Chapter 7 – Mrs. Foster!
Aria’s Povi
I was woken by the soft knock on the door and the quiet rustle of footsteps as two housemaids stepped in with gentle smiles.
“Good morning, ma’am,” one of them greeted, curtsying. “Sir Kian said we should help you prepare.“§
“Prepare?” I croaked, still groggy.
“For the wedding,” the other said, holding out a cream silk dress and delicate heels.
Right. The court wedding.
I sat up and let them work on me. They didn’t talk much. Just moved around quietly, brushing out my hair, fixing soft makeup on my face, and zipping up the dress like they’d done it a hundred times.
When they stepped aside, I stood in front of the mirror.
A stranger looked back at me. I can’t remember the last time I was all dolled up.
The door creaked open and Kian stepped in, dressed in a sharp black suit. He paused when he saw me.§
A smile curved his lips. “Stunning,” he murmured. “But then again, you always are.”}]
I turned, lips twitching faintly. “You clean up well too.“{
He walked over and took my hand, bringing it to his lips. The kiss was soft. Too soft.
I pulled back.
His eyes didn’t change. “It’s okay. I’ll wait,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to want me yet. Not today.”
I looked away. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want anyone again.“§
“I’m here anyway,” he replied. “Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.“}
I nodded, voice quieter. “All I want right now is revenge.“§
Then let’s get started.”
He offered his arm. I took it.
We left the house together.
The courthouse was quiet when we arrived.§
White marble floors. Simple flower arrangements. No guests. No fuss.§
Just what i needed.
Still, as I stood in front of the registrar, pen shaking in my hand, my mind wandered.}
I saw Jamie’s face.
“Aria,” he’d grinned one night, back when he still believed in things. “When you marry Austin, you better have that big–ass Cinderella wedding. I’m walking you down that aisle, you hear me?“>
“I don’t care for big weddings, I just want you to get better,” I had replied, laughing.§
He’d roiled his eyes. “I’ll be fine by then. My new heart will come through. I’m walking you down, no matter what.“}
“You’re stubborn.“E
He had shrugged. “It’s a little brother thing. We get it from the same place.”
My throat tightened.
“Aria?” Kian’s voice was low beside me. “You okay?”
I nodded and signed the paper.
Then he signed his.
“By the power vested in me by the State,” the official said, “I now pronounce you legally married. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Foster.” I blinked.
Aria Foster.
Not Harrington anymore.
Kian had taken his mother’s last name. The Foster side of the family. The illegitimate branch, but the one that mattered most to their grandfather.
I followed Kian out, silent the entire ride back.
When we arrived, he opened the door for me like always. “Your real room’s ready now,” he said. “You can stop pretending to be a guest.”} He walked me through the hallway and opened the door.
It was huge. Soft golds, warm lighting, the faint smell of lavender. It looked like it had been set up with care.3
“I always knew you’d come back,” Kian said, voice quiet. “Even after you broke my heart running back to him. I knew you’d come back.“* “I didn’t mean to hurt you.“>
“You were in love,” he said simply. “Now you’re not. That’s enough for me.“W
I didn’t respond.
I slipped away to my studio, needing to breathe.
Everything was untouched. Just as I had left it.#
My designs were pinned on the walls. Sketches of gowns, jewelry, veils, and shoes.N
My eyes landed on a particular drawing.&
A wedding ring.
Thin
gold band. Two sapphire stones pressed on both ends of a diamond.
The exact ring I’d dreamed of for years.M
I’d told Austin about it once. Showed him the sketch.
2 < F F = * 1⁄2 < < 1⁄2 =
And on Mira’s hand in that Facebook photo–that same ring gleamed. The bastard had stolen my design and given it to her.
My fingers curled into fists.
A knock interrupted me.
A servant
My old
entered, holding out something wrapped in a cloth. “Ma’am. This was left on the jet. It’s been ringing nonstop.“} phone.§
I took it, heart suddenly heavy. I hadn’t seen it since I left New York.
1 unlocked it.
Missed calls. Twenty–seven from Austin. Four from Mira. Two from my father.
Messages flooded in:
‘Aria, what the hell did you do?‘§
‘Come back now.
‘We can fix this.”
Are you out of your mind?!‘
And then–0
‘I’m sorry.”
‘I’m losing my mind here, please pick up.’”
Talk to me, Aria‘
I scoffed.
The phone rang again.
I answered.R@
“Hello?”
2 8 3 3 2 F F F C F D F E E K OSS FEE
There was silence.
Then his voice.
“Aria…”
I didn’t speak.
“Please talk to me. Where are you? Why are you doing this?”
Still, I said nothing.
“I was angry, okay? You went too far, but we can fix it. Just come home. We can make this right.”
I let the silence drag.
Then I finally spoke. “You made your choice, Austin.”
“Don’t do this. Don’t leave like this.”
“You didn’t mind leaving me bleeding in a hospital restroom,” I replied coldly. “So don’t you dare beg now.“”
He was quiet.}
“I don’t want to hear your voice again. Even if you’re drowning–don’t call me for help. I’ll be the one watching as you sink.”
I hung up.
And blocked the number.
The phone buzzed again, a new number.
I didn’t even look.
I turned it off.
