11
Blake couldn’t help but smirk. It seemed Aria Hayes had only learned one trick in those workshops – playing hard to get – and she wasn’t even good at that.
He had Maria pour him a glass of red wine, then opened Skylar’s chat and transferred her a large sum of money.
She quickly replied with a cute emoji.
Blake chuckled. He truly did like Skylar Vance; he was willing to spoil her.
He liked her youthful exuberance, her playful pouts and demands for gifts.
He liked this kind of rebellious indulgence, defying societal norms.
As for Aria Hayes, he ran a hand through his hair, struggling to find a fitting description. He picked up the red wine Maria had placed on the table and took a sip.
He opened the GPS tracker again. It was PM now, and Aria had already reached the entrance of the villa community.
Blake adjusted his hair. When Aria came in, he’d definitely scold her for having the nerve to go on a trip at a time like this.
He liked Aria Hayes because her family had gone bankrupt, her father was in the hospital, and she had no one else to rely on but him.
A woman who could handle his endless parade of women and was completely dependent on him–he was quite satisfied. He just couldn’t let Arla know his true feelings, which was why he was always so harsh with her.
Blake watched the dot on his phone’s GPS getting closer and closer, a smile playing on his lips, until the two icons finally overlapped.
A few minutes later, Maria handed Blake a cardboard box.
“Mr. Sterling, this is Mrs. Sterling’s package. The delivery man sald you needed to open it personally.”
Maria said, then lowered her head and left. Blake held the box, a growing unease spreading through him.
10:01
<
He tore open the tape and opened the box. Aria’s phone lay quietly inside.
The unease completely enveloped Blake. He pulled out the phone. There was no lock screen password.
The wallpaper was a wedding photo of him and Aria taken in Paris.
