Is this destiny?

JoAnna and Sophia entered the room and found Sarah checking herself in the mirror.

"Where is Emma?", asked JoAnna.

"In the bathroom with Tiff…", Sarah responded.

"You are stunning.", Sophia told Sarah, and Sarah\'s smile widened.

"Thanks, big sis… I can\'t wait to see Aiden\'s reaction."

"You don\'t need to wait, just step outside", JoAnna said. "He is in the hallway, waiting for you."

Sarah smiled until her cheeks hurt. Knowing that Aiden is waiting made her super-happy, and she gave herself another look in the mirror before heading for the door. She can\'t let him wait for long.

Sarah stepped out of the master bedroom and saw Aiden further down the hallway. He was leaning lazily on the wall and looking at his phone. Her expression softened as she drifted into sweet memories. Somehow, that scene reminded her of many times when he waited for her after class at the University.

"Why are you waiting instead of getting in?"

Sarah\'s voice made Aiden\'s lips lift into a smile even before he kept his phone away.

"It\'s not a big deal. I didn\'t want to interrupt…", he paused and gulped softly when he realized that she changed her clothes. "…girly chat.", he ended in a small voice.

Sarah pretended not to see his reaction. "What do you think?" She twirled, allowing the fine fabric to lift like a flower and reveal her finely sculpted legs.

Aiden tilted his head to the right and his handsome eyebrow arched. He could almost see her panties. Almost.

"Nice dress.", he said stiffly. As much as he enjoyed the view, he could not neglect the fact that this is a party and that others can see his wife in this garment. He took a mental note not to twirl Sarah when they dance.

Sarah giggled and closed that two-step distance between them. "I take that you approve."

"Hmm…", he hummed and pulled her closer. "Maybe we should check out one of the empty guest bedrooms."

Sarah wrapped her arms around Aiden\'s neck at the same time as he claimed her lips in a scorching kiss.

Sarah felt her heart racing as soon as Aiden\'s body pressed on hers as their flavors mixed. Due to her pregnancy hormones, she was already half-aroused, so she didn\'t need much to become soft in his arms and Aiden loved it.

"Ah! This place is becoming more revolting with each passing day since Cousin Charlie took over…", a condescending voice reached Sarah and Aiden from below.

Sarah and Aiden were in the hallway on the upper floor, next to the staircase landing, so people from the entry below could see them (if they paid attention).

Sarah and Aiden turned toward the source of the voice and saw Aileen glaring toward them.

"Isn\'t that Corey\'s half-sister, the one who drugged Emma and tried to get her in bed with Charlie\'s Cousin for everyone to see?", Sarah asked Aiden to what he hummed in approval. "Why is she alive?"

Aiden stifled a laugh. Instead of asking why Aileen is here, Sarah went for the murder right away. That is his wife.

"Charlie said that all Smiths are invited, and she is technically a Smith, so…", Aiden\'s voice trailed away.

Aileen and Corey share the same father, but Corey\'s father (aka Thomas) never acknowledged him officially.

Three years ago, when Aileen and her brother David schemed to drug Emma and get her in bed with David, Charlie punished them by taking away most of the assets that belonged to their father, Thomas. Charlie also kicked that family of four out of the Smith family villa.

In a few subsequent sweeps of scheming cousins, several other people were kicked out, leaving in the main villa only Charlie and Emma. Mike and Tiffany have a guest bedroom for them, but they stay in there occasionally, only when they stay late due to work. The two of them prefer their apartment in Los Angeles. Jarred also has a room in the main villa, but he visits only for events because he is staying separately with Donnie (Emma\'s mother). Similarly, Corey, Sean, and Ryan have rooms that are barely used.

But back to Aileen…

Since they were kicked out of the main Smith villa, Thomas\'s wife (aka Caroline) left them. She couldn\'t bear the embarrassment of being shunned, and she moved to Europe about three months after they moved out of the main villa.

