Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel 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, what can I do?"

The photos she attached—me carrying her to the car, her medical records—made something possessive stir inside me. Without hesitation, I tapped the comment section and typed: "I'm very easy to please."

I hit send without overthinking it, then set my phone down to review some contracts Lucas had sent over. Less than five minutes later, my phone exploded with notifications.

Apparently, my comment had been pushed to the top, my verified "Carter Group CEO" badge drawing immediate attention. The hashtag #CEOCarterComments was already trending at number three.

I scrolled through the replies, amused at how wild speculation had become:

"I'm very easy to please—not pleasing me isn't an option."

"I'm very easy to please—especially in bed."

The latter comment caught my attention. Without thinking twice, I tapped the like button on it, then set my phone down with a smirk.

Leaning back in my chair, I considered Aria's earlier joke about the Carter Group shares. She'd meant it in jest, but I'd been completely serious. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that this was exactly what we needed.

I picked up my phone and called Lucas.

"Sir?" he answered on the first ring.

"I need you to draft a transfer agreement immediately," I said, not bothering with pleasantries.

"What kind of transfer, sir?"

"Twenty percent of my personal Carter Group holdings to Aria Jones-Carter. Full ownership rights, voting privileges, everything."

The silence on the other end was telling.

"Sir, that's... approximately four billion dollars in current market value."

"I'm aware of the amount, Lucas," I replied coolly. "Have the papers ready within the hour."

"Yes, sir," he responded, professional as always despite his obvious shock. "Will there be anything else?"

"That's all."

I ended the call and stood up, straightening my shirt. The decision felt right—natural, even. If Aria was worried about financial independence or people thinking she was after my money, this would solve both problems. And if I was being completely honest with myself, I wanted to see her reaction. Would she be shocked? Angry? Would she finally understand just how serious I was about her?

An hour later, Lucas delivered the documents as requested. I reviewed them carefully, signed where necessary, and headed to find Aria.

She was in our bedroom, phone in hand, likely monitoring the online response to her posts. When I entered, she glanced up, a hint of nervousness crossing her features.

"I saw your comment," she said, her voice slightly higher than usual. "The whole internet is going crazy."

"Good," I replied, walking toward her with the folder in my hand. "I have something for you."

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