Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 336

Aria's POV

I stared at the Duncan women in disbelief.

"What are you so smug about?" Vivian snapped.

"Miss Jones, since you refuse the easy way, don't blame me for what comes next!" Mrs. Duncan hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

I waited patiently for their outburst to subside before speaking calmly. "I don't know what Mr. Duncan has told you about me, but I need to make something clear—I have absolutely no romantic interest in him whatsoever."

"Oh, please! You expect us to believe that?" Vivian scoffed. "You deliberately pursued my brother, playing hard-to-get until he was completely infatuated. Now you're acting innocent?"

I could tell from her clenched fists that if her mother wasn't restraining her, she would've already thrown her juice in my face.

In all my life, I'd never met people so stubbornly presumptuous.

Tired of wasting my time, I lifted my left hand. "Mrs. Duncan, Miss Duncan, perhaps you'd like to take a look at what's on my ring finger?"

I thought I was being perfectly clear, but once certain assumptions take hold, people only see what they want to see.

Vivian slapped the table. "So what? My brother gives rings to every girlfriend he's ever had! Don't tell me you think one little ring makes you my sister-in-law?" She let out a harsh laugh. "If that were the case, I'd have dozens of sisters-in-law, but I only have one brother!"

Mrs. Duncan frowned, saying nothing but clearly agreeing with her daughter's assessment.

I was speechless. Truly speechless.

After collecting myself, I tried again. "This ring isn't from your son."

"What, you bought it yourself? That's even more—"

Before Vivian could finish, I cut her off. "It's from my husband."

Vivian froze, the information clearly not computing in her brain.

Looking between them, I added for clarity: "This is my wedding ring. I got married six months ago."

"You're married but still seducing my brother?" Vivian exploded. "You're having an affair this openly? Who's your husband? I need to tell him—"

She couldn't seem to connect the dots, but her mother finally had. Mrs. Duncan grabbed Vivian's hand, signaling her to stop talking.

Vivian was furious at the interruption. "Mom, why are you stopping me"

Seeing that at least Mrs. Duncan understood, I decided I'd wasted enough time here. I gave her a cool, slightly amused look.

"Mrs. Duncan, I love my husband very much. But you've made me realize that your son's behavior has indeed been causing me problems. Please rein him in. I'd hate for my husband to develop any misunderstandings that might affect my marital happiness."

With that, I stood up and walked away without looking back.

Author's POV

The words landed like an open hand against Mrs. Duncan's face.

Vivian stared at Aria's retreating back, the woman's final words still rattling around in her skull like marbles in an empty jar. "Mom? What did she mean by that? She says she loves her husband—so why is she chasing after my brother?"

Mrs. Duncan's glare could have curdled milk. "You still don't understand? She isn't interested in your brother. She never was. This is your brother's imagination."

Vivian's eyes went wide with disbelief. "That's impossible."

So yes. His behavior with Aria was different. Was strange. Mrs. Duncan's face burned anew. Her son had developed feelings for a married woman. The woman wanted nothing to do with him. And she—Helen Duncan, respected matron of a respectable family—had just spent the last fifteen minutes accusing that woman of gold-digging.

Gold-digging. While wearing her wedding ring. While mentioning her husband. While patiently explaining that she loved someone else.

Helen wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

"This Miss Jones," she said tightly, "we will not discuss again. And if you see her in the future," she caught Vivian's eye, held it "you will walk the other way. Understood?"

Vivian's jaw dropped. "What? Why?"

"Because she has no interest in your brother. Your brother, on the other hand, has apparently developed an interest in her. And every word you just said to her," Helen's voice went thin with remembered shame "was a humiliation. For us. Not for her."

"I still don't believe it," Vivian muttered. "There's no way she doesn't want Owen. She's lying. She's playing hard to get. She's—"

"Did you not hear her?" Helen's patience finally snapped. "She has a husband. She loves him. Do you think your brother is currency? That every woman who sees him must want to spend him?"

The question landed hard.

Vivian opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

"But—"

"No." Helen stood, gathering her purse with sharp, controlled movements. "There is no 'but.' We are done here. And you should pray that Miss Jones is not connected to any circles we move in, because if this story gets out—" she didn't finish the sentence. Didn't need to.

Vivian watched her mother walk toward the exit, still processing. Still not quite believing.

One day, she'll prove it.