Chapter 227

Chapter 227

They didn't know where Aaron had taken Cruz.

The two left the Johnson Mansion and didn't return until late at night.

The next morning, Olivia made up an excuse to see Cruz, but he claimed he was sick and wouldn't even open the door.

But Olivia could tell from his voice that it was steady—he wasn't sick at all.

She had no idea where Aaron had taken Cruz yesterday or what he'd shown him that would make him unwilling to even come out of his room.

Since he didn't want to come out, she didn't push it and turned to go downstairs for breakfast.

When she got to the dining room, she discovered that while Cruz refused to come out, Aaron was already seated at the table early in the morning.

Seeing her enter, Aaron nodded slightly: "Oli, you're here."

Olivia was surprised: "Aaron, why are you up?"

Aaron's face showed affection as he smiled gently: "I've been resting for so many days. I'm feeling better, so I came out to see people."

Olivia acknowledged this and pulled out a chair to sit across from him.

Maybe it was the psychological effect of what Michael had told her before, but Olivia felt that looking at Aaron now, something seemed off.

After sitting down, she glanced at Aaron several times out of the corner of her eye before tentatively asking: "Have you been comfortable staying at the Johnson Mansion these past few days?"

Aaron's fingers peeled an egg shell, his face expressionless: "It's been okay. Just heard it was noisy outside yesterday. Don't know what happened."

Olivia's fingers curled, and her bread slice fell onto her plate, causing Aaron to lift his eyelids and look over.

She forced a smile: "I don't know."

After speaking, she picked up the bread slice again, spread jam on it, and put it in her mouth.

Aaron had lied to her.

The thing she feared most had still happened.

A suffocating feeling surged in Olivia's chest, her throat felt blocked by something, making her very uncomfortable.

Although Michael had already warned her that Aaron was no longer the Aaron from her memories.

But she still remembered how good he'd been to her.

Deep down, Olivia had been hoping that maybe Michael was just being paranoid.

Maybe things weren't the way he said they were.

Maybe Aaron had never worked with anyone.

Even if Aaron really had worked with others, maybe he wouldn't lie to her?

Maybe he was just waiting for the right time to tell her?

But all these fantasies were shattered by Aaron's casual lie.

Olivia couldn't describe how she felt—her heart was blocked and stuffy, with an indescribable feeling churning inside.

She looked down, lost in thought, so much so that she didn't hear Aaron speaking to her.

It wasn't until Aaron waved his hand twice in front of her that Olivia looked up in a daze, frowning: "Aaron, what did you say?"

"I said, are you planning to continue staying with the Johnson family, or come back with me?"

Olivia was startled: "Go back? Aaron, you're leaving?"

Aaron pursed his lips, shrugged lightly, and smiled casually: "My health has mostly recovered. I can't keep staying with the Johnson family."

"When I returned to the country back then, I was deceived. My teachers must be worried about me too. I should go back and see them."

Olivia stared at him, trying to find any trace of lying on Aaron's face.

But his eyes were sincere and determined, and there wasn't a hint of insincerity on his slightly pale face.

Was he really leaving?

Olivia leaned forward instinctively, about to speak, when a large hand pressed on her shoulder and gently pulled her back.

She was pulled back against the chair and instinctively turned to look at the person behind her.

Michael wore a white shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing his straight collarbone.

Though his hand was on Olivia's shoulder, his sharp eyes were fixed on Aaron, like a hunting leopard ready to pounce and tear its prey apart at any moment.

"Didn't you want to take Oli back with you a few days ago?" Michael pulled out the chair next to Olivia and sat down, casually taking her half-eaten bread slice and spreading jam on the remaining part. "After just a few days, you've changed your mind and decided to go back alone?"

As he finished speaking, he'd already finished spreading the jam.

Olivia thanked him and reached out to take it, but he turned it around and put the bread slice in his own mouth.

The action was smooth and without hesitation, leaving Olivia staring wide-eyed in shock.

That was the one she'd been eating!

Not only was she surprised, Aaron also frowned.

As a man himself, he could naturally see that Michael was asserting his dominance and claiming his territory.

It's just that his way of doing so seemed a bit childish.

Aaron turned his head and chuckled: "Oli is willing to stay by Mr. Johnson's side, and you're sincere toward her. That being the case, why would I insist on taking her away?"

As he spoke, he looked at Michael, and their eyes met.

For a moment the atmosphere froze, as if everything around them was about to be frozen solid.

Olivia felt cold and pulled her collar tighter, grabbed Michael's sleeve and tugged twice, coughed to clear her throat, and tried to smooth things over: "Michael, don't you need to go to the office today? Isn't it getting late?"

Michael took her hand naturally, didn't turn his head, and kept staring at Aaron: "So when is Aaron planning to leave? I'll have someone take you."

Aaron's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: "No need to trouble Mr. Johnson, I can leave on my own."

Michael acted as if he hadn't heard his answer and continued in a steady voice: "The weather in Emerald City hasn't been good these past few days, and many flights have been canceled. It won't be easy for Aaron to leave."

"How about this—I'll send you on my private jet."

After speaking, Michael actually called Byron and told him to arrange a flight route and be ready at any time to send Aaron away on the private jet.

Hearing Byron agree and prepare to make arrangements, Aaron's face turned dark, and he stopped him sternly: "Mr. Johnson, you don't need to worry about my affairs."

His tone was severe, and his voice rose quite high.

Michael raised an eyebrow and looked at him playfully: "I'm just being kind. Why are you reacting so strongly? Or is it that you saying you want to leave is just something you're saying in front of Oli, but you actually have no intention of leaving at all?"

Aaron felt uneasy under his sharp gaze, turned his head away from him, but his face twitched uncontrollably a few times, his tongue pushing his right cheek out.

Michael chuckled and turned back, raising his chin toward Olivia.

He didn't say anything, but Olivia instantly understood what he meant.

Aaron's plan to leave Emerald City was fake.

He just wanted to leave the Johnson Mansion to make it easier for him to interact with Fallon and the others.

He really didn't need to tell her this in such a big, dramatic way.

Olivia could figure it out herself.

Olivia rolled her eyes at Michael, then looked at Aaron and smiled: "Aaron, you should stay."