Chapter 222
Aria’s POV
After checking my social media for news about the hot search topic, I found it had completely vanished-not just from trending topics but even from regular searches.
My lips curved into a knowing smile. No surprise there; Aiden had clearly pulled some strings.
It didn’t really matter if it stayed trending anyway.
The competition was only days away, and the organizers had secured impressive backing with thirty-plus media outlets covering the event.
The moment I took off my mask and revealed myself as JJ, the news would spread across the internet in minutes.
How “sympathetic” people felt toward me online now-well, their faces would burn with embarrassment soon enough. God, I was becoming quite the schemer lately.
I smiled to myself, closed the app, and headed toward my music room. Time to practice! But halfway there, realization struck me. The competition wasn’t just about playing perfectly-it was about physical endurance!
Changing direction, I hurried to our home gym instead. The spacious two-thousand- square-foot facility had everything I needed. My plan was to loosen up my muscles these next couple days, then head to the beach for some real training.
After my car accident, I’d gone six months without exercise or touching a jet ski. Realistically, I wouldn’t take first place this time—a top three finish would be good enough. After years of winning, rankings mattered less to me now.
If Natalie Hayes hadn’t been so insufferable, I wouldn’t even be competing! But since she insisted on humiliating herself, I certainly wasn’t going to hold back.
After hours of working my limbs and core muscles, my body felt like it had been steamrolled. Running the massage gun over my legs nearly made me scream. When I finally finished stretching, I couldn’t move just lay sprawled on the mat staring at the ceiling while sweat dripped from my hairline.
I was so exhausted I could’ve fallen asleep right there.
That’s exactly how Aiden found me when he pushed open the door. Hearing him enter, I instinctively tried to sit up, but my overworked muscles betrayed me, and I collapsed halfway through the attempt. As I tried again, Aiden had already walked in. Our eyes met. My body was radiating heat from the workout, sweat still streaming down my skin. A droplet slid from my forehead directly into my eye.
Embarrassed, I pushed myself up and hastily wiped the sweat away. “You’re home already?” My mind screamed: Why are you back so early?! I’m all gross and sweaty! Aiden nodded. “Been exercising p>
“Yeah,” I answered nervously. “Just running a bit. It’s been a while since I worked out p>
His eyes drifted to the massage gun lying nearby, and he gave me a knowing look. “That much sweat from just running? Must have been quite the session p>
My face burned hotter. “Not really. Just about thirty minutes p>
As I spoke, I felt my ears turning crimson. Aiden watched them redden, clearly fighting a smile but mercifully not calling me out on my obvious lie. “Go shower. Dinner should be ready soon p>
That was exactly what I wanted to hear. “Yes, going now!” I nodded quickly and darted past him.
After that near “bust” in the gym yesterday, I changed my workout schedule. I’d gone to bed early and woken up with the sun.
Aiden and I had breakfast together before I helped him with his tie and walked him to the door. I watched his black Bentley disappear down the driveway before rushing back inside to change into my workout clothes.
Since I’d just eaten, intense exercise wasn’t ideal. I relaxed for an hour, confirmed my “alibi” with Lillian for the weekend, then started training.
My muscles screamed in protest despite yesterday’s massage gun session. I practically had to bite my lip to keep going through two hours of strength training, until my hands trembled with fatigue.
After using the massage gun again, I collapsed onto the floor, staring at the ceiling while remembering yesterday’s close call. Surely Aiden wouldn’t suddenly come home for lunch, right?
Though concerned, I couldn’t bring myself to move from my spot on the floor.
When a knock sounded at the door, my heart actually skipped a beat, and I jerked upright in panic.
“Mrs. Carter?” came our housekeeper’s voice. “Lunch will be ready in about thirty minutes p>
I exhaled dramatically. “Thanks, I’ll be there p>
After she left, I gave myself five more minutes before dragging my aching body to the shower.
After lunch, I practiced piano for an hour, but by mid-afternoon, exhaustion won. I stumbled to our bedroom and passed out the moment I hit the mattress.
Aiden texted that evening about an emergency meeting keeping him late at the office. I ate dinner alone played a couple video games with Lillian then felt guilty about the upcoming performance ando returned to the piano..net
By ten o’clock, Aiden still hadn’t returned. Checking my phone, I saw he’d texted an
hour ago telling me not to wait up. In our six months of marriage, this was the first time he’d worked this late.
Something major must have
happened at the company. Not
wanting to disturb him, I sent back a
simple good night message with a cute emoji and went to bed. I needed
to be up by seven tomorrow anyway the practice facility was quite a drive.
At 11:35 PM, Aiden finally emerged from the conference room, his expression icy and controlled. His assistant Lucas followed silently behind him, not daring to speak.
Their flagship product was
launching next month, but three test units had overheated and crashed During today’s emergency meeting, Aiden had personally investigated and discovered the tech department hadat fully resolved the issue but had pushed ahead with production deadlines approaching.
Their pathetic attempts to defend themselves—claiming they were “close to a solution” and the launch would “definitely be fine”—had fallen flat. Even Lucas had found their excuses ridiculous.
The office building stood nearly empty at this hour, their footsteps echoing in the silent hallways.
Back in his office, Aiden picked up his phone and noticed my message. For the first time that evening, his cold expression softened slightly, like ice beginning to thaw.