CHAPTER 72: PISSED OFF HUSBAND

Aiden’s POV

Okay, I know leaving Alexia at the event might not have been the best move, but Liz had fainted, and no one else was doing a damn thing to help her. What was I supposed to do—just stand there and watch? Besides, Alexia wasn’t a child. She was perfectly healthy, unlike Liz, who had clearly been unwell.

I rushed Liz to the hospital, my heart pounding in a way I hadn’t expected. The doctors assured me it wasn’t anything serious—just exhaustion and low blood sugar—but that didn’t make me feel any better. She was discharged after a few hours, but I couldn’t just drop her off and leave. Not when she was still looking pale, and definitely not when she clutched my wrist and practically begged me to stay.

"Please, Aiden," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just for a little while."

Alexia could survive one night without me. Hell, she’d probably be happier that way. She had William, the butler, and if anything was wrong, she could always call someone. Liz, on the other hand—she had nobody.

So I stayed.

I told myself it was just for the night. Just until I was sure she was okay.

Then why the hell did I feel like I was crossing a line?

I made sure to tell Tobias to take Alexia to school because I knew I wouldn’t make it back in time to drive her myself. I just hoped she wouldn’t sleep herself into oblivion and actually manage to get up and go without me having to drag her.

At 9 a.m., I called William to check in, and to my surprise, she was already awake. Well, would you look at that—she was capable of getting up on her own without me having to pull her out of bed. Progress.

With that settled, I turned my focus back to Liz. She was still curled up on the couch, looking far too fragile for my liking. I knew she needed rest, but she also needed to eat and take her medication.

"You feeling any better?" I asked, setting a plate of toast and eggs in front of her.

She gave me a small smile. "A little. You really didn’t have to do all this, Aiden."

"Yeah, well, someone has to make sure you don’t collapse again," I muttered, sitting across from her.

I had also arranged for Tobias to bring me a fresh suit, meaning I wouldn’t have to stop by my place before heading to work. It was more convenient this way—less running around. And if I was being honest with myself, I didn’t feel like facing Alexia just yet.

Not because I was guilty. I had done nothing wrong.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

The day had been long. I checked up on Liz, and she was doing great—recovering well, eating, and taking her medication. That was one less thing to worry about.

Alexia, on the other hand?

She wasn’t answering my calls or replying to my texts. In fact, she had switched off her damn phone.

Great.

I knew she was mad. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out. I made a mental note—I would be the one picking her up from campus today instead of sending Tobias. At least if I faced her in public, she’d be less likely to make a scene. I’d even bring her some snacks—that should soften the blow. I wasn’t in the mood for Alexia’s nagging or her usual theatrics.

So, at exactly 4 PM, when I knew her classes ended, I drove to campus. I parked, leaned against the car, and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But she never showed up.

A bad feeling crept up my spine.

I checked with the administration office just to be sure.

"She never made it to class today," the receptionist informed me with a polite but dismissive smile, tapping at her keyboard.

What the hell?

She never even came to campus?

Great. Just great.

Now, where the hell was Alexia?

Aiden’s POV

One day. One fucking day.

She couldn’t do what was expected of her without being watched over like a damn baby.

I clenched my jaw, shoving a frustrated hand through my hair. I had given her the benefit of the doubt—trusted that she’d at least manage to go to school like a normal, responsible adult. But no. Of course not.

I pulled out my phone and called Tobias.

"Find out where Alexia is. Now," I barked the moment he picked up.

There was a slight pause. Then, "Sir, I thought she was in class?"

"Yeah? Well, she wasn’t. She never even made it to campus today."

Silence.

I gritted my teeth as I gripped my phone tighter.

"I told you to take her to school! Why the hell did she not make it?" I snapped at Tobias, my patience running dangerously thin.

Tobias hesitated before answering, his voice careful. "I didn’t take her... Mike did."

Silence.

A sharp, ringing silence.

Then—

"Fucking stupid," I hissed, rage simmering under my skin. "I told you to take her. Not Mike. Find her. Right now."

Without waiting for a response, I hung up and tossed my phone onto the passenger seat, rubbing a hand over my face. My pulse pounded in my temples, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

What the hell was Mike doing with my wife?

Was this some pathetic attempt at payback?

Because Liz never reciprocated his feelings?

I thought we were past that. Years ago, we had both liked Liz. We both fought for her attention, but in the end, she always leaned toward me. It pissed Mike off, but when neither of us got her, we called a truce. There was no point in holding grudges over something that wasn’t meant to be.

