Chapter 150 Serenity Blooms Studio
When Arthur ordered the flowers, he hadn't paid much attention to the shop's name. At this moment, overwhelming joy surrounded him, making his mind go blank in an instant. Everything around him seemed to disappear, and his eyes could only see that photo.
The butler quickly nodded, his tone certain. "Yes, sir, it's Serenity Blooms Studio where you ordered the custom bouquet. It's a newly opened studio."
He paused, watching the barely concealed ecstasy and excitement on Arthur's face, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed today's action was indeed the right move.
"Where exactly is it located?"
Arthur pressed on, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the desk, the rhythm getting faster and faster, revealing his inner urgency.
The butler immediately gave the detailed address and added nearby landmarks, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
Arthur firmly memorized the address. Just as he was about to give more instructions, the butler hesitated and stepped forward, saying in a low voice, "Sir, there's one more thing. When I came back from the flower shop this afternoon, I ran into the lady at home. She asked me about it, but I didn't say anything, just said I went out on an errand."
Sophie Smith.
That name was like a thin thorn, suddenly piercing Arthur's heart that was still immersed in ecstasy.
The light in his eyes dimmed instantly. His brows furrowed tightly, and his tone turned cold. "I see. From now on, don't call her 'the lady' anymore. Just call her Miss Smith."
She had occupied the position of Mrs. Grant for five years. From now on, she had no right to keep holding onto it. He had already given her everything she wanted.
At this moment, his heart and eyes were full of Aria and that child. Anyone and anything related to Sophie made him feel irritated.
Seeing his displeasure, the butler didn't dare say more and quickly responded, "Yes, sir."
"You can go now. Send the photo to my phone."
"Yes."
After the butler left, the room fell silent again, leaving only Arthur's heavy breathing.
He leaned back wearily in his chair, his fingertips still tightly gripping his phone. The photo on the screen was lit up, reflecting the complex emotions surging in his eyes.
Five years.
She was finally willing to come back, bringing his child with her.
Since she had reopened her studio here, it meant she wouldn't be leaving again anytime soon.
The joy this discovery brought was like a scalding warm current, instantly washing away the anxiety and fear he had accumulated over five years.
He could even feel the blood rushing through his veins, each heartbeat cheering for this news.
Five years of long waiting, countless nights of tossing and turning, those moments of heart-wrenching pain from missing her—all found their perfect echo in this moment.
Arthur stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the blurred neon lights of the distant city, his eyes surging with the wild joy of regaining what was lost and heavy expectations.
The enormous sense of happiness wrapped around him, almost drowning him in it. Even what happened at the Grays today didn't seem so unbearable anymore.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, his gaze becoming increasingly determined.
This time, he must make amends properly, bring her back to his side, and absolutely not let her leave again.
He didn't have another five years to regret.
The next day.
The sky had just begun to show a pale white morning light when Arthur was already waiting at the door of Serenity Blooms Studio.
He hadn't slept all night, yet there wasn't a trace of fatigue in his eyes, only irrepressible anticipation and nervousness.
His black suit was impeccable, even his tie was perfectly knotted. Gone was last night's obsessive and domineering demeanor at the Grays, replaced only by cautious anxiety.
He stood in the morning light, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on both sides of the street, afraid of missing the figure he had been longing for.
Before long, a taxi slowly stopped in front of the studio.
The car door opened, and Aria got out first, then turned to help a small figure out of the back seat.
The little one wore a clean white hoodie, jeans with small sneakers, his hair softly pressed against his forehead, and he clutched a small cartoon backpack in his hand. At first glance, he was so well-behaved it made one's heart tremble.
Aria looked up, her gaze landing directly on the man at the flower shop entrance.
The moment their eyes met, she didn't panic or lose her composure. She simply withdrew her gaze calmly, her fingertips tightening slightly.
She wasn't surprised.
From the moment they met at the Grays last night, she knew that with Arthur's capabilities, finding her location was only a matter of time.
She just hadn't expected his speed to be this fast—in just one night, he had precisely located her studio.
The moment Arthur saw her, his breathing caught sharply. He instinctively took two steps forward, but then forcibly restrained himself as he got closer, afraid his rashness would scare the mother and child again.
"Aria."
He spoke, his voice extremely soft, with an unprecedented gentleness, completely different from his aggressive manner at the Grays last night.
Aria didn't respond, only imperceptibly shielding Jasper half behind her, her eyes indifferent and distant.
Arthur's gaze quickly fell on the little boy beside her, and his heart instantly felt like it was being gently squeezed by a tender hand, going completely soft.
He tried hard to suppress the surging excitement in his eyes, slowly crouched down to bring his line of sight level with Jasper's, his tone exceptionally gentle, with careful probing.
"Hello, little one."
It was the first time he was formally greeting him like this.
Jasper timidly peeked out half his head from behind Aria, his dark eyes warily watching the strange man before him, his little brows slightly furrowed, saying nothing.
Arthur didn't push him, just curved his lips slightly, trying his best to look gentle and harmless, introducing himself seriously, word by word, "Hello, my name is Arthur Grant. You can call me... Uncle Arthur."
He didn't dare say "daddy" directly, afraid of upsetting Aria and even more afraid of scaring the child he had been absent from for five years.
Jasper didn't speak, his small body shrinking further behind Aria, his chubby little hand tightly gripping Aria's clothes, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.
In those dark eyes so much like Aria's, there was undisguised wariness and nervousness. He only dared to steal glances at the man before him through his fingers, not daring to look longer.
Aria's heart softened, feeling the force transmitted through her palm.
She looked down, raised her hand to gently rub her son's soft hair, the movement tender and practiced, like soothing a frightened little animal.
"Don't be afraid, Mommy's here."
Her voice was as light as the wind, yet it steadily gave the child strength.
Then she raised her head, her gaze calmly falling on Arthur.
Without lingering, without responding, without even an extra glance, she held Jasper's little hand, turned sideways, walked straight past him, and headed toward the open door of the flower shop with composed steps.