Semua Bab My stunning bride: Bab 71 - Bab 80

Aiden’s POVMorning came far too quickly.I hadn’t slept.Not properly, at least.Every time I closed my eyes, my mind replayed the events of the night before—the heat, the tension, the way Arianna had looked at me… vulnerable, unaware, completely unlike herself.And now—She lay peacefully beside me, breathing softly, as though none of it had ever happened.I sat at the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees, running a hand down my face in frustration.The doctor had been right.The worst of it had passed.A faint knock echoed through the door.I stiffened.Who would—Before I could respond, the door swung open without permission.Of course.Scarlet Elena Montgomery.She walked in like she owned the place, heels clicking confidently against the marble floor, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room.“Well,” she said, crossing her arms. “You look terrible.”I didn’t bother responding.My patience for her was already nonexistent.Her gaze shifted to the bed.To Arianna.And th

My eyes moved back and forth between Aiden and Courtney, trying to make sense of the situation before deciding how best to handle it. The tension in the room was unbearable. Unspoken words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. But one thing was clear to me. No matter what this was—no matter what history they shared— I was his wife. Contractual or not, it was still legal. Still real. And I wasn’t about to let anyone walk in here and treat me like I didn’t belong. Especially not her. Aiden’s voice cut through my thoughts. “None of your business,” he said coldly. “Why are you here?” Courtney scoffed, clearly offended by his tone. “You didn’t let me come here,” she snapped, her composure slipping. “But you brought her here? Tell me who she is before I call your mother.” Aiden’s expression darkened instantly. “Courtney,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “do I need to remind you to stay out of my affairs?” She flipped her hair dramatically, refusing to back down. “You

Aiden’s POV“Mother,” I called, keeping my voice steady, measured.There was a pause on the other end.Then—“Don’t call me that,” she snapped sharply. “I don’t recall giving birth to a son who hides a marriage from me.”I closed my eyes briefly, already feeling the beginnings of a headache forming.This was exactly what I had expected.“You’re going to like her,” I said calmly. “I didn’t tell you because I know how you feel about Courtney.”“And your solution,” she cut in, her voice rising, “was to go behind my back?”“Of course not,” I replied. “You were going to find out soon enough. I just needed the right time.”“The right time?” she echoed, clearly unimpressed.“Yes,” I said, keeping my tone even. “Be patient with me. I’m still your son.”Silence followed.For a moment, I wondered if I had pushed too far.Then I heard her take a slow, controlled breath.“Fine,” she said at last. “But Courtney is upset. What do you expect me to say to her mother?”I exhaled quietly.“She’ll get o

The moment I saw him, everything else faded.My father stood just beyond the school entrance, dressed sharply as always, his presence impossible to ignore. Students slowed down as they passed him, some whispering, others just staring.But I didn’t care about any of that.“Father!” I called out before I could stop myself.And I ran.My steps quickened, my heart doing something strange in my chest—something warm, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.I reached him in seconds and wrapped my arms around him tightly.For a moment, he didn’t move.Then slowly, he placed his hand on my head and patted it gently.A small gesture.But it meant everything.“You’ve grown thinner,” he said immediately, his voice calm but firm.I pulled back slightly, smiling.“I’ve just been busy with school.”His eyes studied me carefully, like he was checking for something beyond my words.Then he sighed.“I’m not happy you’re no longer living at home,” he said.My smile softened.“I know,” I replied quietly.

The moment I stepped out of the restaurant, I spotted him immediately. Aiden was leaning casually against the car like he had all the time in the world, except I knew better—Aiden Smith didn’t do “casual.” He straightened the second his eyes landed on me and walked toward me without hesitation. Fast. Direct. Intentional. “Hi,” I said awkwardly, adjusting my bag strap, but he didn’t respond. Instead, his hand reached for mine and, before I could even process it, he held it. I froze instantly. My fingers stiffened in his grip as my brain struggled to catch up with what was happening. Aiden was holding my hand. Publicly. Casually. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. My heart did something strange in my chest. “W-what are you doing?” I asked under my breath, still staring at our joined hands. “Leaving,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. It didn’t. Before I could respond, the restaurant door opened behind me and Chloe stepped out, stretching lightly befo