Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 147

Aria's POV

I hadn't been roasted online like I expected—quite the opposite, people were complimenting me. Of course, I knew that my trending topic with Julian had been going strong for a day already.

Yesterday I'd spent the entire day rehearsing for the concert. When I got home, I discovered Aiden hadn't returned yet, so I went to take a shower. I'd originally planned to wait for him and ask why he hadn't shown up at the concert, but I ended up falling asleep just minutes after lying down. So much for waiting up for him.

I was completely exhausted yesterday. I slept straight through until ten the next morning.

When I woke up, my phone had exploded with notifications. Lillian and Claire had sent me a flood of messages. I didn't think much of it, assuming it was about last night's concert.

I was starving, so I didn't even check my phone before rushing through my morning routine—washing my face, brushing my teeth, and hastily applying some essence—before heading downstairs with my phone for breakfast.

Nanny saw me and immediately brought out warm porridge and dumplings. "Mrs. Carter, your husband said he'll be home for lunch."

I paused for a moment. "Oh, okay. Please make sure to prepare his meal today."

I didn't question it further and took a few sips of porridge before checking the messages from Lillian and the others.

It wasn't just Lillian who had messaged me. Aiden had texted me last night too, asking if I'd gotten home and if I needed him to pick me up.

But I'd been asleep and hadn't replied.

I stared at the chat window, hesitating for a moment before typing: Sorry, Mr. Carter, I was too exhausted and fell asleep. Didn't see your message.

Aiden was usually busy around this time, so after sending the message, I exited the chat and started reading Lillian's texts.

Around midnight last night, Lillian had sent me seven or eight messages, all about how I suddenly went viral after Julian's concert, complete with screenshots.

Lillian: HAHAHAHA, Aria, Julian's fans are actually shipping you two together! I'm dying! 😂

Lillian: This is incredible. The more I look, the more I see the chemistry between you two! OMG, they've brainwashed me! [Video.mp4]

...

At around eight this morning, Lillian had sent another message: Are you still not awake? Who's Diana Hayes? Did Aiden skip your performance because of her? [Screenshot.jpg]

My heart skipped a beat. I opened the screenshot and was struck by glaring headlines: "Former Runaway Groom's New Wife Sees Red Flags Three Months Into Marriage, Mr. Carter Spotted With Mystery Woman All Night"

The screenshot showed Aiden and a masked young woman getting out of a car and entering a hotel late at night. The timestamp read 12:50 AM yesterday.

Aiden had texted me at 11:10 PM last night.

So... was Aiden with this Diana woman last night?

I couldn't quite identify the feeling washing over me. For a brief moment, I was grateful I hadn't impulsively confessed my feelings that night.

I didn't know how to respond to Lillian's message, so I just sent a "I don't know either" sticker.

I checked Claire's message next: Aria, are you awake? Did that dog of a man cheat on you? Tell me and I'll help you beat him to death!

I responded awkwardly: No, nothing like that.

Even if he had, what right did I—his plastic wife—have to say anything when facing his true love?

It's fake, after all. Our marriage is fake.

So why did it hurt so much?

After one concert, I'd become almost more famous than Julian himself.

The high-definition photos taken of me at Julian's concert by his fans had immediately gone viral, with people online asking who I was.

"Sorry, but I can't help it—who is this breathtakingly beautiful lady? Is she just a regular person?"

"Oh my god, who is this goddess Julian invited? She's sooooo beautiful! Please tell me her social media handle!"

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