Chapter 145 Coincidence
Aria was a bit confused, "Which order are you talking about?"
The butler quickly pulled up the order on his phone to show Aria.
When the butler and Aria discussed the order, they only talked business the whole time.
The delivery address given wasn't the Grant family villa, but a business club address. Plus, this butler had only been there for a few years and had never met Aria before, so from start to finish, she never connected this order with Arthur.
Both sides carefully checked the flower materials quantity, quality requirements, and delivery details, finally settling that the studio would deliver directly in five days.
Everything confirmed, the butler got up to leave.
Just as he reached the door, light footsteps suddenly came from the stairway.
Jasper slowly walked down from upstairs. The little boy had clear features and a calm demeanor - just standing there casually, he caught people's attention.
The butler's originally calm expression suddenly froze the moment he saw the child's face clearly.
Those eyes, that nose bridge, those slightly pursed lips... they looked somewhat similar to Arthur!
His heart jolted, and he instinctively looked at Aria, his tone carrying barely concealed surprise, "Ma'am, is this your child?"
Aria didn't notice anything wrong with the butler. She glanced back at her son, her expression naturally warm, and nodded, "Yes, my son."
She gently patted the child's shoulder, "Jasper, say hello to the uncle."
Jasper obediently looked up, his voice clear and crisp, "Hello, sir."
With that greeting, the shock in the butler's heart grew even stronger.
He nodded back with forced composure, but his mind was already in turmoil.
After saying goodbye, he walked some distance from the studio, but couldn't hold back in the end. He quietly looked back and quickly took a photo of Jasper with his phone.
This child looked too much like his master.
Back at the Grant family home, the butler remained unsettled, planning to wait until Arthur returned that evening to report this matter to him.
But the strangeness in his eyes was too obvious. Before Arthur came back, Sophie, who had just returned, noticed it.
She walked over holding a glass of warm water, her tone gentle but her eyes somewhat probing, "Frank, you seem distracted all day. Did something happen?"
The butler's heart tightened.
This concerned a child who looked strikingly similar to Arthur - he didn't dare say much, and could only give a vague response, "It's nothing, I just went out on errands today and I'm a bit tired."
Sophie looked at his evasive eyes, and the smile on her lips faded a bit.
She knew this butler's steady nature too well - if it was really nothing, he wouldn't look like this.
She had a vague feeling that there must be something she didn't know about hidden in this.
Sophie didn't press further, but quietly had someone investigate where the butler had been today and who he had contacted.
Aria knew nothing about this, still focused entirely on the shop, busy organizing flowers and checking orders.
She didn't know that soon, a storm would unfold around her.
When Lance came by, the studio was a bit busy.
Aria was trimming flower stems with her head down, while Jasper sat quietly nearby playing by himself.
Lance didn't say much, just naturally rolled up his sleeves and came forward to help - cutting stems, sorting, packing. His movements were skilled and in sync, not causing her any trouble.
After the busy period passed and there were fewer customers, they finally took a break.
Lance handed over a bottle of water and spoke softly, "Aria, come to my house for dinner tonight."
Aria instinctively wanted to decline. Right now she just wanted to steadily guard the studio and her child, not wanting to trouble others too much.
Lance had already seen through her thoughts. His tone became softer and more sincere, "We're not outsiders. My parents specifically asked me to invite you.
They've watched the two of us bicker since we were little, and they think of you like their own child. After grandpa's birthday banquet last time, they kept saying they wanted to have you over for a meal. We've all been busy lately and I forgot about it, but today they specifically called me and said you must bring Jasper to the house for dinner."
These words were warm and sincere, hitting the softest spot in Aria's heart.
The bond from knowing each other since childhood, the elders' affection, plus the expectation in Lance's eyes - she couldn't find any more reasons to refuse.
Aria let out a soft sigh and nodded.
"Okay, I'll bring Jasper to your house for dinner tonight."
After Aria agreed, Lance's face clearly relaxed. He didn't leave right away, but rolled up his sleeves and continued helping in the studio.
He was quick and efficient - organizing flowers, wiping counters, putting away tools. He did everything smoothly, and before long had tidied up the somewhat messy space.
Watching him like this, Aria felt somewhat emotional. If people knew that the heir of Gray Corporation was helping her wrap flowers, they'd probably say she was wasting his talents.
They stayed busy until evening, near dinnertime, when Aria closed the shop early.
She had just taken out her phone, thinking about going to a nearby mall to pick out a gift - she couldn't go to someone's house empty-handed - when Lance saw through her thoughts and stopped her with a smile.
"No need to buy anything, we're all family. You coming is better than anything."
His tone was natural, without any formality, "If my parents knew you spent money, they'd scold me instead."
Aria couldn't argue with him. After thinking for a moment, she turned and walked to the work table, picked out a few champagne roses that were blooming perfectly, paired them with gentle daisies and eucalyptus leaves, and her fingers flew as she quickly wrapped them into an elegant and warm bouquet.
The light beige wrapping paper made the flowers look soft and beautiful, with a light, unassuming fragrance - perfect for giving to elders.
"I won't bring a gift, but I must bring this bouquet I wrapped myself."
She looked up at Lance, her eyes serious, "Consider it a token of my appreciation."
Lance looked at the carefully arranged bouquet, then at the sincerity in her eyes, and finally didn't refuse anymore, nodding with a smile.
Aria took the hand of Jasper, who had been waiting obediently nearby, held the bouquet, and followed Lance toward the Grays' home.
Neither Aria nor Lance expected that this seemingly ordinary family dinner would collide with an unexpected encounter.
It was all just coincidence.
Lance's parents invited Aria out of affection for watching her grow up, wanting her to have a warm home-cooked meal.
And old Mr. Gray invited Arthur because they had an important collaboration project recently, specifically inviting him to the house for a casual meal to discuss details.
The old man didn't know about the invitation on the other side beforehand, and the Grays' parents hadn't thought much of it either.
No one connected these two things.
So fate's most clever arrangement quietly fell into place without anyone knowing.
As Aria held the bouquet she had wrapped herself, holding the quiet and well-behaved Jasper's hand, following Lance step by step toward the Grays' front door, all she was thinking about was properly thanking the elders for their kindness, quietly finishing this meal, and not troubling anyone.
Lance also just thought it was an ordinary family dinner, his heart set on making Aria feel warmth.
Neither of them knew that on the other side of the door stood someone who could disrupt all the peace in her life.