Chapter 99 Aria Finds Out
After Lance left Aria's studio, Aria locked herself in the office. No one knew what she was doing inside.
Even when Lucy wanted to see her, she couldn't get in. It wasn't until almost closing time that Aria finally came out.
As soon as Lucy heard movement, she hurried over, looking at Aria nervously. "Aria, are you okay?"
Aria met Lucy's worried gaze, her eyes darkening slightly as she shook her head gently. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"Huh?"
Lucy was caught off guard by Aria's counter-question, a bit confused. Wasn't Aria upset about Arthur getting married?
Aria noticed Lucy's hesitant expression, her eyes flickering as she said slowly, "What? Is there something you're afraid to tell me?"
Lucy panicked, thinking Aria might be trying to get information out of her. But even if she was, she'd find out sooner or later anyway. Biting her lip, she said, "A friend from a wedding planning company told me that..."
"Told you what?"
"She said Mr. Grant is planning a wedding with someone called Miss Smith. She was congratulating me, and I didn't tell her you're not a Smith... I thought you knew... I thought that's why you were upset..."
Lucy's head dropped lower as she spoke, not daring to look up at Aria, afraid of seeing her sadness.
Aria really didn't know about this. Her mind was a bit foggy now, Lucy's words echoing in her ears. Arthur was planning a wedding with Sophie?
Ha!
He really had the nerve. They weren't even divorced yet, and he was already planning a wedding for another woman behind her back. Did he really think she was invisible?
Did Arthur like Sophie that much? So much that he couldn't even wait for their divorce before rushing to give Sophie a wedding?
Fine, fine, fine. She'd like to see how Arthur planned to tell her about this.
"Aria..."
Lucy felt uneasy seeing Aria's silence.
Aria snapped back to reality and met Lucy's gaze, smiling slightly and shaking her head. "I'm fine, don't worry. Just pretend you never told me about this, and don't mention it to anyone, okay?"
Lucy nodded vigorously. "I know, I won't say anything."
"Good."
"Aria, don't you care? About them..."
Aria looked at Lucy's hesitant expression and smiled lightly, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Care? What good would that do?"
If caring did any good, they wouldn't have ended up like this.
If caring did any good, her devotion would have been reciprocated long ago, instead of having to hear about his wedding with someone else and force a bitter smile.
Fortunately, she had already started slowly pulling herself out of this relationship, instead of diving in headfirst like before. Otherwise, when she heard this news, she would have wished she were dead.
She realized that only by hardening her heart could she live more easily.
Lucy felt a pang of sadness seeing Aria like this. She had been with Aria since she started the studio, so naturally she knew what Aria had sacrificed for this relationship. And because she knew, she felt sorry for her.
Sorry that someone so good had to face such unfairness.
Aria noticed Lucy's concern and smiled gently. "Don't worry, I'm not the same Aria as before. I know about some things, it's fine."
Seeing Aria's forced smile, Lucy sighed softly and didn't say much more, just nodded. "Okay, Aria, I'm always on your side."
"I know. Don't think about these things. I'm planning to hold a flower exhibition soon. Help me organize the flower varieties and send me a summary later."
Aria knew that only by throwing herself into work could she stop thinking about emotional matters.
What she needed to do now was accumulate enough resources to leave, so she could give her child a better life.
Lucy nodded after hearing this. "Okay, I'll get on it."
"Also, I want to expand the studio. See if you can find a suitable location."
Aria's plan was that even if she left later and wasn't in this city anymore, she would hand the studio over to Lucy to manage. This way it could benefit both of them and provide Lucy with security.
Lucy had been with her for so many years, she trusted her.
Lucy seemed surprised that Aria had plans to expand the studio. She was stunned for a moment, somewhat incredulous. "Expand? Aria, are you sure?"
"Yes, I've been thinking about this for a while. I can use this flower exhibition to increase the studio's reputation. These two things can be done together without conflict."
One reason Aria wanted to hold a flower exhibition was for this purpose.
She wanted to use the exhibition to expand the studio's reputation, which would prepare the ground for expansion.
Only by expanding the studio could it bring her greater benefits.
She hadn't planned to put this on the agenda so early, but what Arthur was doing now forced her to speed things up.
Seeing that Aria had made up her mind, Lucy didn't say more and nodded. "Okay, I'll look for suitable locations."
"Good, go ahead."
After leaving the studio, Aria didn't go straight home. Instead, she walked alone by the river, only returning home in the evening.
When she got back, Arthur wasn't home yet. Good, that saved her from having to deal with him.
Elizabeth noticed Aria wasn't in high spirits and was a bit worried. "Aria, what's wrong? Coming back so late, have you eaten?"
"I have. Mom, I'm a bit tired from work. I'm going upstairs to rest."
Aria had no intention of chatting with Elizabeth. After a brief greeting, she prepared to go upstairs.
Elizabeth didn't want to say much either and just asked Ann to prepare some late-night snacks to bring up later.
When Arthur came home, he happened to run into Ann about to take the snacks upstairs. He paused slightly. "She didn't eat dinner?"
"Mr. Grant, Mrs. Grant ate outside. This is the late-night snack the old lady asked me to make."
A dark gleam flashed in Arthur's eyes as he nodded lightly and reached out to take the snacks from her. "I'll take it up. You can rest."
"Yes."
Ann didn't dare say much and nodded, handing the snacks to Arthur.
"Thank you, sir."
"No problem."
Arthur calmly carried the snacks upstairs. When he reached Aria's bedroom door and was about to push it open, he found it locked from inside.
His brow furrowed with displeasure as he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"What is it?"
Aria's voice came from inside the room.