Hermione "You're having a misunderstanding, Mr. Mendes," Xavier says, trying to clarify the situation. I don't care what Aiden thinks about my relationship with Xavier. This might even work in my favor to discourage his interest in me entirely. If he thinks I'm disloyal, his fragile attraction to me will dissipate, and he'll stop pursuing me. I won't have to resist him until my head clears. Everyone will stay in their rightful place, and all will be well. "Hermione and I go way back," Xavier explains. "We're just friends.""Just friends?" Aiden growls, finally tearing his gaze away from mine. Electricity ran through me when I saw him at the door earlier. I was stunned by his presence, speechless and numb. If Xavier hadn't approached him, I would have remained rooted under his intense glare. I find my voice at Aiden's question, answering before Xavier can. "What are you doing here, Aiden?" I approach the two men, standing beside them."I caught you in another man's arms, and that'
Aiden I had a hunch that Hermione would avoid me again after I left her house that evening. I tried to call and text her to make amends, but to no avail. I would have confronted her in person, but my schedule was tight over the past week, and I couldn't leave Nell to handle the workload alone, despite his assurance that he could manage it. Nell is my biggest supporter when it comes to my marriage plans. He's been effusive about my engagement to Hermione, gushing over how well we looked together when he watched the video of our public appearance online.This morning, I decided I'd had enough of playing games with Hermione. I instructed Nell to reschedule my appointments and clear my schedule for a visit to Hermione's hospital today. As I envision the morning's events, a smile spreads across my face. Lost in my thoughts, I don't notice Dad until I walk past him. I sense his presence and snap back to reality. I turn to face him, apologizing for ignoring him, just as he clears his thr
Hermione I stare at my reflection in the mirror and grimace. My hair's a mess, and I try to tame it with my fingers, but it's no use. I grab my comb and work it through my tangles until my hair's smooth. My scalp burns, but I'm glad for the distraction from thoughts of Aiden. My skin still tingles from his touch."I hate him," I mutter, scowling at myself. I remember how I looked after he left – a total mess. How could he find me charming like that? I snort, thinking guys like him would chase any woman who'd give them the time of day.I try to focus on work, but Aiden's calls and texts keep haunting me. I ignore them, determined to shake him off. Still, my heart skips a beat when I see his name on my phone. He's switched to texts since I've been ignoring his calls."I know this is your contact. I confirmed it," he says. I almost laugh at that. A small smile creeps onto my lips, but I quickly wipe it away. "You promised you forgave me," he writes. Yeah, I did. But that doesn't mea
Hermione My mouth hangs open in disbelief at Aiden's outburst. A rollercoaster of emotion explodes within me, but I hold back from pushing against him. Every part of me aches with pain and need. I flinch when I notice that my hands are on his muscled thighs, the unmistakable bulge of his desire pushing against my backside. I try to get up, but pain shoots through my knee, straight to my buttocks, and I wince. I clench my teeth against the pain. It feels like my tendons are being ripped. I'm furious with Aiden. How dare he come back here and make me feel like a fool again? The pain intensifies, and I whimper. I try to lift my leg, but every move feels like pins and needles pricking that part of my skin. Left with no choice, I allow Aiden to lift me from the ground toward the cushion. "Call an ambulance," I instruct him, not trusting him not to cause further damage as he tries to inspect my injury. He ignores me. Without warning, he grips my hurting leg, and I scream. Blinding
Hermione Although I'd rather not ride back home with Aiden, I'm compelled to step into the limousine as the driver holds the door open for me. The sun has dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. However, the clouds gathering in the distance hint at an impending rain, and I don't want to risk getting soaked while waiting for an Uber. Aiden slides in beside me, and Kash starts the car, navigating out of the boutique's neighborhood onto the main road.The silence between Aiden and me is tense. He doesn't acknowledge my obvious irritation from the boutique, instead burying his face in his phone. I attempt to ignore him, but my annoyance simmers just below the surface. Is this his true self? The dismissive comment he made earlier still stings. I feel a pang in my heart, but I harden my gaze, determined to get through this ordeal. The wedding can't come soon enough.As we approach my house, I tell Kash, "I'll get down here." Kash looks at Aiden, seeking h
HermioneAiden Mendes spanked me on a live broadcast. I seethe with rage as we exchange goodbyes with Becca and the production crew, making our way to the limo. Thankfully, we're led through a different route, avoiding the swarm of reporters. I doubt I could maintain the facade of fake smiles if I had to navigate through them again. The thought of being besieged by them makes me shudder.Once we're in the limo, Aiden becomes absorbed in his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he types out messages. Throughout the ride, he doesn't glance my way, and I'm forced to ignore him in return. The playful man I know has vanished, replaced by a tense, focused individual. His jaw is clenched, and his expression is stern.I almost ask him what's caught his attention, but I refrain. After the events of the day – nearly fainting, leaning on him in vulnerability, and being spanked – I'm not eager to prolong our interaction. I just hope I can get through the rest of this charade without