How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 83: Gorgeous Chauffeur...

"Oh... I see," Aiden said in a light voice that sounded brittle around the edges.

Lyra hummed dramatically. "Oopss... I think he feels hurt."

I blinked. "You do?"

"I don’t like it," he admitted. "But I get it."

His restraint tugged at something deep in my chest.

There was a pause between us. Not silence, there was still the quiet murmur of coffee cups and distant laughter, but it felt like the world waited on our next move.

Then: "I still want to know what you find."

"You will," I promised. "I won’t keep anything from you."

He nodded, but something in his expression shifted, growing darker and smaller. "Except the company on the trip."

I narrowed my eyes. "That’s not fair."

"No," he agreed in a calm but clipped voice. "But it’s honest."

I stared down at my plate, the last few bites of waffle untouched, going cold like the part of me that wished this conversation had gone differently.

"I don’t want to fight," I said softly.

"Then don’t treat me like a liability," he said, just as soft, but the words landed like a blade wrapped in velvet. "Or a symbol of everything you’re trying to run from."

I closed my eyes, letting the truth of it settle in like a bruise. When I opened them, he was still watching me.

No judgment in his eyes, just... weight.

Lyra stirred in my head, her voice lower than usual. "He’s angry. But not with you. He’s angry with the part of himself that still thinks he’ll lose you."

I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose.

"Tell him that," Lyra added, unexpectedly gentle. "He deserves to know you still care. Even if it’s messy."

"You’re exhausting," I muttered.

"I’m literally you."

"Exactly."

I lowered my hand and then looked up. "I didn’t mean to shut you out," I said slowly. "But you’re right. I did."

His jaw tensed, but he said nothing.

"Yes," I added. "And maybe I needed to. Just for a minute."

His eyes searched mine. "Then don’t leave me in the dark when the minute’s over."

"I won’t," I said. "Deal."

There was an unspoken feeling between us. It wasn’t a clear solution or anything tidy like that, but it was close. It felt like we both understood each other for a moment, a brief break from the fighting.

The check arrived, and Aiden snatched it before I could even reach it.

"You’re still ridiculous," I muttered as we stepped into the sunlit street, the wind cool against my face.

He slid his sunglasses on with that slow, maddening grace. "Better than forgettable."

I snorted despite myself, and for just a second... for just one fragile, stolen second, things didn’t feel so fractured.

"Here," I said as we stepped off the curb. I tossed the Aston Martin key fob to Aiden without ceremony. "Drive."

He caught it one-handed, arching a brow as the car beeped in acknowledgement. "I admire your confidence. Aren’t you scared I’ll get revenge for crashing my car in the pool?"

I slid my sunglasses on, already walking toward the driver’s side. "You’re free to. I’ll just tell my husband to get me a new one."

He blinked, clearly taken aback by my retort. "Your what?"

I smirked. "Oh, I’m sorry. Were you under the impression we weren’t that serious anymore?"

"You mean after the near-feral shift, the secret curse, and the luxury car therapy?" He whistled low. "I’d say we’re past serious. We’re mythological at this point."

"Exactly," I said, slipping into the passenger seat with a dramatic sigh. "So be a good mate and don’t crash my apology car."

He chuckled as he slid into the driver’s seat. "Gods help me, I like you better when you’re mean."

Lyra yawned in the backseat of my mind. "That’s because we’re spicy, emotionally unavailable, and deeply terrifying. It’s his type."

"No lies detected," I muttered under my breath.

Aiden glanced at me. "Hmm?"

"Nothing," I said sweetly. "Drive."

—

The car glided silently through the streets. Aiden was at the wheel, and I have to admit, he handled it effortlessly. He drove with a confidence that made it clear he knew he looked good doing it.

One hand gripped the wheel while the other rested casually on the gearshift. His sleeves were rolled up, and his jawline was sharp as he turned slightly to the side.

I didn’t say anything for five full minutes.

Then: "You’re enjoying this too much."

