When the three of them heard that name, they turned to look at Lincoln in surprise. None of them had any idea when he’d gotten to know Aria.
Caleb withdrew his gaze and looked back at his sister with a gentle smile on his face. “Owen came to pick you up?”
He’d recognized Owen’s car.
Aria nodded lightly. “He came to pick me up, but not to go home. Lily just got her university admission letter. She’s treating us to dinner.”
Actually, he had also received his admission letter from Mandino University.
Nathan opened his mouth as if to say something, but Caleb spoke first, “Nathan got his too. We’re out celebrating his college acceptance.”
That shut Nathan right up. He glanced at Caleb with some frustration. But Caleb’s attention remained only on Aria.
Caleb said, “I’ve got a day off this Sunday. Can I come over?”
Without hesitation, Aria nodded. “Sure.”
Silvia raised her hand. “Aria, can I come too? With Caleb?”
Except for Caleb, no one else knew about her and Pearl’s reunion.
Every time she went to see Pearl, Caleb had helped cover for her.
“Sure,” Aria said.
Just as Nathan was about to ask, “Can I come too?” Aria had already turned around and left. He swallowed his words, eyes full of disappointment.
It wasn’t just that Joseph and Luke had a generational gap. It was that he, her own brother, had hurt her with his words more than once.
Nathan had no one else to blame. Everything was his own doing. The most he could be to her was a stranger.
“Shit!” Lincoln suddenly yelped. “Aria is Madelyn? How the hell did that happen?”
He remembered all the nonsense he’d said in front of her earlier today and wished he could dig a hole and bury himself.
Silvia, in a good mood, kindly explained, “Uncle Lincoln, Aria’s old name was Madelyn Colton.”
Suddenly, everything clicked for Lincoln.
No wonder Mono had turned cold so abruptly.
At the time, he and the “little niece” had just added each other on WhatsApp, which meant they hadn’t been connected before. Mono must have been upset because he cared about his disciple.
Lincoln’s eyes were unfocused as he stared at the car disappearing into the distance, feeling a weight in his chest. He’d brought this on himself.
He’d spent years trying to become Mono’s apprentice, only to find out that his “niece” was already that disciple. Except now, she wasn’t his niece anymore. She had left the Saxon family.
Frustrated, Lincoln raked a hand through his hair. He couldn’t figure out how things had ended up this way. He didn’t even have the face to try and make amends, keeping his distance was probably for the best.
Blood ties could be strange like that. Lincoln and his three siblings had inherited Joseph’s most frustrating trait, self–righteousness.
Nathan, too, was feeling agitated. It made sense if only Caleb was allowed to visit Aria. But even Silvia could go. That didn’t sit right with him.
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Chapter 510
“How could Aria possibly agree to let you go?” Nathan asked.
From his tone, it was obvious that he liked Aria very much.
In the past, that would’ve hurt Silvia. But now, she felt nothing. Aria was the most innocent party. And as for herself? She had reaped the benefits.
She was already more than grateful that Aria had agreed to let her visit Mayen Garden.
She wasn’t alone anymore. She had Pearl.
Silvia smiled, giving him a different kind of explanation. “I know one of her little sisters. We’re very close, so she agreed to let me go.”
“Lily? You and Lily know each other?” Nathan was confused.
Silvia replied, “Not Lily. It’s another sister, Pearl.”
Shock crossed Nathan’s face. “She has another sister?”
“Yup,” Silvia replied.
In the car, Aria received an apology message from Lincoln. She didn’t reply.
At a red light, Owen rolled up his left shirt sleeve, then paused when switching to his right. He reached over and lightly pinched Aria’s left hand. “Madelyn, help me roll this one up too?”
Aria put down her phone and folded his sleeve neatly up to his elbow. On impulse, she gave his forearm a light squeeze. “You guys really have to wear shirts and slacks in summer?”
“Yeah, but there’s AC, so it’s not too bad.” Owen let her fiddle with his arm. When the light turned green, he pulled his hand back and drove on.
Because of the heat, Owen had left the top two buttons of his shirt undone. Below his Adam’s apple, his collarbone looked especially tempting.
Aria glanced over, subconsciously ground her teeth, then quickly looked away.
She was probably just hungry, not thinking about biting anyone.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Aria and Owen saw Lily waiting at the door.
Lily waved. “Aria, Owen. I already ordered everything!”
After living and eating together for a while, Lily had learned everyone’s food preferences.
Aria slung an arm around her shoulder as they walked inside. “Lily is getting more and more capable.”
“Of course!” Lily smiled brightly, eyes curved in delight
Owen walked alongside Aria.
Not far away, a group of young men was leaving the restaurant.
One of them suggested, “Let’s hit up Neon Nightclub tonight. I’ve never been.”
Another chimed in, “Isn’t Arthur working at Neon Nightclub? Maybe we can get a discount.”
The guy they were talking about had a youthful face. He smiled, dimples forming. “I quit a while ago.”
His friend responded, “What? Why? I heard they pay well. I was thinking of trying it too, but I don’t think I’m good–looking enough.
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09:36 Sat, 28 JunG W
Chapter 510
Neon Nightclub was known for hiring only the best–looking people. Even the front desk staff were all stunners.
Arthur was known for his bartending skills. Everyone assumed that’s what he did there, so no one held back. “I heard that place is crawling with rich women. If you catch one’s eye, you’re set for life.”
At the mention of rich women, a cool, elegant face suddenly flashed in Arthur’s mind. Then he blinked, and there she was. Arthur thought he was hallucinating.
The restaurant hallway wasn’t wide. The two groups were heading toward each other.
Aria instinctively pulled Lily toward the wall to give them space. At th
She looked up and met the slightly stunned gaze of one of the
At the same time, Arthur felt another intense, scrutinizing gaze. He
Owen remembered that Arthur was the male model who was almost
on her behalf.
Aria didn’t recognize Arthur, but Arthur sure did,
“You’re in the way. Let’s go!” One of Arthur’s friends tugged him along.
moment, she felt a pair of eyes fixed on her.
She was confused, thinking, ‘Does he know me?”
I his head and met eyes with Owen. They both remembered instantly.
I by Aria. Arthur remembered Owen had stopped Aria, then tipped the server
Just as he was about to turn around for one last glance, someone exclaimed, “Wait! That gorgeous woman just now! Wasn’t that Aria?”
