The Stranger's Wife

Chapter-17

The next morning, just as Aaira was setting up breakfast with Grandma, Aarsh entered Arthur’s study with a nervous expression. He hesitated at the door, his fingers gripping the frame. Arthur, sitting behind his desk with a cup of coffee, raised an eyebrow.

“What do you want, kid?” Arthur asked, taking a sip.

Aarsh took a deep breath and stepped inside. “I… I wanted to apologize.”

Arthur’s expression remained unreadable, his sharp gaze fixed on Aarsh. The boy shifted on his feet, avoiding eye contact.

“I was angry… and I—I acted without thinking. I shouldn’t have locked the door that night. It was stupid,” Aarsh admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I was just frustrated that my party ended so abruptly, but now I realize I was being childish.”

Arthur set his cup down and leaned back in his chair. “Hmph. So, it took you two days to grow a conscience?”

Aarsh face flushed. “I was just… scared to face you.”

Arthur’s gaze softened slightly. “Well, at least you owned up to it. That’s a good start.”

Silence stretched between them before Arthur stood up, stretching his arms. “Alright, let’s have a man-to-man talk.”

Aarsh’s eyes widened. “A… what?”

Arthur gestured for him to follow. “Come on, let’s step outside.”

They walked towards the gazebo in the backyard, the morning sun filtering through the leaves. Arthur sat on the bench, resting an arm along the back while Aarsh stood awkwardly before finally sitting down beside him.

Aaira, meanwhile, had been searching for Aarsh all morning. She finally spotted them in the gazebo, deep in conversation. Their expressions were serious, and when she approached, both of them abruptly stopped talking and turned toward her.

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?”

Arthur and Aarsh exchanged a look before Aarsh quickly stood up and brushed past her. “Nothing! We were just… talking.”

Arthur stretched with a lazy smirk. “Yeah, just a little discussion.”

Aaira folded her arms. “I don’t buy that. What were you talking about?”

Arthur chuckled and patted Aarsh’s shoulder. “We were just planning an outing for tomorrow. Before Aarsh heads off to university.”

Aaira’s brow furrowed. “Outing? How? Arthur, you’re a celebrity! Everyone will recognize you the second we step outside.”

Arthur’s smirk deepened. “You don’t have to worry about that. Tomorrow, even you will have a hard time recognizing me.”

Aaira scoffed, but she couldn’t deny she was curious.

The Next day

Morning arrived, and Aaira stepped out of the house to find Arthur’s blue sleek BMW Q5 is waiting in the drive way, a driver was sitting in driver’s seat, Aarsh sat in the passenger seat, grinning like a kid about to go on an adventure.

Aaira, however, was distracted by the man behind the wheel.

Arthur Black—the ever-dashing, well-groomed celebrity—was unrecognizable. His usually perfectly styled hair was hidden under a cap, a pair of thick-framed glasses sat on his nose, and he had a subtle but convincing fake beard. He wore a casual hoodie and jeans, looking like an entirely different person.

Aaira gasped. “Wait… where’s Arthur?”

Aarsh burst into laughter. “That’s him, mom.”

Arthur turned to face her with an amused smirk. “Told you even you wouldn’t recognize me.”

She blinked a few times, still processing. “I thought you were just the driver and he was waiting for you.”

Arthur chuckled. “Well, do you approve?”

Aaira shook her head in disbelief. “This is insane.”

“Good. Now get in.”

They zoomed off onto the road, heading toward the mall. The drive was surprisingly peaceful, filled with casual banter and Aarsh’s occasional song requests that Arthur flatly refused.

Once at the mall, they went straight to the men’s section to shop for Aarsh’s university needs.They walked from store to store, picking out everything he required.

Arthur paid for everything before Aarsh could even take out his card, earning him a glare from the boy.

“I could’ve paid for that,” Aarsh grumbled.

Arthur smirked. “Consider it a farewell gift.”

Aaira watched the exchange, feeling something warm settle in her chest. Arthur was many things—arrogant, insufferable, and way too smug—but he cared.

