From Heir's Ex to His Aunt novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30 No Room for Rivals

Alicia simmered chicken soup in a pro ribvem lhrurried to bake cakes for his afternoon tea.

A capable wife, she had been told, should whime in public and still master the kitchen.

Finish

Alicia had been raised with every advantage. Music, ballet, and painting were only the foundation; she wa just as skilled at skiing, feming, horseback riding, and marksmanship.

Cooking, especially had always come easily to her. The fact that she rarely had time to step into the kitchen didult ameran she couldn’t cook.

By late morning, she had four smudged across her cheek. Balancing a tray in her hands, she snapped a selfie and sean in no his phone.

People stand winning a man’s heart was never as hard for a woman as it looked. Alicia believed that—and she was remain he wouldn’t be able to resist her for long.

Ar dan wery moment, in the middle of a board meeting, his phone lit up. He glanced down instinctively, opened the picture, and zoomed in.

The sunlight was soft, and there she stood at the counter, smiling like a mischievous kitten.

He knew full well how ambitious she was, yet his heart still stumbled at her practiced sweetness.

She was impressive–whether in business or in pursuit of a man, she had her own way of winning.

Right on schedule, Alicia arrived at the office with his lunch. The receptionist’s look was strange, almost hesitant.

Just as the elevator doors were sliding shut, Alicia caught a murmur.

“Odd. Ms. Wallace just went up. And now there’s another one bringing food?”

Ms. Wallace?

A chill ran through her. So, his so–called trial marriage wasn’t one–on–one. He was keeping more than on woman circling him.

But it was too late for her to turn back. She had fought brutal battles in the corporate world and comic on top. There was no way Austin would be the exception. In the end, she told herself, she would bedthes he chose.

Forcing her brightest smile, Alicia stepped into Austin’s office. The assistant held the door, and de was behind the massive desk–his gaze cool, his brows drawn with barely concealed impatience.e.

Only when his eyes fell on Alicia did the tension in his brow ease, if only slightly

“You came,” he said.

At those words, Magnolia, who had been arranging dishes, lifted her head and rund coward Aliera

4:59 pm PPD D.

DD

017

Chapter 30 No Room for Rivals

B

Finisher

She had never seen Alicia before. At first glance, her eyes flickered with surprise.

Unlike Magnolia’s delicate, girl–next–door charm. Alicia’s features were bold and striking. Even with the lightest makeup, she outshone everyone else in the room.

Magnolia asked politely, “And you are?”

Alicia’s lips curved. If Magnolia didn’t even know her rival’s background, she had already lost half the battle.

Of course, until Austin signed a marriage certificate with her, nothing was set in stone. Alicia had no intention of revealing her true identity.

“I’m the one delivering Mr. Burton’s lunch,” she said smoothly.

Austin’s mouth gave the faintest twitch as he listened to her spin such a brazen lie.

But she looked at him with that radiant, teasing smile. “Mr. Burton. I didn’t realize you’d ordered from someone else. Had I known, I wouldn’t have come.”

The sarcasm in her tone was impossible to miss.

Austin replied evenly, “I only ordered from you. No one else.”

On the surface, they were talking about takeout, but Magnolia couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath their words.

Austin turned toward her. “Ms. Wallace, as you can see, my lunch was already taken care of. If it’s about business cooperation, I’ll discuss it directly with your father. Please don’t come here again–it’s inappropriate.”

Magnolia bit her lip, a trace of sorrow flashing across her face. “Mr. Burton, last time we had dinner, you said I was a good match. Why not give us a chance to get to know each other better?”

His expression stayed cool. ‘Ms. Wallace, you’re an adult. Don’t tell me you can’t recognize a polite compliment. That meal happened only because of your father. Even if I’d been eating with a pig. I would have said something nice.”

“You!” Magnolia flushed scarlet, stunned that the man who had seemed so gentlemanly before could turn so cutting.

Austin didn’t stop there. “One meal, and suddenly the gossip mills had us on the verge of an engagement If I ate the food you cooked today, would they be reporting triplets by tomorrow? Forgive me, Ms. Wallace but I’m not about to risk a bite of your cooking.”

Outwardly, he was fending off Magnolia. But in truth, his sharp words were meant for Alicia–his way of telling her the rumors hadn’t come from him.

Magnolia had never endured such scorn from a man. Stomping her foot, she bolted toward the door.

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