Chapter 43: Bitch (Aria's POV)

"Alexander and... Adrian has a sister, you know that right?" Riya finally began telling me the story. 

I nodded in response. 

"Well, they were in love." 

"What?" I gasped. I knew it. I fucking knew it. It's incredibly pissing off. Knowing that Alex wasted his time on someone like Eleanor and that she hurt him. Or well, he got hurt because of her. I'm certain now that Aria is just about to confirm my theory. 

"Yes. And nobody knew. They kept it a secret because... Because her family was going to get her married. A prince from France had come here especially for her and one night she sneaked off to meet Alexander but... Adrian caught them. After that Eleanor married that French Prince and she was shipped off." She paused, glancing at the door doubtfully when we both heard a sound. 

But we brushed it off. I know Alex is downstairs. 

"Adrian and Alexander had a huge fight after that. And Adrian has hated Alexander ever since. He thinks Alexander was trying to ruin his sister's marriage and future." 

"What happened to Alexander?" I questioned. 

"He was left heartbroken. They were each other's first love and they were torn apart so brutally. Nobody has seen him with any other girl ever since. Apart from well, now you. But that's not why I'm telling you this. I'm telling you this because-" 

"Why are you telling her this? I would like to know as well." I turned to the door where Alexander stood calmly, his hands in his pockets, no anger, no frustration, nothing. 

"I'm telling her this because Eleanor was a bitch," Riya huffed, getting off the bed. I stared at Alex, not knowing what to do or say. 

Did he hear it all? 

"Eleanor was a bitch and she still is a bitch. She's here for you. You remember what she asked before she left, don't you Alexander?" Riya walked up to him, grabbing her things with her, so I assume she's heading out now. "She asked if she could have both. You and the French Prince. And you said no. And that's where she lost her shit, that's where she herself called Adrian there that night." 

Even Alex blinked in realization. As if he didn't know about this part of the story. 

"See? You didn't even know." 

"That girl told you, didn't she?" Alexander asked. 

Riya nodded silently. "She told you about the French guy, right?" 

"Hmm," Alex replied, folding his arm across his chest. 

"And she asked you to stay with her. She said she'll come back every few months. Because she was interested in your body, for God's sake. But you were too lovesick to see that. At least you weren't lovesick enough to fall for it." Riya glanced at me. "Now that I've told her the story you were too scared to tell her, fix it up. Now," she scolded before walking out, her shoulder intentionally bumping into his on the way out. 

Alex and I stood in heavy silence, staring at each other. "He kissed you?" 

"You dated her?" I shot back, folding my arms across my chest. 

He sighed, closing the bedroom door and then walking over to me. "Riya already told you everything." 

"Yeah," I nodded. "Riya did. And you didn't. Ever." 

"You didn't tell me what happened last night either. Which makes zero sense, Aria. You weren't at fault and... you still didn't tell me about it?" 

"I was scared," I huffed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I was scared you'd still think it was my fault and that you'd hate me." 

"And remind me," he said. "How many times have I told you that I don't and I could never hate you?" 

"It doesn't matter how many times you told me that. Ultimately, it was a horrible situation. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me for it." We dwelled in some more horrible silence for a moment. 

"Are you angry I didn't tell you about Eleanor?" he asked hesitantly. 

"Very," I nodded. "If you told me, I would have confronted her about it, I swear," I groaned into my palms. 

"I don't want it to drag on, Aria. She was my past. A very stupid, regretted, irrelevant, and pathetic part of it. She has nothing to do with me anymore. You do though." He kneeled in front of me, taking my hands in his. "You're my wife," he said. "And I'm so glad that you are. I'm so grateful." I blinked at him. "I'm so grateful that you stole the watch from me that day." 

I let out a small chuckle. 

"I am so glad that I brought you into the palace and I'm so glad that my parents suggested that we get married. Thank God, I agreed. Because I don't know what the hell I would do without you." 

"You'd be just fine. Just like you were before me." I gave him a small shrug. I don't particularly like that truth, but it's true. Before me, his life must have been smooth sailing. I came in and threw it all off. I just got lucky he happened to like this problem that is me. And accept it. 

