All Chapters of The Accidental Fiancée: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Aiden "Thank you, Mr. Aiden, for gracing this occasion. The students loved it—it’s a dream come true for most of them," the Dean of Student Affairs said, stretching out his hand with a wide grin.I shook his hand, my gaze straying momentarily to the small crowd of students gathered nearby. Even while trying to stay discreet, they couldn’t hide their excitement—some were blowing kisses, others snapping pictures from every angle they could find.It was almost funny to be here now, considering how tedious the last two hours had felt while I gave a speech I hadn't exactly been thrilled to deliver.I managed a polite smile as I shook the dean’s hand, noticing out of the corner of my eye a young photographer—maybe a student intern—trying to capture the moment. He was practically contorting himself, adjusting his camera over and over, looking for the perfect shot of me and the dean. The poor guy had been at it for hours, and judging by his furrowed brow, he still wasn’t satisfied.The dean

Aiden“You shouldn’t act like you’re doing me a favor, Aiden!” Ms. Victoria’s voice blasted through the phone, making the speaker crackle with the sharpness of her anger. I winced, feeling the irritation settle into my half-asleep haze. Rolling over, I placed the phone on speaker and set it down on the bedside table, groaning internally.“Okay,” I muttered, barely awake, my voice sluggish with the remnants of sleep.Rubbing my eyes, I caught a glimpse of the clock. 7:50 a.m. Too early for this. I leaned back, resting my head against the headboard, and fought to shake off the drowsiness clouding my mind. But her voice clawed through the quiet of my room, the words sharp and cutting.“I really hoped you’d turn out better than your father.”A familiar, bitter feeling twisted in my stomach. I exhaled, feeling the sting behind my eyes—not from fatigue anymore but from a buried frustration I hadn’t wanted to touch this morning. “You didn’t exactly work toward that goal,” I replied, knowing

AidenI wiped my hands on my joggers and shut the shed door with a firm click. The air carried the earthy tang of sweat and livestock, a reminder of how deep I’d thrown myself into the morning’s work. My clothes reeked of cows, and I made a mental note to clean up downstairs before getting ready to meet Liam and Derrick.The day had been satisfying in its quietness. Busy, yes, but it was the kind of work I didn’t mind—work I’ll chose. Still, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t need Rose’s team to manage the house. It was a trade-off I wrestled with: I needed their help, but not their constant presence. Letting them work on their own schedule, then leave, struck the right balance. Not that they annoyed me, but solitude was the kind of peace I’d earned after dealing with people all week.Well, except for Nelly who is now rooted here. The thought of her lingered, curious and unwelcome. When had she left Cooper Oak? Couldn’t have been this morning—I’d been up with the sun, tending to the livestoc

AidenThe sharp chime of my Rolex marked the end of my patience. Almost noon. This conversation needed to end now."You don’t know what I want," I said, my voice steady but tight with frustration. "But I’ll tell you what I don’t want: to become heir to the Kesington Group."A soft knock interrupted me. Samantha, my secretary, peeked through the door, her hand hovering awkwardly in the air as if asking permission to exist. I waved her off, and she vanished as quickly as she’d appeared, her retreating steps as if she was already eager to escape the tension radiating from my office.On the other end of the phone, my mother’s sharp inhale was audible. Her tone was as frigid as ever. "You’re becoming more like your father—a spoiled brat. Opportunities like this don’t fall into everyone’s lap, and you’re treating it like a game."I clenched my jaw. "I’m tired of repeating myself to you. You don’t know the first thing about running that group. You can’t even manage your own affairs."Her scof

Aiden“Did Nelly ask for more than the usual three days off?” Rose’s voice broke through the silence as she handed me my bag.I tried to sound casual, even though I’d been wondering the same thing. “Why?”“She’s just… taking more time than she was supposed to. Young people these days,” she muttered, her tone sharp.I chuckled,. “You hired her, though.”Rose raised an eyebrow. “I expected her to be different from the rest, given how she presented herself. But no, she’s just like everyone else—she won’t follow the rules.”I leaned back against the doorframe, keeping my tone light. “Maybe it’s time you became a little flexible with your rules.”The instant Rose’s eyes met mine, I felt the weight of her gaze like daggers. I quickly added, “I’m just concerned you’re raising your blood pressure too much. That’s not good for you.”“What’s not good for me is a tyrant employee.” Her voice hardened. “I should issue her a warning.”“She hasn’t been out there for almost a month,” I pointed out.“