Lahat ng Kabanata ng Second Marriage to the Billionaire: Ex-Husband Begs Me Not to Go: Kabanata 331 - Kabanata 340

“I trust him,” Aria said quietly, setting down her utensils. Her voice was calm but steady. “If Archer were the kind of man who’d think less of me for this, then he wouldn’t be the man I love. He’s never treated me lightly. I was the one who asked him to keep our relationship a secret at first. He wanted to meet you and Dad right away, to bring me home and make things official. But I was the one who was afraid you wouldn’t accept him. I made him hide in the shadows like we were something shameful.“He’s always been proud, but for me, he was willing to stay hidden—and he never once complained. He respected my decision every step of the way. He’s already brought me to meet his family. Yes, some of them disapprove, but at least he’s made his stance clear. If that’s what you call ‘casual,’ then what counts as serious?”“Enough!”Rachel’s palm slammed onto the table, the silverwares clattering against the surface with a sharp crack. “You’ve grown up, huh? Got all your little speeches lin

His grip softened, his brows eased, and he gently rubbed her soft hand. “What do you want for lunch?”“Are you hungry? If it’s not urgent, let’s go home and eat. I’ll cook for you.” Aria looked at his elegant profile. He was a man carved from a painting—refined and handsome—yet he kept humbling himself for her. That made her want to treat him even better.She didn’t have many ways to repay him, but whatever she could do, she would.“You really like cooking for me now,” Archer said with a quiet smile.His normally sharp features softened with that rare smile. The cool edge in his expression melted away like morning fog, revealing something calm and radiant.She blushed but didn’t look away. Instead, she smiled and admitted it without hesitation. “I do.”He suddenly tightened his hold on her hand. She always found a way to surprise him like this, making his mood soar. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it again and again.“Then let’s go home,” he said simply.—When they

“Oh, I’ve been around. I just didn’t have time to see you,” Aria said coolly, her smile faint and distant.She had no reason to be polite to a woman who had her eyes on her man—especially one with a self-important mother who had the nerve to show up at her home.Kandice’s sweet, gentle smile froze. The corners of her lips twitched slightly before she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and forced a smile. “Aria, do you have something against me?”Aria didn’t even bother faking a smile. Her voice stayed cold. “If there’s nothing else, I’m heading back to the office.”She turned to leave, but before she could take a single step, Kandice grabbed her wrist from behind.Despite her delicate appearance, her grip was surprisingly strong—so tight that Aria frowned in pain. She couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not.“Aria, is this about Archer?” came Kandice’s soft, innocent voice from behind. That sweet tone didn’t match the force she was using at all.Aria had no choice but to

Her words were laced with contempt.Kandice was clearly trying to put Aria down. She’d never been married—young, pure, untarnished—and she saw that as a clear advantage over Aria.Of course Aria picked up on the implication. Her eyes turned even colder.“I don’t care what kind of advantages you think you have,” Aria said flatly, standing up and looking down at Kandice with a quiet but piercing gaze. “Because there’s one thing that makes all of them worthless.”She paused. “I’m Archer’s legal wife.”Kandice’s smile froze. Her lips twitched before she quickly looked away, taking a sharp breath through her nose. Embarrassed and flustered, she tucked her hair behind her ear to hide her expression.“If you really think you’re such a good match for him, go talk to Archer. Don’t waste your breath on me. Even if I wanted to leave, he wouldn’t let me go. So if you’re so sure of your reasoning, try saying it to him and see if he takes a second look at you.”Aria let out a cold laugh. “Wha

The waiter looked at her as if she were trying to skip the bill.Kandice had never been treated with such contempt. She was already humiliated by Aria, and now even the waiter looked at her like she was beneath him. Furious, she yanked her wallet out of her bag, grabbed a red bill without even checking the amount, and slapped it onto the waiter’s face.“Keep the change,” she snapped.Then she stormed out of the café—only to find the street empty. Archer and his Range Rover were already gone.—Inside the car, Archer was still holding Aria’s hand.She couldn’t stop thinking about how quickly Kandice’s expression had changed earlier. “When exactly did you walk into the café?” she asked.Archer gave her a look, one brow arched, half-smiling.That expression only made her more curious. Just how much had he overheard?“Hurry up and tell me!” she urged.He gave her hand a light squeeze, his deep voice laced with amusement. “I heard you warning Kandice not to call me ‘Archer.’”Ari