Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now
img img Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now img Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Shattered Valentine's
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Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Perfect Counterattack img
Chapter 9 Chapter 9 My Unexpected Bride img
Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Turning Tables (V) img
Chapter 11 Chapter 11 New Beginning img
Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Father's Unconditional Support img
Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Breaking Free img
Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Didn't You Say You'd Kneel img
Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The End of Us img
Chapter 16 Chapter 16 A New Beginning img
Chapter 17 Chapter 17 What do you mean img
Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Tangled Lies img
Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Taking Back My Story img
Chapter 20 Chapter 20 The Other Side of the Story img
Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Exposing the Truth img
Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Boundaries And Desire img
Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Determined img
Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Rehearse img
Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Meeting Grandma img
Chapter 26 Chapter 26 His embarrassing story img
Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Unexpected Arrangement img
Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Tension and Vulnerability img
Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Surrender img
Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Raw Desire img
Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Testing the Waters img
Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Clash In The Pub img
Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Back to Work img
Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Studio Sessions img
Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Declare Sovereignty img
Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Unexpected Invitation img
Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Tempting Fate img
Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Sign the contract img
Chapter 39 Chapter 39 My Wife img
Chapter 40 Chapter 40 I want you, Aiden img
Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Come for me img
Chapter 42 Chapter 42 The Gift img
Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Moving Day img
Chapter 44 Chapter 44 What are you going to do img
Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Tonight is about enjoying ourselves img
Chapter 46 Chapter 46 He Finally Realized What He Lost img
Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Heat Between Us img
Chapter 48 Chapter 48 You're poking me img
Chapter 49 Chapter 49 I would never let her drink that much again img
Chapter 50 Chapter 50 A hickey img
Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Who would be coming over this early img
Chapter 52 Chapter 52 An Offer I Could (Almost) Not Refuse img
Chapter 53 Chapter 53 How was that hickey showing now img
Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Did he not like the food img
Chapter 55 Chapter 55 This couldn't be real img
Chapter 56 Chapter 56 A Black Card img
Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Is this part of the replacement too img
Chapter 58 Chapter 58 I want to take it off you piece by piece img
Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Is there anything this man can't do img
Chapter 60 Chapter 60 I've embarrassed myself in front of Aiden-again. img
Chapter 61 Chapter 61 There was no going back now img
Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Family Dinner1 img
Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Family Dinner2 img
Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Are you coming to watch img
Chapter 65 Chapter 65 The Mango Candy img
Chapter 66 Chapter 66 The Hot Dream img
Chapter 67 Chapter 67 I Miss Her img
Chapter 68 Chapter 68 A Melody of Love img
Chapter 69 Chapter 69 My wife was bullied img
Chapter 70 Chapter 70 You are my wife img
Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Then find someone else for your closing act img
Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Married, For Real This Time img
Chapter 73 Chapter 73 That Damn Call img
Chapter 74 Chapter 74 How you want to counter-attack img
Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Do what you need to do img
Chapter 76 Chapter 76 You want to void the contract img
Chapter 77 Chapter 77 I was kidding img
Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Unexpected Reactions img
Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Surrender img
Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Consequences img
Chapter 81 Chapter 81 You can be as ungracious as you like img
Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Desire and Distance img
Chapter 83 Chapter 83 A False Alarm Incident1 img
Chapter 84 Chapter 84 A False Alarm Incident2 img
Chapter 85 Chapter 85 That's your punishment img
Chapter 86 Chapter 86 A gala invitation by Millennium Group img
Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Beyond Compare img
Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Our first public appearance as a married couple img
Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Might I have a word with you img
Chapter 90 Chapter 90 What the hell was she doing ! img
Chapter 91 Chapter 91 What's her real game img
Chapter 92 Chapter 92 I just can't wear only a dress, can I img
Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Are you trying to seduce me img
Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Dry my hair for me img
Chapter 95 Chapter 95 A night brimming with passion img
Chapter 96 Chapter 96 I... must have been sleepwalking img
Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Because they're not Aria Jones img
Chapter 98 Chapter 98 What Did I Do to Deserve This img
Chapter 99 Chapter 99 What a shockingly stimulating sight ! img
Chapter 100 Chapter 100 The mix-up img
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Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now

Krystal
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Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Shattered Valentine's

Aria's POV

I never thought Valentine's Day would be the day my heart would truly break.

Liam had reserved a table at La Perle, the crown jewel of Manhattan dining-crystal chandeliers glowing above us, the air humming with soft jazz and the scent of roses at every table. It should have been the perfect Valentine's date, the kind you tell your kids about one day.

