Chapter 196

Aria's POV My period finally ended, and I felt alive again after days of feeling like death warmed over. Lillian texted to meet up for dinner, and the timing couldn't be better since Aiden was out of town on business. With my mood lifting post-period, I decided to put in some effort—applying a full face of makeup and slipping into a pretty maxi dress, even though it was just dinner with my bestie. Lillian had been slaving away at work all week, and the moment the clock hit five on Friday, she bolted out with her purse swinging. Overtime? As if! She was done with that life. We'd booked this restaurant she'd been dying to try for ages—the kind of place where reservations are like gold dust. Being the "lady of leisure" that I am these days, I arrived early and snagged us the perfect window table. "So how are those in-laws treating you? They giving you any trouble?" Lillian asked, eyeing me over her menu. I took a sip of water, shaking my head. "No trouble at all. They even gave me a ruby