Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

Aria's POVI couldn't really blame Elena for initially wanting to downplay the incident.Today's charity concert was truly impressive—the stage design rivaled professional competitions I'd performed in before.Going from closing act to opening performer left me feeling surprisingly nervous as I stood backstage preparing to go on.I'd be performing a specially arranged piano piece called "Our World," accompanied by a dance troupe of hearing-impaired performers.Though not particularly intense, the combination created something deeply moving—a true feast for the senses.After my final bow, I instinctively glanced toward the audience.When I'd first stepped onstage, I'd spotted Aiden immediately. He sat in the middle of a row, his exceptional features and commanding presence making him stand out like a beacon.Now, as I took my final bow, my eyes naturally sought him out again.What I hadn't expected was for my gaze to crash directly into the depths of those dark eyes.I froze, my heart

Aria's POVThe shrill ring of my phone shattered the moment. Aiden and I froze, our bodies still intertwined, breaths heavy with unfulfilled desire."Ignore it," Aiden murmured against my neck, his voice rough with need.But the persistent ringing continued, and something told me I shouldn't ignore this call. With an apologetic glance at Aiden, I reached over to the nightstand."It's Lillian," I said, recognizing the caller ID.Aiden sighed and rolled onto his back beside me, his muscled chest rising and falling with each frustrated breath. I couldn't help but admire his perfect form as I answered the call."Hello?"Lillian's voice exploded through the speaker, a stream of creative profanity directed at Diana Hayes. I had to hold the phone away from my ear."Lillian, please calm down," I said, pulling the sheet up to cover myself, suddenly feeling exposed despite being alone with my husband."Calm down? I can't calm down! Have you seen what that bitch posted about you?"I frowned. "Wh

Aria's POV"You don't need to go that far," I said with a smirk."What?" Summer sounded instantly alarmed. "Don't tell me you're still planning to be nice about this..."I laughed. "No, it's not that. I just meant that if she served me tea, I probably couldn't bring myself to drink it. A public apology will suffice."Even thinking about Diana Hayes for one more second felt like inviting bad energy into my life."You're right! I'll call you back with good news soon!" Summer hung up with such enthusiasm that I could practically hear her cracking her knuckles through the phone.Staring at the "Call Ended" notification on my screen, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd been too passive in the past. Had I really been that much of a pushover?The more I thought about it, the more I realized that yes, I definitely had been excessively accommodating.Well, chalk it up to youthful mistakes.I sighed, deciding not to dwell on it further. This Diana situation was in good hands now. Summer was more

Aiden's POVI watched her rush away, her cheeks flushed with that delicious shade of pink I'd grown addicted to seeing. The way she'd practically fled from our moment in the study left me both amused and frustrated. There was something intoxicating about watching Aria get flustered—how her composure would crack, revealing glimpses of desire she tried so hard to hide.Alone in the study, I picked up my phone, scrolling through news alerts. One notification caught my eye—Aria's social media post about the incident with Diana Hayes. Smart move. The unedited video showed exactly what happened, and her simple caption spoke volumes.I smiled, impressed by her strategy. She didn't need to craft a lengthy explanation; the evidence spoke for itself. Public opinion was already shifting dramatically in her favor.Thirty minutes later, another notification appeared. Aria had posted again, this time mentioning me directly: "I admit I did rely on someone's influence, but when Mr. Carter gets angry,

Author's POVAt the same time,Diana Hayes' situation had completely reversed in just three short hours.The online tide had turned viciously against her.During her five years in the entertainment industry, Diana had always thrown her weight around, using her family connections and resources to bully others. This wasn't the first or second time she'd pulled such stunts, but her previous victims lacked the background to fight back.Now that she was in trouble, her rivals and those she'd wronged in the past seized the opportunity. While they wouldn't openly kick her when she was down, they had no problems hiring internet trolls to attack her anonymously.Suddenly, the internet was flooded with Diana's past scandals. Everyone except her fans was criticizing her mercilessly.For five years straight, Diana Hayes had enjoyed nothing but smooth sailing. With her family's resources backing her, she'd started her career at what would be the peak for most others. This was her first major setbac