"You look beautiful tonight, Aria," Liam whispered, reaching across the table to take my hand.

I smiled, trying to ignore how distant he'd been lately. Ever since Sophia Clarke came back to New York two months ago, my relationship with Liam had changed. Still, I clung to hope. After all, we were getting married in just five days.

"I'm glad we could spend Valentine's Day together," I said softly.

Liam nodded, but his eyes seemed distracted. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it."

Despite the words, I couldn't help remembering all the dinner dates he'd canceled recently. Always with the same excuse: "Sophia needs me."

Just as our appetizers arrived, I noticed Liam's eyes widen. Following his gaze, my heart sank.

Sophia Clarke stood there, radiant in a white dress that clung to her slender frame, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Her eyes-those large, seemingly innocent blue eyes-scanned the room until they landed on our table. A slow smile spread across her face.

"Well, isn't this adorable?" Sophia's voice rang out as she glided toward us, her white silk dress clinging like it was painted on. "Liam, Aria-what are the odds? Manhattan's massive, yet somehow I keep stumbling into you two." Her smile was sugar-sweet, her eyes anything but.

I bit the inside of my cheek. This was the third "coincidence" this month.

Liam stood up immediately. "Sophia, what a surprise."

The warmth in his voice was unmistakable.

"I'm just meeting some friends," she said, her eyes darting to me briefly before focusing back on Liam. "But they seem to be running late."

"Why don't you join us while you wait?" Liam said-too quickly, too eagerly.

I was momentarily stunned, yet my chest felt like being struck by a blunt object, a dull ache spreading outward.

Our romantic Valentine's dinner had just become a party of three.

As the evening progressed, Sophia dominated the conversation with stories that seemed designed to remind Liam of their shared past. Each time, Liam would nod enthusiastically, lost in memories that didn't include me.

I sat there, invisible, watching as my fiancé and his first love flirted right in front of me.

"Sophia," I finally said, my patience wearing thin, "it's Valentine's Day. Liam and I were having a private dinner."

"Oh, Aria," Sophia's voice dripped with false sympathy. "Don't be so possessive. Liam and I are just old friends catching up. Isn't that right, Li?"

"Aria," Liam's voice was sharp. "Don't be so sensitive. Sophia's just making conversation."

I stared at him, stunned by the rebuke. This was supposed to be our night, and yet he was defending her?

"I should go," I said quietly, placing my napkin on the table. The pain of his betrayal was too much to bear.

Before I could stand, the sound of shattering glass filled the restaurant. A man's voice, loud and frantic, cut through the elegant atmosphere.

"SOPHIA! WHERE IS SHE?"

I saw a disheveled man in his thirties, wild-eyed and unsteady on his feet. What froze my blood wasn't his appearance, but the gun clutched in his trembling hand.

"Ryan," Sophia gasped from our table, her face draining of color.

"If I can't have you, no one will!" Ryan shouted, his voice breaking with emotion.

That was when everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Ryan's face contorted with rage. He raised his gun, aiming directly at Sophia.

Liam didn't even look at me. His chair screeched back as he bolted to Sophia, wrapping her up like she was the most precious thing in the world. His arms locked around her, his voice frantic, whispering promises I was never meant to hear.

And me? I was shoved out, left wide open to the barrel of the gun.

The gunshot was deafening.

I felt a searing pain across my upper arm as I fell to the floor. Warm blood seeped through my dress, but all I could focus on was the sight before me: Liam, wrapped protectively around Sophia, his body covering hers, his arms cradling her head.

He hadn't even looked at me. At that moment, I became invisible to him. In his eyes, there was only Sophia.

"Miss, are you alright?" A concerned waiter knelt beside me, eyes wide at the sight of blood on my sleeve.

Fortunately, I escaped with just a graze wound. When the gunshot rang out, security guards had tackled Ryan, causing his aim to veer off target. The bullet only grazed my arm instead of hitting me directly.

The pain in my arm was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

Only when paramedics arrived did Liam finally notice me, his eyes widening when he saw the crimson stain spreading across my sleeve.

"Aria!" His face paled when he saw the blood. "Oh God, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," I whispered, though nothing was fine. Nothing would ever be fine again.

