CHAPTER 54: PERSONAL ALARM CLOCK

Aiden POV:

Great. Just great. I didn’t want my wife lazing around, but in my attempt to keep her busy, I’d unintentionally added "personal alarm clock" to my list of responsibilities. And let me tell you, Alexia is not a morning person.

Today was no different. Her first class started at 8:00 a.m., and here I was, glancing at the clock as it ticked closer to 7:00 a.m. I was planning to drop her off at campus before heading to work, but judging by the way she was snoring like a chainsaw, I had my doubts we’d make it in time.

This wasn’t my first attempt at waking her up. Oh no. I’d tried being noisy on purpose, banging the closet doors and stomping around the room while getting dressed. Did she stir? Not even a little. It’s almost laughable considering how, during our first few mornings together, she had the audacity to complain that I was making too much noise. Now, it’s like she’s mastered the art of ignoring anything that doesn’t involve food or sleep.

At this point, I was convinced she could sleep through a tornado.

After multiple failed attempts to wake her gently, I resorted to the only surefire way left: water. Grabbing a glass from the bathroom, I filled it up and walked back into the room. Standing over her, I gave her one last chance to wake up.

"Alexia," I said, my voice deliberately loud and firm. Nothing. Not even a twitch.

So, I did what I had to do.

The moment the water hit her face, she shot up like a startled cat, sputtering and flailing.

"What the hell, Aiden?!" she screeched, her eyes wide and her hair sticking up in every direction.

"You’re welcome," I replied calmly, setting the glass on the nightstand. "Now you won’t be late for class."

She glared at me, her face a mixture of shock, anger, and confusion. "You couldn’t just, I don’t know, shake me awake like a normal person?"

"Tried that," I said with a shrug. "You’re practically in a coma when you sleep. The water was necessary."

She muttered something under her breath—probably a string of colorful insults aimed at me—and stormed off to the bathroom.

By the time she emerged, dressed and somewhat presentable, it was already 7:40 a.m. We were officially behind schedule.

"Let’s go," I said, grabbing my keys and heading to the car.

Alexia dragged her feet behind me, still shooting me death glares like I’d committed some unforgivable crime. But hey, at least she was awake.

I was already running late, thanks to my wife’s talent for sleeping like the dead. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, she threw another wrench into the morning routine.

"I can’t go to class on an empty stomach," Alexia announced dramatically as she plopped herself on the couch, her arms crossed like a child refusing to go to school.

I stared at her, dumbfounded. "You’re kidding me. You had plenty of time to eat if you didn’t sleep until the last possible second."

"Yeah, well, whose fault is that?" she shot back, glaring at me as if I’d been the one who forced her to hit snooze a dozen times.

I didn’t have time for this. Grabbing an apple and a banana from the kitchen counter, I held them out to her. "Here. Breakfast of champions."

She scrunched her nose, looking at the fruit like it was poison. "That’s not food. I can’t survive on rabbit food, Aiden."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "It’s not rabbit food. It’s fruit. Healthy, portable, and most importantly, quick. Now get in the car."

She didn’t budge, staring me down like she was trying to prove a point. "I want pancakes."

"Alex," I said, my voice firm. "You’re already late, and so am I. Pancakes aren’t happening. Either take the fruit or starve. Your choice."

She glared at me for a moment longer, clearly weighing her options. Finally, with an exasperated sigh, she snatched the apple and banana out of my hand. "Fine. But for the record, this isn’t breakfast. This is punishment."

"Noted," I said, smirking as I grabbed my keys.

Despite her grumbling, she followed me to the car, still muttering under her breath about how cruel I was for denying her pancakes.

"I swear," she said as she buckled her seatbelt, taking an angry bite out of the apple, "if I die of starvation, it’ll be on you."

"Duly noted," I replied, trying not to laugh. "But for now, let’s focus on getting you to class on time."

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further, turning her attention to the window and chewing her "punishment breakfast" like it was the greatest injustice in the world.

She might complain endlessly, but at least she was fed and (somewhat) on time. Small victories, right? fuck look at me, it was like I was the parent and she the chil.

The ride to campus was predictably quiet, with her pouting in the passenger seat. I wasn’t about to apologize, though. If she wanted to sulk, that was on her. My job was to get her to class on time, not coddle her.

By the time we pulled up to the university, she was halfway through the banana, still sulking but noticeably less hangry.

"See?" I said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "You survived. Barely."

"Next time, I’m setting an alarm for you to make me pancakes," she retorted, slamming the car door shut.

"Looking forward to it," I called after her, shaking my head.

