Chapter 75 I Will Get Angry
The car pulled into the villa and came to a stop.
Aria unbuckled her seatbelt and let out a big yawn, thinking that she was finally home. She was exhausted and really needed a good sleep.
Just as she was thinking this and getting out of the car, Arthur suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Aria."
"What's wrong?"
Arthur looked at her with a complicated expression, taking a long moment before speaking, "You wouldn't go to the hot spring resort with me just so you could go on a date with that guy?"
Aria was tired and didn't understand. "What are you talking about?"
"You said you had plans today." Arthur's voice was somewhat muffled. "Was it with him?"
Only then did Aria realize what he meant, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Arthur, you went through all this trouble just to ask me that?"
"I want to know."
"I already told you, I had plans with Summer." Aria said helplessly. "Before today, I had no idea he would show up."
"You think I'll believe that?" Arthur gripped her wrist without letting go. "Who knows if you two planned it together? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that right when he led you to that secluded area, Summer suddenly had a stomachache?"
Aria looked at his serious expression and suddenly didn't know what to say.
She was exhausted but still had to deal with him pestering her. She tried to pull her hand back but couldn't, and said helplessly. "I really don't understand what you're going on about!"
"I'm just unhappy." He said very seriously. "I saw you with him at the exhibition hall, you two chatting so happily, and you smiled at him. Do you know, at that moment I wanted to kill him!"
Aria was startled by the hostility in his words, but quickly recovered.
"Are you jealous?"
Arthur fell silent. Sometimes, silence is also an answer.
Aria sighed, her tone even more helpless. "I've only met him twice, barely said a few words, we're not even friends. Is this really necessary?"
"Yes, it is." Arthur looked at her, his eyes serious. "I don't like you getting too close to other men."
"You're being way too controlling." Aria couldn't pull her hand back, so she simply turned her head away.
"I don't know if you remember, but we're about to get divorced."
"We're not divorcing." Arthur said.
Aria's heart skipped a beat.
"What did you say?"
"I said we're not divorcing." Arthur looked at her. "That divorce agreement, I'm not signing it."
Aria stared at him blankly. "But... but Sophie..."
Arthur couldn't face this topic. He released her wrist and instead cupped the back of her neck, applying gentle pressure to pull her closer.
Before Aria could react, his kiss had already descended.
It was no longer the invasive, possessive kiss from before, but gentle and careful, with shallow breaths, as if confirming something.
Aria's mind went blank.
She should push him away.
She had countless reasons to push him away.
He hadn't completely cut ties with Sophie. Because of that mistaken life-saving incident, he couldn't bring himself to let her go.
He hadn't even said "I love you."
But Aria didn't push him away. As if under a spell, she closed her eyes, and what flashed before her weren't those heartbreaking and painful memories from the past.
Instead, it was his gaze following her again and again, shielding her from flying glass shards, taking care of her carefully when she was hurt.
Just this once, she thought. Consider it repayment for all his kindness, indulging him this one time.
Arthur felt her compliance and deepened the kiss.
After a long while, he finally released her, forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling.
"Aria." His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Stop contacting Vincent, okay? Trust me, he's not a good person."
Aria was still immersed in that kiss, her mind still fuzzy.
Hearing these words, she slowly came back to her senses.
"I'm not in contact with him." She said somewhat weakly. "I don't even have his contact information."
"What about in the future?" Arthur looked at her. "If he comes looking for you again, will you see him?"
Aria opened her mouth, not knowing how to answer.
"I won't see him." She said with a sigh. "You already said he's a fraud. There's no benefit in seeing him."
Arthur looked at her, as if judging whether her words were true or false.
"You have to keep your word." He said.
Aria couldn't help but laugh. "Arthur, what's gotten into you? I just went to see an exhibition, is this really necessary? I've been to exhibitions with Charles too."
"You're not allowed to see him either."
Aria hit him in frustration. "You're completely unreasonable."
Arthur didn't speak, but his expression clearly softened a bit.
"Alright, let's go." The drowsiness Aria had felt in the car was completely gone now. She pushed him. "Ann must be waiting for us to eat."
Only then did Arthur let her go.
Aria got out of the car. The evening breeze blew against her face, carrying the fragrance of flowers from the garden.
She stood by the car and looked back to see Arthur still sitting in the driver's seat, not getting out immediately. The window was half-open, and the setting sun cast a soft glow on his profile.
Aria suddenly remembered what he had just said. "We're not divorcing."
Was he serious? Or was it just an impulsive moment?
She didn't know and didn't dare ask. She just stood there, watching him sit in the car for a few more seconds before pushing the door open and getting out.
The two walked into the villa side by side.
Ann had already prepared dinner. The dining table was still set with several sweet and sour dishes.
Elizabeth was already seated at the table. Seeing them come in together, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
"Aria, did you have fun today?" Elizabeth asked.
"Pretty good." Aria sat down next to Elizabeth. "Saw a lot of interesting exhibits."
"Arthur went too?" Elizabeth asked knowingly.
"Yeah, we just happened to run into each other." Arthur said without changing his expression.
Elizabeth looked at him, then at Aria, and didn't ask further.
Dinner was quiet and warm.
Aria picked up a piece of honey chicken. The sweet and sour sauce melted on her tongue, and before she knew it, she had eaten several pieces.
Arthur didn't say much throughout the meal, but Aria noticed that whenever she took something from a dish, that dish would slowly move closer to her.
She kept her head down, pretending not to notice.
After dinner, she went to the garden for her usual walk to aid digestion. After just two laps, the evening breeze brought back her drowsiness.
Just as she was about to go back inside to rest, her phone suddenly rang. Aria picked it up and saw it was Lucy calling.
"Aria, I have good news." Lucy's voice was full of excitement.
"What good news?" Aria asked as she walked back.
"This afternoon someone contacted our studio. They're in the exhibition business and want us to do the floral arrangements for several large events in the second half of the year. If we can sign all of them, there's at least five hundred thousand dollars in profit!"
Aria perked up immediately. "Really? Who are they?"
"Don't worry, I checked them out. It's a legitimate company with all the proper credentials." Lucy said. "The person in charge said they want to discuss the details with the boss in person and asked if you have time this week."
Aria thought for a moment. "I have time. Let's schedule it for Monday afternoon."
"Great! I'll confirm with them." Lucy paused, then asked tentatively, "Aria, are you feeling okay? You're pregnant after all, and you keep going to the hospital every few days. Won't that be too tiring?"