Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 202

Aria's POV

I grabbed Aiden's hand without hesitation when he reached for mine. Something about the simple gesture made my heart flutter more than it probably should have.

The evening sun was sinking into the ocean, turning everything golden. The beach sparkled like someone had scattered glitter across the sand, and the horizon glowed where the sun hung like a massive yolk slowly dropping into the water.

As darkness crept in, the crowds thinned out. Only couples remained, walking hand in hand along the shoreline. That was us now – a couple. The thought still felt surreal sometimes.

I suddenly stopped walking, feeling the urge to connect with this perfect moment.

"Everything okay?" Aiden's voice carried concern.

"I want to take my shoes off," I said, glancing down at my feet. "Feel the sand between my toes."

Walking barefoot on the beach was something Lillian and I always did during our girl trips. But something about doing it with Aiden made me hesitate – it felt weirdly intimate.

Before I could bend down, Aiden dropped to one knee in front of me. "Right foot up, Mrs. Carter," he commanded softly.

My cheeks instantly heated. "I can do it myself!"

"Foot up," he repeated, his fingers already wrapping around my ankle.

I surrendered, placing my hand on his broad shoulder for balance as he carefully unbuckled my sandal. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending little electric pulses up my leg.

"Left foot now," he instructed, and I obeyed without protest this time.

When I reached down to take my shoes, Aiden was already holding them in one hand while reclaiming my hand with the other.

"You really don't have to carry those," I mumbled, watching his expensive watch catch the dying sunlight. Those hands signed billion-dollar contracts, for god's sake. "I can take them."

He tilted his head, eyes locking with mine. "Am I not allowed?"

My argument died on my lips. "I didn't mean—"

Just then, another couple passed by. The woman walked barefoot ahead while her boyfriend trailed behind, dutifully carrying her sandals.

I glanced at Aiden, who was watching me with that knowing half-smile of his. "See? Not so strange after all."

Something sweet unfurled in my chest. "Not strange at all," I agreed, suddenly feeling bold enough to step into the shallow water where waves lapped against the shore.

Aiden tugged me gently back. "Not too far. The tide's coming in."

I nodded and stayed closer to him as we continued walking. The sky darkened completely, stars appearing one by one overhead. After we'd walked the length of the beach, I glanced at him. "Should we head back?"

"Come with me first," Aiden said, pulling me forward instead of toward the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" I asked, curious but following him without resistance.

He didn't answer, just led me further down the now-deserted stretch of beach. After about five minutes, he stopped and released my hand.

"Do you like the ocean?" he asked, his expression unreadable in the darkness.

"I love it," I replied, brushing windblown hair from my face. "But what are you—"

My question died when Aiden pulled out a lighter. "Are you going to smoke?" That seemed odd – I'd never seen him with a cigarette before.

He just smiled mysteriously, flicked the lighter, and tossed it onto the sand.

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