Williama Brown

"Mrs. Brown." Aiden rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and composed as he stood up and greeted her with a tone that could freeze fire. 

Williama Brown, however, seemed utterly unfazed. She swept forward with the confidence of someone who believed the world revolved around her whims. Ignoring the chill in his tone, she leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek—a gesture laden with false familiarity. 

But Aiden, shifted his head at the last second. The result was almost comical: her lips met nothing but the empty air near his face. The awkwardness of the moment hung in the space between them, but she pretended not to notice,even as her smile faltered for the briefest second.

With an exaggerated huff, she straightened herself and smoothed down the front of her tailored jacket, as if the fabric needed an excuse to absorb her irritation. Shaking her head, she let out a sigh that sounded as though she were the one burdened by the situation.