Chapter 149 Ecstatic Delight
Lance's words flowed over Aria's tense heart like warm water. She turned to look at him, her eyes still moist but showing signs of softening. "Lance, sometimes I wonder if it was a mistake to have Jasper in the first place. If I hadn't had him, maybe he wouldn't have to suffer through all this with me."
"Don't think like that."
Lance cut her off, his tone serious. "Jasper is a good kid. Having a mom like you is his blessing. And these past five years, you've taken great care of him—that's enough. As for Arthur, if he really wants to make amends, he should learn to respect your choices first, not force you with his obsession."
He raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder, the gesture measured just right, carrying a comforting strength. "Call me anytime something comes up. Like I said, I'm always here."
Aria looked at his gentle features. All these years, Lance had always been like this—keeping her company at just the right distance, reaching out when she needed it most. Though sometimes he said ridiculous things, she understood it was all for her sake.
"Thank you, Lance."
"There you go again with that."
Lance felt helpless inside. He actually hoped Aria wouldn't be so formal with him.
His gaze fell on Jasper beside Aria, and he said softly, "You haven't eaten all night. Let's get some food."
But Aria shook her head, glancing down at Jasper and saying quietly, "No need. I'll just make Jasper something simple when we get back. I don't have much appetite anyway."
Seeing Aria's low spirits, Lance knew tonight's events had affected her mood. He pressed his lips together and didn't insist. "Alright."
The car drove smoothly through the night. Jasper finished his milk and slowly closed his eyes, leaning against Aria. His little brow relaxed, the earlier panic gone.
Aria looked down at the child's peaceful sleeping face, then at Lance focused on driving, her eyes dark and unreadable.
Half an hour later, Lance pulled the car to a smooth stop downstairs from her apartment building. He got out and opened the door for her, carefully taking the now-sleeping Jasper, his movements gentle. "I'll carry him up. You take your time."
Aria didn't refuse, just nodded. "Okay."
After Lance helped her carry the child upstairs, he didn't stay long. He still had some things to take care of.
Aria wasn't in the mood to ask him to stay either. After he left, she turned and walked into the kitchen, filled a pot with water and set it to boil, then took out a box of frozen mac and cheese from the fridge.
The bubbling sound of boiling water was especially clear in the quiet night. The pasta tumbled in the pot, steam misting her eyes, but it couldn't warm the coldness in her heart.
She placed the cooked mac and cheese in front of Jasper and gently woke him.
The little guy rubbed his eyes and sat up groggily, holding a fork in his small hand, eating in small bites. Occasionally he looked up and asked, "Mommy, aren't you eating?"
"Mommy's not hungry. Jasper, eat up, then go to sleep."
Aria stroked his head, watching the child finish eating and wash up before going back to sleep. Only then did she pick up the bowl of mac and cheese that had long gone cold, but she couldn't swallow a single bite.
Outside the window, the night was thick as ink, time passing second by second.
Aria sat on the sofa. Thinking of what Arthur had said, her heart felt like something was squeezing it, sour and swollen.
At this moment, the Grant family mansion was also having a sleepless night.
When Arthur returned home, it was already late at night.
The villa was brightly lit but eerily quiet.
He walked straight into his study, tossing his suit jacket carelessly onto the wide mahogany desk, picked up his phone and made a call. "Find out Aria's current address immediately, and everything about... that child, including every detail of their lives over the past five years. Check everything thoroughly.
Also, compile all records of Lance's interactions with her and send them to me."
After giving these instructions, Arthur leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingertips. Aria's resolute expression today, that child's timid yet distant gaze, replayed over and over in his mind.
His clenched fist turned slightly pale. Five years of debt felt like a mountain pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
When Aria left, he had thought about following her regardless of everything, but he was afraid it would backfire and make her run away again—then he wouldn't know where to find her.
He didn't dare gamble, didn't dare bet on the possibility of her leaving.
So he forcibly suppressed those impulses and could only let her leave with Lance.
God knows his heart at that moment truly felt like it was being cut by knives, the pain making it impossible to breathe.
While he was lost in thought, there was a gentle knock on the study door.
"Come in."
Arthur looked up, his voice carrying fatigue and irritation he'd just suppressed.
The butler pushed the door open and walked in, his footsteps extremely light, clearly having deliberated for a long time before daring to disturb him.
He stood at the doorway, bowing slightly, his tone respectful yet tinged with barely concealed hesitation. "Sir."
Arthur's fingers stopped tapping the desk, his brow furrowing slightly, his gaze cold as it swept over the butler. "About the flowers?"
The butler quickly nodded and hurried to the desk, reporting in a low voice, "Yes, sir. I've already negotiated with the florist. They said the custom flowers you ordered will definitely be delivered on time in five days, and won't delay your plans at all."
As he spoke, he remained standing there, his eyes somewhat evasive, as if he had more to say.
Seeing his hesitant manner, Arthur's impatience grew, his tone cooling. "Something else?"
The butler hesitated for a moment, as if making some kind of decision, then carefully took out his phone from his pocket, tapped on it a few times, and gently placed it on the mahogany desk, his voice even softer. "Sir, it's like this. When I went to the florist today to confirm the order, I ran into the florist's child, and his features..."
"His features look a bit like yours. I found it curious, so I secretly took a picture. I thought you might be interested, so I brought it to show you."
"Looks like me?"
Arthur's pupils suddenly contracted, his heart jolting violently, even his breathing stopped for half a second.
He almost immediately stood up from his chair, strode to the desk, and leaned down to look at the photo on the phone.
This child?!
It was exactly the child Aria had been holding today!
His child!
Arthur's fingers trembled slightly. He picked up the phone, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the child's features in the photo. His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, then suddenly exploding. A huge surge of wild joy and disbelief rushed to his head.
He never expected that the person he'd been trying to find had been right under his nose all along!
He suddenly looked up at the butler, his voice carrying barely suppressed urgency and trembling.
"This child! What's the name of this florist?! You're saying you met him at the florist where we ordered those flowers? Is that right?"