Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 187

**TITLE: Wore 187**
**Chapter 187**

**Aria’s POV**

“What is it, Grayson? No way! Absolutely not!” I shot back instinctively, my heart racing at the very thought.

“Why not? You won’t find anyone else who possesses both the power and the willingness to assist you. He’s your only viable option,” he replied, his tone unwavering.

I bit down on my lip, a wave of embarrassment washing over me. “The thing is… I just turned down his offer. I made this grand speech about my desire for independence and how I wanted to stand on my own two feet. And now, only a couple of hours later, I’m supposed to crawl back to him? Not a chance.”

Rhys let out a knowing smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Do you value your pride more than your victory? Or is it the other way around?”

“Winning, of course. But…” I hesitated, my thoughts swirling.

“Then you must be ruthless,” he stated coolly, his gaze hardening as if he were staring into the very depths of my soul. “In this battle, it’s essential to cast aside your pride and humanity if necessary. You need to be utterly ruthless. Remember, this is about your survival and your quest for vengeance. Think of those who humiliated you, the ones who nearly took your life. Don’t you want to make them pay once you ascend to the rank of Alpha? Or do you lack the resolve to follow through?”

I stared at him, dumbfounded, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

The more time I spent with Rhys, the more I realized he was nothing like the quiet, unassuming figure I had first encountered.

When we first met, he was a shadow—silent and overshadowed by the presence of his mother and brother.

But after our conversation in the garden, I began to see the layers beneath his exterior. He was far more intelligent and ambitious than I had given him credit for. There was a cunning edge to him, a depth of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

And now, I had witnessed his ruthless side.

This aspect felt strangely familiar. I had to admit it: he was a lot like Grayson in that regard. Both men were willing to do whatever it took to achieve their goals.

And Rhys was right. When I weighed the importance of rescuing Lady Quentina and avenging my enemies against the minor inconvenience of swallowing my pride to ask Grayson for a favor, it paled in comparison. I couldn’t allow something as trivial as my pride to obstruct my path.

Noticing the shift in my expression, he lowered his voice, the intensity of his tone sharpening. “This isn’t an easy road, Aria. Should you choose to be a coward, remember that I can easily walk away from this partnership right now.”

His words ignited a fire within me.

“I’ll prove to you that I’m not a coward,” I ground out, determination surging through me as I turned sharply and strode toward the back of the café.

Grayson was seated by the window, his presence commanding. Two stoic Red Stone soldiers flanked him, standing like immovable mountains. The women in the coffee shop couldn’t help but steal glances at him, their whispers filled with excitement, yet no one dared approach him.

He had an aura that was dangerously attractive to women, yet equally intimidating.

I marched up to him, resolute, and pulled out the chair directly opposite him. The two imposing soldiers exchanged a glance but remained silent.

“We need to talk,” I stated firmly.

“Does this have anything to do with the little whispering session you just had with your cousin?” he asked coolly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed me.

Unsure of how to frame my request, I decided to cut straight to the chase. “I need to infiltrate a private club to speak with a crucial witness. The catch is… that club only allows specific individuals inside, and it appears you’re the only one who can grant me access.”

He let out a derisive snort, a haughty smile creeping across his lips. “You do realize the irony of your situation, Miss Collins?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks and ears.

Him addressing me as “Miss Collins” only added to my embarrassment.

I couldn’t resort to emotional appeals and remind him of our past. Just a couple of hours prior, I had firmly told him that I wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

His gray eyes scrutinized me over the rim of his coffee cup, filled with mockery, as if he were waiting for me to stumble over my words.

Taking a moment to steady my racing heart, I finally spoke up. “You can benefit from this too.”

He set his mug down, tapping his long index finger against the table with a calculated precision. “How so? Enlighten me.”

“You’re here to negotiate cooperation with Alpha Thalira, right? That indicates you genuinely desire a long-term partnership with the Frostpine Pack. However, I know Alpha Thalira well. She’s paranoid and arrogant; you won’t receive favorable terms from her. But if you assist me this one time, I promise you’ll receive terms far superior to anything she could offer once I gain power.”

The mocking lines around his mouth deepened, skepticism etched across his features. “So, an empty promise.”

“No. A long-term investment,” I corrected him, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.

“Then answer me this: I clearly recall you stating your desire for revenge against everyone who has wronged you, and I’m on that list as well. How can you convince me that you—someone who despises me—would provide better terms than Alpha Thalira?”

Damn it. I knew he would bring that up!

“Ugh… Well, because…” I stammered, my mind racing to find the right words. “What we share is entirely personal. This, however, is strictly business. I may hate you, but I recognize your wisdom, intelligence, and how trustworthy—”

He raised an eyebrow, and I felt my face flush even more, but I pressed on. “—and reliable an Alpha you are. I won’t allow our past to interfere with our deal.”

He leaned back, studying me with a calm demeanor that sent my heart racing.

God, I absolutely loathed his superior attitude, as if he held all the cards in this game.

Yet, what could I do? I was the one begging for his help. So, I sat stiffly in my seat, allowing him to scrutinize me.

After an agonizing pause, he leaned forward, his gaze still locked onto mine. I had leaned in too, and suddenly the distance between us felt alarmingly small. I was enveloped by his aggressive scent, intoxicating and overwhelming.

I held my breath, instinctively trying to pull back.

But he reached out, capturing my wrist with a firm grip, halting my retreat.

The contact between our skin felt searing hot, sending goosebumps racing across my body, an electric current coursing through me.

The hardest part was selecting accessories.

I swapped earrings three times before finally settling on a pair of sparkling drops that would twinkle like stars in the dim light.

Once everything was ready, I fidgeted with my hair in the mirror, a sense of satisfaction washing over me.

I’ll admit, I put in considerable effort for my appearance tonight. This was the first occasion I’d dressed up since Grayson and I had parted ways. I wanted to look nothing short of stunning in front of him.

At precisely half past eleven, a knock echoed through my room.

I hurried to the door, my stilettos clicking on the floor.

There he stood, clad in a black three-piece suit that accentuated his tall, muscular frame, making him appear even more handsome and imposing.

When his gaze landed on me, he froze for a heartbeat, and I reveled in the look of stunned admiration I had hoped to see in his eyes.

“So? Do I look good enough to stand beside the great Alpha Grayson?” I challenged playfully, a teasing lilt in my voice.

He smiled, a genuine warmth lighting up his expression. “Without a doubt. You look beautiful… even more stunning than a year ago. Your new status suits you well.”

He then extended a gift box tied with a champagne gold ribbon toward me. “I brought you something to wear.”

“That’s unnecessary. I have an evening gown,” I replied, waving my arms to show him my attire.

It was a silver-white gown that hugged my waist perfectly, the skirt flowing like waves under the moonlight as I moved.

I shot him a challenging glance, wanting him to understand that I was no longer the girl who relied on his gifts to afford expensive clothing.

However, a mysterious smile played at his lips. “No, that gown won’t do for the venue we’re attending.”

Confused, I asked, “It’s not good enough? It’s a limited edition designer piece.”

“It’s not about the price. Open the box and see for yourself,” he insisted, his tone firm yet playful.

Frowning, I loosened the champagne gold ribbon and opened the box.

A piece of light, flimsy fabric tumbled out onto the couch.

I stared at it for a few seconds, and then a wave of anger surged through me.

“Grayson Hart. Are you seriously kidding me?!” I growled, incredulity spilling from my lips.

Inside the box lay a dress crafted from black silk and lace, resembling sexy lingerie. It was an outfit that was more about straps and suggestion than actual coverage.