Chapter 283 Looking for Chase

Chapter 283 Looking for Chase

Arthur glanced at her and noticed she looked troubled. He slowed down the car, his voice low. "Don't overthink it. I'll have someone look into it tonight."

Aria looked at him and nodded gently. "Okay, thank you."

Arthur sighed helplessly. "You don't need to be so polite with me."

She was always like this, trying to draw clear boundaries between them.

But what he wanted least was for her to make such a clear distinction between them. To him, these were things he should do.

He didn't want any thanks or anything like that.

Aria paused at his words and said nothing more, just quietly looked out the window.

The two first went to the kindergarten to pick up Jasper before heading back to the apartment together.

"Mommy, Arthur, can we build a snowman tomorrow!"

Jasper looked at the snowy scene outside the window, his face full of excitement.

Aria bent down and ruffled his hair with a gentle smile. "Okay, we'll build a snowman together tomorrow."

Arthur nodded in agreement. "Okay."

Aria first sent Jasper to wash up.

Arthur took out his phone and quickly sent several messages, having someone investigate Liv's situation.

With Arthur's involvement, by early the next morning.

Arthur received a message from the people he'd sent to investigate the night before.

They were just about to take Jasper downstairs to build a snowman when, seeing the message, he stopped and turned to look at Aria. "Found it. There's no problem on Liv's end, it wasn't intentional."

Aria paused, looking at him with some surprise. "Then what happened?"

"Both his parents are hospitalized. His mother is seriously ill, his father is there taking care of her, and he's the only one holding the family together. His mind isn't on work at all."

Arthur explained concisely. "Because he was in such bad shape, someone with bad intentions took advantage and tampered with things. Liv himself didn't know."

Arthur paused and looked at Aria. "Didn't you notice anything off?"

Aria's doubts instantly cleared, and she nodded gently. "So that's it. No wonder he's been so distracted lately, looking so worried."

She had noticed Liv's absent-mindedness before, but since he didn't bring it up, she didn't ask.

After this work incident happened, with Arthur's explanation, she had thought Liv might have been bought off, and she was somewhat unwilling to believe it.

Fortunately, they had been overthinking.

Given what happened, it was normal for him to be distracted.

But he shouldn't have kept it from her.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah, it's been verified."

Jasper looked up at them with his little face, seeming to understand but not quite. "Mommy, Arthur, are we still building a snowman?"

Aria came back to her senses, bent down to hold his little hand, and said gently, "Yes, we're going now."

Arthur put away his phone and went out with them.

The snow downstairs was thick and soft.

As soon as Jasper reached the snow, he let loose, squatting on the ground scooping up snow with his little hands, forming it into small snowballs, giggling all the while.

Aria watched his lively manner, her mood relaxing a bit, and some of the weight on her heart from Liv's situation lifted.

She turned to look at Arthur beside her and said softly, "What about the person who tampered with things behind the scenes? Have they been found?"

Although it wasn't Liv's problem, someone had still taken advantage.

Arthur looked down at her, his eyes darkening. "Still investigating, but I suspect it's Chase."

To do this right under Chase's nose, he must have allowed it.

Aria's heart sank heavily at his words, her tone tinged with regret. "I shouldn't have taken this project in the first place."

She lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously tightening.

She knew about the issues between Arthur and Chase, and was aware this project might be problematic, so she had investigated for a while. Only after confirming there were no problems with the project did she take it on.

After all, this project could take her flower shop to the next level - who wouldn't want that?

So she still took the project. Who knew that after having no problems early on, such an issue would arise near the end of the year.

Arthur saw her like this and quickly said, "Chase can be sneaky sometimes. This is also my fault for not keeping a closer watch. If I'd been more careful, this problem probably wouldn't have happened."

Arthur had thought Chase had calmed down a bit, but didn't expect he had no intention of settling down at all.

Between him and Chase, some accounts still needed to be settled properly.

Aria heard Arthur's self-blame and paused, looking at him. She saw a flash of guilt in his eyes.

Aria quickly shook her head. "This isn't your fault either. What we need to do now is solve the problem quickly."

Arthur nodded and replied softly, "Yeah."

That's what he said, but Arthur knew that to resolve this matter, he'd probably have to meet with Chase himself.

After playing with Jasper for a while, they took him upstairs.

Jasper didn't have school today, so Aria brought him to the shop.

After dropping them off, Arthur didn't return to Grant Corporation, but went to find Chase instead.

Baldwin Corp.

When Arthur entered under the assistant's guidance, Chase was leaning against his desk, fingers holding an unlit cigar.

"What a rare guest."

Chase looked up, the corner of his mouth curving into an ambiguous smile. "Mr. Grant, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

Arthur walked straight to stand across from him, without any small talk, asking directly, "The flower arrangement project issue - you did it, didn't you."

Not a question, but a definitive statement.

Chase raised an eyebrow, put down the cigar, and leaned back slightly. "Oh? What makes you say that? If there's a problem with the project, you should be looking for Aria and that unreliable employee of hers."

Chase paused and continued, his words carrying a hint of provocation. "I'm working with her on this project. When problems came up, I didn't go after her, but you're here demanding answers?"

Arthur's eyes turned cold and sharp as he gave a cold laugh. "We've known each other for so many years - you think I don't recognize your handiwork? What exactly are you trying to do?"

Someone else might actually be fooled by Chase's act!

But he wasn't just anyone!

He and Chase had known each other for so many years - he knew best what Chase was capable of!

To Chase, Aria was nothing more than leverage to use against him.

Chase's smile faded a bit, and his eyes grew colder. "Looks like Mr. Grant does understand me."

He paused, his tone carrying deliberate mockery. "But speaking of which, Aria really is capable. I'm just helping her refine the project a bit - is that wrong?"

With these words, Chase admitted it.

"You're looking for death."

Arthur's voice was extremely low, a dangerous atmosphere spreading.

"Looking for death?"

Chase laughed mockingly, suddenly straightening up, his gaze sharp as he met Arthur's eyes. "Arthur, are you threatening me?"