CHAPTER 98: ARIA’S ADVICE

Yep, if Lillian had learnt one thing since they met, it was that this Irina lady was definitely insane.

What normal person would suggest something like that with a straight face? A harem? Who even used that word outside of corny novels and ridiculous fantasies?

Lillian lay in bed, back in her apartment, her eyes locked to the ceiling. She had just returned from the restaurant where she met with Irina.

Her words were still stuck in Lillian’s head as they replayed themselves over and over again.

No matter what angle she approached it from, this sounded ridiculous. She was so lost in thoughts that she didn’t even notice when Aria walked in.

"You okay," Aria’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts causing her to move her head to the side.

She was about to answer that she was okay but paused. Wasn’t Aria the right person to ask about this?

After all, she was a lot more experienced in topics like these since she had also been in a fair bit of relationships.

Sitting up the bed, Lillian looked at Aria before asking, "what do you think of harems?"

Aria was confused as she asked, "Harems?"

"Yeah," Lillian confirmed, "like someone having multiple partners."

Aria’s eyes widened as the pieces slid into place. "Wait... don’t tell me Ethan asked you for something like that?"

"What? No!" Lillian’s cheeks immediately flushed in embarrassment. "He doesn’t even know. This is about someone else, someone seemingly insane, who suggested it."

Aria tilted her head in even more confusion, studying her friend. "And you’re actually... considering it?"

Lillian groaned, burying her face in her hands. "No. Maybe. I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking you. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? Who even thinks like that in real life?"

Aria sighed before she sat down beside her, folding her arms. "Plenty of people do, actually. Not usually in the dramatic, novel-style ’harem’ sense, but... relationships aren’t always one-to-one. Some people choose to share. Doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, though."

Lillian peeked through her fingers. "You make it sound so... normal."

"That’s because it can be normal," Aria shrugged. "The question is—would you be okay with it? Forget Ethan, forget whoever suggested it to you. Could you honestly live with that? With someone else having his time, his affection... his attention?"

Lillian imagined it and she immediately felt a knot in her heart, she honestly wasn’t sure if she wanted to share but the image did make her feel a bit of pain.

"What if he focuses on the other person too much?" Lillian said in almost a whisper, "what if he ends up choosing the other person over me?"

"I see," Aria muttered, her tone softer now. Lillian’s eyes moved toward her as she continued, "It’s not that the idea of sharing bothers you... it’s that deep down, you’re afraid he might stop seeing you. That you’ll be forgotten once someone else steps in."

Was that really it? Was she as insane as Irina to just accept a harem?

"I-if that’s the case, then what do you think I should do?" She hesitantly asked.

"Hmm," Aria place a finger on her chin as she thought about her friend’s question.

Normally, she’d advise her to not be part of a harem or whatever messy situation whoever was trying to get her involved in but this wasn’t her decision to make, it was Lillian’s, so the best she could do was make sure her friend didn’t get hurt.

"What if you clearly establish your place as the main one?" Aria finally said, lowering her hand from her chin. "If you’re going to even entertain this crazy idea, then you need to make sure you’re not just... one of many. You’d have to be the center, the one he values most. Otherwise, you’ll always feel second-best."

Lillian blinked, caught off guard. "Main one?"

"Yeah," Aria nodded firmly. "If Ethan really cares about you—and from what I’ve seen, he does—then make sure you’re irreplaceable in his eyes."

It was pretty much the same as making sure she was the first wife, a thought which caused her to blush before she quickly fanned it away, causing Aria to raise a brow..

"What the hell are you even imagining?" Aria asked out loud, looking strangely at her friend.

Lillian shook her head furiously, trying to banish the ridiculous image from her mind. "N-no, it’s nothing! Don’t look at me like that!"

Aria smirked, leaning back a little on the bed. "Uh-huh. Sure. ’Nothing.’ You’re literally turning red right now, Lil."

"I said it’s nothing!" Lillian covered her face again, groaning. "God, why did I even bring this up with you..."

"Because I’m the only one who’ll give you the truth," Aria said matter-of-factly, shrugging. "Look, I don’t know who this ’insane person’ is that dropped the harem bomb on you, but the fact you’re even thinking about it means part of you isn’t completely against the idea."

Lillian’s hands moved down as she defended, "w-what? That’s not true!"

Aria raised an unimpressed brow. "Then why are you blushing and fanning yourself like a teenager caught reading some trashy romance novel?"

Lillian sputtered. "I—because—! Ugh!" She flopped backward dramatically onto her bed. "This is humiliating..."

Aria chuckled, watching her friend melt into the sheets. "Relax, Lil. I’m not judging you. I’m just saying—if you really want to be with Ethan, don’t let anyone else define your role in his life. If this harem nonsense ever does become a thing... make damn sure you’re the one he can’t live without."

"Do you....do you think I can do that?" Lillian moved the sheets covering her face.

Aria sighed before moving towards her and pulling the sheets away, "you underestimate yourself too much Lillian."

She pulled her friend into a sitting position before continuing, "you’re beautiful, smart, and honestly way tougher than you give yourself credit for," Aria said firmly, giving Lillian a little shake for emphasis. "Ethan would be an idiot not to see that. Hell, I don’t even think he can’t see it at this point."

"Now stop doubting yourself and show whoever this ’insane’ person is that you’re Ethan’s first choice."