Chapter 20
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Arianna stood up impatiently, her voice filled with indignation. “Aiden, I’ve never met anyone so vile in my life! I have no reason to hate her, yet she’s so jealous of me that she’s gone out of her way to hurt me! Keeping someone like that around will only bring disaster!”
“Jealous?” Aiden’s voice was low, the word rising slightly as though he were savoring and considering its meaning.
Arianna was momentarily taken aback. “Yes! We grew up together. She must have known about everything all along, so…”
“So she knew from the beginning that you were dirty, and she set a trap for you?” Aiden’s gaze was cold and emotionless, fixed on Arianna. His tone was neutral, impossible to read.
Arianna faltered, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I…”
Aiden repeated the question, “Is that so?”
But this time, he wasn’t speaking to Arianna. His eyes were on Valerie.
Valerie felt Aiden’s arm wrapped around her waist, her back pressed against the solid rhythm of his heartbeat and the warmth of his body.
His breath was close to her ear, and she could feel his gaze on her.
Her heart raced, but she quickly steadied herself and turned her attention to Arianna. “If something is left behind, shouldn’t the first thing to do–if you have nothing to hide–be to return it to its rightful owner?”
Arianna was momentarily at a loss for words, her face reddening with frustration, “You clearly…”
Valerie remained calm and interrupted her. “Let’s not jump to conclusions about whether the item is mine. Even if I did leave it on purpose, setting a trap for you, it still took you stepping into it.
“You’ve sent the item to David. You claimed it was yours, and yet, after causing a scene in front of everyone, you’ve turned around and blamed me…
“Do you honestly think, Miss Reed, that this excuse and blame–shifting will hold up?”
Arianna was left speechless, her face a striking shade of red. After a brief moment of shock, she quickly retaliated. “You just admitted it! That thing really is yours!”
“Even if it is mine, so what?” Valerie’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mockery. “I’m married now. What’s wrong with buying something for myself to use?”
Her tone was calm, yet it was clearly meant to provoke.
It was as though Aiden’s heartstrings had been sharply pulled, his gaze growing darker and colder.
Arianna was taken aback by Valerie’s boldness, and then shouted, “Aiden, you heard that! She admitted it! The gift really is hers!”
“Even if it is mine, giving it to David was your choice,” Valerie said, her words dripping with sarcasm. “What, did I hold a knife to your neck and force you to give it to him?”
Arianna’s eyes burned with fury, her chest heaving as she glared at Valerie. She realized… she couldn’t win this argument.
She wondered, ‘Isn’t the report supposed to say that this woman is from a humble background, shy, and not good with words? She certainly doesn’t seem shy or awkward now!!
“Enough,” Aiden said, his voice cold and dismissive.
Arianna, seething with anger, shouted, “Aiden…”
“Do you want to keep going?” Aiden’s chilling gaze swept over her.
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22:10 Tue, 27 May E.
Chapter 20
Arianna’s heart sank. “I…”
“Leave.”
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Arianna’s eyes were bloodshot, and she was on the verge of tears. She had been pampered her entire life and had never faced such humiliation before.
But she couldn’t make a scene. No matter how she tried to argue, she would only end up at a disadvantage. All she could do was swallow her pride and take the blow in silence.
With one last angry glare at Valerie in Aiden’s arms, Arianna quickly grabbed her bag and stormed off.
However, Valerie didn’t feel any relief from Arianna’s departure.
Because the arm around her waist showed no sign of loosening.
Valerie attempted to pull away, but Aiden remained completely still.
She gripped his hand and whispered, “Aiden, weren’t you supposed to be on a business trip today?”
Every word she said to him felt so unfamiliar, almost as if they were strangers.
Aiden’s previous interest was quickly extinguished by the coldness in her tone.
He leaned in just a little closer, his voice low and steady. “It’s a good thing I didn’t leave yet, or I might never have known that my wife is so skilled- keeping secrets from me and secretly buying something like that.”
Valerie’s mind went blank for a moment.
She had spoken so carelessly when confronting Arianna, not considering for a second that Aiden was standing right behind her.
His warm breath, lingering at her ear, felt suffocating, and Valerie stiffened. Instinctively, she tried to pull away.
Aiden noticed her reaction and, without hesitation, scooped her up into his arms. She gasped in surprise, her face paling as she instinctively clung to his neck.
He looked down at her, his eyes dark and intense.
Leaning closer, he lowered his voice to a whisper, “Even I didn’t know about this… so who exactly were you planning to share the toy with, Mrs. Walker?”
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AD
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