All Chapters of Arrange Marriage to a Heartless CEO: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

AIDEN'S POVI stared at the city skyline through the tall glass of my home office, but the view did nothing to calm the storm inside me. My hands rested on the desk, one loosely gripping the edges of the polished wood, the other hovering over the phone. It had already set my nerves ablaze:“You’re not as untouchable as you think. I see you too, Aiden. Enjoy your little empire while it lasts.”I didn’t even need to read it twice. I had felt the threat in every cold, deliberate word. Whoever had sent this wasn’t just bold, they were precise. They had knowledge. Knowledge of me, my routines, and my weaknesses.I had faced threats before. Corporate takeovers, betrayal, and enemies who thought they could outmaneuver me. But this… this felt personal. Targeted. Precise. Calculated. And it was bold enough to reach into my home.A knock at the door barely registered, but when Elsie stepped in, I turned, masking the anger simmering under my calm tone.“Yes, Elsie?” I asked, voice steady.She he

CHARLOTTE'S POVDinner was nothing but silence. The clink of silverware was the only sound between us, a sharp rhythm cut deeper than any words we could have exchanged. I couldn't eat the pasta Petra made; I had no appetite, and Aiden's gaze was like a wall pressing down on me, demanding obedience without ever speaking.I couldn’t take it anymore.When his knife scraped against the porcelain plate, I dropped my fork and pushed my chair back.“I want to move into another room,” I said, my voice steady, though my hands trembled beneath the table.His head snapped up. Those grey eyes darkened in an instant, a storm gathering without warning. He didn’t blink. He didn’t breathe. He just stared as though I had committed the ultimate crime.“Say that again,” Aiden’s voice was low, sharp, commanding.I lifted my chin. “I want to move out of our room.”For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he leaned back in his chair slowly, like a predator deciding whether to pounce or wait. His lips curled into

CHARLOTTE'S POVThe first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains of my new room. The bed felt cozy and soft but not like that one in the room Aiden and I shared before. For a brief second, I almost reached across the mattress, as if he would be there by some miracle. My hand met only emptiness.I sat up, breathing deeply, but there were no tears. The old Charlotte would have cried until her chest ached, curled into herself like a child. But today, my heart felt steady. I’d cried enough. I had screamed enough. My pillow had absorbed more grief than anyone should ever know. I was tired and small, tired of waiting for someone to save me.I swung my feet onto the cold floor and stood. My bones ached from the storm of yesterday’s fight, but my resolve was clear: I was done breaking.I entered the bathroom, took a quick shower, and brushed my teeth. I walked to my dresser, picked up a brush, and brushed my hair back, changed into a simple cream blouse with polka dots and jeans

CHARLOTTE'S POVWhen I descended the stairs, Elsie hovered near the bottom, wringing a dish towel.“Madam, you’re going out?” she asked.“Yes.” I slipped my sunglasses into my bag. “Should I at least get the driver?”“No, Elsie, I’m driving myself. I’m not a doll.”She blinked, startled at my tone. “All right, madam. Just… be careful.”I knew she was referring to the bodyguards that Aiden said should be going with me. I already told them I wasn't interested in them following me.“I’ll be fine.”I took the keys from the hook and walked out before she could say anything else. The sun on my face felt like a dare. The car engine purred as I backed out of the driveway. No Aiden, no security detail. Just me.I parked my own car in front of the big cream-painted house and turned off the engine. For a second I sat there gripping the wheel, waiting for the gates to open.************************************************FLASHBACKI was eight years old, sitting stiffly at the head of a long tab

AIDEN'S POVFor the past three minutes, my phone has been buzzing with calls from Charlotte.My eyes were on the table of contracts spread out before me. I didn't have the time to take calls now.“Mr. Kingston?” the attorney sitting across from me prompted, tapping the clause with his pen. “We need your signature here and here before we can move to the next phase.”“I’m reading it.” I dragged my gaze away from the phone screen, which was lighting up again. Charlotte.A part of me wanted to swipe the green button, and another wanted to throw the phone across the room, because it was disturbing, and distracting me.“Sir?” Julian entered my office with his laptop. “We’ve got our board of directors and the board of directors from Parker's industries on video call waiting.”“Patch them through.” My voice came out sharper than intended.The screen at the end of the conference table flickered to life with faces from Parker's Industries. Barry’s CFO was on too, looking smug. “Good evening, M