"I'm so sorry," he stammered, helping me to my feet. "Sophia was closer to me, I just reacted. It happened so fast."

I nodded mechanically, accepting his explanation because the alternative was too painful to acknowledge. But the truth pounded in my head with each heartbeat – he didn't choose her because she was closer. He chose her because she was more important.

"We need to get you to a hospital," he insisted, finally showing concern as he examined my wound.

The emergency room was chaotic. As the doctor cleaned and stitched my arm, Liam paced nervously in the small treatment room.

"You scared me," he said, stopping to brush my hair from my face. "When I saw the blood..."

For a moment, I allowed myself to believe he truly cared. That maybe what happened at the restaurant was really just proximity and instinct, not a window into his heart.

Then his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and the way his face shifted-guilt, urgency, something I'd never seen directed at me-told me everything before he even said her name.

"It's Sophia," he murmured, almost apologetic. Like I should understand. Like it was normal to leave your fiancée bleeding while you ran to your ex.

"She says she's having an anxiety attack... I should take this."

"Go ahead," I said, my voice hollow.

"I'll be right back," he promised, but the door had barely closed behind him before I felt the tears I'd been holding back stream down my face.

By the time the doctor finished bandaging my arm, twenty minutes had passed. Liam hadn't returned.

"The bullet grazed you pretty deeply," the doctor explained. "You're lucky it didn't hit anything vital. I've prescribed some antibiotics and pain medication. You should have someone stay with you tonight."

I nodded silently, wondering who that someone would be, since my fiancé was clearly occupied elsewhere.

"Aria!" Lillian burst through the treatment room door, her eyes wild with worry. "I came as soon as I got your text. Oh my God, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said automatically, though the lie felt heavy on my tongue.

Lillian looked around the empty room, her expression darkening. "Where's Liam?"

I couldn't meet her eyes. "He had to take a call."

"A call? You got shot and he's taking a call?" Her voice rose with each word. "Please tell me it's not who I think it is."

My silence was answer enough.

"No. I'm not letting this go anymore," she said, crossing her arms. "Twelve years, Aria. Twelve years you've loved him, and this is how he repays you?"

"Lili, please." I was too exhausted, too hurt to have this conversation."Can we just go, please? I don't want to stay at my place tonight. Dad would worry too much if he saw me like this."

By the time we reached her apartment, I could barely keep it together. As soon as I sat down, the lump in my throat could no longer be contained. Tears streamed down, dampening the sleeve of Lillian's shirt.Lillian sat next to me, holding my uninjured hand tightly, her warmth grounding me.

"You can't marry him, Aria," she said gently, brushing a tear off my cheek. "Not after this."

I shook my head, trying to breathe through the sobs. "I can't just walk away, Lili. I've loved him for twelve years."

"We've known each other since we were kids, Lili. He was there when my mom died. He held me through the worst nights of my life. He's been. everything. I can't just throw it all away because of one mistake."

"One mistake?" she echoed, her brows drawing together. "Aria, a man pulled a gun-and Liam ran to protect Sophia. Not you. That wasn't a slip-up, that was instinct. That was his heart reacting before his mouth could make excuses."

I stared down at the cold tile floor of the apartment, my throat tight, my chest aching. I didn't want to admit it. but I couldn't deny what I saw either.

"He told me it was nothing," I whispered hoarsely. "That they're just friends."

Lillian let out a shaky breath, then reached out and squeezed my uninjured hand. "I believe you love him. I do. But love isn't always enough. Especially when it's one-sided. And Aria. I think you're the only one holding on."

Her words were like knives, cutting deep into wounds already raw and bleeding. I felt my head pounding with an intense pain.

I knew Lillian was right.But how could I walk away now? Our families had planned this wedding for months. Everyone was expecting a fairytale ending to our twelve-year romance.

And despite everything, a small, foolish part of me still hoped our story could have a happy ending. That Liam would remember why he asked me to marry him in the first place. That the boy who had once promised to protect me would find his way back to me before it was too late.

"I'll give him one last chance," I whispered, wiping away the salt of my tears. My voice shook, but my words didn't. "Five days. If he can't prove I'm the woman he chooses, then I'm done. No more excuses. No more begging for scraps."

Lillian didn't argue. She just pulled me into her arms and held me like she had a hundred times before-when we were little girls.

Five days.

That's all I would give him.

After that. I'd have to find a way to give myself back to me.

            
            

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