Chapter 215
Aria’s POV
I gazed at the bracelet on my wrist, unable to hide my curiosity. There was
something distinctly unique about it compared to mainstream designs.
“Don’t you like it?” Aiden asked, his voice dropping to that low timbre that always made my skin tingle.
“No, I do!” I protested quickly. How could I not? It was just so different from anything else I’d seen before, which made me examine it more carefully.
“Let me put it on for you,” he offered, his eyes never leaving mine.
I extended my wrist toward him, feeling the warmth of his fingers against my skin. “What made you suddenly buy me a bracelet p>
I rarely wore bracelets or rings when playing piano, preferring to keep my hands unadorned, though my jewelry box certainly didn’t lack for options.
Aiden took the delicate chain, his strong fingers working the clasp with surprising dexterity. “I thought it suited Mrs. Carter perfectly,” he said, his voice carrying that hint of possessiveness I secretly loved.
“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow.
He glanced up, catching my expression. “Don’t worry, this bracelet didn’t cost much p>
I ran my finger along the links, skeptical. “Didn’t cost much by whose standards?” Aiden’s definition of “inexpensive” and mine had always existed in completely different universes.
“A few thousand,” he admitted, knowing exactly what I was thinking.
“That cheap?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. “Really p>
“Just a small gift,” he said with a casual shrug that didn’t fool me for a second.
I studied the bracelet more intently. “It doesn’t look like a designer piece p>
“You have a good eye, Mrs. Carter.” His lips curved into that half-smile that always made my stomach flip. He crossed the room and grabbed the remote, closing the curtains with a press of a button.
The bright sunlight gradually retreated as the curtains drew together. Within moments, the room dimmed considerably, casting everything in shadows.
I lifted my wrist, the bracelet catching what little light remained. “What’s special about this bracelet?” I couldn’t imagine what had caught his attention enough to purchase it.
“You don’t like it?” he asked again, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
I shook my head quickly. “That’s not it at all.” I was simply curious.
Aiden watched me for a long moment before finally speaking. “I bought it from an elderly woman p>
My eyes crinkled as I smiled, moving to his side and wrapping my arms around him. “Playing the good Samaritan, Mr. Carter?” I rested my chin on his arm, looking up at him with what I knew was naked adoration in my eyes.
I could tell he loved when I looked at him this way. His eyes softened as they met mine, and I felt that familiar warmth spread through my chest. Even on the darkest days, something about his gaze made everything brighter.
“The bracelet was a gift from the woman’s husband,” he explained. “Her husband was critically ill and needed money, so she was selling it p>
The bracelet wasn’t made of anything particularly precious, nor was the design especially remarkable.
Aiden had never been one for charity. “Good deeds” weren’t exactly his specialty.
“When she looked at me,” he continued, “her cloudy eyes were full of desperation, but I felt nothing.” He paused. “I was walking away when something she said stopped me in my tracks p>
I listened, completely absorbed in his story.
“She called the bracelet ‘Forever.’ She said when you give it to someone you love, it binds you together forever p>
My heart skipped a beat.
“She told me she and her husband had loved each other for fifty-eight years, supporting each other
through everything. She said the net
bracelet wasn’t worth
much money but it had witnessed their love all these years. If her husband wasn’t lying in the hospital needing treatment, she would never have parted with it, even if it meant her own death p>
Aiden’s voice softened. “She asked if I had someone I loved. And I do p>
He’d paid $9,999 for the bracelet and placed it on the wrist of the woman he loved-
me.
Aiden’s expression shifted subtly as he finished his story, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. “I wouldn’t call it charity. I just wanted to give ‘Forever’ to you p>
I understood the significance of his words immediately, heat rushing to my face as my heart thundered in my chest.
Looking down at the bracelet again, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. Forever. What a beautiful name.
I ran my fingers over it once more. “Thank you. I love it,” I whispered, meaning it completely.
Aiden studied me for a moment. “Ready for a nap?” he suggested, his voice taking
on a deeper quality that suggested he wasn’t thinking about sleep at all.
I felt my body respond instantly to his tone, but before I could answer, the doorbell rang.
Relief washed over me, though it was tinged with disappointment. “That must be the delivery. I’ll go get it.” I turned and hurried out of the room.
Aiden watched me go without comment, his lips quirking slightly. As I left, I heard him heading to the closet, presumably to grab something more comfortable to wear.
Once outside the bedroom door, I paused, glancing back before making my way downstairs. By the time I reached the first floor, Nanny had already accepted the package.
“Mrs. Carter,” she greeted me with a smile, “the courier just delivered what you ordered p>
I took the package, tearing off the outer wrapping to reveal a gift box. Inside were two invitations.
Lillian had done well—one invitation for Aiden, one for me. Though truthfully, we could have attended without any invitation at all.
I examined them carefully. They were clearly custom-made, not standard invitations.
Instinctively, I reached for my phone to send Lillian a photo, only to remember I’d left it on the coffee table in our bedroom’s sitting area.
Taking the invitations, I headed back upstairs. When I opened the master bedroom door, I caught Aiden emerging from the bathroom.
He’d changed into comfortable loungewear, his face freshly washed and glowing with that impossible perfection that made him look like he belonged in a skincare
commercial Droplets of water clung to his tousled hair, and as watched, one fell onto his cheek.
I blinked, suddenly aware I’d been staring for several seconds.
“Invitations?” His deep voice broke the silence.
Realizing I’d been caught gawking, I felt heat rise to my face as I quickly averted my
eyes and handed him the invitations. “Yes, they’re custom-made. They really put
effort into them p>
Aiden took them, studied them briefly, then handed them back to me. “Keep them.
I’ll go with you when the time comes p>
I took the invitations back and
walked to the coffee table to retrieve
my phone. “I’ll take a picture to send
to Lilian.” I snapped a couple of
photos and texted them to her with
a simple “got them” message.
After placing the invitations on the table, I turned back to Aiden with my phone in
hand. “Aren’t you going to rest p>
The curtains were still drawn, casting the room in intimate shadows.
Aiden sat on the bed, his eyes meeting mine with an unmistakable heat. “Are you p>
“I… yes.” I bit my lower lip. “I’ll change into something more comfortable p>
I darted into the closet, emerging a few minutes later in a pale pink silk pajama set that clung to my curves in all the right places.
Aiden had settled into bed, and when he saw me, he put his phone down and adjusted his pillow before lying back.
I slid under the covers beside him, laying still for a moment before turning to face
him. “Can I hold you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.