Chapter 22
“Why can’t you look for the reasons within yourself?
“You’re lucky that Larry was still willing to marry you back then. You should be grateful instead of blaming him.”
“Without Larry, who would pay for my treatment and your brother’s? Even though he hates you because of Linda, he still cares about me and James. He’s already a very good man.
“Don’t keep making a fuss over small things and damage your marriage. If your relationship ends, who will take care of me and
James?”
Rachel spoke each word deliberately, every sentence like a blade cutting straight to Aria’s core.
“Mom, I’ve explained about Linda. It had nothing to do with me. I was innocent.”
Before Aria could finish, Rachel cut in, “But it was your birthday dinner that day. If it weren’t for your birthday, Linda wouldn’t
have died.”
She seemed to place all the blame squarely on Aria’s shoulders.
Aria was momentarily stunned, her eyes darkening.
This was exactly why she hadn’t wanted Archer to come in.
Her mother surely loved her, but she also seemed to believe that Aria was prone to making mistakes, and even blamed her for
things that weren’t her fault.
She would even make excuses for Larry.
When he cheated, she would say all men cheat.
When he got involved with Lucy, she would say childhood friends developing feelings was natural, and told Aria not to blame
Larry, to be generous.
“Mom, I have to go now. Get some rest.”
She knew if she stayed longer, her mother would only say more hurtful things.
She also couldn’t mention her plans for divorce to Rachel, who would accuse her of being heartless.
Rachel didn’t try to keep her, but still couldn’t resist advising, “Get along with Larry. Don’t act childish. If you leave him now, who else could you marry?”
Aria paused briefly, then walked out without looking back.
As the door closed behind her, she finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
The summer sunlight was always intense and bright. At that moment, it fell through the window onto the man’s hair, seeming to
1/2
dispel some of his coolness.
A man in a suit stood beside him, appearing to be a subordinate or assistant, reporting work matters. He paused when he saw
Aria.
Archer was reviewing documents, a pair of gold–rimmed glasses now perched on his nose. He gently adjusted his glasses and said
calmly, “Continue.”
The man resumed his report, and after receiving instructions from Archer, nodded and left.
“Why don’t you come over?”
The man looked up, his gaze still cool, though the glasses added an inexplicable scholarly warmth.
Aria walked over with a smile, “Is accompanying me to the hospital today interfering with your work?”
“If I needed to be busy with work every day, wouldn’t my subordinates‘ salaries be too easy to earn?” Archer stood up. “Let’s go
see your brother.”
This time, Aria didn’t stop him.
Her brother James had strong principles and always protected her. He had urged her to divorce Larry long ago.
But back then, she hadn’t completely given up hope.
James had broken his legs in a car accident two years ago, taking medical leave from school to recover. Though he had just turned
eighteen this year, he had already been accepted to Harbor City University. When Aria opened the door, he was teaching himself college coursework.
He had expected a nurse or doctor, but seeing Aria, the young man’s eyes clearly brightened.
