Chapter 322

Aria's POV "I wasn't running away," I lied, clutching my phone tightly. "I told you, I wanted to see Dad." "Mm-hmm." Aiden stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click that somehow sounded final. "Is that why you've been ignoring my texts all evening? Because you were so focused on your father?" I took a step back, my legs hitting the edge of my bed. "I left my phone up here. I was busy." "Playing chess?" He raised an eyebrow, moving closer with that predatory grace that always made my stomach flutter. "Charles told me you lost spectacularly. Your mind was elsewhere, apparently." "Since when are you and Charles so chummy?" I muttered, trying to maintain distance between us, which was ridiculous given he was my husband. Aiden moved closer still, his cologne—expensive and intoxicating—filling my senses. "You're embarrassed about last night." It wasn't a question. I looked away, unable to hold his intense gaze. "Don't be," he said, his voice dropping to that low, i