Semua Bab Second Marriage to the Billionaire: Ex-Husband Begs Me Not to Go: Bab 261 - Bab 270

He had to admit she looked decent, but everything else about her was a turn-off. The fake smile, the overpowering perfume—just too much. If even he found her annoying, there was no way his brother would be into her.“My mom’s got way too much free time. If she’s that eager to play matchmaker, why doesn’t she find someone for Charlie instead of always obsessing over my brother?” Anson muttered under his breath.Marianne’s face darkened, and she reached over to cover his mouth. “Of all people to bring up—you had to mention him?”Anson snorted.He’d never liked Charlie. By the time Anson was born, Charlie had already been living in the family for years. He barely remembered Charlie leaving, but once he was old enough to understand what was going on, he realized just how biased their parents were. Even though Archer was their biological son, they always doted on Charlie. They constantly worried he wouldn’t be able to take care of himself and insisted the Chancer family look after him.

He leaned in as he spoke, and the clean, crisp scent on him drifted over.Aria’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively took a small step back and poked at him. “What are you doing?”Archer’s elegant hand gently wrapped around hers, pressing her palm firmly against his.She kept backing up until there was nowhere left to go. Her back hit the side of the Range Rover.The car was tall—taller than she was—and her head tilted back slightly, resting against the window. Her lips trembled, and her voice came out soft and shaky. “We’re right by the gate… What if someone sees?”The estate was in one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, where only old money locals or the rich could afford to live. If someone saw them like this, Aria would die of embarrassment.“I’m kissing my wife in public. What’s the big deal?” Archer murmured, his warm lips brushing her ear. “It’s not a crime. No one’s calling the cops.”“Stop messing around,” Aria protested. “I’m already nervous enough. If you kee

And no one knew what was going through Grace’s mind either. She knew Archer and Aria were already legally married, yet she still insisted on introducing another girl to him. Was she seriously trying to break them up?The moment the front door creaked open, Marianne rushed toward it. Seeing Aaron in the lead, she immediately asked, “Where is she?”Aaron scratched the side of his nose and tilted his head slightly. By then, Archer had already entered, hand-in-hand with Aria.“Grandma,” Archer greeted her.Grandma Marianne turned to look and immediately lit up. She adjusted her glasses and beamed. “Aria, my dear!”Aria swallowed nervously and whispered, “Grandma.”Her voice came out much shakier than she expected. There were so many people here, and her cheeks were still flushed from earlier.Marianne’s gaze dropped to their clasped hands—then lingered on Aria’s slightly swollen lips. In an instant, she knew what Archer had been up to.“You two…” Her eyes darted between their hands

“You just got here, right, Aria?”“Yeah, just now.” Aria couldn’t help smiling when she saw Anson.“Come sit, my dearest sis-in-law.” Anson glanced around. He’d originally wanted to lead her over to sit next to Aaron, but there wasn’t any space left. In the end, he brought her to sit in the seat where Robert had been.Kandice’s face darkened. When she arrived earlier, Anson hadn’t been this enthusiastic with her.Every “sis-in-law” that came out of his mouth grated on her nerves. She wanted to shut him up so badly—but he was Archer’s little brother. She didn’t dare.“Want some watermelon?” Anson offered her the half-sliced melon in his hands.“No, you have it,” Aria said with a small smile.“Don’t eat too much,” Aaron chimed in. “You’ll spoil your appetite. Didn’t your agent tell you to watch your weight? You’ve still got work.”Meanwhile, Marianne had no energy to deal with Anson and Aaron’s bickering. Her mind was tangled up thinking about Kandice.She still didn’t know how to

“She’s divorced,” Archer said coolly. “She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation—not anymore.”And with that, he took Aria by the hand and walked out without another word. Honestly, he hadn’t expected the visit to go well anyway. He’d only come to make sure Kandice saw it with her own eyes—there was never any other point.As they stepped out, just before the door shut behind them, Aria caught Robert’s furious voice echoing from inside.“What are people gonna think of the Duncans? She just divorced Larry Spencer and now she’s marrying Archer? What, the men in this family can’t find women anymore?”Those words hit Aria like a slap.Was that really how he saw her? Like she was cheap? Like she’d just bounce from one man to the next?Her head dropped, and for a moment, she felt sick.Did Robert think she was shameless?Just then, Archer gently squeezed her hand.She didn’t even need to look up before hearing his voice—low, steady, and warm above her. “Don’t overthink it.”She looked up a