Semua Bab Second Marriage to the Billionaire: Ex-Husband Begs Me Not to Go: Bab 471 - Bab 480

Archer was still in the shower when Aria saw the unfamiliar number flashing on her phone. She frowned but answered.“Aria, it’s me.” Mark’s low, cold voice came through the line.“Do you ever get tired of changing numbers just to call me?” she said dryly, her irritation plain.She was about to hang up when he barked, “Don’t hang up! I told you not to rush into marrying Archer, remember?”“And since when do you think you have a say in who I marry and when?” Aria let out a short, disbelieving laugh. Her hand trembled with anger—anger at his arrogance, at his belief that he could insert himself into her life like this.She ended the call and, before he could try again, blocked the number.He was becoming unbearable. At this point, it wasn’t just seeing him that made her sick—it was the sound of his voice.“What’s with the face?” Archer’s calm voice came from the bathroom doorway.She looked up to see him stepping out of the steam, wearing nothing but a pair of loose gray cotton pa

“Aria, I’m doing this for your own good!”Mark’s voice rose, edged with frustration. “Why are you so stubborn? Why won’t you listen? I told you—Archer can’t be trusted. What is it? You think because he’s going to be the head of the Duncan family, you can’t give up the title of Mrs Duncan? Or—” his tone sharpened, “—are you marrying into the Duncan family just to get back at me?”That was it. The words lit a fire in Aria’s chest, one that had nowhere to go.This was the office, after all—Yuanhang’s headquarters—and she had no idea how thin the walls were. She couldn’t exactly shout at him here. But Mark’s shamelessness was staggering.Too shameless.And so self-important it was laughable.Worse, he assumed everyone else was just as shameless as he was.Her throat ached with anger, her eyes prickling—not from the insult itself, but from the sheer gall of it. That he could twist and tarnish what she had with Archer so casually, as if her feelings were nothing but a scheme.She had

The sight of the black Range Rover waiting across the street made something soften in Aria’s chest. Even her lips curved into a gentle smile. She waited until the car rolled to a stop, then hurried across, slipping inside.Archer sat there in his usual composed, almost aloof way. Even with the Range Rover’s spacious interior, his long legs still looked awkwardly bent.There was a faint trace of tobacco in the air, the scent lingering despite the open windows. Aria leaned toward him, looping her arms around his, pressing her face lightly to his shoulder as she breathed it in. She didn’t mind the smell on him—if anything, it was familiar and grounding.“Have you been waiting long?” she asked with a smile. “Every time I get off work, you’re already here. I know you’re busy—you don’t have to rush over. I don’t mind waiting a little for you.”He only gave a noncommittal “Mm” and gently pulled his arm out of her hold before starting the car.Her smile faltered. Archer could be reserved,

“What do you even want from me? First you get mad for no reason and ignore me. Then you try to comfort me. Just now you told me not to cry, and now you’re telling me not to hold it in and to just cry it out. What exactly do you want me to do?” Aria sniffled, eyes red, looking like an anxious, frustrated little rabbit.“Archer!” she raised her voice, hurt and annoyed. “What’s going on with you today?”Archer was silent. Hearing it laid out like that, he had to admit—he did sound a little unreasonable.“You came out of the office today in a terrible mood,” he said finally, wiping away the fresh tears on her cheeks. His chest ached with the urge to pull her close and comfort her.Aria froze, the tears stopping as she stared at him with those wide, innocent, red-rimmed eyes.He gave her a helpless look. With her face like that, how could he stay angry?“I was upset because you were hurt and didn’t tell me,” he said, tightening his arms around her. “So, are you going to tell me what h

Rachel never expected Archer to take the blame so openly.Whether or not it was really his fault didn’t even matter. Even if he truly had upset Aria, for someone with his status and personality to admit it outright was enough to surprise her.“You too!” Rachel said, tugging Aria toward her. “Stop giving Archer the cold shoulder. No matter what the problem is, both of you need to be more patient with each other. With that temper of yours, you can’t expect him to be the one giving in all the time.”Aria gave her a puzzled look. “Mom, weren’t you dead set against us before? Why are you suddenly taking his side now? Don’t tell me you’ve become the kind of mother-in-law who thinks her son-in-law just gets better the more she sees him.”“Go on with you!” Rachel scoffed. “What are you talking about? Come inside. Dinner will be ready soon.”Aria offered to help, but Rachel ushered her straight into the living room. “I didn’t know when you’d get here, so I’ve already prepped and chopped ev