Chapter 8
Larry’s face immediately darkened. Lucy, her face pale, was now explaining to him with a pitiful expression.
“Larry, I wasn’t lying. I really wasn’t feeling well…”
Her voice was soft and tearful, making Aria feel sick to her stomach.
“Do you know who that person was just now?”
Seeing that Larry was about to comfort Lucy again, Aria spoke mockingly, “That was Dr. Ethan Alexander.”
With that, Aria turned to leave.
She didn’t want to continue watching this circus act.
It was degrading and boring.
Ethan Alexander.
The famous young medical prodigy, the director of this hospital–to suggest he had misdiagnosed such a simple condition? That
was the real joke.
Larry stared at Aria’s slender figure with dark, hostile eyes, his voice cold with anger.“Aria, I haven’t agreed to the divorce. Don’t
imagine you can leave the Spencer family so easily!”
Aria paused but didn’t turn around. Her voice carried a hint of mockery.
“The Spencer family isn’t yours to command. I’ll discuss this with your father.
“As for you, you’d better take care of your precious Lucy.”
After she spoke, she left, leaving Larry standing rigidly in place.
Lucy lowered her eyes, filled with hatred, and pulled the blanket over her head as if she couldn’t face Larry.
Outside the hospital, in the smoking area, Ethan leaned against the wall, looking at the city skyline. He held a cigarette between his fingers, the smoke swirling around his handsome face, giving him an irresistible bad–boy charm.
Wearing an AirPod, his voice was casual with the teasing tone of someone speaking to a close friend.
“Guess who I just saw.”
The Alexander and Duncan families were old friends, and the two men had grown up together. Though not related by blood, they
were as close as brothers.
He knew something about Archer’s arrangement with Aria.
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When he’d heard that Aria’s worthless husband had brought his mistress to the hospital, he had sneered. But since Aria was here
too, he had to see what was happening, to see what kind of fool this Larry was, so besotted with his lover.
Now he knew–just a handsome face with a waterlogged, rusty brain.
Archer’s car had already entered his estate. He was taking off his coat when he received Ethan’s call. He rubbed his temple, showing no interest in whatever Ethan had seen.
“If it’s nothing important, I’m hanging up.”
He tossed his coat onto the leather sofa, and the waiting housekeeper immediately collected it and prepared a pot of Darjeeling
tea.
“How cold–hearted,” Ethan said, tapping his cigarette ash and drawing out his words. Just as he was about to make another
teasing remark, the call ended.
“?” Ethan was amused and annoyed. He was about to call back when he saw Aria walking out of the hospital.
He raised an eyebrow and switched to a video call, pointing the camera at Aria.
When Archer answered again, he was silent for a moment.
“I remember I sent her home.”
Ethan was about to respond when Aria approached, her eyes falling on his iPhone. “Dr. Alexander?”
If she wasn’t mistaken, was Ethan filming her?
Ethan cleared his throat, an odd smile on his face as he pointed to his phone, “Sorry, my darling was checking up on me, asking
me to film my surroundings. I accidentally caught you in the frame.”
The excuse was a bit weak, but Ethan had just helped her, so Aria wasn’t going to make an issue of it.
His “darling,” Archer, couldn’t help but frown before ending the call with Ethan again.
“Tsk.” Ethan pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he put out his Marlboro.
Noticing Ethan casually handling his phone, seemingly after the call had ended, she approached him. “Whatever the reason, I
should thank you for what you did today, Dr. Alexander.”
Ethan laughed, “You’re smart.”
He didn’t explain why he had pulled that act, and Aria didn’t ask. They weren’t friends, so there wasn’t much to say. She said
goodbye and left.
In the hospital room, Lucy had the blanket pulled over her head, afraid to face Larry.
The room was frighteningly quiet, with only the sound of their breathing and the irritating tick–tock of the electronic wall clock.
Larry sat on the sofa and silently lit a cigarette.
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Netopter Q
He finished the entire cigarette without Lucy saying a word. Finally, as if bored, he put on his jacket that had been draped over the
sofa and said flatly, “Get some rest. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Larry left.
She heard the door close.
Lucy’s face was streaked with tears as she broke into sobs.
She knew better than anyone how cold–hearted Larry could be. Most people could only fit one person in their heart, but Larry
seemed capable of fitting many.
She knew that the person Larry truly loved was Aria, and the person he felt guilty about was Linda. She had merely used his feelings for Linda to drive a wedge between him and Aria.
She resented this situation.
After all, she had fallen in love with Larry first. Why did Larry marry Aria just to get revenge for Linda? What kind of revenge
involved marrying someone into your family as your wife? That was clearly love.
What Larry couldn’t see, she saw perfectly clear.
She wouldn’t give up on Larry. No one would stand in her way.
When Larry returned home, the main hall was brightly lit. He thought Aria might be waiting for him. After a moment’s
hesitation, he pushed open the door only to find his parents.
“Dad, Mom, why are you here so late? Where’s Aria? Isn’t she coming down to join you?”
At the mention of Aria, Susan’s face showed traces of anger. “You have the nerve to ask about her? Your father and I have heard
about tonight’s events.
“When the Landon family had their tragedy, we adopted both sisters. After Linda passed away, we treated Lucy like our own
daughter. But how has she repaid us? Seducing her adoptive brother is bad enough, but then you had to bring her to the Duncan
gala.
“Now our family has become a laughingstock in high society. Everyone is saying the Spencer heir has no sense, bringing his
mistress to bully his wife. So many people are calling you a fool. O
“After what happened, I can’t even face Aria!”
Susan unleashed a barrage of criticism.
Marcus’s silent disapproval clearly expressed his attitude.
“Aria pushed Lucy. Lucy was the one who suffered tonight,” Larry insisted stubbornly.
“You’ve been married for five years. Has Aria ever done anything to embarrass the Spencer family? When people mention the young Mrs. Spencer, doesn’t everyone praise her elegance and grace? Why would she suddenly have a problem with Lucy tonight?
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Have you thought about that?
“When photos of you and Lucy getting intimate were leaked, Aria got a tattoo to stabilize the stock price. Despite how humiliating that was, she did as you asked. She would never push someone at a gala.”
Though Susan had been disappointed when the Jackson family fell from grace after Aria’s marriage, she acknowledged that Aria was the most presentable daughter–in–law in public.
Lucy? She wasn’t even worthy of polishing Aria’s shoes.
