NOVEL NEXT Chapter 451: How did she end up getting teased like this instead?
The blush crept up to Arwen's cheeks. But this time she didn't shy away. Instead, emboldened, she said, "Yes, of course, I do. My husband has handsome looks and he cares for me like no other. How can I not love him?"
Although those words sounded as natural as it was, still Arwen felt soft flutters in her stomach —flutters of nervousness for finally accepting the feeling she had been consistently denying.
Not because she didn't want to accept them, but because she was scared to accept them so soon.
When it came to Aiden, everything related to him happened so fast in her life, that she couldn't bring herself to believe it —everything felt so surreal, be it her changing life or her changing emotions.
But then she realized no matter how she denied it, in the end, it wouldn't change a thing. It won't change the fact that she had long fallen for him. If asked when, she wouldn't be able to tell, because her feelings changed so naturally that she never realized.
It felt like loving him was almost natural —to the extent that even without him doing anything, she would have still fallen for him.
"Ahhn," Gianna smirked at her, clearly happily impressed. "So you are finally ready to admit it now? I almost thought you would take a century to do so."
"There is no need to wait for a century," Arwen said with a confident smile. "I have realized my feelings and I have no plans for holding back."
"Great!" Gianna clapped. "That's like my girl."
Arwen smiled, nodding. She was about to say something when Gianna interrupted her, asking —
"But Wenna, is it really my uncle's handsome looks that enchanted you and nothing else? I mean does his…" she hesitated a little, her gaze squinting as if she was trying to find the right words or phrase to use.
Arwen didn't understand her thoughts. Her brows furrowed as she stared at her. "Does his … what, Anna?"
"Is he not have any other ability to keep you hooked?" Gianna blurted out. Although his words came simple, there was something in her gaze that told Arwen otherwise, but she didn't decipher.
She took a literal meaning and simply nodded. "There are," she said, "He cooks my favourite past well, he treats me well, he —"
"That's not what I am asking, Wenna," Gianna pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied with her friend's IQ. "I am asking how is he in that aspect. Is he —"
If her words hadn't relayed the message, her gaze did. The tease was too clear and it instantly made Arwen blush hard.
She pressed her hand hard over Gianna's lips and almost shouted.
"Yuck, Anna! Can you mind your relationship while asking me that question? He is your uncle. How could you?"
However, Gianna looked bored. Staring at her friend for a moment, she reached out and removed her hand from her lips and said as a matter of obviousness. "And you are my friend. Did you forget that we have even discussed the details of our favourite romance novels as well? What are you shying for now?"
Arwen's face only got redder and redder. Swatting her hand away, she stood up and said, "That's different. You won't understand. And I have no intention of ruining the innocent mind of a kid."
With that, she turned to leave.
Gianna was left speechless. She pointed a finger at herself, looking completely offended. "Kid? Who is the kid here?"
Arwen paused at the foot of the stairs, turned around with a mock-serious expression, and cleared her throat. "I am your Aunt, your uncle's wife. To me, no matter how old you are, you will always be a kid."
"You —!"
Arwen chuckled and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Gianna to grumble behind her. She knew how much Gianna hated calling her 'Aunt', and teasing her with it was just too much fun to resist.
Just as she reached her bedroom, the phone in her hand buzzed.
Seeing the caller ID, her entire expression brightened. She picked up without another second delay.
"Yes, Mr. Winslow?" she greeted sweetly, her voice soft and playful. "How may I cater to you tonight?"
There was a pause on the other end.
"Did something good happen today?" Aiden asked, his tine intrigued, amused even. "You sound suspiciously happy."
And Arwen laughed, a light bubbly sound. "Nothing major. I just teased Gianna using our relationship title. It was fun, you know. Haha~"
"Really?" he said, a chuckle lacing his voice. "Should I be happy or sad that my wife has been using me purely for amusement?"
"Umm …" Arwen hummed, pretending to think. "I think being happy would be better. After all, everything that belongs to the husband should be at his wife's disposal. Including the husband himself."
"..."
There was a beat of silence.
Arwen was about to speak again when she heard him clear his throat softly on the other end.
"Is that so?" he said, his voice lower now —warm, teasing and intimate. "Then this husband will be arriving softly … to be put to use by his wife."
His tone sent a shiver down her spine.
Despite everything —their time together, their closeness —just a single sentence like that still managed to make her heart race. Her breath caught, and her stomach fluttered in a strange, delicious anticipation.
They had spent a good share of nights together. And yet … when he spoke to her like that, it all still felt new.
She didn't say anything. She couldn't.
"What?" he asked when he didn't hear her speaking for a longer second. "Not excited to see me back? Just now I felt you would be more than happy to see me back. To use me fully at your disposal —for your cries and endless pleasures."
"I —" she struggled, then bit her tongue and asked instead, "Where are you?"
Aiden didn't answer right away, and she could imagine the proud smirk curling his lips.
And that mental image alone made her heartbeat quicken.
"At the airport," he finally replied. "Boarding soon. I will be back tomorrow. Excited to see me, Moon?"
"I will be at the airport then, she said quickly. "Safe journey. Bye!"
She hung up before he could say anything else, her heart thudding in her chest.
As she lowered her phone, she closed her eyes, realizing just how easily he could lead her thoughts astray.
Wasn't she the one teasing Gianna just a moment ago?
How did she end up getting teased like this instead?