it, I was standing in the dressing room staring at my reflection in the mirror. The delicate black lace hugged every curve perfectly. It was definitely more risqué than anything I’d ever owned before.
“Everything okay in there?” Lillian called out.
“I don’t know I hesitated, studying my reflection. “It’s a little… much p>
“Let me see p>
“Absolutely not p>
I heard her laugh. “Come on, Aria. Live a little p>
Looking at myself again, I had to admit it was beautiful. And the way Aiden had been looking at me lately… I bit my lip, imagining his reaction.
“Fine. I’ll take it,” I called out, quickly changing back into my clothes. I ended up buying two sets – the black lace and a deep burgundy silk one that made me feel like a 1940s film star.
Lillian, meanwhile, left empty-handed. “Nothing felt right,” she sighed. “Let’s try the designer boutiques at Union Square p>
“I need to get my dad a birthday present anyway,” I agreed. “Maybe a new watch p>
At Chanel, Lillian headed straight for a classic flap bag she’d been eyeing for months. “Mom’s been coveting this since her neighbor got one. Perfect birthday gift p>
She made her purchase efficiently while I browsed the watches, thinking about what my father might like. That’s when I heard a painfully familiar voice.
“Do you have any new arrivals this season p>
My eyes met Lillian’s across the store. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered.
Emily White. Liam’s sister. Just seeing her face was enough to ruin my whole day.
“Let’s go out the side exit,” I suggested quickly.
Lillian nodded. “Good call. That girl is pure poison p>
We turned to leave, but we weren’t fast enough. Emily spotted us and her face immediately contorted with disgust.
“Well, look who it is,” she called loudly enough for everyone in the store to hear. “Talk about bad luck running into you p>
I rolled my eyes and tried to walk past her, pretending she was invisible. Lillian followed my lead.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!” Emily stepped directly in our path, her designer heels clicking aggressively on the marble floor. “Are you deaf now p>
I glanced around the store dramatically before pointing to myself. “Oh, are you
addressing me?” My voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Who else would I be talking to?” she snapped.
Lillian jumped in. “There are plenty of sales associates around p>
Emily shot her a venomous look. “Was anyone speaking to you? Mind your own business p>
She turned back to me, eyes scanning my outfit with obvious disdain. “I see Aiden isn’t treating you very well. Two months of marriage and you’re still dressed like… that p>
I looked down at my $3,000 designer dress from an exclusive boutique in SoHo and had to suppress a laugh. This girl wouldn’t know actual style if it slapped her in the face.
“Nothing to say?” Emily smirked. “Guess I hit a nerve p>
“If I respond, are you offering to buy me clothes?” I asked sweetly.
Her face scrunched in confusion. “Why would I buy you anything p>
“Then why should I waste my breath talking to you p>
I sighed dramatically. “Do you actually need something, Emily? Because if not, I’m leaving. And please don’t make a scene yelling after me. The store is packed, and people might think live shoplifted Something are you’re securit
chasing me down p>
Her face turned an impressive shade of red. After a moment, she blurted: “My brother is getting married p>
“Good for him,” I replied evenly, despite feeling like I’d been punched in the gut. I
kept my expression neutral, refusing to give her the satisfaction.
My apparent lack of reaction only infuriated her more. “You were obviously cheating with Aiden alt along! No wonder you were so quick to dump Liam And then pretending to be heartbroken online
Was she serious right now? In the middle of Chanel?With at least fifteen curious onlookers pretending not to listen?
As Emily continued her tirade, my eyes landed on a cup of coffee sitting on a nearby display table. Without hesitation, I walked over, picked it up, and returned to where she stood mid-rant.
The coffee splashed across her face before she even realized what was happening. “You-you threw coffee on me?” she sputtered, mascara running down her cheeks.
I stared at her coldly. “Next time, bring your brain when you leave the house. If that doesn’t work, go jump in the Hudson to clear your head Think before you speak, if I ever hear you say another word against Aiden, I promise what I throw won’t be coffee-it’ll be acid. Do you understand p>
Emily stood frozen, clearly shocked by my reaction. She’d never seen this side of
me before. The old Aria would have walked away in coffers.
As a final touch, I tossed the empty cup at her face before turning to leave.
“Let’s go, Lillian,” I said calmly, though my heart was racing. As we walked away, I heard the stunned whispers of other shoppers, but I didn’t care.
“That was INCREDIBLE,” Lillian whispered as we power-walked away. “I didn’t know you had it in you p>
Neither did I, but defending Aiden came as naturally as breathing now. Some lines simply couldn’t be crossed.