Chapter 114
Aria’s POV
I wanted to ask about the wallpaper but suddenly felt like drawing attention to it would be too obvious. Instead, I tried to play it cool.
“Actually, looking at it carefully, the photo is quite artistic. It makes for a really nice wallpaper,” I said, feeling my face burn as I stared at myself in that rain-soaked image. To cover my embarrassment, I added quickly, “I was just curious, Aiden. Don’t mind me p>
“It’s fine,” he replied, seemingly unbothered.
I breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to change the subject. “I still need to practice piano for three hours today. I should get to it p>
“Mmm,” he hummed in acknowledgment.
As I stood up, I noticed Aiden pick up his phone again, his dark eyes studying that wallpaper intently. My heart skipped a beat.
I turned to leave, eager to escape to the music room upstairs. I’d only taken a few steps when his curious voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Does Mrs. Carter find this photograph familiar for some reason p>
My back stiffened instantly. I turned around slowly, facing him. “No, I was just asking randomly p>
“Is that so p>
His lips curved into a slight smile. “I find it looks more familiar the longer I look at it p>
I unconsciously gripped the hem of my shirt. Must be your imagination p>
Aiden lifted his gaze to meet mine. “Doesn’t it look like that rainy evening when I came to pick you up, and you ran into my arms p>
It wasn’t just similar—it was exactly that moment!
I couldn’t bring myself to admit it out loud. I stood there awkwardly, deeply regretting opening my big mouth in the first place.
My silence didn’t deter him. “That night, did someone take a photo of us p>
God, why isn’t there such a thing as a time machine when you need one?
Seeing my continued silence, his eyes flicked to my burning ears. Then he lowered his gaze, hiding what I swore was amusement in those dark eyes. “I won’t keep you. Go practice your piano p>
At that point, how could I possibly focus on piano practice? I stared longingly at the phone in his hand, bit my lip, and decided to just come clean.
“Actually, Aiden, the people in that photo really are you and me p>
“Ah, no wonder I thought the person in it looked so beautiful p>
His compliment left me standing there, conflicted. After an internal struggle, I finally worked up the courage to ask the question burning in my mind.
“Did you… did you set it as your wallpaper because of me p>
Aiden tilted his head slightly. “Why would you think that p>
“Isn’t it because I used it as my wallpaper first?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Then I watched his lips curve into a knowing smile, and realization hit me like a truck. He’d known all along. He’d been playing me this entire time!
I glared at him, stomped on his foot (not too hard, but hard enough to make my point), and fled the scene before he could respond.
I spent the evening anxiously anticipating some form of “payback” from him, but surprisingly, none came.
All evening, I expected some form of “revenge” from him, but surprisingly, nothing
came.
The next morning, I went to the music room to practice. I’d just finished running through the two pieces for Julian’s concert twice when Mr. Smith, the butler came to inform me that someone was asking for me downstairs.
I frowned slightly. It was Monday—a workday for most people.
Who would come looking for me at this hour? It couldn’t be Aiden’s uncle Thomas, could it?
This time, my guess was right.
When I got downstairs, Mr. Smith had already served tea to Thomas. Not that he’d
touched it—apparently, it wasn’t good enough for him.
Aiden’s uncle was much more
difficult to deal with than Eleanor. Thomas Carter had spent over thirty years in the cutthroat business. world Though illness had forced
him to step back, one of his intimidating presence or authority had diminished.
He honestly scared me a little, but then again, I was officially Aiden’s wife, which gave me some courage.
I sat down on the sofa across from him. “Mr. Carter p>
I’d actually wanted to call him “Uncle Thomas,” but fearing it might send him straight
to the hospital with rage, I went with the more familiar term.
Thomas glared at me coldly. “Miss Jones, you’ve got quite the talent. Barely dumped by the White boy, and already you’ve managed to get Aiden to marry you p>
“Actually, Mr. Carter, you’ve got it wrong. I was the one who broke things off with Liam, not the other way around p>
My attempt to correct this minor detail instantly set him off.”Don’t play innocent with me. That act might work on Aiden, but I’m not buying it p>
I felt incredibly wronged. “I’m not acting. I’m just stating facts p>
“Name your price,” Thomas Carter sneered. “How much will it take for you to divorce Aiden p>
“Wow, you and Aunt Eleanor really are siblings! You both open with exactly the same line!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “Don’t you have any other tactics p>
His eyes snapped to me, dark with disbelief. Clearly, no one had ever spoken to him like this before. With a furious snarl, he slammed his cane against the floor, the crack of it echoing through the room.
“We’ll see what’s tougher your sharp tongue or your family’s company p>
My smile faded at that. “Are you saying that if I don’t agree, you’ll target my family’s business p>
“You’re not completely stupid after all p>
I leveled my gaze at him. “Won’t Aiden be upset if he finds out what you’re doing p>
His face darkened immediately.
“Are you threatening me?” he demanded, his voice sharp as a whip.
“Threatening?” I blinked at him innocently. “How am I threatening you? Isn’t trust the most important thing between husband and wife? Aiden will definitely find out about your visit today p>
I let the words hang for a beat before adding softly, “And when he asks what you said to me, I’ll have to tell him the truth Or is that not how it works between you and your wife? Do you always keep secrets from each other p>
That almost made him explode. His face turned an alarming shade of red, and even
his assistant looked like he wanted to scold me.
But then there was a sound from the entryway.
I turned toward it, my pulse kicking up. There stood Aiden in a sharp black suit, his
expression cold and unreadable as his eyes swept over the scene.