Chapter 263 Larry Has Changed

Chapter 263 Larry Has Changed

Lucas didn't blow up or pick a fight, but his mood had clearly soured.

After Aria finished explaining, she patiently tried to reassure him.

"It was just a coincidence, completely accidental. Larry and I have nothing between us anymore, and there won't be anything in the future either. You don't need to overthink it."

But this time, Lucas was clearly bothered.

His voice was low, laced with obvious jealousy and sullenness.

"Aria, I've never been afraid you couldn't let go of old feelings. I know you've completely moved on. But I just feel uncomfortable that the person who accompanied you through the last thing connected to your past wasn't me—it was him. I can't control how bothered I feel about it."

Hearing this, Aria instantly felt exhausted.

She could accept Lucas being jealous, but she couldn't accept him constantly dwelling on these things, endlessly consumed by his own insecurities.

Today was supposed to be about her finally letting go, a fresh start. Yet because of one meaningless chance encounter, Lucas had forced a rift between them.

Her heart went cold.

She spoke calmly.

"Fine. I know you're bothered. From now on, I'll avoid anyone and anything connected to him, try not to run into him, so I won't upset you."

She compromised, but the disappointment in her heart was real.

They didn't fight or fall out, but the atmosphere was unbearably tense. After exchanging a few brief words, they ended the video call abruptly.

After hanging up, Annie's house fell silent.

Aria sat on the couch, crystal clear about one thing.

Lucas truly cared for her, truly healed her, truly protected her—but his affection came with strong possessiveness and pettiness.

Whenever a trace of someone else appeared in her past, he couldn't help but feel bothered and dwell on it.

This way of being together wasn't painful, but it was exhausting.

For the next two full days, neither of them reached out to the other.

It wasn't a cold war—just a quiet, silent distancing.

Lucas's previous habit of chatting constantly, updating her on his daily life, reaching out anytime—it all stopped.

Aria didn't try to soothe him or explain further.

She was tired. She didn't want to keep explaining a past that was already over.

Those two days, she lived routinely—focusing on her rehabilitation exercises, practicing her pieces, keeping her emotions stable.

Only the warmth that had rekindled in her heart because of Lucas had faded considerably.

On the third day, Vera called her.

Vera told her that Terry's parents had been doing well lately, living comfortably, and asked if she wanted to visit them together.

Aria agreed without hesitation.

Terry was the only person who'd shown her kindness in her youth. She'd remembered him all these years and wanted to check on his parents properly—to give her youth some closure.

The two bought some nutritional supplements and fruit and headed straight to the Perez family home.

Arthur and Diana had always been gentle people. They were delighted to see them.

The house was spotless, the balcony filled with flowers, and a cat and small dog nestled in the corner. It felt warm and homey.

During their conversation, both elderly people seemed in good spirits—not depressed at all, their mindset peaceful.

At some point, Diana mentioned casually,

"We're living so comfortably now, all thanks to a young man who's been helping us out for years. The pets, the plants, our daily necessities, anything that breaks around the house—he fixes it all. He even comes to spend holidays with us."

Both Aria and Vera were curious and asked who it was.

Diana smiled. "It's Larry. He was your high school classmate too."

The moment those words left her mouth, Aria froze completely.

She was stunned, utterly blindsided. She'd never imagined—never even known—that Larry had been quietly caring for Terry's parents all this time.

Arthur continued, "We didn't even know him at first. He showed up on his own, said Terry had helped him once and he remembered it. For years now, rain or shine, he's never made a fuss, never asked for anything in return. The boy doesn't talk much, but he's solid, thinks of everything for us."

What shocked Aria even more was what came next.

"His current girlfriend comes with him whenever she's free. She keeps us company, helps with chores, cooks—such a thoughtful, generous girl."

Hearing all this, Aria's emotions tangled into a mess.

The Larry in her memory was obsessive, possessive, dragging them both through misery.

She'd always thought his entire life's fixation and emotions revolved around her. But she had no idea that in places no one could see, he'd quietly done so much.

He could've ignored it all, but he'd persisted for years.

And his current girlfriend knew everything and still chose to help alongside him.

By contrast, her current situation with Lucas—

She'd been honest and transparent, yet what she got in return was endless jealousy and nitpicking.

In that moment, the sense of disparity in Aria's heart hit its peak.

It wasn't that Lucas wasn't good.

He was still gentle and considerate, had healed her—but he was too prone to internal turmoil and overthinking. It was exhausting.

After leaving the Perez home, Aria stayed quiet the whole way.

Vera understood her too well and spoke up to comfort her.

"Aria, I know you're feeling unbalanced right now. What Larry's done really does overturn everyone's impression of him. After letting go, he really has changed completely—his perspective's broadened. But don't let this one thing make you dismiss all of Lucas's good qualities."

"He's not bad. He's just too afraid of losing you. Relationships are like that—no one's perfect. So you don't have to force yourself to forgive or force yourself to reconcile. Just go with the flow. Don't wear yourself out over a relationship."

Aria knew perfectly well.

Saying she wasn't exhausted would be a lie.

She'd already cleared her past, laid out all the misunderstandings—yet what she got in return was still suspicion and distance.

What she wanted was stable, trusting love—not a relationship where she had to tiptoe around, where the slightest disturbance triggered emotional reactions.

Then Vera told her something else.

"Some high school classmates are planning another get-together. Everyone really wants to see you. They asked me to check if you'd go."

Aria hesitated.

She wasn't afraid of seeing old classmates or revisiting the past. She'd completely let go.

But she knew very well that at class reunions, people would inevitably talk about old times and old acquaintances.

Lucas was already sensitive. If she went, it would only intensify his emotional turmoil, and the two of them would end up stuck in another standoff.

She really, truly didn't want to deal with it anymore.

So she told Vera directly,

"Help me decline. I'm not going."

Vera understood and didn't say much more.

On the way back, Aria thought everything through clearly.

Lucas's kindness was real. His immaturity and tendency to overthink were also real.

Larry's past harm to her was real. His current calm and magnanimity were also real.

People were never perfect. Neither was love.

She didn't need to agonize over comparisons. She just needed to focus on herself, follow her heart, and move forward.