Semua Bab Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now: Bab 1 - Bab 7

Aria's POVI never thought Valentine's Day would be the day my heart would truly break.Liam had reserved a table at La Perle, the crown jewel of Manhattan dining—crystal chandeliers glowing above us, the air humming with soft jazz and the scent of roses at every table. It should have been the perfect Valentine's date, the kind you tell your kids about one day."You look beautiful tonight, Aria," Liam whispered, reaching across the table to take my hand.I smiled, trying to ignore how distant he'd been lately. Ever since Sophia Clarke came back to New York two months ago, my relationship with Liam had changed. Still, I clung to hope. After all, we were getting married in just five days."I'm glad we could spend Valentine's Day together," I said softly.Liam nodded, but his eyes seemed distracted. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it."Despite the words, I couldn't help remembering all the dinner dates he'd canceled recently. Always with the same excuse: "Sophia needs me."Just as our appeti

Aria's POVI lay in the hospital bed, staring at the sterile white ceiling while the pain medication slowly dulled the throbbing in my body. The physical pain, however, paled in comparison to the hollowness that had taken root in my chest.Mrs. White had been quick to call an ambulance after witnessing my fall. By the time my father arrived, I was crying out in pain, my wedding dress soiled and torn. The sight of me—his only daughter—sprawled on the ground in my ruined wedding gown had nearly destroyed him."My baby girl," he'd whispered, carefully gathering me into his arms despite the paramedics' protests. His voice had cracked with emotion. "I'm here now. Everything will be alright."But everything wasn't alright. Nothing would ever be alright again.The doctor had assured us my injuries weren't severe—just some scrapes, bruises, and minor sprains that would heal with time. The emotional wound, however, felt fatal.When the White family tried to visit me, my father unleashed twelve

Aria's POVI stared at the door Aiden Carter had just walked through, my brain still trying to process what had just happened. Did he really agree to marry me? Just like that?The deal I'd proposed seemed almost absurd now that I had a moment to actually think about it. Me, Aria Jones, marrying Aiden Carter - the thirty-two-year-old heir to the Carter empire and my ex-fiancé's biggest business rival. A marriage that would solve both our problems. Mine: escaping the humiliation of being left at the altar. His: getting that piece of land his company had been eyeing for years.My thoughts were interrupted when Lillian burst into the hospital room, her eyes wide with shock."Was that Aiden Carter who just left your room?" she asked, her voice rising an octave higher than usual.I nodded, still feeling somewhat dazed."The Aiden Carter? CEO of Carter Group? The one Forbes listed as one of the thirty most influential businessmen under forty? That Aiden Carter?""Yes, that one," I confirmed,

Aria's POVThe morning after my confrontation with Sophia, I felt remarkably liberated. For the first time since the shooting incident, I breathed easier, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Last night's conversation had made me realize how much power I'd given Liam and Sophia over my emotions.I'd spent too long allowing myself to be their victim. No more.With this newfound clarity, I decided to indulge in something I hadn't done in weeks—playing the piano. Music had always been my sanctuary, a world where nothing existed except the keys beneath my fingers and the melodies they created.I was deeply immersed in Chopin's Nocturne when my phone rang. Without checking the caller ID, I answered with irritation."Sophia, you're certainly persistent, aren't you?" I said sharply. "If you're so amazing, why don't you get Liam to marry you today!"There was a brief silence, then a deep, masculine voice responded. "Miss Jones, it's me."The unexpected sound of Aiden Carter