Chapter 87
Aria’s POV
What. The. Freaking. Hell.
I didn’t even know what pissed me off more. The fact that they’d spent last night together? Or the fact that they’d made this decision behind my back?
“You had no right.” The words hissed through my clenched teeth. “You hear me? No right to make that call for me! I don’t want your help. don’t want your healers–I just want you to stay the hell away from me and Grayson!”
She arched one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “Where is all this hostility coming from? I think there’s some sort of misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Okay. Then let’s do this,” I slammed the door behind me, glaring at her. “Why are you really here, huh? I don’t think you are interested in saving the life of a total stranger, So let’s just cut the crap–You want him back, don’t you? You regret filing for that divorce,
and now you’re here to steal him away!”
She blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
A laugh so dripping with disdain it felt like she was dealing with a misbehaving puppy.
“Maybe you should work on your paranoia. Or your self–esteem.” She elegantly adjusted the diamond brooch on her chest. “I told you, I’m doing this for Grayson’s sake. I want him to be happy. And for your information, my life is very fulfilling right now. I don’t want him back.”
Her casual tone only fueled my rage.
“Bullshit! No one pushes ‘help‘ this hard after being told to back off. You’re definitely up to something!” I snapped. “And you will never
succeed. Because you’ve walked away from him once. You gave up on that chance yourself. And now he has someone else in his life already.
So just back the fuck up!”
Her face cooled, a crease forming between her brows.
“You know what?” She smirked. “Sometimes, I envy uneducated small–town girls like you. You think screaming and cursing solve everything. How…cute and naive.”
Uneducated?
Who the hell was she calling uneducated?!
“OUT!” I roared. “Get the hell out of my house!”
She lifted her chin, her gaze icy. “This was my home as well. I was the hostess of this house even before you came along, And Grayson and ! are still friends. You’re being rude, Miss Collins.”
“Spare me your high–society crap. Just leave!” I kicked a chair, shaking with fury. God, she knew exactly how to push my buttons.
Just then, urgent knock on the door interrupted us. Mrs. Jones’s voice carried through the door, sounding worried: “Aria? Lady Isla? Is everything alright?”
“Come in!” I barked.
She opened the door and stepped in. I immediately pointed at Isla. “Please call security, Mrs. Jones. I want her gone—now! And make sure she doesn’t come back here ever again!”
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Chapter 87
Yet to my surprise, she heard my order and hesitated.
Isla gave her a soft smile. “How are you lately, Mrs. Jones?”
-I’m well. It’s been a while, Lady Isla.”
“Yes indeed. And your son? Is he settling into his new job?”
Mrs. Jones brightened at once. “Oh, yes! Thank you so much for your referral, Lady Isla. You were a lifesaver to him,”
I stared at them, shocked.
Wait. What the hell is happening?
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Isla turned to me, lips curling into a fake smile. “Oh right Aria, you probably didn’t know about this…but Mrs. Jones and I go way back. I hired her as the head housekeeper after marrying Grayson. We lived under the same roof for years. So of course she won’t throw me out because
she knows I’m not some horrible villain.”
A chill ran down my spine. And she stepped closer, her voice low and vicious:
“I told you already–This was my house. The staff are mine. The roses in the garden? I planted them. The curtains, the rugs—all chosen personally by me. This place is my territory. And you are the intruder.”
I balled my fists, gritting. “Stop–STOP IT!”
“But I get it.” She gave me a pitying smile. “A girl like you, dating a guy like Grayson? Of course you’re insecure because he’s wayyyy out of your league. So I’ll forgive your yelling and cursing like nothing’s happened. In fact, I’ll leave now.”
She picked up the photo albums, nodded to Mrs. Jones, and strolled out.
I stood there, my whole body trembling with rage.
The house that I once felt like home was now so cold and foreign. Like it was pushing me out.
“Aria…” Mrs. Jones started, hesitant.
“I need a moment alone,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry, but Lady Isla… she’s always been kind to me and the staff. She helped my son get his dream job. She and the Alpha stayed friends for years. So I thought it was harmless to let her in here. She’s not an outsider—”
“Enough!” I snapped.
Did I really need to hear what a nice person Isla was? And how close she and Grayson still were?
I was so sick of people saying it!
Mrs. Jones let out a small sigh and quietly left the room. I slumped against the desk and buried my head in my hands.
Yesterday’s talk with May had helped lift my spirits, but now I was back at rock bottom again.
It was too late. Isla had already invaded our lives like a fucking plague. No matter how I fought, I couldn’t shake her off now.
