Aria's POV
I sighed, rubbing at the stubborn stain on my dress, but it wouldn’t come off. The dark splotch had already set into the fabric, mocking my attempts to clean it. I gave up with a huff, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. My lips curled slightly as I recalled his words earlier.
"She will eat just rice and the sauce."
The way he had spoken, firm yet indifferent, sent a strange warmth through me. It wasn’t much, but for a man who barely acknowledged my presence most times, it felt like progress. He wasn't as cold as he pretended to be—just difficult. Maybe he had only been feigning anger all along.
Pushing away those thoughts, I stepped out of the bathroom and into the spacious room. Kylie was seated on the bed, scrolling through her phone, her legs crossed. She looked up
