Chapter 161
Aria’s POV
The delicious aroma of homemade chicken noodle soup and grilled salmon wafted through the air as Aiden opened the containers. My stomach growled loudly in response, the sound embarrassingly obvious in the quiet office.
“Grrrrr p>
Aiden looked up at me with amusement in his eyes. “Thank you for going through all this trouble, Mrs. Liam p>
I forced a smile, feeling my cheeks heat up. “It was no trouble p>
Yeah, right. Just my luck to end up in this ridiculous situation.
Aiden methodically arranged the food containers on his desk and handed me a fork. “Eat p>
I accepted it, watching him hesitantly. “Aren’t you going to eat too?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
Hadn’t he just said he was starving? This was my home cooking, after all. Didn’t he want to at least try it?
“I am,” he replied simply.
Since I’d come straight from home without eating, I’d packed two sets of utensils and containers. Aiden took a sip of the soup, then paused when he caught me staring at him.
My eyes must have betrayed my anticipation because his lips curved into the slightest smile. “Did you make this lunch yourself?” he asked.
I blinked in surprise. “How did you know p>
Damn it. I’d just confessed without him even really pushing.
His dark eyes studied me. “It tastes different from Nanny’s cooking p>
At his words, I tightened my grip on my fork nervously and laughed. “I’m not very good at cooking. It’s probably not as good as Nanny’s p>
“Is that so p>
He took a bite of the salmon, chewed thoughtfully, then said, “Your cooking suits my taste better, actually p>
“Really p>
Was he just being nice?
“I’m not just saying that to be nice,” he replied, as if reading my mind.
I felt my face flush again. “Um, thanks p>
How the hell did he know exactly what I was thinking?
“I should be the one thanking you,” he said.
I looked at him, confused. “Why p>
I’d been cold to him just two days ago, giving him the silent treatment, though he probably hadn’t even noticed. But when I thought about how he might have waited for me outside my apartment for an hour and a half while still recovering from a fever, I felt like the worst person alive.
“If you hadn’t come by today, I probably would have had stomach pain this afternoon p>
I remembered reading in the file Lucas had given me that Aiden had stomach issues.
“I just… felt like cooking today, that’s all I stammered.
Aiden nodded. “We have Nanny at home. Next time, you could have her prepare the food and just bring it over p>
He paused briefly before adding, “It’s perfectly normal for a CEO’s wife to bring lunch to her husband, isn’t it p>
I’d been wondering if this was appropriate, but hearing him say that made me realize I was overthinking things.
Not all displays of affection need to be grand gestures. If we were constantly over- the-top with our relationship, people might suspect we were trying too hard. But these small, everyday moments were much more convincing.
“Absolutely normal!” I agreed quickly, then added, “But won’t it interrupt your work p>
“Even CEOs need lunch breaks,” he replied, his dark eyes dancing with subtle amusement.
I felt embarrassed again. “Sorry, I’m overthinking this p>
Of course, the mighty Aiden Liam was still human. Even powerful executives needed to eat.
“Mmm,” he hummed in agreement, then focused on eating.
I fell silent too, occasionally stealing glances at him. When I realized he genuinely enjoyed my cooking rather than just being polite, I couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased.
I tried not to stare too obviously, sipping my soup in small mouthfuls. That way, I
could sneak looks at him without being too obvious.
After finishing lunch, I tactfully suggested heading home.
Aiden immediately offered to have his driver take me back, but I quickly refused. “I’ll just take the subway p>
Before he could insist, I added, “If it’s too much trouble every time I come, I might not want to visit again p>
That successfully deterred him from pushing the driver issue. “Alright. Be careful p>
“I will p>
Aiden was on a business trip for the next two days.
I have to admit, I miss him a little.
Alone at Madison Reynolds and Liam White’s engagement party, I couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
The ceremony was about to start when the host’s voice crackled through the microphone: “Ladies and gentlemen, please bear with us for a moment. Mr. White is having some issues with his attire p>
Madison had already changed into a stunning new gown and stood waiting on stage for Liam to appear for the proposal. But minutes ticked by, and he was nowhere to be seen.
