Rebirth Swapped Bride; Married to the Ruthless Cursed Billionaire-Chapter 338: An encounter with Aria

The call ended.

"So,"

Calvin exhaled a plume of smoke, the corner of his lips curling into a smirk.

"Melissa sneaked out again?"

His slender fingers flicked the ash from his cigarette.

"The women around you really are a handful, one after another."

First Violet, now Melissa "Tiffany was the exception," Taylor stubbed out his cigarette, his lips quirking almost imperceptibly as he remarked nonchalantly.

"But you couldn’t even keep her by your side."

A verbal dagger straight to the heart. Calvin: Why were all his closest friends such cunning, venomous snakes?!

Taylor finished wiping his hands with a handkerchief and turned his gaze to Calvin.

"I’m heading back. Are you staying here to drown your sorrows or...?"

"The company still has a pile of unfinished business," Calvin took a deep drag from his cigarette before flicking the still-burning stub into the liquor-filled glass.

"Let’s go together."

For men like them, moments of true relaxation were squeezed out like water from a stone—no matter how heavy their hearts.

Two men of strikingly different yet equally commanding presence strode side by side out of the private room.

Some people, merely by existing, made others feel inadequate.

The crowd instinctively parted to let them pass.

Of course, there were always those who lacked perception.

Ahead in the corridor stood four or five men in bodyguard uniforms, blocking the path of Calvin and Taylor.

From the center of their circle came a woman’s voice, laced with resistance.

"Mr. Wilfred, I appreciate your kindness, but my agent is right outside.

There’s no need for you to trouble yourself—" "Aria, oh, *the* Aria," the man cut in with a derisive chuckle.

"Are you playing dumb, or are you really this clueless?"

"I hooked you up with connections, you drank with us, and now you’re suddenly acting all innocent?"

Aria?

A vague thought crossed Taylor’s mind as he turned to glance at Calvin.

"Is this woman one of your artists?"

Calvin smirked, his strikingly handsome face exuding an air of detached indifference.

"Not anymore."

Clearly, he had no intention of intervening. Understanding flashed in Taylor’s eyes, and without another word, he strode forward.

"Mr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful, but this isn’t the kind of repayment I meant," Aria protested, struggling against the man’s groping hands, her voice laced with both resistance and pleading.

"Please, just let me go..."

Aria wasn’t naive—she knew exactly what this drinking session entailed.

But with Calvin as her former backer, she had grown accustomed to a certain level of respect.

Now, faced with Wilfred’s repulsive lechery, regret gnawed at her.

"Not this?"

The man addressed as Mr. Wilfred scoffed.

"Aria, do you still think you’re the rising star under Calvin Corporation?

What else do you have left that’s worth my trouble besides that body of yours?"

His voice dropped with displeasure.

"Didn’t your agent make this clear to you? What a waste of time.

Take her away!"

The burly man had clearly lost his patience. Straightening his clothes, he strode forward without another glance.

"Yes, sir."

Two bodyguards flanked Aria, gripping her arms as they dragged her toward the exit.

"No—no, please—"

Aria struggled with all her might, but against their overwhelming strength, her efforts were futile.

Then, her gaze landed on Calvin and Taylor approaching from a distance. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Her eyes lit up as if spotting saviors.

"President Calvin?! President Calvin, help me—!"

It had to be said—Aria’s acting skills were still sharp.

Before spotting Calvin, she had been thrashing wildly, tears and smeared makeup ruining her image.

But the moment she saw him, her expression transformed into one of delicate vulnerabilities, tears glistening like pear blossoms in the rain.

Calvin?

No way—this couldn’t be a coincidence! Wilfred stumbled mid-step, his face paling as he whipped around to look.

Two tall, imposing figures instantly filled his vision.

Calvin?

Taylor?

What on earth are these two big shots doing here?!

"President Calvin, President Taylor—"

Wilfred instantly broke into a cold sweat, his plump body slightly hunched as he shuffled toward where Calvin and Taylor stood.

His demeanor was utterly submissive, a far cry from the arrogance he’d displayed moments earlier when confronting Aria.

Neither Calvin nor Taylor spared him a glance, their indifference palpable.

"President Calvin—"

At the sight of Calvin, Aria somehow found the strength to wrench free from the two bodyguards restraining her.

She rushed forward, clutching his arm desperately.

"Mr. Wilfred tried to force himself on me! Please, you have to help me!!"

Tears welled in her eyes, her delicate frame trembling slightly.

Her exquisitely beautiful face wore an expression of vulnerability and helplessness that would melt most men’s hearts.

But Calvin was clearly not most men.

His lips curled into a faint smirk as he glanced at the hand gripping his sleeve, though the depths of his usually warm and charming eyes held nothing but mockery and frost.

