Chapter 403
Seeing that message pop up, Aria raised an eyebrow and simply replied: [No need.]
On the opposite couch, Nathan quietly sipped his warm water. The moment Aria glanced up, he immediately looked away, staring at his cup like it held
the answers to life.
Caleb placed the fruit platter on the coffee table and glanced at Nathan’s withdrawn, silent posture, lips twisting with helpless amusement.
Every time Nathan came home, the first thing he used to do was grab an ice–cold drink from the fridge, unless it was the dead of winter, he’d never be caught with warm water. But here, he was suddenly obedient.
Lily sat down next to Aria. Caleb asked her a bit about school, then, shooting a look at Nathan, said, “Your grades have slipped lately. Learn from Lily. You’ve got to toughen up under pressure.”
Nathan muttered, “Not much I can do about it. All the good genes went to you guys.”
Then, realizing what he’d just said, he shot Aria a quick look, flustered, “I… I didn’t mean you.”
She thought, ‘So, did he mean I didn’t get the good genes?‘
Nathan’s mouth couldn’t keep up with his thoughts. “I mean I’m the dumbest of the bunch.”
Aria, Lily and Caleb were speechless.
Yeah, Nathan was definitely the least sharp in the room.
Aria had always been the type to handle things on her own–never the sort to report in, no matter what she was doing.
Caleb only ever came by just to make sure she was fine. Actually, Caleb had once brought this up to Owen. “If anything happens, I’m not always in the loop. Just let me know right away, will you?”
Owen had smiled, “I think you should just ask her directly.”
But in an emergency, how was he supposed to ask? He couldn’t very well call every day just to say, “Hey, Aria, how are you today?”
Later, Caleb realized that approach wasn’t right, so he never brought it up again. Sometimes, though, he envied that Owen got to live right across from
Aria.
He’d bought an apartment in this building too, but it wasn’t ready yet. He’d have to get on his contractor to speed things up.
Caleb was busy with work, his assistant handled most of his meals–he could never cook at home like Owen.
Mayen Garden was farther from the Shaw Group.
If Owen had gone into the company, like Kim, he might never have moved here, and probably would never have met Aria.
Caleb had to admit, fate could be pretty strange
sometimes.
They didn’t stay long–after about half an hour, Caleb got up to leave, Nathan trailing behind him.
When they got home, Caleb gave Nathan a last word: “The SAT’s coming. Don’t let anything distract you.”
Nathan, clutching his books, grumbled, “You think I’m that weak?”
“You are,” Caleb replied simply.
Nathan was left speechless and headed inside.
Chapter 403
At the Saxon family’s dinner table, everyone looked up as they walked in.
Logan set down his fork and said sternly, “Dinner is at six–thirty. Because of you, we’re late. Don’t you know what today is?”
It was Joseph’s birthday.
Gloria was there with her whole family–including Derek, who’d been gone for ages.
The company was on holiday for Labor Day. The minute Derek found out Aria wasn’t in Kanit City, he rushed back to Mandino City for Joseph’s birthday.
Caleb set two gifts on the table. “We stopped by to see Aria.”
Lincoln stood up at once, “Why didn’t you bring me?”
He hadn’t seen Aria since coming back.
Gloria frowned, “It’s fine to visit her, but your grandfather’s birthday comes first. You need to learn your priorities.”
Logan nodded. “She’s right.”
Watching the family bustle, Nathan felt a pang in his chest.
Once, he would have joined in blaming, too.
But now, as lively as everyone was, Aria lived alone.
Nathan set his books down, voice flat, “Blame me. I heard Aria got hurt and went to find Caleb at work so he’d take me to see her.”
Derek shot to his feet. “Aria’s hurt?”
Logan and Zoe’s faces changed, too. “What happened?”
Caleb washed his hands and joined the table. “No need to worry. By the time we found out, she was already almost healed.”
It sounded so simple, but everyone at the table heard the undertone.
Derek shoved his chair back, ready to storm out. Arnav scowled, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To see Aria.”
“Didn’t you hear Caleb? She’s almost healed. And your grandfather’s birthday isn’t over–sit down.”
Derek glared. “How can I be sure until I see for myself? Where is she hurt? How bad? Was anyone taking care of her? Who did it? How can you all just sit
here and act like it’s nothing?”
He rattled off a barrage of questions, furious. “If any of you had gotten hurt, would you still be eating right now? I’m staying with Ariå tonight. Don’t wait up for me.”
With that, he walked out without a backward glance/
Zoe’s eyes reddened. She turned to Caleb, “Where is Aria hurt?”
Caleb replied calmly, “Her shoulder. It’s been about ten days, she’s doing much better now.”
As for how she got hurt, Aria hadn’t told him, so he didn’t ask–he just made her promise to let him know if she needed anything.
Not that he’d be much help anyway.
Aria was too strong for any of them to do much.
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Chapter 403
Joseph, who’d always had the most complaints about Aria, stayed quiet,
If not for Aria’s remedies, his bad leg would have ruined him all winter.
Even he wasn’t shameless enough to turn around and badmouth her.
Arnav muttered something about Derek being reckless and disrespectful, but Joseph cut him off, “He’s not wrong to want to check on Aria, Stop nagging
him.”
Arnav closed his mouth, a little embarrassed.
He’d thought Joseph would back him up–not so much.
Joseph looked at Nathan. “You did the right thing this time. Derek’s smart enough to stay with her. You should learn from him.”
Nathan winced. “Grandpa, I can’t. I wouldn’t have the nerve.”
Joseph gave him a sidelong look. “You’re younger than Aria. If you have to, kneel and beg for forgiveness.”
As the court date drew nearer, Hannah grew more and more anxious.
“It’s not fair!” she snapped. “Even if I admit to stealing someone’s research, I confessed! It’s not like I succeeded. Why should I go to prison? Dexter, find me another lawyer. Keep looking.”
Dexter, face tight, sat on the couch. “And what about framing Aria? Or all the times you smeared her online, hired trolls, started rumors, paid for hit pieces? The evidence is stacked a mile high–what are you going to do about that?”
Hannah started to cry. “I–I just made some mistakes, that’s all. I can’t go to jail…”
Dexter massaged his temples, exhausted. “It’s too big now. If you get off easy, the public will tear us apart. The only way out is to settle. Do you really think Aria would agree to that?”
Hannah’s hands tightened suddenly. Then, as if something dawned on her, she grabbed Dexter’s arm. “I know how to make Aria settle. I have to see her.”
