Chapter 149
Aria’s POV
I looked up from my laptop, exhausted after coordinating with Aiden and Julian to clear up that Valentine’s Day misunderstanding. Thank God Lillian had offered to help by sharing our selfie with the timestamp. Still, reading those “just friends” comments online made my chest ache. It wasn’t real between us, but damn if it didn’t hurt anyway.
And then there was Aiden with Elena Pierce p>
I covered my eyes, desperately trying to block out those thoughts when a knock startled me.
“Coming, Nanny!” I called, shuffling across the floor in my slippers.
When I opened the door, my heart nearly stopped. Aiden stood there, tall and imposing, his dark eyes fixed on me. Tears welled up instantly.
“Mr. Carter?” My voice cracked embarrassingly.
Realizing I was losing control, I looked away quickly, blinking furiously. “Why are you suddenly back p>
Tears escaped despite my efforts. “Would you believe me if I said I got something in my eye?” I attempted weakly.
“That upset?” he asked, his tone softening slightly.
His gentleness only made it worse. “Julian and I really don’t have anything going on. How could people say such things about me p>
I held back what I really wanted to say that I was hurt he hadn’t come to my performance, hadn’t picked me up afterwards. But those privileges belonged to the real Mrs. Carter, not an imposter like me.
I took a deep breath. “I’m just so angry p>
He watched me with those unfathomable dark eyes, saying nothing for what felt like eternity.
“Elena Pierce is my mother’s friend’s daughter,” he finally said.
“Oh. Childhood sweethearts, then.” My heart plummeted. This was it—I was about to be replaced.
“I’ve only met her about eight times in my life p>
I was seconds from bursting into tears when he reached out, gently wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “I’ve already had Lucas look into last night’s incident. Elena’s studio will issue a statement p>
My heart raced chaotically as I worried he might see right through me—or worse, that he wouldn’t.
“Should I… do anything?” I asked tentatively.
“Leave everything to me p>
“That seems unfair,” I said, chewing my lip. After all, I was partly responsible for this
mess.
I glanced at him nervously. “Last night… you didn’t come home p>
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. “I don’t mean anything by it! Just curious p>
Aiden’s lips curved into something almost like a smile. “I did p>
The weight on my chest lifted instantly. “Those media outlets are just awful, making up stories p>
“Hmm.” He loosened his top button. “Feeling better p>
“Much better.” I touched my face self-consciously. Was my distress that obvious? “Anything else you want to ask p>
I looked into those dark eyes and panicked, my ears burning. “No, nothing else p>
I knew better than to push. While he’d explained about Elena, I could tell she wasn’t just anybody to him. He probably skipped my concert to meet her.
“Really?” he asked, his eyes holding a hint of expectation.
“Nothing at all,” I insisted.
“Fine.” He stepped into the room and sat down at my dressing table. “Then it’s my
turn to ask questions p>
I sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed. “Go ahead p>
Just then, my phone screen lit up on
the
esser. I glimpsed Lillian’s
message and lunged for it in pa
“Perhaps you should respond to your friend first,” he said with a click
of his tongue. Otherwise she right get the wrong impression about me p>
How could I possibly explain Lillian calling him a “dog of a man p>
“I’m sorry, Mr. Carter. My friend doesn’t mean any harm—she just misunderstands our relationship p>
My phone lit up again with another message from Lillian.
“May I see what other misunderstandings your friend has about me?” he asked.
No way in hell could I let him see that I’d just told Lillian I wished I hadn’t fallen for him!
Panicking, I quickly typed: “Aiden explained everything. The online rumors aren’t true. I’ll tell you more later p>
Then I immediately powered off my phone. “Oops, battery died,” I lied, tossing it onto the far side of the bed.
“You should invite your friend over for dinner sometime. Some things I should explain personally p>
“Sure Poor Lillian. I couldn’t save her now.
“So what did you want to ask me?” I quickly changed the subject.
“Is Julian pursuing you?” he asked bluntly.
“That’s impossible! I’m married!” As if Julian would ever be interested in me.
“He’s not p>
“Is he?” His intense gaze made me doubt my own reality.
“Just curious,” he said.
I blushed at hearing my own excuse thrown back at me.
“Do you like Julian p>
My eyes widened in shock. “Have I done anything to suggest I like him p>
He shook his head. “Just asking p>
As he unbuttoned the second button of his shirt, he asked, “What kind of men do
you like p>
My heart raced. “It depends on the feeling p>
“So if the feeling was right, you could like Julian p>
I didn’t know how to respond to that.
He undid another button and suddenly leaned toward me. “What about me? Could
you like me p>