Chapter 78

Aiden's POV I 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,