"I haven’t driven anything this reckless since my rogue-hunting days," he said. "This feels like freedom."

I folded my arms. "So I’m just your winged chariot now?"

He gave me a slow side glance. "More like the goddess who descended in a murder skirt and gifted me a new religion."

I stared at him. "Did you just quote a Tumblr post at me?"

He shrugged. "I’ve been around the internet."

"Unbelievable," I scoffed.

"You married me."

"Temporarily."

"Still counts."

Lyra sighed dreamily. "And they say romance is dead."

—

We pulled into the private showroom again so Aiden could settle the paperwork. I waited in the car this time, legs crossed, sunglasses on, trying to ignore how badly I wanted to reach over and grab him when he walked out of the building like he owned the damn planet.

He opened the door and tossed a folder onto my lap. "It’s yours."

"I figured. You looked smug."

"Happy. There’s a difference."

I snorted. "Debatable."

He gave me a look. "Drive me to the office?"

I raised a brow. "What am I now, your chauffeur?"

"My gorgeous chauffeur," he said smoothly.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. But only because I have fifteen minutes before my next meeting and I want to make you late for yours."

He smirked. "Make it count, then."

—

The ride to his office was quick, filled with more teasing than conversation. Every red light became a war of glances, every turn a game of proximity. His thigh brushed mine twice, and I nearly bit my tongue from pretending it didn’t matter.

When we got there, I pulled up to the curb and looked at him.

"No dramatic exit line?" I asked.

Aiden leaned close, eyes half-lidded. "Try not to forget about me while you’re out there ghost hunting."

"Not likely," I said, refusing to let my breath hitch.

He lingered, gaze sliding to my mouth, making me raise a brow.

"I should go before I actually kiss you and give Lyra something to brag about."

"She already is," I murmured as he gave me a wink and got out.

—

I made it to the office with seconds to spare, walked into the boardroom with my heels clicking like gunfire, and burned through four meetings with a smile that could slice glass.

But by 2 p.m., I’d had enough.

Too many half-truths from directors, too many glances that said I didn’t belong. I could feel the rot Vale had left behind, woven into the walls and paper trails.

I stood mid-call, cancelled the rest of my schedule, and grabbed my bag.

On my way out, I called Sophia.

"Finally," she answered on the first ring. "I was about to fake a crisis to drag you out."

"You ready?"

"For drama? Always. For a haunted corporate site where secrets go to die? I’m halfway into my tactical boots as we speak."

I smiled. "I’ll pick you up in twenty. Wear black." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Oh good, are we committing crimes or just looking hot while confronting generational trauma?"

"Why not both?"

—

Back at the house, I changed quickly into a sleek, black blazer over a silk cami, paired with combat boots and jeans that didn’t mess around. I tied my hair back, grabbed the thumb drive, and exhaled as I passed the full-length mirror.

Not Jasmine, the mate to a cursed Alpha.

Not Jasmine, the CEO.

Just Jasmine Heart Frost.

And that would be enough.

Lyra stirred. "You look ready."

"Let’s hope I am."

I picked up the keys to the Aston Martin and walked into the hallway, my boots clicking loudly on the marble floor.

—

The Aston Martin purred into the curb outside Sophia’s brownstone like a predator waiting for its leash. I barely shifted into park before the door flew open and Sophia stepped out, sunglasses perched high and attitude dialled to ten.

Her jaw dropped. "Oh my god. Is this yours?"

I smirked, tapping the steering wheel. "Gift from a very apologetic mate and billionaire husband."

She circled the car like she was inspecting a racehorse. "This thing looks like it could seduce a government official and get away with murder."

"Probably could," I said. "Might need it to."

Sophia slid into the passenger seat, her boots crossed casually, her gaze sharp. "Alright, Frost. You’ve got the car, the look, and the co-pilot. What now?"

I shifted into gear, engine humming beneath us like a heartbeat wrapped in thunder. I glanced at her, one brow raised. "Ready?"

"You know you don’t need to ask that. I’m born ready."