Semua Bab Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now: Bab 31 - Bab 40

ARIA'S POV"You could find a guy to test his reaction."When Lillian dropped this suggestion, I nearly choked on my tea."Excuse me?" I set down my cup, giving her a sideways glance that I hoped conveyed exactly how ridiculous she sounded."Relax, Aria," she rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated. "I'm not suggesting you actually seduce someone. What do you think this is—some trashy prime-time drama?"I rolled my eyes right back at her. "That's exactly what it sounds like you're proposing.""Don't be so uptight." She waved her hand dismissively, leaning forward on my couch where we'd been sitting for the past hour dissecting every moment of my weekend with Aiden. "I'm just saying you could create some... reasonable misunderstandings. Like having dinner with a male friend, posting a casual story on Instagram, or maybe mentioning someone you've 'been talking to a lot lately' when he's around."I fell silent, absently tracing circles on my knee with my fingertip. The idea made me uncomforta

Aria's POVI woke up to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Grabbing it with sleepy fingers, my heart skipped when I saw Aiden's message:Coming home tomorrow?Three simple words that somehow made everything inside me flutter. I stared at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard. What should I say? Was I ready to go back after our fight?I stared at the message, typing and deleting responses for fifteen minutes before finally calling Lillian."What would you do?" I asked without bothering with a greeting."Wait, slow down. What are we talking about?" Lillian's voice was thick with sleep."Aiden texted me. He wants to know if I'm coming home tomorrow.""Oh?" Now she sounded fully awake. "What did you say?""Nothing yet! That's why I'm calling you at—" I glanced at the clock, "—six in the morning."Lillian laughed. "Make him sweat a little. Don't answer right away.""But what if he thinks—""Trust me," Lillian cut me off. "Let him wonder. You rushed back last time after your fight

Aiden's POVWHERE IS SHE?I drummed my fingers against the mahogany desk, watching my phone screen remain stubbornly silent. No response from Aria. None. The message I'd sent her hours ago still sat there with just that single check mark - delivered but not read.I tossed my phone aside, leaning back in my chair. Maybe she's just fallen asleep. It was getting late, after all. People get tired. Normal people sleep.But the thought did little to ease the tightness in my chest.When morning came, I grabbed my phone before even fully opening my eyes. Nothing. Still no response from her. My jaw tightened. This wasn't like Aria at all."Damn it," I muttered, throwing off the covers. A cold shower did nothing to cool my temper. Why the hell couldn't she just respond? How difficult was it to type a simple "yes" or "no"?By nine, I was already terrorizing the office, plowing through meetings with a ferocity that had my staff walking on eggshells. I'd signed three contracts, rejected two propos

Aria' POVI had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about tonight's dinner.It was the first time I appeared in public beside Aiden as Mrs. Carter. A business dinner, of all things—a setting where every glance was measured, and every word calculated.So, of course, I had to look the part.I stood in front of my closet longer than I'd like to admit, staring at rows of dresses that suddenly all felt too casual or too stiff. I needed something that said: elegant, composed, untouchable.My fingers finally landed on a limited-edition Dior dress I'd been saving for the right moment - a navy blue piece with the signature Oblique print, featuring a high neckline and pleated waist that hugged my curves before flaring out slightly.After slipping it on, I studied my reflection critically. The dress was perfect - sophisticated enough for business yet undeniably eye-catching. I applied my makeup with extra care, finishing with a bold red lip that made my whole face come alive."Not bad, Aria,"

Aria's POVI exhaled deeply once everyone else had left the private dining room. Finally, just Aiden and me.But that lipstick stain on his collar kept drawing my attention like a neon sign. The bright red mark was still there, mocking me, reminding me of our awkward moment in the car."Um, Aiden?" I hesitated, my voice coming out softer than intended. "Your collar..."He turned to me, one eyebrow slightly raised. "What about it?"I gestured vaguely toward his neck, not wanting to directly mention the lipstick. "Could you... maybe bend down a little?"Aiden studied my face for a moment before leaning down slightly.My heart hammered in my chest as I reached up, fingers trembling slightly as I adjusted his collar.I carefully folded it in a way that would hide the lipstick stain, hyper-aware of how close we were standing.His cologne enveloped me – subtle, expensive, and distinctly him.From this close, I could see details I'd never noticed before – the barely-there flecks of gold in h