Next, Arthur dragged Aaira into a women’s clothing store.

“I’m not buying anything,” she stated firmly.

Arthur smirked. “Good. Because I’m buying.”

She blinked at him. “For whom?”

“A friend.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What size?”

Arthur smiled slyly. “Just your size.”

Aaira’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

She frowned but went along with it, helping him pick out fine dresses. Aaira, now holding the shopping bags, she carried all the shopping bags without a second thought. Arthur, amused watching her, “You know, I can carry those.”

Aaira glared. “No, no. You just sit there and enjoy your celebrity status.”

Arthur smirked and finally took some of the bags from her hands. “If you insist.”

Meanwhile, Aarsh had wandered off to a food stall and returned with a tray full of waffles, donuts, brownies, and other snacks.

“Feast time!” Aarsh declared, offering them food.

They sat on a bench, sharing the snacks, laughing, and—after a long time—Aaira felt light. She glanced at Arthur, watching how easily he blended in with the crowd. He wasn’t the untouchable celebrity today. He was just another man enjoying a day out.

And that, somehow, was even more dangerous.

After finishing their snacks, Aarsh excitedly dragged them into the game zone. “Come on! We have to play!”

They spent hours acting like kids—playing claw machines, racing cars, shooting games, basketball, and even going on 3D rides. Laughter echoed in the arcade as they let loose, forgetting their worries for a while.

At one point, Aarsh ran off to explore the arcade on his own, leaving Arthur and Aaira near the claw machines.

Aaira’s eyes lit up when she saw the plush toys inside.As Aaira stood before the claw machine, her brows furrowed in frustration, Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle at her determination. She had tried at least five times and still hadn’t managed to grab a plush toy.

"Move aside," Arthur teased, stepping behind her.

Aaira huffed. "No! I almost got it!"

Arthur smirked, lowering his voice as he leaned in. "Almost doesn’t count, sweetheart. Let me help."

Before she could protest, he placed his hands over hers on the joystick, guiding her movements with expert precision. The warmth of his touch, the way his breath brushed against her ear, made her shiver, but she was too focused on winning to react.

"Now… wait… wait… drop it."

The claw grasped a plush toy and carried it over to the prize chute. Aaira gasped when it dropped in. "I did it! Wait—no, we did it!"

Arthur chuckled. "See? You just needed a little guidance."

Aaira, still riding the high of victory, tried again. And again. And again.

One after another, plush toys landed in the prize bin, and Aaira’s excitement was infectious. When she won her fifth plush toy in a row, she turned, eyes sparkling, and without thinking, launched herself at Arthur.

"You’re a genius!" she squealed, hugging him tight, her arms wrapping around his neck.

Arthur stiffened for a split second, caught off guard. Then, something in him melted. His hands instinctively found their way to her waist, holding her close. He could feel her heartbeat racing against his chest. The scent of her—soft, floral, unmistakably Aaira—wrapped around him like a spell.

For a brief moment, the noise of the arcade, the flashing lights, and the world around them disappeared. It was just them, tangled in this unexpected closeness.

Aaira suddenly realized what she was doing. She pulled back abruptly, her face heating up.

"I—I mean, thanks for the help," she stammered, stepping away, hugging her plushies as if they could shield her from the awkwardness.

Arthur, however, wasn’t about to let her escape so easily. He tilted his head, an amused smile playing on his lips. "You sure you’re thanking me? Because for a second there, it felt like you were holding on for dear life."

Aaira glared at him, trying to suppress the blush creeping up her neck. "Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Black."

Arthur placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "Ouch. And here I thought we had a moment."

"Moment my foot," she huffed, turning on her heel, but her flustered expression betrayed her.

Arthur smirked, watching her retreat. He didn’t miss the way her fingers absentmindedly traced the fabric of the plush toys or the way she refused to look him in the eyes.

As the evening rolled in and they prepared to leave, Arthur couldn’t help but think—this day, this moment, this feeling... it was something he wouldn’t mind experiencing over and over again.

And if Aaira’s stolen glances were anything to go by, maybe—just maybe—she felt the same.