Chapter 234
Aria’s POV
Aiden watched me with an amused smile but said nothing.
I blinked, my mind suddenly flooded with Elena’s words from earlier.
“You know, Aria, you’re nothing like Aiden’s first love p>
“You’re sweet and gentle, but his first love was this badass girl. She was amazing at jet skiing, actually p>
“This woman was Aiden’s first love. I thought you might be curious enough to come see her p>
Was Elena just talking nonsense? Aiden and I definitely hadn’t met before all this. How could I possibly be his first love?
“Hey, Aiden, did you ever have a first love?” I asked, my voice softer than intended.
What I really wanted to ask was if I was his first love, but that seemed way too narcissistic.
The question twisted around in my mouth several times before I managed to get even this much out.
“What do you think?” he countered, tossing the question right back at me.
I grimaced, embarrassed, but before I could respond, my phone started ringing inside my bag.
I glanced at Aiden apologetically. “It might be Lillian p>
He held my backpack strap while I unzipped it and fished out my phone. Sure enough, Lillian’s name flashed on the screen.
“Lillian?” I answered quickly.
“Aria, where are you right now? The organizers just contacted me. There’s a sponsor who specifically requested to meet you at tonight’s dinner. Are you available p>
I instinctively glanced at Aiden. “No thanks. The sponsor isn’t supporting me personally, so I’ll pass on the dinner p>
Lillian started to protest, “But then seemed to reconsider. “Alright, I’ll decline for you. By the way, you’ve hit several trending topics online. The whole internet now knows you’re not just a pianist but also a jet ski champion p>
I cringed. “I haven’t checked T r yet p>
Honestly, I hadn’t had time to see what was happening online.
Lillian laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Those trends will probably stay up until tonight!
I won’t keep you, but remember to come by later for the group photo p>
Though I typically avoided those networking dinners, I always showed up for the group photos as a courtesy. Before my identity was revealed, I’d wait in the hotel after competitions and then arrive wearing my mask just in time. Now that everyone knew who I was, I didn’t need to hide from cameras anymore.
After hanging up, I checked the time—almost five already.
“Let’s head over there for a bit. I still need to go on stage for the group photo at the end,” I told Aiden.
He nodded, casually slung my backpack over his shoulder, and took my hand as we walked toward the competition area.
By the time we arrived, the competition was nearly finished. We found a shady spot to sit, and Aiden bought me a coconut drink. Before I could even take a sip, the organizers called, asking me to come for the photo.
“I need to change and take a photo with everyone. Won’t take long!” I said, grabbing
my bag from him and hurrying through the crowd toward the changing rooms.
When I emerged in fresh clothes, the men’s division award ceremony was already underway. I joined the other women competitors, immediately feeling self-conscious as several male contestants stared at me when I approached holding my helmet.
“Is this the women’s champion?” someone asked.
Everyone thought I was Kaitlyn since they didn’t recognize me.
“I’m Aria,” I said somewhat shyly.
As soon as my soft voice faded, someone muttered “Damn” under their breath.
“Aria, your skills are insane, and you’re gorgeous too. Any chance I could get your number p>
“Now that you’ve taken off your mask, can we add you on I m? You don’t need to keep your distance from us anymore, right p>
“Yeah, yeah! Aria, are you in our group chat yet? Most jet skiers across the country are in it. We often plan trips together. Add me, and I’ll invite you in p>
I was about
to decline when Sophia suddenly cut in with a sarcastic tone: “You guys should really back off. This year’s champion is Kaitlyn. Some people are just afraid of losing attention when they lose the title, so they finally revealed their face. Funny how after years of being so
private, she suddenly decides to go
public this year p>
In the past, I wouldn’t have bothered responding to comments like that. First, because they didn’t matter to me, and second, because I knew nothing I said would shut them up.
But things were different now. I didn’t care what she thought, but I wasn’t going to let her insult me anymore.
“That’s because I got married this year,” I replied with an innocent expression. “Being married means the mask doesn’t matter anymore. It eliminates certain… unnecessary complications p>
My response worked on two
levels-it-countered her insinuation
that I was an attention seeker and it politely rejected all the guys asking
for my contact information in a way they couldn’t argue with.
Someone jumped in to ease the tension: “Anyway, we finally get to see Aria’s real
face today! Let’s drop it and take the group photo p>
I gave Sophia a pointed smile. “That’s the champion’s position right there p>
Sophia’s plan exposed, she fumed but couldn’t say anything. “I know that! Kaitlyn, come over here p>
To everyone’s surprise, Kaitlyn shook her head. “Aria, can I stand next to you p>
I blinked, surprised by the young woman who couldn’t be much older than twenty- one. I smiled genuinely. “Of course p>
Sophia’s mouth twisted with anger, but since Kaitlyn had requested it herself, there wasn’t much she could say.
After the group photo, I immediately declined the organizers’ invitation to the dinner. “Sorry, my husband is waiting for me!” I said, clutching my helmet and practically running off the stage.
Aiden had somehow made his way to the front, standing below with my coconut drink, waiting for me.
I heard Sophia sneer behind me: “Acting like she’s the only one with a husband. What’s the big deal p>
Someone nearby gasped. “Wow, Aria’s husband is so hot p>
Sophia froze, then reluctantly looked in the direction everyone was staring.
Standing below, Aiden wore a loose white shirt, holding the coconut in one hand. His chiseled features looked almost severe in the evening sunlight, his dark eyes cold and distant.
Until the moment I ran up to him. Then, the man who’d seemed like an iceberg suddenly curved his lips into a smile.
In an instant, all that ice melted away.
I felt Sophia’s burning gaze on my back, but honestly? I couldn’t care less.