Semua Bab Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO: Bab 31 - Bab 40

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

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

Aria's hand paused on her car door handle as her phone chimed. The familiar notification sound she sets for her father's texts, made her stomach clench with dread—nothing good ever came from her father's texts at this hour. She pulled out her phone, squinting at the bright screen in the dim evening light.*"Dinner at Le Bernardin. 8 PM. Both of you. Non-negotiable. - Dad"*The words blurred together as she read them twice, then three times, hoping they would somehow rearrange themselves into something less mortifying. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the device, the weight of it suddenly feeling unbearable.A sharp ding echoed from across the parking lot. Ethan's silhouette froze beside his car, his phone's glow illuminating the sharp planes of his face. Even from a distance, she could see the moment comprehension hit him—his jaw tightened, and his free hand curled into a fist at his side.Their eyes met across the space between their cars. The air seemed to thicken with m

The candle flame wavered between them, casting dancing shadows across the pristine white tablecloth. Adrian's silence stretched like a taut wire, ready to snap under the weight of five expectant gazes. He could feel sweat beginning to gather at the base of his neck, despite the restaurant's perfectly controlled temperature.Samuel Wu's fingers drummed once against his wine glass—a subtle warning that only Adrian would recognize. His father's patience was a finite resource, and Adrian was rapidly depleting it."I..." Adrian began, then stopped. The word hung in the air like smoke, incomplete and insufficient. Selene's grip on his hand tightened, her thumb moving in small, nervous circles across his knuckles. The gesture was meant to be comforting, but it felt like a shackle.Chen Wei leaned forward slightly, his businessman's smile never wavering despite the tension crackling through the air. "Perhaps Adrian is simply overwhelmed by the generosity of the timeline," he suggested smoothl

Ethan's knuckles were white against the black leather steering wheel, his grip was so tight the material creaked under the pressure. The engine hummed beneath them now, mocking the chaos churning in his chest. City lights streaked past the windshield in golden blurs, painting patterns across the dashboard that he couldn't focus on.The silence in the car was suffocating, pressing against his eardrums like he was in deep water. He could hear everything—the soft whisper of Aria's breathing, the faint rustle of her dress against the leather seat, even the almost inaudible tick of his watch marking each excruciating second that passed between them.From his peripheral vision, he caught the rigid line of her shoulders, the way she held herself like a sculpture carved from ice. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, creating a barrier that might as well have been made of steel. She stared out the passenger window with laser focus, as if the darkened storefronts and empty sidewalk