And no one understood me. Everyone thought she was the saint and I was some ungrateful bitch.
There’s a series of hurried footsteps in the hallway. Then the door flew open–Grayson stormed in.
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Chapter 87
“Aria!” He strode over and dropped to his knees, gripping my shoulders. “Fuck, are you crying? What happened?”
I looked up, my vision blurred by tears.
“…You were with her last night,” I whispered.
He froze. After a long pause, he said, “It’s not like that. I met some business partners at Packhouse. She was there too. So we had one drink after the meeting and that was it-”
1 cut him off. “She also said she had gotten your permission to give White River Pack’s Alpha a call. But we just had that conversation yesterday. I told you I didn’t want it!”
He exhaled sharply. “I didn’t give her any permission. She’d already done it by the time we met. And seriously, Aria, is that such a bad thing? I want you to get better soon and that’s probably the best way. I just can’t afford to lose you-”
“And I can’t lose you too! But that’s what will happen if she stays around. You’ll leave me for her!”
“Aria!” His voice turned cold and stern. “Can’t you have some faith in me? In us?! I’m not going back to Isla. Ever. You’re the only one I want!”
I swallowed hard.
I knew my insecurity was pushing him away. But I couldn’t help it.
After a long pause, I mumbled, “It’s not cool…Spending the night with your ex–wife and having a drink with her.”
He let out a long sigh and pulled me close. “It’s just one drink. I swear. Nothing else. You can check the Packhouse’s security cameras to make sure if you want. And I promise it won’t happen again.”
Trested my head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
Maybe I had to face it now: Isla was here to stay.
And just like she said–screaming and cursing wouldn’t change a damn thing.
It’s time for me to get ready for war.
“Hey.” Grayson tilted my chin up. “Want to hear something that’ll cheer you up?”
“What?”
“The medical summit is in two days. Alphas are flying in with their partners. I want you to entertain some Lunas. As the hostess.”
My jaw dropped to the ground.
What the freaking hell…Me. Hosting Lunas? Is he kidding???
“How is that cheerful?” I gasped. Did he not get how stressful this was?
He laughed. “Relax. Screw up all you want–no one will dare complain anyway. I just want you to meet people and have fun.”
I bit my lip. His reassurance did nothing to ease my nerves.
“It’s our first official event together as a couple.” He kissed my cheek. “Lcan’t wait to show you off to the whole world, Aria.”
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Even though Grayson told me not to worry, I still couldn’t sleep all night.
Thad zero experience entertaining high society women, and no one around to give me advice. My only source of inspiration? Those movies or reality shows depicting the upper–class life, where elegant ladies always gather for afternoon tea.
Afternoon tea that had to be a good idea, right?
Sophisticated, relaxed, and undeniably classy. Surely no one could have a problem with that.
So I reserved the café downstairs from the hotel where the guests were staying and had Nova send out invitations to the Lunas, inviting them
to my afternoon tea party.
The next day, I put on my brand–new tea dress and arrived at the café right on time.
The staff had set everything up exactly as I’d asked–delicate tea sets, tiers of pastries, and vases filled with tulips, roses, and hydrangeas.
The whole scene looked absolutely dreamy.
I couldn’t help snapping a few photos myself, God, this was so pretty! This is going to work. I’m sure of it.
So I took my seat and kept glancing toward the entrance every now and then, waiting for my guests to arrive.
…But they never did.
Nearly 40 minutes past the agreed time, I was forced to realize–something was wrong.
I pulled out my phone and called Nova. “Hey, it’s me. Did the Lunas‘ flight arrive on time?”
“Of course. They should’ve already checked into the hotel. Is something wrong?”
That’s strange. “They never came to the tea party. I think I should probably have the hotel staff go upstairs and check on them-”
Just then, the café door chimed. Someone came in.
1 whipped my head around so fast I nearly pulled a muscle in my neck.
But no, it wasn’t any of the Lunas.
It was Delilah.
“What the hell are you doing here?” My face darkened instantly.
“I’m here to grab a cup of coffee.” She gave me an odd look in return. “And what are you doing here? I thought you were going to join them
upstairs.”
“Upstairs? What upstairs?”
“The wine tasting in the penthouse lounge upstairs? I ran into a few Lunas in the elevator. They said there’s a welcome party, and they’re all heading there now. Didn’t you organize it?”
“Of course not!” I snapped. Who the hell hijacked my party?
“Besides the Lunas, who else is up there?”
“Oh,” she said casually, “And I saw Isla there too. She’s in the lounge right now.”
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