So what the fuck was this?

Now he was going after Alexia?

And she—stupid, reckless, thoughtless Alexia—just went along with him like it was nothing?

Did she not understand how this looked?

Did she not care?

The media was already obsessed with us, watching our every move, waiting for cracks in our perfect marriage. What the hell would people say if they saw her sneaking around with my friend?

I thought she was just broke and had bad manners when I proposed this deal.

Not a fucking slut

.

I slammed my fist against the steering wheel, the sharp honk barely cutting through the storm in my head.

What the fuck was Alexia thinking?

One damn day. That’s all she had to do—just go to class like a normal fucking person. But no, of course not. She had to go and pull this bullshit, running off with Mike of all people.

I felt something ugly crawl up my throat—jealousy, frustration, betrayal.

Had I not made things easy for her? Had I not kept up my end of the damn deal? She had a roof over her head, luxury most people would kill for, a fucking title that made her untouchable. And this is what she did? Skipping school to go on a joyride with my friend?

I could already imagine the headlines:

"Billionaire Heir’s Wife Spotted with His Own Friend – Trouble in Paradise?"

Fucking great.

And Mike—what the hell was he even playing at? Was he really that pathetic? That desperate to get one over on me? Did he think this was some kind of twisted revenge?

You’re touching what’s mine, Mike.

I grabbed my phone and called Tobias again, my patience officially dead.

"Where the hell is she?" I barked the second he picked up.

"We found her," he said, his voice uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell me.

"Where?"

A pause. Then—

"Her location reads at a fast-food place outside the city."

I nearly crushed the phone in my hand.

Fast food?

She ditched school to eat fucking burgers with my brother?

I didn’t even wait for more details before I started the car, my jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

I was done playing nice.

Alexia wanted to test me? Fine.

Let’s see how far she was willing to take this.

I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, my foot pressing harder on the gas as I sped through the city streets.

Her phone, the same one I fucking paid for, had led me straight to her. She really thought she could just disappear without a trace? Skipping school, running off with Mike of all people? Did she really think I wouldn’t find out?

The moment Tobias sent me the coordinates, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t stop to think.

And now, as I pulled into the parking lot of some run-down fast-food joint in the middle of nowhere, my blood boiled at the sight before me.

There they were.

Sitting across from each other, laughing like some lovesick couple.

Alexia, grinning like she didn’t have a care in the world, stuffing fries into her mouth while Mike looked at her like she was the most amusing thing he’d ever seen.

Oh, hell no.

I slammed the door of my car shut, striding toward them with a purpose. My rage burned hot, consuming every rational thought.

Mike was the first to notice me. His face shifted from amusement to something more serious, as if he knew he had just crossed a line. But Alexia? That damn woman didn’t even realize I was there until I was looming over her, casting a shadow over the pathetic little meal they were sharing.

She looked up at me, mid-chew, her eyes widening slightly.

"Oh," she said, like I was some random guy interrupting her date. "You’re here."

My jaw clenched.

That was it. That was the final fucking straw.

Before she could say another word, I grabbed her wrist and yanked her up from her seat. She gasped, stumbling slightly, but I didn’t give a damn.

"Aiden, what the hell?!" she snapped, trying to pull away, but my grip only tightened.

Mike stood up then, stepping forward like he was about to do something stupid.

"Aiden, let her go—"

I turned my glare on him, my voice dropping to something lethal.

"Stay the fuck out of this, Mike," I warned. "If you ever take my wife anywhere again without my permission, I swear to God, I will make you regret it."

Mike held my gaze, tension crackling between us, but he didn’t move. Smart choice.

Alexia, on the other hand, was not having it.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Let me go, Aiden!" she shouted, struggling against my hold.

Ignoring her protests, I bent down and threw her over my shoulder like she was nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

She yelped, pounding her fists against my back. "Aiden! Put me down, you asshole!"

"Not happening," I gritted out, turning on my heel and heading straight for my car.

Mike didn’t dare stop me.

As I opened the car door and practically shoved Alexia inside, she shot me a glare so sharp it could have cut glass.

"You insufferable, controlling piece of shit—"

I slammed the door in her face before she could finish.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I turned to look at her, my eyes cold. "You want to act like a reckless child? Fine. But don’t forget who owns you, Alexia."

With that, I started the engine, leaving Mike standing there like the fool he was as I drove off with my wife.