CHAPTER 117: LITTLE STEPS TO CLAIMING MY HEART

Alexia’s POV

I could feel the weight of the eyes on me the moment we entered the party. It was like I had walked into one of those dramatic K-Dramas where the poor, unassuming girl suddenly becomes the center of attention because of a single outfit.

But this wasn’t a drama, this was real life. And I was more than aware of the effect the dress was having.

The rich, influential people in the room—people who seemed to live in an entirely different world—were staring at me like I was some kind of precious jewel. I could almost hear the whispers, the murmurs of, Who’s that?Where did she come from?How is she with Aiden?

I swallowed the rising tide of unease. I hated being the center of attention, hated how out of place I felt in this world that wasn’t mine. The way they all looked at me with curiosity, mixed with judgment, made my skin crawl.

But Aiden was beside me, his hand firmly at my back, acting like he owned me—and maybe in some way, he did, even though neither of us would admit it. He was making it clear to everyone in the room that I wasn’t up for grabs. His possessiveness hung in the air like an invisible thread, weaving us together in a way that made every single person in the room aware of us, even if they weren’t supposed to be.

"Relax, you look amazing," Aiden said under his breath, leaning in just enough to make sure only I heard him.

I shot him a look, my lips pursed, trying to keep my nerves in check. "It’s easy for you to say. You thrive in this environment."

He didn’t reply, but his grip on me tightened just slightly, his eyes narrowing at anyone who dared to linger too long on me.

I had to admit—if only to myself—that the way he claimed me in front of these people, with his possessive attitude, did something to my insides.

As we made our way through the crowd, I felt like we were in our own little bubble. Everyone else was just background noise. The murmurs, the occasional flattery, the casual glances—they didn’t matter when he was with me.

But the moment we walked past the high society women, I felt a shift. They looked at me like I was some sort of curiosity. Some whispered behind their hands, clearly judging my presence, my clothes, my everything.

Then there were the men. They gave me the kind of looks that made me feel exposed, as if my every move was being calculated. Every slight adjustment, every shift of my hips as I walked was under their scrutiny. I knew Aiden had noticed, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—something dark, possessive.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice it.

The way he stepped closer to me, almost as if to shield me, made my pulse quicken. The man had a way of making me feel both safe and trapped in equal measure.

But I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to be.

"I’m not going to bite, you know," I muttered as we reached the bar, trying to break the tension that was building between us.

Aiden gave me that signature smirk of his, the one that made my stomach flip. "I wasn’t worried about you, Alexia." His hand slid from the small of my back, brushing my side for a moment, before resting possessively on my hip.

I glanced around at the crowd, trying to avoid looking too much at the people staring at us. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? The attention, the power."

"Maybe," he said, leaning in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "But I’m more focused on you."

My heart skipped a beat at the words, even though I knew he didn’t mean it the way I wanted him to.

I pulled back slightly, crossing my arms over my chest. "Well, try not to let anyone else notice how much you really focus on me," I teased, trying to mask the unease that still bubbled inside me.

He just chuckled, a low sound that made me shiver slightly. "You really think I care about what anyone else thinks?" His eyes darkened slightly, and I saw the raw edge of possessiveness flash there again.

The effect he had on me was dangerous. Every moment spent with him, every word, every touch—it was like we were walking on a tightrope, and I wasn’t sure if I was about to fall or fly.

We stayed by the bar for a while, and even though I could feel the weight of the stares on me, Aiden remained unfazed, completely in his element.

I could feel Aiden’s presence next to me as we moved through the crowd, his hand firm at my back, guiding me through the maze of well-dressed strangers. My heels clicked sharply on the polished floor, adding to the hum of voices and clinking glasses that filled the air. I wasn’t sure if I was more nervous about the way the room was watching us, or how Aiden was handling it all with ease.

At one point, Aiden paused to greet a few colleagues, introducing me as his wife. He said it so proudly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"This is Alexia, my wife," Aiden said, his voice rich and confident. The way he said it was like a declaration, like he was marking his territory and making sure everyone knew it. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it—part of me wanted to melt under his attention, part of me recoiled, unsure of what it meant.

But he didn’t give me time to think. Every introduction was followed by a firm handshake and a few polite words. I could hear the slight murmur of people impressed by Aiden’s success, and though I tried to focus on the conversations, all I could feel was the tension building between us. I caught a glimpse of his eyes flicking to me with every introduction, his gaze never straying too far from mine.

He was proud of me. Or was he proud of the idea of having me by his side?

"Alexia, this is Liam, one of my partners in the company," Aiden said, pulling me slightly closer to a tall man in a sleek black suit. The man smiled at me with a polite nod, but I could sense the curiosity in his eyes. I smiled back, hoping my nerves didn’t show.

It wasn’t like I was shy. It was just... overwhelming, this world I had been thrown into. I wasn’t sure how to navigate it, how to fit in with the perfectly curated smiles and carefully timed pleasantries.

"Nice to meet you, Liam," I said with a polite smile, trying my best to not let the pressure of the situation get to me.

The introductions continued, and though I was doing my best to hold my own, I could feel the nerves creeping up on me. Aiden, however, seemed completely unfazed by the attention. He effortlessly made conversation with everyone we met, never leaving my side, always subtly guiding me through the sea of unfamiliar faces.

I found it a bit comforting, honestly. I had expected him to lose interest or wander off to speak with his colleagues, but he didn’t.

After a few more introductions, Aiden led me to a quieter corner of the room. There, a few people were gathered around a table with drinks, discussing something casually.

"Alexia, this is Julia," Aiden said, introducing me to a woman with bright red hair and a sharp business suit. "She’s one of my oldest friends in the industry."

I shook Julia’s hand, offering a smile. She was friendly enough, but there was a certain edge to her, something that made me wary. As we continued speaking, I couldn’t help but notice how Aiden interacted with her—easy, familiar, like they shared some unspoken history.

It wasn’t jealousy, exactly. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

But before I could linger on it, Aiden leaned closer, his hand brushing lightly against my back as he pulled me into another conversation. It was as if he sensed my discomfort and sought to redirect my attention.

His touch was grounding. His presence beside me—confident, assertive, almost protective—helped me feel like I was just part of his world, like I wasn’t entirely out of place.

But that didn’t stop the swirl of questions in my mind. Was this what he wanted?

I caught his gaze again—those eyes, always watching me. His possessiveness, his pride in me, was palpable. It made me feel special... and, at the same time, like I was trapped in something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

I followed Aiden’s lead, meeting everyone he introduced me to, even as the world of wealth and power continued to feel like a world I didn’t belong in. And yet, with each new face, Aiden never let go of me. He was always close by, always there, his hand at my back, his arm around my shoulders, subtly reminding everyone—especially me—that I was his.

It was both suffocating and comforting, a constant tug-of-war between independence and the feeling of being cherished. But I was starting to wonder: Did he know what he was doing to me?

I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. All I knew was that, for better or worse, I was in this whirlwind now—caught between a man who had my body and was starting to claim my heart, and a part of me that still wasn’t sure if I could ever let him in.

The night was still young, and I had no idea what would happen next. But as the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, I couldn’t help but wonder if this evening would shift something between us.