Chapter 136 Teasing
The next morning, Aria got ready early and headed to the cemetery with Jasper.
Aria held Jasper's hand, standing quietly in front of her dad's gravestone. In the photo on the headstone, her father's eyes were gentle—still the most comforting image in her memory.
She crouched down gently, placing the simple and elegant bouquet of white chrysanthemums in front of the stone. Her fingertips carefully brushed away dust that wasn't even there, her movements so tender, as if afraid to disturb someone sleeping.
She stayed silent for a while before slowly speaking, her voice soft as the wind, yet unable to hide the catch in her throat and her longing. "Dad, I came to see you."
"All these years, I never dared come back. Not because I didn't want to, but because I was afraid... afraid that standing in front of you, I'd feel like I hadn't lived well enough."
She lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze falling on the gravestone as memories washed over her in waves.
"When Arthur and I divorced, I left in such a hurry. I didn't tell anyone, didn't even get to come see you. I just took a little luggage and left."
"That money you left me before you passed, and those words you said—you told me if I wasn't happy, not to force myself to stay."
"Your words gave me so much courage back then. I listened to you. I didn't force myself."
Her voice trembled slightly, but no tears fell. Just a faint ache spreading through her eyes.
"These years, being out there alone, there were hard times, exhausting times, but I never regretted leaving."
"The only thing I'm sorry for is not coming back to see you more often, not being able to stay by your side longer."
She turned her head to look at Jasper, standing obediently beside her, his little hand clutching the corner of her clothes. Her eyes instantly softened, filling with warmth.
"Dad, look, this is Jasper Hall, my son. He has my last name, Hall."
"These years, he's been with me, getting through it all, year after year."
"He's so good, so thoughtful. He cares about me, makes me happy. He's the most precious thing in my life."
"With him here, I don't feel lonely. No matter how hard things get, I can keep going."
"I'm doing well now. This life is what I wanted."
"Don't worry, I'll raise Jasper well, and I'll take good care of myself. I won't let anyone bully me anymore, won't let myself fall into unhappy days again."
"Dad, next time, I'll bring Jasper to see you again."
After she finished speaking softly, she stood quietly for a moment, then took Jasper's hand and slowly bowed.
The wind swept through the cemetery trees, carrying a faint chill—like her father's silent response.
Not long after leaving the cemetery, Aria received a message from Lance asking where she was.
She replied honestly with her location, and before long, Lance drove over to pick them up.
Aria happened to have a lot she wanted to say to him, so she got in the car with Jasper.
The car drove all the way to Lance's company building—the place where Lucy worked.
Stepping into the spacious, quiet CEO's office, an assistant quickly brought tea.
Jasper was drawn to some small toys in the corner and sat there playing obediently, giving the two adults space to talk alone.
Aria sat on the sofa, her hands gently tightening around her cup. She looked up at him, her eyes carrying a certain seriousness. "Lance, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
She paused, her throat moving slightly before continuing, her voice clear. "All these years, everything you've done abroad against your family's pressure—was it because of me?"
The question was direct, no beating around the bush.
She didn't mention the bathroom gossip or other people's speculation. She just asked him straight.
Lance's relaxed fingers paused slightly.
He looked at her, his gaze moving from her slightly pale face to her hands gripping the cup tightly. After a few seconds, he slowly walked over and sat down in the chair across from her.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he rubbed his temples, his lips curving into an ambiguous smile, his tone teasing and casual. "Why are you suddenly asking this? You've only been back two days and you're already into self-flattery?"
But despite his words, his mind was already crystal clear.
Combined with what the butler had quietly reported last night—that several female guests had been gossiping near the restroom before and after Aria went there—and now her bringing this up, Lance instantly connected all the dots.
He could almost be certain that yesterday, near the restroom, Aria had overheard some gossip about him, about her, maybe even about Arthur.
Those words had weighed on her mind, making her look strange when she came back, and now brought her here with guilt and unease to ask him this question.
Lance's heart sank a little. He felt sorry that she'd been hurt, and annoyed at those gossiping people.
He didn't want her to carry any burden she shouldn't have because of the past.
Lance leaned forward slightly, his tone somewhat unserious. "But if I nod and admit it, are you going to feel so guilty that you'll just marry me and take responsibility for me for the rest of your life?"
He paused deliberately, drawing out his words with a smile that was both playful and gentle. "If that's the case... then I'll admit it right now. It was all for you. Everything I did abroad to make money was all because of you, Ms. Hall."
These light words instantly dispersed the heavy pressure and bitterness in Aria's heart.
Her tense emotions were completely scattered by his inappropriate joke, leaving her both angry and flustered, her cheeks warming slightly.
Aria glared at him, unable to maintain her serious expression any longer.
She grabbed a flower from the nearby vase and lightly tossed it at him, annoyed. "Lance! What are you talking about!"
The flower landed gently on his shoulder, and the atmosphere shifted from heavy questioning to a long-missed lightness.
Lance picked up the flower from the floor, watching her annoyed expression with deeper amusement in his eyes. He deliberately put on a wronged and helpless look, speaking slowly. "Look at that. I just honestly admitted it, and you're already unhappy, even throwing things at me."
He leaned forward a bit more, his tone both teasing and somewhat serious, his voice low. "Why are you women so fickle? So tell me, do you want me to admit it or not?"
Aria felt even more flustered and annoyed by his words. She turned her face away, refusing to look at his smiling eyes. The heaviness and guilt that had weighed on her heart were completely scattered by his few joking words.
Watching the heaviness and tension finally fade from her expression, Lance quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
He toned down the joking, his voice gradually softening as he smoothly changed the subject. "By the way, Lucy also works at this company, in a department downstairs. Since you're here, do you want to go say hi and see her?"