LOGINAria's POV
"Mr. Duncan," I replied, surprised to see him here of all places. "My car just... died on me.""This rain is brutal. Come wait in my car—my secretary can handle this." His eyes took in my drenched appearance with a hint of concern."That's really not necessary," I protested. "The tow truck should be here any minute—" A sudden sneeze interrupted me, completely undermining my argument. I sniffled, mortified, and lowered my voice. "Really, I'm fine."OwAria's POVI led Linda to this adorable dessert café that Lillian and I stumbled upon last week. Hidden on a corner in the old district of New York, it's one of those gems you'd miss unless someone showed you. The entrance opens to a charming little courtyard with white swing chairs on one side and a vibrant flower garden on the other.The interior is understated elegance personified—clean lines, soft colors, and that perfect ambient lighting that makes everyone look like they're glowing. I immediately asked for a private room upstairs. Between Linda's upcoming violin performance and my recent tabloid appearances as Mrs. Carter, the last thing we needed was someone snapping photos of us through the window."So, are you still playing?" I asked once we settled in, my fingers tracing the edge of my teacup.Linda nodded, but I noticed how her smile dimmed. "I am now. But for two years, the Williams family wouldn't let me perform. They claimed my touring would 'damage our marriage.'"God,
Author's POV"Owen, Mom's talking to you. Are you even listening?" Vivian Duncan couldn't understand why her brother seemed so impatient after just ten minutes at the table, already distracted and barely responding.Patricia Duncan frowned slightly. "Is there something urgent at the company? If you need to handle business, you can go. Vivian can keep me company."Owen Duncan lazily shifted his gaze back to the table. "It's nothing important."Patricia nodded once. "About the Cooper family's daughter—what do you think?""I don't think anything about it," he replied dismissively.His eyes drifted again to Aria, sitting about a few tables behind. From this distance, Owen couldn't see her clearly, only catching glimpses of her smile as she chatted with her friend. Then, as if something troubling had been said, her smile faded, replaced by what appeared to be sadness.Patricia was visibly displeased with his response. "You're thirty years old, Owen. How much longer are you planning to stay
Aria's POVI glanced at my phone with anticipation. Monday had finally arrived, and Linda was in New York for a concert series. We'd arranged this meetup through Instagram a month ago, and I couldn't wait to see her.Linda had arrived last Friday. With performances scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, Monday was our only option to catch up. We'd met years ago at a music festival—her violin was every bit as impressive as my piano. We connected instantly, discovering our personalities clicked perfectly, and soon became close friends.In earlier years, when Linda's schedule was less demanding, she'd frequently fly to New York just to have dinner with me. But the past two years had been different. Her family business faced difficulties, and she'd been forced into a marriage of convenience to save it. For over a year after that marriage, she barely touched her violin or performed.I thought she'd given up music entirely and mourned that loss for her. Still, I understood the weight of re
Aria's POVAfter dinner, we retreated to the bedroom. Aiden stepped into the bathroom first. Listening to the sound of running water, I pictured his bare body and swallowed hard at the edge of the bed.I could barely think straight when Aiden emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp, the dark silk pajamas clinging to every perfect line of his body. My gaze locked onto his throat, following the slow bob of his Adam's apple as he swallowed. God, even that simple motion sent a sharp, hot jolt straight through me.I forced my gaze away, sitting up straighter as heat burned my cheeks. "That was quick," I said, striving for casualness."Mm-hmm," he hummed, his eyes drifting down to my neckline.I'd showered earlier and worn nothing beneath this oversized sleep shirt. The way his dark, intense stare lingered made me suddenly hyper-aware of how exposed I was—how easily one glance could reveal everything."Tired?" he asked, his voice deeper, rougher than usual.I shook my head. "It's onl
Aria's POVI drove home with my mind racing. That casual comment I'd made to Lillian about talking to Aiden suddenly felt like an impossible task. What had seemed straightforward over lunch now felt awkward and uncomfortable as I navigated through traffic.By the time I entered our neighborhood, my heart was pounding against my ribs. The perfectly manicured lawns and elegant homes of our gated community usually calmed me, but not today.Ten minutes later, I parked in the garage and walked through our garden toward the main entrance. The autumn flowers were in full bloom, their colors vivid against the perfectly trimmed hedges that Aiden insisted on maintaining.Lucy poked her head out from the dining area as I entered. "Welcome home, Mrs. Carter!"I nodded with a tight smile, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen island, and headed upstairs. Dinner was still a while away, so I changed into more comfortable clothes and, not finding Aiden anywhere, drifted toward the music room. The
Aria's POV I blinked in surprise, my coffee cup halfway to my lips. "Wait, you know Owen Duncan?" "Are you kidding?" Lillian practically hissed across the table, eyes wide. "He's like THE golden bachelor of New York—of course I know him! Though clearly," she added with a hint of disappointment, glancing in his direction, "he doesn't know me." "Oh," I murmured, watching as she slowly processed the connection. Her eyes grew even wider as realization dawned. "Aria, that was the guy you helped that day?" When I nodded, she slapped her hand against the table. "Your luck is unbelievable! If you weren't already married to Aiden, this would've been such a perfect meet-cute..." She stopped suddenly, her expression shifting as though she'd just remembered something unpleasant. "Actually, scratch that! That man is a total player. Rumor is he went through two girlfriends in a month.?" I nearly choked on my water. "And how exactly do you know these intimate details?" Lillian tossed her hair
Aria's POVMy apartment felt brighter tonight than it had in weeks. Scrolling through my phone alongside Lillian, I couldn't help but feel a surge of vindication as we read comment after comment supporting me and eviscerating Sophia."Oh my god, look at this one!" Lillian thrust her phone in my fac
ARIA'S POVI showed it to Lillian."Speaking of the devil," she muttered. "Are you going to answer?"I hesitated before hitting decline. "Not worth it. She'll just try to manipulate me again."Seconds later, a text message came through:"You bitch! You're ruining my life with these lies! I'm in the
Aria's POVThe air between us crackled with electricity. My breath caught in my throat at his proposition. Everything in me screamed this was a terrible idea—we were business partners, nothing more. Yet my body betrayed me, responding to his nearness with a fierce hunger I couldn't deny."Yes," I w
Aiden's POV"I'm thinking about how to seduce you."Her words hit me like a physical blow. The car suddenly felt too small, too hot. I stared at her, watching her mortified expression bloom across her face as she realized what she'd said aloud."Is that so?" I kept my voice deliberately neutral, th