Before driving off, I stopped her with a quick gesture and pulled out the sleek phone I’d bought for her the other day. I’d noticed she never carried one around, and let’s be honest—if she did have a phone, it was probably on its last legs, held together by sheer willpower.

She stared at the box in my hand, frowning. "What’s that?"

"A phone," I said, handing it over. "You’ll need it. I already put my number in, so you can call me if things get out of hand."

"Out of hand?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, out of hand," I said, giving her a pointed look. "Not for random nonsense. Not for asking me to pick you up because you don’t feel like walking. Only if things are truly bad. That’s the condition."

She rolled her eyes but took the phone, inspecting it like she expected it to self-destruct.

"And one more thing," I added, leaning slightly out of the car window to emphasize my point. "I don’t care what you do to Eloise or Sebastian or anyone else in that zoo of a university. If they start something, handle it—do whatever you need to, but keep it out of the media. I don’t need headlines about family feuds tarnishing my name."

She nodded, but I wasn’t done.

"And don’t let anyone, especially those two brats, bully you. I mean it, Alexia. If I wanted a wife who’d crumble under pressure, I wouldn’t have chosen you. So keep your head up, fight back, and for god’s sake, don’t embarrass me by acting like you need me to step in and handle it for you. You’re my wife, and a Timberlake handles their own battles."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pressing into a line like she was deciding whether to be offended or flattered. After a beat, she nodded again, slipping the phone into her bag without another word.

"Good," I said, easing back into my seat. "Now go. You’re late."

She turned on her heel and marched toward the campus, her head high and her stride determined. I watched her for a moment before pulling away, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sure, Alexia was a handful, but at least she wasn’t weak. I didn’t need a fragile wife who needed rescuing every five seconds—I needed someone who could hold her own. And, whether she realized it or not, she was proving that she could do exactly that.

As I drove away, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. She might be infuriating, stubborn, and completely unpredictable.

Yesterday was... interesting, to say the least. Alexia stormed in, her face flushed with anger, muttering about my obnoxious step-siblings and how she’d been dragged into some "playground-level drama" with them. Now, I know my step-twins—Eloise and Sebastian—they’re not just bratty; they’re the full package: entitled, manipulative, and downright insufferable. So naturally, her complaints piqued my curiosity.

Once she stomped off to sulk, I couldn’t resist. I had one of my men retrieve the security footage from campus. Eloise and Sebastian are predictable creatures; they thrive on petty schemes and public humiliation. And Alexia? Well, let’s just say she’s not the type to sit quietly and take it.

I poured myself a drink and sat down to watch the footage in my study. What I saw exceeded my expectations.

The video started with Eloise trying one of her classic moves—tripping Alexia. But it didn’t work; Alexia caught herself, shot Eloise a sharp glare, and turned the tables. They seemed to exchange words, and by the looks of it, Alexia wasn’t holding back. I wish the feed had audio because whatever she said had Eloise’s face turning tomato-red.

Then things escalated. Eloise lunged, probably thinking she could intimidate her, but Alexia wasn’t having any of it. Instead, she stood her ground, and in a perfectly timed move, she ripped out what I initially thought was Eloise’s hair.

I froze, thinking, Oh, no. This is bad.

But then, I noticed the strands were extensions. Fake. Completely fake. And from the reactions of the crowd in the video, they all found it hilarious. Laughter rippled through the group of onlookers while Eloise looked like she was about to combust.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Eloise had it coming.

Then, of course, her twin, Sebastian, entered the scene. He charged in, barking at Alexia and probably threatening her with the usual nonsense about how untouchable they are. But she didn’t flinch. Not once. She just squared her shoulders and stared him down like the badass she is.

Eventually, Sebastian dragged Eloise out of the room, his sister practically in tears, while the other students cheered Alexia on. That’s where the video ended, but I sat there for a moment, replaying the events in my head.

Alexia had done it. She’d put those two in their place without breaking a sweat. It was perfect. Exactly the kind of wife I wanted—someone who wouldn’t let anyone, not even my insufferable step-siblings, push her around.

I laughed out loud in my study, shaking my head in disbelief. She didn’t just survive their antics—she owned the entire encounter. No wonder she came home so furious.

This morning, as I drove to headquarters, the memory still lingered in my mind. I reached work later than usual, but I didn’t care. If anything, I was too amused to focus on anything else.

I’d always known Alexia was different. Strong-willed. Fierce. But seeing her in action like that? That just confirmed I’d made the right choice. Sure, she’s a handful, but that’s exactly why she’s perfect for me.