Chapter 296

Aria’s POV

As I sat perched on top of the cemetery wall, something about this moment felt strangely familiar. The moonlight, the darkness, even the way Aiden stood below with his arms outstretched—it triggered something deep in my memory that I

couldn’t quite place.

“Having second thoughts?” Aiden called up, a hint of teasing in his voice.

I snapped back to reality and positioned myself at the edge. Without overthinking it, I pushed off and let myself fall into his waiting arms. The sensation of falling was brief -his strong arms caught me effortlessly, securing me against his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne-sandalwood with subtle hints of cedar-enveloped me immediately.

I found myself staring up at his face, studying the sharp angles illuminated by moonlight. A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over me.

“Aiden,” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, “have we met before? Before all this, I mean p>

I watched as his eyelashes fluttered slightly-a tiny reaction most people would miss. His arms tightened around me almost imperceptibly, and he adjusted his hold with a small bounce that pressed me closer against his chest.

“What do you think?” he answered, his voice low and intimate.

I searched his features, trying to trigger any memory. Those penetrating eyes, the defined jawline, those lips that could shift from stern to gentle in a heartbeat-surely I’d remember a face like that.

“Probably not,” I finally admitted, disappointed by my own conclusion. “With a face like yours, there’s no way I’d forget meeting you p>

He made a small sound-something between amusement and… was that disappointment? Before I could analyze it further, he crouched down with me still in his arms, retrieving my heels that I’d tossed over earlier.

The intimacy of what happened next caught me completely off guard. Still holding me with one arm, he took my bare foot in his hand. His palm felt warm against my heel as he carefully guided my foot into the shoe. When his fingers accidentally brushed against the side of my foot, I involuntarily jerked back-my feet had always been ridiculously ticklish.

“Did I hurt you?” Concern flashed across his face as he paused.

“No, just ticklish,” I mumbled, feeling heat rise to my face.

He nodded and finished securing both shoes before gently setting me down. “Any scratches or cuts p>

I wiggled my toes inside the heels and looked down at my feet. “No, I’m fine p>

The night air felt cool against my burning ears, and I was grateful for the darkness that hid my flushed face. Something about his tenderness made my heart race in a way that confused me. This was supposed to be a marriage of convenience not whatever was happening right now.

To break the awkward moment, I reached for his hand. “Where’s your godmother’s grave p>

“It’s deeper inside,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it.

East Cemetery was built at the foothills outside the city, isolated and rarely visited except by mourners and caretakers. The vegetation grew wild and untamed, creating an eerie chill despite the summer night.

It had been years since I’d been in a cemetery after dark.

The moon cast enough light for us to see our path, but I couldn’t help noticing how the golden lettering on some of the gravestones gleamed in an almost ghostly way A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly averted my gaze, focusing instead on following Aiden.

“Don’t be afraid,” I told myself silently. “This is where Aiden’s mother rests. There’s nothing to fear p>

I stole a glance at Aiden walking beside me. The moonlight sculpted his profile in a way I’d never seen before highlighting the strong. bridge of his nose, the determined set of his jaw, the thoughtfulcurve soft, slivery light,

of his brow in this honet

he looked almost vulnerable, more human than the intimidating businessman everyone knew.

He must have felt me staring because he turned slightly. “Scared p>

I tried to keep my expression neutral, despite another chill running through me. “No p>

“Cold p>

I was freezing, actually. My dress was gorgeous but offered zero protection against the night air. Still, my stubborn pride made me automatically shake my head. “No— ACHOO p>

So much for playing tough.

Without hesitation, Aiden stopped and shrugged off his suit jacket, draping it over my shoulders in one fluid motion. “We’re almost there,” he said, taking my hand again.

The jacket enveloped me completely, still warm from his body heat. I glanced down at myself and couldn’t help but smile-his jacket made me look like a child playing dress-up. The shoulders extended well beyond my own, and the sleeves hung past my fingertips.

I found myself staring at his shoulders as we walked-how had I never noticed how broad they were? All this time I’d been distracted by his striking features and that Adam’s apple that moved hypnotically wher he spoke, but I’d somehow missed the perfect proportion of his frame. Wide shoulders tapering down to a trim waist, the classic inverted triangle that looked so good in tailored suits.

It reminded me of those romance novels Lillian was always trying to get me to read.

What was it she always said about the reserved, buttoned-up characters? Something about how the most restrained men in public were often the most passionate in private p>

I felt heat rush to my cheeks as my thoughts wandered into dangerous territory. What was wrong with me? We were in a cemetery, for goodness sake, about to visit his mother’s grave! I mentally scolded myself for such inappropriate thoughts.

“We’re here, Aria p>

Aiden’s voice pulled me back to reality as we stopped in front of a beautiful marble headstone.