Chapter 43 News Turmoil
Early Sunday morning, the news exploded.
The front page of the News Times featured a huge headline.
#Mrs. Grant from Wealthy Family Secretly Meets Mysterious Painter, New Romance Exposed?#
The accompanying photo showed Aria and Charles from behind, standing in front of a painting.
The angle of the shot was cunningly chosen. Although the two had been standing at least an arm's length apart, in the photo it looked like they were pressed right up against each other.
What's more, Charles was chatting enthusiastically with Aria, and her eyes were sparkling—all captured by the camera.
It wouldn't have been a big deal, except the article was written so vividly, claiming that Aria and Arthur's marriage existed in name only and that they'd long been separated.
It also said she and Charles had known each other for a long time, and because of multiple collaborations, they were close. Finally, there was an "insider source" revealing that Mrs. Grant frequently visited painter Charles's villa, followed by various suggestive hints.
It stopped just short of directly saying the two had already slept together.
Being front-page news, there was no way Aria could miss it.
She'd been eating breakfast, had just heated up some milk and was about to drink it when she looked up and saw the news. She was so shocked she spilled milk all over the table.
As she frantically wiped it up, her phone rang. Aria didn't even need to guess—it had to be Summer calling.
She picked up the phone and sure enough.
"Aria! Did you see the news?!" Summer shouted in panic.
"Just saw it." Aria didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What garbage news. The person who wrote this must have come from writing novels. What is this nonsense? You don't actually believe it, do you?"
"Whether I believe it or not doesn't matter! Do you believe it? What I'm worried about is that Arthur will believe it!" Her tone was extremely anxious.
Aria just felt it was ridiculous.
"What does it matter to me whether he believes it or not? He can believe whatever he wants."
Summer cried out, "The point is, do you think Arthur is the type to be reasonable? When he sees this news, he's definitely going to be really, really angry."
"Men's jealousy is terrifying. Never mind that you haven't even divorced yet—even if you really had divorced, with that guy's twisted, obsessive possessiveness, he'd definitely cause trouble for you! You need to think about what to do."
After panicking for a bit, Summer suggested, "Why don't you contact the news editor and issue a statement? Accuse them of making things up and damaging your reputation?"
Speaking of this actually reminded Aria of something else.
"I feel like there's something strange about this whole thing." Aria frowned, thinking. "I'm not some celebrity or public figure. Why would they make up this kind of nonsense about me? And make it front-page news right off the bat."
"I had no idea I was so newsworthy! Don't they have anything else to report on? This isn't normal at all."
Summer fell silent, her breathing gradually growing heavier. "You mean... someone paid the news outlet to deliberately ruin your reputation?"
"This is just... this... why would someone do this? That's so evil!"
At the same time, Arthur was absolutely furious.
He didn't normally have the habit of reading this kind of news, but after finishing breakfast in the morning, he inevitably had to check the stocks and the market.
This news item had popped up as an ad while he was checking stocks.
The moment his eyes fell on that photo, his movements froze.
He didn't even notice the coffee splashing out of his cup.
He read the entire news article from beginning to end, not missing a single word.
The cold light from the screen reflected in his eyes.
Then he closed the laptop and put it back in its place.
Arthur took deep breaths, picked up his phone, and called his assistant.
"Did you see this morning's headline?"
His voice was frighteningly cold.
The sound of the assistant swallowing came through the phone. "I... I saw it."
"Look into this news story. The writer, the publication channel, whether anyone's behind it—get me everything."
He hung up right after speaking, and the study returned to silence.
But that photo kept appearing in his mind uncontrollably, over and over.
Aria standing next to Charles, the two of them so close, so harmonious, so... glaring.
Not long after he'd calmed down, his phone rang.
This time it was Sophie calling.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds before answering.
"Arthur, did you see the news?" Sophie's voice carried concern. "Are you okay?"
Arthur didn't respond.
"I told you, her heart hasn't been with you for a long time." Sophie said softly. "Now she's been photographed—isn't this making you lose face? Arthur, you've been so good to this woman. It's really not worth it."
"I know."
Actually, normally when talking to Sophie, he would definitely refuse to admit he still had any feelings for Aria.
He should say he didn't care about this news at all, that whoever Aria was with had nothing to do with him.
But right now he couldn't say a single word.
He brushed her off and hung up, thinking he'd go to the office and keep busy to distract himself, but while driving he just got more and more agitated.
So he simply turned the car around and went straight to find Aria.
He checked the studio, but Lucy said Aria was off today. Arthur's face darkened as he gunned the engine and sped to her apartment.
Aria had been wrapped in a blanket, half-asleep, when suddenly there was earth-shaking pounding on the door. She guessed it might be Arthur, and when she opened the door, it really was him.
"You—"
Before she could finish, Arthur barged in.
His eyes were completely dark. "What's the deal with the news? Are you really together with that painter?"
Aria frowned. "Of course not. Do you think I'm like you, broadcasting affairs all over the place?"
"Anyone can tell it's made up."
"You!" Arthur's nostrils flared with anger. "The photo is made up too? You and Charles standing so close, smiling so happily—that's made up too?"
Aria laughed in exasperation. "That's just the camera angle! We were appreciating that oil painting. Can you not think such dirty thoughts!"
"I'm dirty?" Arthur stepped closer. "Aria, we can get divorced in a month at most. Can't you even wait one month? Are you so desperate to line up your next guy?"
The words were too harsh. Aria's face flushed red with anger.
"Get out."
"Why should I get out?" Arthur stared at her. "Need me to remind you? This is my apartment. I can come and go as I please."
Aria froze.
She'd forgotten that this apartment—he and the property management had teamed up to trick her about some discount, which was why she'd moved in.
Aria took a breath. "Fine, I'll leave."
She turned to pack her things.
Arthur grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"
"None of your business." Aria tried to shake him off. "Let go!"
"I won't!" Arthur gripped tighter. "Tell me clearly—what's your relationship with Charles?"