Arrange Marriage to a Heartless CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 81 - チャプター 90

AIDEN'S POVThe office had always been my battlefield, polished marble, glass walls, order in every line and surface, but this morning, even perfection felt restless. The air hummed differently, carrying a faint unease I couldn’t name. The city stretched out beneath the tinted windows, silver roads, endless movement. It should’ve steadied me. It didn’t. Maybe because I’d left too much behind at home, her voice still echoing in my head, soft and sleepy when she said, “It's too early to go to work.”Charlotte’s face lingered in my mind, that drowsy warmth, the way her lips curved when she teased me. It felt normal, fragile but real. Like something worth holding onto again. I hadn’t felt that kind of quiet peace in years, and that terrified me more than I’d admit.The door clicked open behind me. Marcus stepped in, his expression already grim. “Morning, sir. You’re early.”“I always am.” I turned slightly, setting my coffee cup down. Ever since Charlotte's accident, Marcus has been wi

CHARLOTTE’S POVThe first thing I felt when I woke up was a flush of peace and warmth. My entire body was sore. I felt an ease in my heart, as if I had finally arrived home and was safe.For a moment, I didn’t move, or rather, I couldn't move any part of my body; that was how tired I was feeling. I simply lay there, wrapped in the scent of cedar and clean linen, feeling the morning air drift gently through the half-open curtains. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but the faint gray of dawn touched the room with a soft sense of calmness. The bed felt totally different from the one I had been sleeping in before. Then, as my mind slowly adjusted, I realized where I was.I was in Aiden’s bed.And he wasn’t beside me.I blinked my eyes open, the silky sheets rustling as I sat up. For a second, I thought maybe he had already gone to work, until I heard the soft metallic clink of hangers moving inside the walk-in closet.He was still here.The clock on the nightstand read 4:15 a.m. Who even woke u

THIRD PERSON POV The rain outside was soft but persistent, the kind that blurred city lights and made the streets look washed in silver. Inside the abandoned suite on the upper floor of an old hotel, the air was still. Heavy curtains blocked out most of the light, and the only illumination came from a single desk lamp flickering on a low wooden table.Alana sat near the window, her gloved fingers wrapped delicately around a cup of untouched tea.She had waited for almost an hour before the creaking sound of the door made her lift her head.“Come in,” she said softly, her voice smooth and low, as if she’d known exactly who it was even before the door opened.Cheryl stepped inside, hood up, clutching her purse like it was her armor. The flickering light made her look older, and haggard. “You came,” Alana said, with no smile on her face.Cheryl dropped her hood. “Your message said it was important. I almost didn’t want to come.”“And yet,” Alana murmured, rising with graceful ease, “yo

CHARLOTTE’S POVThe rain was still falling softly when I woke up the next morning.It pattered gently against the window glass, a rhythmic sound that always calmed me down in moments that felt like chaos. Aiden had called late last night; his voice was low and tired, yet sweet. He said he missed me, asked if I was sleeping well, and told me he’d be home soon. For a moment, I almost believed everything was finally falling into place, as if maybe love didn’t always have to come with storms.I stretched lazily, the faint chill in the air brushing against my bare shoulders. The house was tranquil except for the sound of someone humming downstairs. Out of curiosity, I wrapped a shawl around me and walked toward the staircase.From the end of the stairs, I saw Petra and Elsie in the kitchen, and to my mild surprise, Lila was there too, sleeves rolled up, her hair tied in a loose braid as she carefully rinsed vegetables by the sink. She looked different from yesterday, steadier, calmer,

CHARLOTTE’S POVThe entire day had passed through like a blur. I spent the entire day in my study working on my book. There I hades I needed I got a call from a movie director. Who wanted to turn my book into a movie? I was super excited, but I needed to think things through, so I told him we could talk about it sometime next week.I had my laptop balanced on my thighs, waiting for the screen to light up with his face. It was past 10 p.m. in New York, morning in China, and I’d been glancing at the clock for the past hour, counting the minutes like a lovesick teenager.I wore my favorite nightwear, a peach shirt with matching shorts. I like the nightwear because it was super comfy, and my mother got it from me. I haven't heard from my mom in a long while, I'll call her once I finish with my dear husband. When Aiden’s name finally appeared on the screen, my chest lifted with so much joy and a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.“Hey, stranger,” I murmured, trying to sound casua