Chapter 137 No More Love
Hearing this, Aria's heart stirred - she really hadn't seen Lucy in many years.
Last time Lance said he would arrange it, but then she had to return home and didn't get a chance to ask about the details. Now that she could see Lucy, she naturally wanted to.
"Where is she? Is it convenient for me to go now?"
"Of course it's convenient. Why wouldn't it be?"
Lance gave his assistant a look and said calmly, "Go get Lucy from the project team. Tell her you're looking for her."
Lance didn't have the assistant mention it was him. Although he had arranged work for Lucy, he didn't want her to rely too much on this connection.
The assistant responded and quickly left. Only the sound of Jasper playing with blocks remained in the office.
Aria sat on the sofa, her fingertips unconsciously curling. She felt both anticipation and touched.
She understood Lance's intention from what he just said - this way, people in the company wouldn't treat Lucy differently.
Before long, light footsteps came from the hallway.
When the assistant called Lucy out, she was still a bit confused, clutching some files she'd just organized. She followed the assistant with her head down, and as soon as she entered the office, she saw Aria sitting on the sofa.
Lucy froze completely, her eyes instantly widening, her confusion turning into disbelief and joy in a second.
She even forgot to breathe, standing there for a full two seconds before gently covering her mouth, her eyes immediately turning red.
It was Aria...
Lucy almost instinctively rushed forward, her voice trembling with uncontrollable joy, "Aria? Is it really you?"
She didn't dare get too close, yet couldn't help wanting to see more clearly. Her clear eyes were filled with delight.
Seeing the girl before her, Aria felt warmth in her heart and smiled gently at her, "It's me, Lucy. Long time no see."
This simple greeting made Lucy's nose sting, almost bringing her to tears on the spot.
She nodded hard, her lips curling up uncontrollably, her heart full of joy she couldn't hide. "Aria, I never thought I'd really see you here."
Aria stepped forward, looking at her gently with concern in her voice, "Are you adjusting well to work here? How's your health lately? Are you very tired?"
Lucy quickly nodded, her voice sincere and grateful, "I'm adjusting really well. The work environment here is great, and everyone takes good care of me. I've been taking my medicine like the doctor said, and my condition has been stable.
Aria, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."
She looked at Aria with serious, determined eyes, every word from the heart.
If not for Aria, she wouldn't have this job, and wouldn't be able to get proper treatment. All of this was what Aria had helped her get. What she owed Aria could never be repaid in a lifetime.
Aria gently patted her arm, feeling soft and warm inside, "Why be so formal with me? It's enough that you're doing well."
Lance, watching this warm reunion from the side, smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth. Without interrupting them, he quietly left with Jasper, leaving the two of them to catch up in the office.
"Aria, these past years... were you okay abroad?"
Back when Aria wanted to sell the studio, she had asked Lucy if she wanted to take it over, but Lucy's abilities weren't enough to handle the whole studio at that time.
She had learned that Aria wanted to sell the studio because of health problems, so she had no reason to stop her.
"Aria, is your health better now?"
This string of questions hit the softest spot in Aria's heart.
"I'm fine, don't worry. My health has improved quite a bit over the years."
Seeing that Aria looked well, Lucy felt a bit relieved.
Aria asked her a few more questions, which Lucy answered one by one.
They were chatting happily when Lucy seemed to suddenly remember something. Her expression paused slightly, her eyes showing complexity and hesitation.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, breaking the warm atmosphere, "Aria, there's something I think I should tell you."
Seeing her serious expression, Aria's heart sank a little, and she asked gently, "What is it?"
"A few days ago we had a project collaborating with Mr. Charles White's company. During a meeting at their office, I ran into Arthur."
Lucy's voice lowered, her eyes fixed on Aria's expression, "He... he seems to have been looking for you."
As these words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Aria's fingers gripping the cup handle suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white.
She looked down at the light rippling in the bottom of the cup, her long lashes hiding the emotions surging in her eyes.
After a few seconds of silence, she slowly raised her head, her face calm again, though the depths of her eyes clearly showed ripples stirred by a stone thrown into a still lake.
"He's looking for me?"
Aria repeated this sentence, her voice light but carrying a hint of indescribable self-mockery, "After all these years, what does he want with me?"
Things between them should have ended long ago - ended with that divorce agreement five years ago, ended with his wedding five years ago...
Seeing her complex expression, Lucy quickly explained, "I don't know the details. When you left five years ago, he came to the studio looking for you several times - I told you about that.
After that, I didn't see him for years. That day, he asked a lot about how you've been. I didn't dare say much or ask much.
I was afraid you might run into him, so I wanted to tell you about this to give you some mental preparation."
If Aria hadn't come back, she wouldn't have mentioned it.
But now that Aria was back, and she didn't know how long Aria planned to stay, she thought she should tell her so she'd be prepared.
Aria picked up her teacup and took a sip. The warm tea slid down her throat, but couldn't suppress the complex feelings in her heart.
The name Arthur was like a scar carved into old times - even after all these years, it could still stir her emotions.
She took a deep breath, pushing down the surging feelings, and smiled faintly, "I know. Thanks for telling me. But things between him and me are in the past. We're both doing fine now, so there's nothing to prepare for."
Though she said this, she knew in her heart that on this trip back, Arthur would soon get the news.
A reunion was inevitable.
Over the years she hadn't asked about Arthur's news. To her, he was just someone from the past, the father of her child. As for anything else, she had long lost the feelings she once had.
When she left back then, she had completely stopped loving him...