Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 242

Aria's POV

I'd just made it back to the bedroom and was sorting through my things in the bathroom when my phone rang. It was Lillian, which surprised me. She knew I hated these social events, so she rarely called after competitions ended.

This was only the second time she'd reached out in all the years we'd known each other.

"Lillian?" I answered, confusion evident in my voice.

"Aria, are you still at the hotel?" Her tone was urgent, making my stomach tighten.

"Yeah, I'm still here. What's wrong?"

She exhaled sharply into the phone. "Your name is trending on several social media platforms since yesterday. There's a swarm of reporters camped outside the hotel entrance waiting for you. If you're still inside, don't come out yet."

My mouth fell open. This was completely unexpected. Even when I first gained recognition as a young pianist returning home, I'd never been ambushed by the media. Now, just because my identity had been revealed, reporters were surrounding the hotel?

I frowned, biting my lower lip. "But Aiden and I have a train to catch at two o'clock."

Lillian paused for a moment. "I'll try to help clear them out. Could you stay in and have lunch at the hotel?"

I understood what she was trying to do and didn't want her working too hard on my behalf. "Alright, I won't leave the room before one. Don't worry about the reporters if you can't get rid of them. You've already had a busy couple of days—go rest."

"Please, this is nothing. I only get busy a few days a year," she laughed. "And honestly, I've been dreaming about something like this happening for ages!"

Her excitement made me cringe slightly. "Well, I should go now."

"Sure thing!"

Just as I hung up, I noticed Aiden had finished his call too. I walked over to him, absently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"My assistant just called. Apparently, there's a crowd of reporters waiting for me outside the hotel."

Aiden looked down at me, his lips curving into a teasing smile. "Looks like Mrs. Carter has become famous."

I caught the playful mockery in his tone. In the past, I might have blushed furiously, but I was different now. I kept my composure and fired back.

"Haven't I always been famous?" I challenged. I wasn't just being cocky—I was a renowned piano prodigy, after all! I might keep a low profile personally, but my achievements certainly didn't.

Aiden rarely saw this side of me. His eyes glinted with amusement at my cat-like pride. "You're right. I misspoke," he conceded, smile deepening.

Seeing the laughter in his dark eyes, my confident façade finally cracked. I quickly changed the subject. "So we can't go out for lunch now."

Aiden looked at me with that expression that made my knees weak—like everything I said was perfectly reasonable and he'd follow my lead anywhere. "Whatever you say, Mrs. Carter."

I felt heat creeping up my neck and quickly grabbed the hotel's room service menu, pretending to study it intently while deciding what we should eat.

Since we needed to leave by one to catch our train, I called down for room service at eleven-thirty. We had just finished eating at twelve-fifteen when Lillian called again.

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