Chapter 326

Aria's POV I drove home with my mind racing. That casual comment I'd made to Lillian about talking to Aiden suddenly felt like an impossible task. What had seemed straightforward over lunch now felt awkward and uncomfortable as I navigated through traffic. By the time I entered our neighborhood, my heart was pounding against my ribs. The perfectly manicured lawns and elegant homes of our gated community usually calmed me, but not today. Ten minutes later, I parked in the garage and walked through our garden toward the main entrance. The autumn flowers were in full bloom, their colors vivid against the perfectly trimmed hedges that Aiden insisted on maintaining. Lucy poked her head out from the dining area as I entered. "Welcome home, Mrs. Carter!" I nodded with a tight smile, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen island, and headed upstairs. Dinner was still a while away, so I changed into more comfortable clothes and, not finding Aiden anywhere, drifted toward the music room. The