Lost in her emotional outburst, Aria failed to notice.

Taylor immediately understood why this woman had been rejected.

Taylor turned to Calvin.

"I’ll head back first."

"Mm-hmm,"

Calvin gave a slight nod.

"Take care on your way, Taylor.

We’ll visit you again soon," Wilfred stood respectfully to the side with his bodyguards, his tone deferential.

"What did you just say?"

Calvin lowered his gaze to Aria, whose face was streaked with tears.

His expression and tone were deceptively gentle—though anyone who noticed the icy glint in his pitch-black eyes would know better.

Aria’s heart leaped with hope when she saw Calvin looking at her the same way he always had.

The last time Calvin was nearly assassinated, fear had completely overwhelmed her.

That was why she had listened to that damned foreigner and turned her back on him.

But the moment she came to her senses, regret had consumed her.

Yet Calvin hadn’t given her the slightest chance to make amends—or perhaps he had never intended to.

The company had abruptly terminated all her contracts, and pending deals were scrapped without hesitation.

The power of capital was undeniable, especially when it came from a titan like the Calvin Corporation.

Overnight, she had plummeted from a rising star to a forgotten nobody.

Even those she had once looked down upon now sat above her, mocking her in turn.

The sheer humiliation was unbearable, driving her to seek alternative means.

Who would have thought fate would cruelly twist their paths to cross again?

Aria’s eyes darkened.

This was her chance—one she couldn’t afford to miss.

Wilfred couldn’t quite gauge Calvin’s stance toward Aria.

Seeing Aria shift all the blame onto him, he panicked and blurted out, "Mr. Calvin, she was the one who—"

Calvin lifted his gaze, his eyes cool and indifferent as they settled on Wilfred.

"I was asking *her*."

His voice, though languid, carried an unmistakable authority that brooked no argument.

"Y-yes, of course," Wilfred stammered, snapping his mouth shut.

His body stiffened, but beneath the surface, his mind was in turmoil.

Aria, sensing Calvin’s unwavering support, exhaled quietly in relief.

*So he does care about me after all.*

Calvin was just angry earlier—that’s all.

* Her grip on Calvin’s arm tightened as she turned fearful eyes toward Wilfred.

Trembling visibly, she whispered, "H-he... I only met him to discuss the contract... but then... he tried to force himself on me..."

Her voice broke, as if the words were too painful to continue.

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she looked up at Calvin, her expression pleading for protection.

"Mr. Calvin, you know I’m not that kind of loose woman.

You must help me."

"So that’s how it is."

Calvin’s eyes lowered slightly, the smile at the corners of his lips deepening, though his tone remained unreadable.

Aria nodded frantically, playing the part of the perfect victim.

*Damn it!*

*Am I really going down like this today?!*

"Mr. Calvin, that’s not what happened—please let me explain!"

Wilfred froze, his knees going weak.

"It was her agent who kept waiting for me outside my office every day.

She was the one who sent people to beg me—"

"That’s a lie!!" Afraid Wilfred would keep spouting nonsense, Aria cut him off, her eyes pleading as she looked at Calvin.

"Mr. Calvin, this is all his fault.

Mr. Wilfred’s just trying to weasel his way out—don’t believe a word he says."

"Hmm."

Calvin lifted his gaze, responding with a faint hum.

"Indeed.

A grave mistake."

The moment these words were spoken, the heavy stone in Wilfred’s heart came crashing down.

With a dull thud, he collapsed to his knees.

"President Calvin, I shouldn’t have touched your—"

His words were abruptly cut off by a slow, languid voice.

"Sweetheart,"

Calvin’s lips curved into a faint smile as his indifferent gaze settled on Aria.

"Didn’t I teach you this already?"

His voice remained as gentle as ever, yet the words sent chills down Aria’s spine.

"In this world, nothing comes for free.

If you want something, you have to give something in return."

His tone was deceptively soft as he continued,

"Since you’re here, you should know how to behave."

Aria’s mind buzzed with confusion, as if she couldn’t comprehend Calvin’s meaning at all.

"President Calvin, I—"

But Wilfred understood.

Aria looked up at Calvin, realization dawning.

With deliberate coldness, Calvin reached out and peeled Aria’s hand from his arm.

Then, pulling out a handkerchief, he meticulously wiped his fingers where she had touched him, his aloof demeanor leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Once finished, he slowly lifted his eyes to stare down at Wilfred.

"Well?

Do I need to send someone to assist you?"

Had Tiffany been present, she would have been stunned by Calvin’s ruthlessness and icy detachment.

She would have also realized that, in Calvin’s world, she was the exception.

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