Marianne usually didn’t bother arguing with the younger generation. Over the years, she had grown even more kind and easygoing—but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a temper.Her face darkened now as she said coldly, “Mark, you came here for lunch without telling your family?”Mark’s expression stiffened. “I… forgot to mention it. I was busy.”“How careless can you be?” Grandma scolded, then called out to Lily. “Go and whip up a few dishes for our guest.”“No need, no need. I just came to check in,” Lilian said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “If I’d known you were all eating here, I wouldn’t have bothered making a whole table of food at home.”Both Calvin and Yvette looked displeased at her tone. Marianne quickly spoke again, “Fifi, go upstairs and pack up. You and Mark should head home to see your mother. We can’t keep her waiting. Lilian, while the kids are packing, please have a little something here. It’s not good to leave on an empty stomach. Mark really was
“And you—what were you thinking, giving him such a phone case? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at him?” Robert scolded, turning his criticism on Aria when Archer ignored him.Aria stayed silent, but Marianne wasn’t having it. “That just shows how close they are. It’s just a phone case! Do you really have to make such a fuss? Let’s eat—you’re ruining the mood over nothing.”Robert fell quiet immediately, while Archer let out a short, mocking laugh. “At least we’re happy, which is more than I can say for a marriage of convenience.”The jab was aimed directly at Robert and Grace, who had married without love and ended up losing Archer in the process. Robert’s face darkened, but he couldn’t come up with a retort.The atmosphere at the table grew noticeably heavier.Halfway through the meal, Mark’s phone rang. He looked a bit embarrassed as he glanced at the grandparents and muttered an apology before stepping out to take the call.Before leaving the dining room, they heard him an
Archer had no intention of letting Mark know that he was already aware of the situation.“Bro, what if someone takes my chicken drumstick?” Melvin asked anxiously.“Grandma will save one for you,” Aaron replied, the corner of his eye twitching. Every time food came up, Melvin acted like their family was too poor to buy him meat.When Archer returned to the dining room, everyone else was already seated. Without a word, he walked over and sat beside Aria.A few minutes later, Aaron finally came out with Melvin in tow, setting him down on a chair.Mark gave the two of them a suspicious look. Even though Melvin had been far away when he appeared earlier, Mark still couldn’t shake his wariness now.“What took so long?” Calvin asked.“He was playing in the dirt. I couldn’t let him sit down covered in mud, so I took him to wash up and change clothes,” Aaron explained casually.Melvin had indeed changed into clean clothes. Mark dropped his gaze, reassured for now.Meanwhile, Fifi sat
“Bro, can you take me to the bathroom to wash my hands?” Melvin asked, looking up at Aaron with his big, bright eyes.Aaron glanced down at him. Melvin wasn’t tall enough to reach the sink on his own, but the bathroom had a small stool set up just for him. Usually, Melvin prided himself on being a “little man” and never asked for help—hence the stool.But now he was actually asking to be carried. Aaron narrowed his eyes, spotting the mischief in Melvin’s gaze. With a small nod, he picked him up and carried him into the bathroom.Setting Melvin on the sink, he watched as the boy twisted around, turned on the faucet, and washed the dirt from his hands. Aaron handed him his special little towel—the one with the blue cartoon character on it—and Melvin carefully dried his hands.Then, shifting around on the sink, he rubbed his little bottom against the countertop like he couldn’t sit still. Finally, he leaned in mysteriously.“Bro, can you go get Archer for me?”Aaron raised an eyebrow
Only when Melvin came over did Mark finally let go of Aria’s hand.Melvin’s big, dark eyes darted around cleverly, making his slightly round face look even more endearing.“Aria, Mark, what are you doing out here?” he asked with pure curiosity.“Lunch is ready. I came out to look for you,” Aria said gently. Inside, though, her mind was still spinning from what Mark had said. She was trying hard to shake off the weight of his words, but her thoughts were a mess.She hated to admit it, but what he said made her waver.She knew she could be a little blinded by love. She’d given so much of herself to Larry before. And now, meeting someone like Archer—someone who treated her well—she had thrown herself in completely. She dared to, because before their marriage, Archer had given her security: he’d transferred assets to her voluntarily and hadn’t even asked for a prenup.Archer was the heir of the Duncan family.And her? She was a fallen socialite, a once-proud daughter of the Jackso
“Don’t doubt my intentions. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” As he spoke, his hand slowly slid up her arm until his fingers brushed her collarbone—and kept going.Aria’s eyes widened in shock. The place he touched made her skin crawl.“How dare you! Let go of me!” Aria shoved his hand away, but he immediately grabbed her waist with the other and tried to pull her against him.“Mar—” Before he could say more than her name, a young voice suddenly called out from not far behind.“Aria? Mark? What are you two doing here?”It was Melvin. Aria’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t want him to misunderstand. Looking past Mark’s shoulder, she saw Melvin holding a yellow toy shovel in one hand and a red plastic bucket in the other as he walked toward them.“Let go of me!” she repeated, grabbing his wrist and trying to pry his hand off her waist.Mark didn’t budge. His grip tightened as he leaned in and whispered, “I may not have proof yet, but I swear I’m not wrong about Archer. I know h