Chapter 317

Aria's POV I pulled into my driveway with a mind still swirling with worries about Dad. Something wasn't right. I could feel it in the way he'd deflected my questions and rushed me out the door. But as I stepped through our front door, those thoughts temporarily faded into the background. Aiden was already home, his suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he leaned against the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when he heard me enter, and the warmth in his eyes made my heart skip. "You're home early," I said, dropping my purse on the entryway table. "Meeting finished sooner than expected." He set his phone down. "How's your father?" "Stubborn as ever." I kicked off my shoes and padded toward him. "He practically pushed me out the door, insisting he was fine." Aiden pulled me into his arms, his body warm and solid against mine. "That sounds familiar. Must run in the family." I smacked his chest playfully. "I'm not stubborn." "Of course not," he