"You know I threw the watch away?" 

"What?" My eyes widened in shock. "You what?" I stuttered. 

"I threw the watch away after that day. When we talked about how the way he treated me was abusive. I broke it and then threw it." 

"It must have been expensive, Alex. You could have given it to someone. To a thief, actually. They'd make a lot of money from it," I muttered. 

"I'm joking," he deadpanned. I slapped his face away. He laughed, "No, I sold it." 

"You did? To who?" 

"Mr. Charles," he smirked. 

"Really?" 

He nodded. "And," he sighed, standing up and sitting beside me. "I bought something with all the money I got for it." 

"When did you do this?" I asked. 

"A few days ago. I think you were busy with my mother or something, I can't quite remember," he shrugged. 

"What did you buy with it?" I chuckled. 

"I bought an anklet." 

"For?" I grinned. 

"My wife. I haven't seen her around though, have you?" I pushed him hard and he fell back on the bed, pulling me down with him. "Want to see it?" he asked. 

I nodded. 

He got up and opened the closet, coming out with a small, navy blue, velvet box. He came and sat beside me, pulling me up. He opened the box, handing it to me. It was a simple gold chain with a small gold heart dangling from it. 

"It's adorable," I chuckled, my finger tracing the heart. "I love it." 

"Really?" he asked. "Because I love you." 

My head snapped up, eyes meeting his. "You what now?" I sputtered. 

"I love you," he nodded. "And I know I love too fast and too hard. But it's now or never," he smiled. "So, you don't have to say it back right now. Everybody isn't like me. Everybody doesn't love so easily, so I understand if you're not ready to say it yet. We're barely three weeks into the marriage. But I'm sure we've got many more to go, no?" he asked, taking the box from me and pulling the anklet out of it. 

I nodded, dumbfounded. 

"And anyhow," he sighed, grabbing my waist and turning me around, pulling my legs up. "Left or right?" 

"Right," I grinned. 

"Anyhow," he continued. "Love is something that's supposed to happen way before the wedding. So, I'm just a little late to the party, you're even later, that's okay, no issues," he shrugged, clasping the anklet around my ankle, flicking the heart gently. "I just know that I love you." He looked up at me. 

I pulled my legs back down to the floor, hanging off the bed and I stared at him. "I do love you," I replied. 

"Don't say it until you're sure, Aria. I want you to mean it." 

"Don't be so modest! You never are!" I smacked his chest. "You heard the entire conversation, didn't you? You heard me saying that I might love you. Don't act like you didn't now. I love you. Accept my confession," I demanded. 

"Is this how you confess your love?" he laughed. "By ordering me to accept it?" 

I nodded, scooting closer to him. "Yes." 

"Really?" he asked. 

I stood up to go but the box of the anklet back but he grabbed my waist and pulled me down to his lap. 

"So, you're just as stupid as I am? You love too hard, too fast as well?" 

"No," I said slowly, putting my arm around his neck, holding onto him. "I'm just this stupid when it comes to you. I love you too hard. And I did it too fast." 

He smiled, leaning up and silencing me with a kiss. "I have a question," he said, breaking the kiss. 

"Yes?" I raised my brows at him. 

"Were you serious when you... hmm. Did you really mean it when you said we'll only have sex when we want to have a child? I mean, I'm just curious, how serious were you about that?" he asked. 

I laughed, pecking his lips. "I wasn't being serious," I shook my head. 

"No?" He perked up. 

"No," I shook my head. 

He smirked at me. 

"Is the door locked?" I asked. 

He put me on the bed and shot up, rushing to lock the door. I laughed while he walked back over, putting the anklet box on the nightstand and grabbing my throat, pulling me into a heated kiss.

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Chapter 43

we're gonna draw the line at 45 chapters ya'll 

I loved writing this book omg, I hope the rest are this fun and I hope ya'll comment this much on the next one I mean fr.

After I asked, ya'll comment so much lmao

anyhow next chapter: kisses