Chapter 132

Aria's POV I paused at Aiden's question, feeling my heart skip as he studied me across the breakfast table. "Really?" he asked, methodically wiping his hands with a napkin, his eyes never leaving my face. The intensity of those two simple words made my hand tremble slightly as I pushed food around my plate. "Yes, really," I managed, forcing a small laugh that sounded hollow even to my own ears. "You should head to work, Aiden. I just have these days sometimes when my appetite isn't great." He watched me for another long moment, his expression unreadable. "Hmm." He didn't press further, simply rising from his chair. After taking two steps, he stopped and turned back to me—I'd just started to breathe easier. "Thank you for yesterday afternoon," he said quietly. "No need to thank me." My voice came out softer than intended. If anything, I was the complicated one between us. Aiden's gaze lingered on me briefly before he turned and headed upstairs. Minutes later, he came back down with his