Chapter 72 Walk by Yourself or Should I Carry You?
It was past seven in the evening when Aria got back to the villa.
As soon as she walked in, Ann came over with a smile. "You're home! I've noticed you haven't had much of an appetite these past few days, so I mentioned it to Arthur. We're switching things up for you today. Give it a try and see how you like it."
Aria was starving. Lately, she'd been getting hungry faster, and when she did, she had to eat right away. Otherwise, her stomach would churn uncomfortably.
The moment she stepped inside, she caught a sweet and sour aroma drifting from the dining room, making her mouth water.
After washing her hands, she saw the table had completely different dishes. The main course was tomato meat sauce pasta, paired with pineapple-glazed beef and lemon shrimp balls. Her stomach let out an embarrassing growl.
Aria's face turned red instantly.
Elizabeth laughed from the side. "I knew you'd like it. Try the shrimp—I had someone fly it in fresh from the coast."
"Thanks, Mom." Aria sat down across from Elizabeth.
She tried a bite of the pasta. The perfectly balanced sweet and sour sauce immediately awakened her taste buds.
Then she picked up a piece of sweet and sour spare ribs—crispy outside, tender inside, deliciously tangy. And the pineapple beef—whoever came up with that combination was a genius. The pineapple's sweetness perfectly cut through the richness of the beef.
She ate piece after piece, and before she knew it, she'd eaten a full bowl more than usual.
Elizabeth watched her hearty appetite with a knowing smile in her eyes, but said nothing. She just added another spoonful of shrimp balls to Aria's plate.
"Eat more. Look at you, you've gotten so thin."
Unsurprisingly, Aria ate too much.
Her stomach felt uncomfortably full, so she went to the garden to walk it off.
The evening breeze carried the scent of early summer flowers. She walked slowly, her mood relaxing for once.
Elizabeth and Ann stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching that slender figure in the garden from afar.
"Madam, did you see how well Aria ate today?" Ann said quietly. "And her tastes are completely different from before."
Elizabeth nodded, unable to hide her smile. "And she's always tired. Do you think it could be..."
"I'd say it's pretty likely." Ann smiled knowingly. "Madam, this is wonderful news. Should we tell Arthur?"
"No rush." Elizabeth waved her hand. "Since Aria won't say anything, she must have her reasons. This kind of thing—she has to be the one to tell us. Even if you ask her, she won't admit it."
After thinking for a moment, she added, "But be careful with the cooking from now on. No cold foods. Prepare more nutritious, easy-to-digest dishes."
"Yes, I understand."
In the garden, Aria had been walking for about half an hour. Her stomach felt much better, but that wave of exhaustion was creeping back. Just as she was about to head inside, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned around and saw Arthur walking toward her.
He'd changed into casual clothes—must have just gotten home.
"Did you eat?" he asked as he approached.
"Yeah." Aria replied and kept walking.
Arthur walked beside her. They strolled side by side along the garden path.
The evening sky was caught between light and dark, the path lights already on, casting warm glows on the cobblestone walkway.
"Have you eaten?" Aria suddenly asked.
Arthur's steps faltered slightly. He nodded. "I ate at the office. How was dinner tonight? Did you like it?"
Aria was a bit surprised. "You arranged it?"
"Yeah." Arthur admitted naturally. "I saw you really enjoyed tomatoes last night, so I mentioned it to Ann and the cook."
Aria felt a warmth in her chest. "Thank you."
Arthur chuckled softly. After walking a bit more, as they neared the entrance, he suddenly spoke up. "About the hot spring resort this weekend—are you really not going?"
"No." Aria answered firmly. "I have plans."
"So you still can't tell me who you're meeting?" Arthur stopped and turned to look at her.
Aria stopped too, meeting his gaze. "Summer. We're going to an art exhibition."
"When did Mr. Grant become so interested in other people's private business?"
Arthur suddenly reached out and gently tucked a strand of her wind-blown hair behind her ear, his voice soft. "You're my wife. Can't I even ask?" His tone actually sounded a bit hurt.
His fingertips brushed against her ear, sending a ticklish sensation through her.
Aria instinctively turned her head away, but her ears turned red beyond her control.
No, she couldn't stay here any longer.
Just as she was about to leave, Arthur suddenly grabbed her. The distance between them closed instantly. Aria reflexively stepped back, but her back hit the pillar by the entrance.
"What are you doing now?" She felt flustered.
"I want to talk to you properly." He moved closer, his scent faint—a smell she used to be obsessed with. Now, she was completely wrapped up in it, trapped.
"There's nothing to talk about." Aria turned her face away. "Let me go. I need to get back."
"No." Arthur showed a rare hint of stubbornness. "Not unless you agree to come to the hot spring with me this weekend."
"I told you I have plans!"
"Cancel them."
"Why should I?"
"Because—" Arthur suddenly leaned in, his warm breath brushing her ear. "Your ears are red again."
Aria's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and met Arthur's smiling eyes.
"You..." She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Arthur looked at her flushed cheeks, his smile deepening. "So? Will Ms. Hall do me the honor? I promise the hot spring will be way more fun than an art exhibition."
Aria bit her lip, about to respond, when her stomach suddenly churned.
Oh no, she'd eaten too much earlier.
She covered her mouth, her brow furrowing.
"What's wrong?" Arthur immediately noticed her discomfort, his expression concerned.
"It's... nothing..." Aria suppressed the nausea. "I just ate too much. My stomach's a bit upset."
Arthur stared at her for a few seconds, then said, "So, Ms. Hall, do you want to walk in yourself, or should I carry you?"
Aria glared at him. "Of course I'll—"
Before she could finish, Arthur bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
"Ah!" Aria gasped. "Arthur, you—"
"You didn't say anything, so I'm taking that as a yes." Arthur said matter-of-factly.
"You're being unreasonable! I can walk by myself!" Aria was both embarrassed and annoyed, struggling in his arms, but not daring to struggle too much—if she fell out of his arms, that would be terrible.
"Yeah, I'm being unreasonable. So what?" Arthur carried her into the living room.
Elizabeth was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine. Seeing them, she first raised her eyebrows dramatically, then quickly covered her face with the magazine, pretending she hadn't seen anything.
Aria was so embarrassed she couldn't lift her head. As Arthur climbed the stairs, she complained quietly, "This is all your fault..."
By the time they reached the bedroom door, Aria was about to get down, but Arthur held her tight, kicked the door open with his foot, and walked in.
He placed her directly on the bed.
"How do you feel? Any better?" he asked.
Aria pouted and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Arthur looked at her profile and suddenly thought she was incredibly cute.
This Aria—who glared and fought back—was more real than the careful, obedient woman she'd been before.
And he liked her more this way.