Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 297

Aria's POV

I instinctively looked ahead when I heard his voice, my gaze drawn by the quiet reverence in his tone.

Katherine's grave stood alone, a semi-circular structure covering nearly ten square meters. The black marble headstone, standing over three feet tall, held a black and white photograph that somehow seemed to shimmer with an almost ethereal clarity in the moonlight.

I had, of course, heard countless stories about Katherine—the woman who had filled so many critical gaps in his life since childhood. But this was my first time seeing her face, truly seeing the woman who had shaped so much of the man I loved.

The woman in the photo had shoulder-length hair and a gentle expression, yet it held a touch of profound vulnerability. Just looking at her, I felt an instinctive urge to reach out, to offer comfort.

"She is beautiful," I said softly, turning to look at Aiden, my voice filled with genuine admiration.

Just like a mother's gentle spirit, I mused silently, a pang of my own childhood memories stirring.

Aiden smiled faintly, a bittersweet curve of his lips. "She would have been very happy to hear that, Aria."

"I'm sure she can hear us," I replied with conviction, my hand gently slipping from his. I bent down, wanting to be eye-level with the serene woman in the photograph, a silent gesture of respect.

My gaze fell on a stray smudge on the polished headstone. I instinctively wanted to wipe it clean, but then realized my purse wasn't with me—I'd left it in the car. The tissues were in my purse.

Aiden crouched down beside me, noticing my furrowed brow and the slight frown on my face. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft.

"No tissues," I mumbled, feeling a sudden, childish frustration.

"There's some in the jacket pocket." He nodded towards the coat he'd draped over my shoulders.

My eyes lit up with relief at his words. I quickly reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. Sure enough, there was a neatly folded pack of tissues!

I pulled out two sheets, unfolded them carefully, then refolded them into a small, neat square before beginning to tenderly wipe the headstone clean.

"Hello, Mrs.Katherine," I said softly, my voice filled with reverence as I cleaned. "I'm Aiden's wife, Aria. This is my first time visiting you here, and I came rather suddenly without bringing anything proper. I hope you don't mind." My thoughts drifted to her profound impact on Aiden, a warmth spreading through me. "Aiden speaks of you often, and with so much love. He wouldn't be the man he is without you."

Aiden’s POV

I watched her, my Aria, as she carefully, tenderly, wiped down Katherine’s headstone. Her voice, a soft murmur in the night, spoke words of respect and quiet devotion, filling my chest with a warmth that even the chill night wind couldn’t penetrate.

The idea of bringing her here hadn't been a sudden impulse. For weeks, the conviction had been growing within me: I was irrevocably in love with her. I knew, with every fiber of my being, that Katherine, my guiding star, my cherished godmother, would have adored Aria as much as I did.

"Mrs. Carter truly is a fount of knowledge," I teased, my voice thick with affection.

Aria's face reddened further, but she simply returned to meticulously wiping Katherine's headstone.

After carefully cleaning every inch, she brought her hands together, fingers intertwined, and bowed her head in a gesture of profound respect and piety.

Watching her, the lingering weight of the evening, the familiar melancholy that always accompanied visits to Katherine's grave, simply vanished. My wife, indeed, knew just how to bring light into my world.

The night wind truly was cold here in the cemetery. Fearing Aria might catch a chill, I didn't linger much longer. "We should go," I suggested, my voice firm but gentle.

Aria turned her head, looking at me with those expressive eyes. "Aren't you going to have a private word with Mrs. Katherine? I can step away."

I simply took her hand, lacing our fingers together once more, and gently pulled her up. "Already said everything I needed to."

"Oh? When? I didn't hear you say anything!" she asked, genuinely perplexed.

"Just now," I confirmed, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. I brushed a stray piece of dust from her skirt, then led her, my heart light, away from the quiet solitude of the grave.