Chapter 164 Amusement Park Incident
Weekend sunlight poured warmly over the amusement park, colorful balloons filling the entrance.
Jasper clutched Aria's fingers, his little head turning left and right, eyes shining bright as stars. But he kept thinking about his promise with Arthur from last night, constantly looking back toward the entrance.
Aria's fingertips rested on the child's head, her eyes soft as water, though her heart held an indescribable helplessness.
Last night Lance had come to visit Jasper. The two sat in the living room talking about Arthur, both knowing they should keep their distance from him.
But they couldn't resist when Jasper had pulled both their hands that day, asking timidly, "Can Mr. Grant come too?" Those eyes, so much like Arthur's, curved with hope and expectation.
Neither could bring themselves to be harsh. Afraid a flat refusal would hurt the child's innocent feelings, they could only quietly agree.
"Don't start any conflicts with him later."
Aria turned to Lance beside her, speaking in a low voice full of concern.
She knew Lance didn't like Arthur either, but today was about taking Jasper out to have fun. On a day like this, it wouldn't be good to watch them bicker again - it would really spoil the mood.
Lance nodded, raising his hand to gently brush away the stray hair on her shoulder. His movements were restrained and gentlemanly, perfectly measured. "Don't worry, I know my limits. I won't put you in a difficult position."
He'd never hidden his feelings for Aria, but he never wanted to burden her with them. He only wished to quietly stay by her side.
Just as he finished speaking, a black Bentley pulled up smoothly in front of them. The window lowered, revealing Arthur's figure. His gaze first landed on Jasper, instantly softening.
Then it swept over Aria, finally settling on Lance's position next to her. His fingers curled slightly, almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing. He just pushed open the car door and stepped out, holding a cartoon-patterned insulated bag. "Inside are the cranberry pastries Jasper loves, and warm honey water. I was worried he'd be hungry coming out so early."
Jasper immediately pulled free from Aria's hand and ran to Arthur, looking up with a smile. "Mr. Grant!"
Arthur crouched down to the child's eye level, raising his hand to straighten his crooked collar with gentle, careful movements. "Let's go. I've arranged everything - no need to wait in lines."
Though Lance had been the one to suggest taking Jasper out, and Arthur was only invited by Jasper, Arthur had already arranged everything ahead of time.
Aria watched this scene and quietly sighed, deliberately keeping half a step's distance from Arthur as she followed.
Lance also walked slowly beside Aria, not too close nor too far, protecting her from the crowded masses while not overstepping. Whenever Aria stopped to watch Jasper, he would stand nearby, quietly waiting without extra words or physical contact.
Only when she raised her hand to wipe sweat would he offer a tissue at just the right moment - everything natural and restrained.
Arthur saw all of this, his heart aching, but he could only pour all his attention onto Jasper.
In the children's area, Jasper first pulled Arthur onto the little train. Arthur kept his arm gently circled around the child's waist the whole time, afraid the bumpy tracks would let him get hurt.
When the train climbed high, Jasper cheered and reached out his hands. Arthur raised his hand too, blocking the edge of the sunshade overhead for him.
Then Jasper started asking for strawberry ice cream. Lance had already walked quickly to the stand, saying smoothly "light sugar, no nuts" - something he'd learned from countless times accompanying Aria and Jasper.
Arthur stood to the side, silently taking note. His fingers tapped on his phone as he sent his assistant a message to record all of Jasper's preferences.
Aria stood in the shade, watching two men revolve around Jasper - one familiar and understanding, a close friend of five years; the other clumsy but thorough, the child's biological father.
She wasn't blind to Arthur's efforts, but five years of separation, those late-night grievances, that relationship that went nowhere - it all stood like a thick wall between them, making her afraid to get close.
She just wanted to protect Jasper and let him grow up peacefully. She didn't want the child caught up in adult conflicts, didn't want any more entanglement with Arthur. But the child's smile was so genuine, she couldn't even get out the words "don't come anymore."
"Mommy, come ride the carousel!"
Jasper sat on a white horse, swinging his little legs and waving at Aria.
Arthur stood beside the horse, his hand hovering protectively, his gaze locked on the child without moving an inch.
Aria smiled and walked over. Lance stood outside the carousel's fence, quietly watching without interrupting, just keeping guard, his gaze falling gently on Aria and Jasper.
The carousel slowly turned, cheerful music playing. Jasper lay on the horse's back, smiling with curved eyes. Arthur stayed by his side the whole time, never leaving.
Aria sat on a horse not far away, watching her son's happy expression, a faint smile on her lips too, temporarily setting aside her worries.
And Lance stood outside the fence, his gaze lingering on Aria and Jasper. When his eyes occasionally met Arthur's, he only nodded lightly, showing no intention to argue, yet carrying a protective determination not to back down.
This carefully maintained peace for the child's sake was finally shattered by a sudden accident.
Just as the carousel reached its third rotation, a man in a black hoodie with his cap pulled low suddenly rushed through a gap in the fence, charging straight toward the pole of Jasper's horse. The force was tremendous - the horse jerked violently, and Jasper's body instantly lost balance, his whole body falling sideways.
"Jasper!"
Aria's heart clenched instantly. She cried out, scrambling to get off her horse.
Arthur reacted quickly, reaching out to catch Jasper around the waist, holding the child tightly in his arms. The momentum made him stumble back two steps before he could steady himself.
But Jasper was still badly frightened. His little face went pale instantly. Curled up in Arthur's arms, his small body shook violently as he cried loudly, "Mommy... scared... I'm scared..."
Aria immediately rushed over and took Jasper from Arthur's arms, patting his back repeatedly to comfort him. When her fingertips touched the child's ice-cold little hands, fear and anger surged up in her heart. When she turned to look at Arthur, her eyes were full of blame. "Couldn't you watch him properly?!"
She knew she shouldn't take it out on him, but in that moment the terror overwhelmed all reason. Combined with her existing resistance to this outing, all her emotions turned into this one accusation.
Lance also stepped forward immediately, standing beside Aria, slightly angling his body to shield her and Jasper behind him. He looked at Arthur with some coldness, anger in his voice. "Mr. Grant, didn't you say everything was arranged? This is what you call arranged?"