A dark thought crossed my mind had Liam pulled another disappearing act? It felt eerily familiar to my own experience.
As if reading my mind, Madison’s panicked voice suddenly called out through the microphone. “Aria! Are you here? Aria p>
My head snapped up, blood rushing to my face as every eye in the room turned toward me. What the hell? Why was she calling me out?
Just then, the ballroom doors swung open with decisive force. A tall figure strode in with confident steps, his presence commanding immediate attention. My heart skipped as realized it wasn’t Liam as everyone expected-it was Aiden.
“Aiden Over here!” Ryan called out, waving from our table.
The room had fallen eerily silent after Madison’s outburst and the dramatic entrance, making Ryan’s voice carry farther than he’d probably intended. Alleyes shifted t Our corner as Aiden made toward me with purposeful strides.
way
My pulse quickened as he reached my side, his familiar scent washing over me.
Without hesitation, he picked up the microphone from our table.
“My apologies for being late,” his deep voice resonated through the room. “I’m here with my wife to congratulate Mr. Wright and Miss Reynolds p>
Madison’s face paled instantly at the sight of Aiden, her voice dying in her throat. Meanwhile, whispers began spreading through the crowd as Liam’s continued absence became impossible to hide.
It took me a moment to process that Aiden was actually here. Under the dim lighting,
I studied his sharp jawline and the intensity in his eyes. The mango candy in my mouth suddenly tasted sweeter.
“Why did you come?” I whispered, genuinely surprised.
His lips curved into that half-smile I’d come to adore as he leaned closer. “Worried someone might steal my Mrs. Cater away p>
“As if that could happen!” I felt my cheeks flush, the playfulness in his voice making my stomach flutter.
Ryan quickly lowered his head, pretending to be invisible as we exchanged glances.
With Liam’s disappearance causing chaos on stage, I no longer wanted to stay. “Can we go home?” I gently hooked my pinky finger with his, the light touch reminiscent of a cat’s tail brushing against him.
Aiden looked down at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his dark eyes intensified. “Yes,” he replied, his voice husky and low.
Taking my hand firmly in his, our fingers interlaced as we made our exit.
I caught Ryan glancing at our joined hands before he quickly looked away with an expression that screamed “I didn’t need to see that p>
Aiden had driven himself to the hotel, with his car parked right at the entrance. As we approached it, a figure suddenly burst out from the side entrance.
“Aria! Please, can you give me another chance?” Liam rushed toward us, his face
desperate.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Aiden pulled me protectively against his chest, positioning himself between Liam and me. “Mr. Wright, your fiancée is inside looking
for you everywhere,” he said coldly.
But Liam seemed to look right through Aiden, his eyes fixed solely on me. “Aria, I know I made a mistake. I truly do! Let’s start over! We can leave this place together
and begin again p>
I stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriously doing this? “You ran out on our wedding for Sophia, and now you’re using me as an excuse to run out on your engagement with Madison p>
My voice grew stronger with each word. “Do you actually love me, Liam? Or is it just that you can’t handle the fact that someone who once loved you so deeply doesn’t
anymore p>
My words hit him like physical blows. His shoulders slumped as though all energy had drained from his body.
Aiden opened the car door and guided me inside with a protective hand at my lower back. As he closed it, I watched through the window as he turned to Liam.
“You’ve already hurt her once,” Aiden’s voice was razor-sharp even through the glass. “Are you really trying to hurt her a second time p>
Liam raised his head, eyes bloodshot. “Aiden Carter, what right do you have to say that p>
“I’m her legal husband. You tell me if I have the right p>
Aiden pushed Liam back slightly. “Three months ago, you left her standing alone in humiliation. Now you’re trying to drag her into another
messes that what you callove?” He paused, his contempt evident. “Because if so, it comes remarkably cheap p>