Chapter 214
At the dinner table, Anabel ate quietly while stealing glances at Owen, her eyes intent on every detail of his expressiona
The Shaw Family always insisted on silence at meals, but Owen’s home felt different, so she didn’t bother holding back. “Owen, your true l better every time, Honestly, this tastes as good as Amour Bistro.”
Owen glanced up and asked, “So, what’s the reason for running away from home this time?”
Anabel flashed a proud smile. “I didn’t run away this time—I did a good deed.”
“Oh? What kind of good deed?”
“I threw ink all over Liam and Hannah,” she said, lowering her voice and sneaking a look at Aria, only relaxing when she saw Aria’s face was unreadable)
Owen sighed. “Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”
The whole Shaw family had seen the last incident. Brodie had almost lost his mind and wanted to make trouble for the Saxons, but Anabel had gotten
up further. down on her knees and begged forgiveness before it blew
Even so, Brodie had sent word to Aiden to give the Saxons some grief, but Aiden had just ignored him–only making family ties worse.
Blushing, Anabel mumbled, “Well, they deserved it for pretending to be innocent.”
After that fiasco, Aiden had forbidden her from going to Mandino City, but she’d snuck out anyway, telling only her mom.
When dinner was over, Aria offered to help with the dishes, was firmly refused, and so she headed back to her own place.
As Owen washed up, Anabel leaned by the kitchen door, peering in. “Owen, do you like Aria?”
He turned, voice steady. “Why do you ask?”
She grinned. “You look at her differently. I can just tell.”
As a kid, Owen was always more popular than Kim–soft–featured, bright, polite, almost like someone had programmed him to be gentle with everyone.
But things changed when he turned twenty and became the family’s black sheep–everyone called him ungrateful, ruthless, cold.
He’d been slapped with every label imaginable.
But through it all, he stayed as gentle and composed as ever, the insults barely touching him.
He treated everyone the same, including her.
Still, Anabel could sense a difference in the way he looked at Aria–something softer, maybe even a little vulnerable.
Owen just said quietly, “Go get some rest. I’ll take you home first thing tomorrow.”
“Can I stay until the afternoon?” Anabel wheedlo
“I have work,” Owen replied, not budging.
She pouted. “Fine, fine.”
Back in her apartment, Aria’s phone buzzed, Martin: [Aria, any chance you’ve changed your mind about being a grad advisor in Ma
He’d asked the same thing every morning and every night since that first day.
City?]
Chapter 214
Hic messages had gotten shorten ter responses more perfonatory (Sorry, Martin Thave had arms thane That mea qualified to teach grad students) had fomed into a simple (Not for now)
She glanced at Martin’s latest message, and it made her think of her teacher, Mano,
She scrolled to his pinned contact his latest message filling the screen with just two words: Get out
She’d gotten married so suddenly, she hadn’t had time to tell Mono, but he’d found out anyway and blown up at her first
She started typing: II heard you’re judging for the Fine Art Society is it on the 7th?
Mono replied with a single word. Not “get out“-just a chilly “Heh.”
Aria: [It’s been more than two years, you’re still mad at me?]
He didn’t answer until that night.
