Right now, all Aria wanted was to get rid of him as quickly as possible, but she couldn’t just say it outright. That would be rude.She quickly took the phone case she had just spotted off the hook and walked over to the cashier. As the machine displayed the price, Aria was already pulling some bills from her wallet when Oliver handed over a card to the cashier.Aria frowned slightly, holding thirty dollars in her hand.“Since I’m here, let me pay for it,” Oliver said.“I don’t feel comfortable with that,” Aria replied immediately. “I’m the one buying it. There’s no reason you should be paying.”“It’s just a small item. No need to be so formal between friends. Besides, I’ve never been one to let a lady pay when I’m around. It just doesn’t sit right with me. Think of it as an apology gift,” he said as he firmly placed the card into the cashier’s hand.Aria frowned again. “If you’re talking about what happened at the club, you already sent flowers. And honestly, I wasn’t that bothe
Aria was already used to how Archer ended his phone calls, so she didn’t think much of it. She kept walking, though she didn’t stray too far. Since she had time, she browsed every nearby store with care.The shop she had just left happened to be next to a quirky little electronics boutique. The window display caught her eye—rows of cute phone cases and small accessories. She didn’t go in right away, just stood at the glass, scanning the designs. One case in particular jumped out at her.It looked like it was made of simple plastic, but the back was printed with a dreamy night sky. Hanging in the center was a cartoon-style full moon with rounded edges, sweet and childlike. Aria smiled instantly. Something about it felt like it fit her—her name, her style, even her current phone model.Next to it was another from the same collection, but with a sun motif instead. A little cartoon sun beamed cheerfully at her.She suddenly had the idea to buy that one for Archer.Just the image of hi
Just as the room fell into a heavy silence, a soft, gentle voice suddenly broke it.“Well, how about giving me a shot first?”All eyes turned to Kandice. She looked around the room and said calmly, “Sure, Archer and Aria are together right now. But they haven’t gotten married, have they? No one in our circle even knows they’re a thing yet. And let’s not forget—Aria was married to Larry Spencer before. That kind of past doesn’t just disappear. The Duncans may not be against her, but they haven’t exactly approved her either. Nothing’s been finalized. Isn’t it a little desperate to go kissing up to her already?”“Besides,” she continued, her tone sharpening, “even if they do get married, people get divorced all the time. The Duncans don’t like her. That still gives me a shot. Who’s to say Archer and Aria are really going to last?”Kandice curled her lip. “Let’s be honest, trying to cozy up to Aria’s family? That’s the kind of move you only make when there’s no other choice. Even Uncle
Peter no longer looked at Kandice. Instead, he turned to Benjamin and Sandra. “Why didn’t you tell us about this?”Benjamin replied calmly, “Because it wasn’t anything serious. Archer and Aria? The Duncans would never approve of that relationship. It’s only a matter of time before they break up. Not worth mentioning.”Sandra pressed her lips into a tight line, clearly irritated by Peter and Julie barging into their home and meddling in their business.“Not serious? Aria sat right there with the Duncan family—bold as day. And you still think there’s nothing to talk about?”Julie set her teacup down with a soft clink and raised her eyebrows. “According to what Ruby saw, the Duncans may not be thrilled with Aria, but they’re not trying to break them up either. Seems like even if they’re unhappy, they’re accepting it. Archer’s made it pretty clear he’s not budging, and they can’t force him.”She cleared her throat. “On top of that, Mrs. Duncan is very fond of Aria and openly supports
This time, Aria didn’t give Archer the chance to answer. She jumped in right away. “Okay!”She had replied a little too quickly. Realizing it, she glanced at Archer, a bit sheepish. He looked like he was holding back a smile, his dark eyes sparkling with teasing amusement. But he didn’t object.His voice was calm and steady. “I’ll check my schedule. We’ll come by Friday or Saturday.”Rachel’s face lit up with a genuine smile, and Aria shot Archer a grateful look.As the two of them left and got into the car, Aria didn’t say thank you. It just felt too formal—too distant. She figured saying it might even annoy him.But right before the Range Rover pulled into the garage, just as they were about to get out, Aria suddenly leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. The gesture was so light and swift that it stirred a faint breeze, along with the soft scent of her perfume.She was just about to open the door when Archer caught her wrist and tugged her back.At the same time,
Aria nodded, doing her best to hold back the hot sting of tears.Her voice was barely above a whisper. “If I’d fallen for an ordinary guy, none of you would be this worried, would you?”James let out a quiet sigh. “Aria, at the end of the day, we just want you to be happy. If being with him gives you that, then we’ll support you.”He paused, then added thoughtfully, “We may not live in luxury like before. Maybe we don’t wear designer clothes or throw lavish dinners anymore. But honestly? I think we’re a lot more at peace now. People like the Williams… they’re constantly scheming, chasing profit, calculating every move. That kind of life—always on edge, always watching your back—what’s the point? Just because it looks glamorous doesn’t mean it feels good.”James glanced toward the kitchen and handed her a tissue. “They’re coming.”Aria took the tissue and gently dabbed at her eyes, drawing out the heat before it could spill over. She took a few deep breaths, grounding herself. By t