David (aka Thomas\'s son and Aileen\'s brother), disappeared a few months ago. David was working with Marija and that got him involved in the incident when Aiden was kidnapped and assets of the Smithsonite corp. were attacked. Charlie took David from Sarah\'s hands, and that was the last time they heard about David. Sarah and Aiden never cared to ask about him. David betrayed Smiths so they let Charlie handle him. Thomas was not sure if David got himself into some trouble or if he left like his mother, so he didn\'t bother looking for him. David threatened Thomas many times that he will leave, so Thomas didn\'t think much when David didn\'t show up at home.

Currently, Thomas is living in a small house with Aileen. Aileen graduated (Charlie paid for her education), and she has an office job in a local talent-scouting agency. Thomas and Aileen are doing OK, but it\'s a far cry from when they lived and enjoyed the Smith family\'s riches.

How Aileen sees it, she used to be the Young Miss of the Smith family with hundreds of maids serving her and even more people ready to kiss her feet, yet now she is just Aileen, an office worker who is processing files for models and actors who are earning far more than she does. Where is justice?

Aileen glared at Sarah and Aiden. Does she know who they are? Of course, she does. Three years ago, at that unfortunate party when her small family of four was banished from this glorious mansion, she saw Sarah and Aiden and she thought of getting her hands on Aiden, while her brother eyed Sarah. That was the last time Aileen saw Sarah and Aiden in person.

To make things worse, at her talent agency, Aileen saw in more than one magazine photos of Sarah and Aiden, wearing a limited collection from EY that was designed for couples, and they were featured wearing Blanc jewelry as well. How is that fair? They are Whites and get to wear fancy clothes and jewelry and what about Aileen?

Sarah could see Aileen\'s hatred clearly and she arched an eyebrow, wondering from where that is coming from because Sarah does not remember interacting with this woman.

"Is there a reason you are glaring at me and my husband?", Sarah asked.

Aileen opened her mouth to respond, but her head snapped to the right and she closed her mouth when she saw her father approaching.

Thomas glanced from Aileen toward Sarah and Aiden and he understood that something is going on.

Thomas was irritated. Did she make a mess already? He left her three minutes ago, telling her to wait for him here while he greets Charlie, who was in his study. Thomas and Aileen were invited to this mansion only a handful of times since they were kicked out. They are granted access to this property only when they are clubbed with all other Smiths. Thomas was hoping to leave a good impression on Charlie with a goal to show his goodwill and be able to visit frequently. Thomas would like nothing less than to have the opportunity to move back into this villa, but for that, he needs to show his sincerity. As part of the plan to show that he is an upright man, Thomas approached Corey on several occasions, trying to mend their relationship, but Corey was cold and not welcoming.

Thomas looked at Sarah and Aiden and smiled while trying to fix whatever Aileen did. "Good afternoon. It seems it will be a good party."

Sarah sneered. "It will be good, but not thanks to your daughter."

Thomas\'s smile fell. "What do you mean?"

"We are watching her. If she can\'t keep her mouth shut, I don\'t mind helping her with that.", Sarah responded.

Thomas looked at Aileen. "What happened?"

Aileen gritted her teeth. She hated Sarah and Aiden and she hated that her father is so submissive. She remembers that until three years ago no one dared to talk back to her father, and everyone respected him and her as well. And now he is so timid in front of Aiden and Sarah only because they are friends with Emma, the nurse.

Aileen forced a smile. "Nothing daddy, it was just a misunderstanding. I saw them kissing and hugging up there and I mistook them for serving staff because of their crude behavior." She turned to Sarah and Aiden. "I apologize. It was my mistake for not recognizing you."

"It seems that other than the bad mouth, your daughter has a bad eyesight as well.", Aiden said icily to Thomas. "Miss Aileen, even if it was serving staff, your status does not give you the right to scold them. In this house, you are a guest."

Sarah gave a silent thumbs up to Aiden for this burn. She saw Aileen\'s eyes flash in outrage, as Aiden struck a nerve.

Before Aileen could say anything, her father spoke. "Of course, I will make sure to remind her. We don\'t want to keep you away from the party. If you excuse us…", Thomas grabbed Aileen\'s forearm and tugged her away.

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