Aria descended the curved staircase of the Lin mansion the next morning to the soft scent of jasmine tea and her mother’s cheerful chatter filling the breakfast room. She paused briefly on the stairs, soaking in the serenity of her family home before stepping into the breakfast table space. Her mother was already seated at the table, animatedly speaking to her father with a fond smile on her face."Oh, you should have seen her, darling," her mother gushed, her eyes sparkling as she gestured with her teacup, "The moment she stepped out in that dress, I could already see the whole wedding before my eyes. Our Aria is going to be the most beautiful bride in all of Linyang."Her father looked up from his newspaper, his expression softening in the way it always did when his wife spoke about their daughter. The morning light caught the silver threading through his dark hair. Her father chuckled, setting his newspaper aside. "Now you have me curious. I want to see this magical dress that h
The tension in the boutique had finally simmered down. After Selene and her cronies left, Aria stood calmly in the middle of the shop, her face unreadable. Around her, the atmosphere returned to its usual elegance, filled with the soft rustling of gowns and murmurs of admiration, everybody going back to what they were doing before the drama started. Her mother stood beside her, Mia was scrolling through her camera roll to show Aria references, and Qian, had already begun discussing fitting schedules with the store assistant.They were here for her wedding gown. She shouldn't forget that. Just because she had a run in with Selene before she was prepared, doesn't mean she had to give her the satisfaction of getting a raise out of her.“Let’s start with this one,” Mia chirped interrupting Aria's thought, holding up a dazzling strapless A-line dress with intricate lace embroidery that shimmered under the boutique’s lights. “Classic and timeless. And just a touch of dramatic train.”Aria
The words cut through the boutique's quiet atmosphere like a blade. Aria's fingers, which had been reaching towards the beautiful wedding gown, froze in mid-air as every single muscle in her body went rigid.The warmth that had been building in her chest throughout this morning was now turned into something cold.That voice was etched into her memory, so bitter and unforgettable.She turned slowly, despite the shock suddenly coursing through her veins. The small smile that had been playing at her lips had died completely, replaced by an expression of careful calmness that didn't quite reach her eyes.Selene Chen stood fifteen feet away from her, her black jumpsuit catching the light with thousands of tiny sequins, each one winking. The garment hugged her figure, clearly custom-made and probably worth more than most people's cars. But it was her stance that truly announced her presence—one hip cocked, her arms crossed and chin tilted at an angle that suggested she owned not just the s
The afternoon sun slanted through Aria's bedroom window, painting golden light across her floor. She tucked her legs beneath her on the cream velvet sofa, silk robe pooling around her feet. The jasmine tea in her cup had grown lukewarm, but she barely noticed as she traced lazy circles on the rim with her fingertip. She couldn't stop thinking about Adrian's and Selene wedding announcement. She never saw this coming. Yes Salene has always been in love with Adrian but Adrian never liked her. So what could be the reason of him agreeing to marry that same Salene now? She remembered that while she was married to Adrian in her first life, Salene married a billionaire from America but he died misteriously, and it was later know that Salene killed him. And this means the two murderers deserved each other. She picked up her phone that was laying on the cushion beside her, And dialled Qian's contact number. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Maybe it was time to start writing
There was still, no response from her, her thumb had stopped scrolling, her breathing had become shallow, almost imperceptible. The subtle hum of the car's engine filled the silence between them, disturbed only by the distant sounds of traffic from outside.With a heavy sigh, Ethan gently reached over and plucked the phone from her hands. Her fingers didn't even tighten around it—whatever she was looking at had completely consumed her, drawing her so far inward that everything else had become secondary.His brows drew together as he scanned the screen. It was a press statement, glossy and official, posted directly from the Wu Corporation's verified page. The company logo gleamed at the top—gold characters against pristine white.>Wu Corporation is pleased to announce the engagement of our heir and only son, Adrian Wu, to Miss Selene Chen, CEO of Chen Jewelries. The couple has found deep companionship and shared vision in both love and business. Their wedding will be held in the coming
Aria's intercom beep on her desk, with Anya's voice coming through. "Ma'am the press statement was just released."Aria's brow raised. "Thank you Anya."Aria picked up her phone immediately to check the statement. She tapped into Lin Corporation's official social media account, her fingers moving across her phone screen. It took forever for it to load, and there it was—pinned to the top.**PRESS STATEMENT**Lin Corporation is thrilled to announce the engagement of our esteemed CEO, Ms. Aria Lin, to her long-time assistant, Mr. Ethan Luo. Their journey from colleagues to lovers has inspired those closest to them, and after years of quiet romance, the couple is finally ready to take the next step."I've always believed in building both a company and a life with someone who understands your values," Ms. Lin shared during a private interview. "Ethan has been by my side through everything. This is the right time."Their love story, filled with quiet support, trust, and undeniable chemistr