Chapter 157
At the parking lot, the designated driver handed the keys back to Aria but hesitated before leaving. He asked, “Um… could i get your number?”
Aria looked up slightly at the young man opposite her and said coolly, “I’m divorced.”
“Huh?”
‘Is this the kind of lame excuse pretty girls use to reject guys nowadays?‘ the driver thought.
He was about to speak when a car door slammed shut, cutting him off.
Just then, a tall, coolly detached man strode over, his presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.
He immediately got the hint, flashed an awkward smile, and scurried off. “Oh, I see. You already have a boyfriend. Sorry to bother you!”
Aria shot Owen a puzzled look. The moment she saw him, it clicked. The driver had totally gotten the wrong idea.
Aria’s mind suddenly flashed with an image of Kim. Thinking of all the hardships Cloe had endured over the years, she scowled and said, “Your brother is such a jerk!”
Owen had gotten the full story from the manager. He nodded. “True that.”
‘A grown man picking on a woman and threatening her with business? No wonder he’s still single. Serves him right.‘ He thought.
He added, “But I’m not like him.”
Aria didn’t reply. She walked straight into the elevator.
A faint, mellow scent of alcohol lingered in the confined elevator space.
Owen glanced down, his eyes catching a glimpse of the faint rash on her earlobe. He froze for a second, then instinctively leaned in closer.
Aria instinctively sidestepped and snapped, “What are you doing?”
Owen glanced at her and asked, “Are you allergic to alcohol?”
Owen was stunned. ‘Who on earth drinks when they’re allergic to alcohol?‘
Aria touched her ear and replied, “No.”
She was indeed allergic to alcohol, though not severely. A small amount didn’t really bother her. Before missions, she’d always take an allergy pill as a precaution.
To this day, no one knew about her allergy.
She hadn’t planned on drinking much tonight, so she skipped the allergy pill. It was just a minor rash, no big deal.
Owen let out a humorless chuckle, his eyes devoid of mirth. “Ms. Saxon, do you take me for a fool? That’s clearly an allergic reaction. How much did you drink?”
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Aria looked at him coolly and asked, “Are we really that close?”
She didn’t really hold a grudge against him–if anything, it was negligible. But after she’d bitten him, there was a bit of personal history between them.
Owen met her gaze in the mirror and said with a wry smile, “I thought we were friends. Guess I was just fooling myself.”
He lowered his head, his eyes dimming with hurt, a shadow of sorrow passing over them.
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wea, 4 Jun M
Chapter 157
Aria glanced at him through the mirror, a hint of doubt flickering in her eyes.
‘Were my words really that hurtful? Guess I shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds me; she thought to herself. After all, she’d been enjoying his cooking for a whole week, Maybe that remark was a bit too harsh.
Aria could feel the heavy silence in the air, struggling to find the right words.
The elevator doors opened, and she was the first to step out, leaving the cramped space behind.
As she opened the door, Owen called out with a hint of helpless concern in his voice, “Do you have any allergy meds at home?”
Her hand hesitated on the doorknob. She hadn’t expected him to care. “Yes.”
Owen asked softly, “So, are we friends then?”
The doors slid open with a soft chime as Aria replied, “Yes.”
“A deal’s a deal. Don’t forget to come by and try my cooking tomorrow morning.”
With that, Owen closed the door.
The beauty cream had long been tested, yet Owen still kept texting her gentle reminders. [Have some breakfast], [Don’t forget tunch], [Remember to eat dinner.]
She thought to herself, ‘He’s probably referring to that ‘lifetime of free meals‘ promise he made. If he gets married, will he still treat his wife to meals all the time? How can he throw around promises so casually, without a second thought? Is Owen being so attentive out of guilt for ruining my mission all those years ago?‘
She wasn’t even hurt. In fact, she was the one who bit him. If anyone felt guilty, it should be her.
Aria popped an allergy pill. Suddenly, a thought struck her.
Aria thought to herself, ‘If Owen ever gets a girlfriend, how’s he gonna explain these bite marks to her?‘
