Aria glanced at him worriedly but still nodded, obedient as ever. She turned and walked upstairs, pausing every few steps to look back.Eventually, Grace followed Archer into the study. Watching her poised, refined son, she never imagined the day would come when he’d protect a woman like this—so fiercely that he wouldn’t let her suffer even the smallest slight.But the moment he faced her, his warmth vanished. That soft tenderness he showed Aria was gone, replaced by his usual indifference. Grace couldn’t help but feel a pang of resentment. After all, she’d carried him for ten months and endured the pain of childbirth. And now he was this cold, detached man—even toward his own mother.Fine. Even if he had been raised by that monster, he was still born from her womb. How could he be this heartless?“What’s so important you can’t say it in front of Aria?” Grace demanded, glaring at him.“You might want to sit down first.” Archer motioned to the couch along the wall. “Or at least
“You’ve never stopped to think about how this affects Archer? Do you really think being with you will do any good for his reputation?” Grace took a deep breath to steady her frustration. “You claim to love him so much—then how can you stand seeing him mocked and talked about behind his back? He’s always carried himself with pride, and now, because of you, he’ll become the target of ridicule and judgment. Is this how you show you love him?”“I believe—” Aria lifted her gaze, eyes calm but firm. “He doesn’t care. He wouldn’t care what people say about him. A man as smart as Archer… don’t you think he’s already thought through everything he’d have to face by being with me? Probably more thoroughly than either of us ever could. If he cared about all that, he wouldn’t have chosen me in the first place.“I’ve been married before, and if he can overlook that, do you really think he’d be swayed by what others might say?“If he were the kind of man who let people’s opinions dictate his actio
Before Aria could respond, Grace let out a heavy sigh.“Aria, let’s sit down and talk,” she said, taking a deep breath to steady herself.The housekeeper, sensing the tension, quickly excused herself to make tea—then secretly stepped into the kitchen and called Archer.Aria sat down stiffly. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to breathe evenly, exhaling with a faint tremble. She had a pretty good idea what Grace was thinking. Aria had been married before. In Grace’s eyes, that made her unworthy of someone like Archer. And to be fair, most parents probably wouldn’t accept it either.“I’ve heard some things about the Spencer family. I know it wasn’t easy for you back then,” Grace began, her expression firm. “I always thought you were a self-respecting young woman, someone who knew where to draw the line. But this time... don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”She paused, taking another deep breath, her voice growing colder. “I was very clear with you the last time we met. I thought
When Aria made the comment, Archer glanced at her, popped the last bit of the corn dog into his mouth, then pulled out a napkin to gently wipe the sauce from her lips before cleaning his own. Only then did he say, calm as ever, “You really think she’ll ever get to see me like this?”Because only Aria got to see this side of him. No one else ever would.Once she realized what he meant, her heart swelled. She stood there for a moment, warmth bubbling up as a quiet smile tugged at her lips.While she was still caught in the moment, Archer took the rubbish from her hand, tossed it into a nearby trash bin, and came back to take her hand again.They were both full by then. On the way home, Archer got a call about work. He ended up driving Aria back to her apartment first before heading into the office.Later that evening, right before dinner, he called. “I can’t make it back for dinner tonight. A client’s in town, and there’s a dinner meeting.”Aria held the phone, smiling to herself.
Out of nowhere, a mischievous idea popped into her head. She glanced at Archer, who—as always—looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine.With a glint of playfulness in her eyes, she asked, “Ever had deep-fried blue cheese balls?”Archer gave her a cool glance, clearly unimpressed. That kind of greasy street food? Definitely not something he’d go near.But Aria grinned and tugged him toward the vendor anyway. “One order, please!”The food came out fast. The vendor scooped the crispy bites into a paper tray and drizzled them generously with hot sauce. Aria held the box in both hands—the heat from the fresh oil seeped through the carton and warmed her fingertips.She grabbed a skewer, stabbed one, and popped it into her mouth. It was still piping hot—she had to fan her mouth, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. Then, without hesitation, she speared another and held it up to Archer’s mouth. “Try it!”Archer raised a brow, clearly reluctant.“Come on,” she nudged, “just one.”Under
After leaving the Grandview, since neither of them had stayed for the banquet, Archer didn’t hesitate to take Aria out for a proper meal.Being with Archer meant even meals had standards. The places he frequented were always upscale—private clubs owned by people like Ethan or fine-dining establishments like the Grandview itself. Anything less rarely made it onto his radar.But with the Grandview booked out for the Chancer wedding, and Ethan’s club being too far, Archer turned to her and asked, “What do you feel like eating?”Aria hesitated for a second, then smiled. “Street food.”Just across the plaza behind the hotel, there was a street known for its food stalls. It was a local landmark, though mostly popular with tourists. Locals tended to avoid it—prices were steep, and the vendors were known to overcharge, especially foreigners. Still, the food wasn’t bad.Since it was close by, Archer went along with her request.He found a place to park, then reached for her hand. Their fi