<b>Chapter </b>215
Aria was <b>about </b>to head to the training room when her <b>phone </b><b>rang</b><b>. </b>
<b>Seeing </b><b>the </b>taller <b>ID</b>, she answered immediately—before she could say a word, all she heard <b>wat </b>dafie and a sharp scolding<b>. </b>“Ungarana broke me up at the airport.”
<b>She </b>barely managed to stifle augh as she pulled on her coat and left.
Meanwhile, at the Cole Group, Liam picked up a call from Hannah. “Liam, Collin told me Mono’s arrived at the airport. I’ming to get your let’s go straight to the Fine Art Society.”
It <b>had </b>been ten years since Monost showed up anywhere.
Liam wasn’t about to miss this chance, so he dropped his work and hurried out the door.
At the airport, a silver–haired old man sat alone, his suit neat but his eyes sunken, cheekbones sharp, every inch marked by age.
Mono, juste with us, said a well–dressed man, hair slicked back and posture formal.
Mono looked away, voice low and rough. “No need to worry, Gael’s with me. I’ll wait <b>a </b>bit longer.”
Gael McFand, his private butler and a retired soldier, had watched over Mono for more than a decade.
Sitting beside him, Gael kept a quiet eye on the crowds.
The middle–aged man tried again, “Are you waiting for your apprentice?”
Mono snorted. “No, I’m waiting for a little idiot with more nerves than brains, who’s blind and thick–headed.”
With those words, Mono finally vented a fraction of his anger.
Until she apologized in person, he refused to acknowledge that brat as his student.
She’d embarrassed him enough already.
At that moment, Gael brightened. “Mono, Aria’s here.”
Mono raised his chin, narrowed his eyes, and gave a cold snort. “Well, she finally bothered to show up. Kept an old man like me waiting half <b>an </b><b>hour</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
The middle–aged man looked up and saw a young woman approaching–beautiful, striking, and cool as ice.
Nothing about her said “artist,” and she certainly didn’t look like Mono’s apprentice.
But Aria spotted Mono right away and hurried over.
“You’rete–how dare you keep Mono waiting so long?” the man scolded, acting like family. Then, bowing, he added, “Mono, we can leave whenever <i>you </i>like.”
Mono shot him a re that made the man’s heart stutter–had he said something wrong?
Mono just huffed through his nose, then held out his arm.
Aria stepped in and naturally took his arm, helping him up. “Are you going to the Fine Art Society oring with me?” <b>she </b>asked.
“We have nothing to do with each other. Go to your ce and I’ll lose all my reputation,” Mono snapped, eyes nted <b>her </b>way.
Aria could only sigh–he was definitely still holding a grudge.
<b>The </b><b>man </b><b>quickly </b>stuld, <b>The </b>Fine <b>An </b><b>society </b>has arranged <b>amodations </b>for Mone, rit fere <b>the </b>way Ajatisn
<b>Fine</b><b>, </b><b>we’ll </b><b>go </b>to the Fine <b>Art </b><b>Society</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>A sald, shutting the matter down.
<b>Mono </b>rolled <b>his </b><b>eyes </b><b>at </b><b>her</b>, <b>while </b>Gael stifled <b>a </b>chuckle and followed with the luggage.
<b>At </b>their destination. A tried to speak to Mono, but he waved her off. “I’m here now. Go back to wherever you <b>came </b>from<b>, </b>and <b>don’t </b>show your <b>three </b>days<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>She </b><b>paused</b><b>, </b>then nodded. “Alright, I’lle see you in three days.”
<b>Climbing </b>back into her car, Aria pulled away as Mo?o watched the taillights vanish, so angry that his nostrils red with every <b>breath</b>.
<b>That </b>heartless brat–she really left as soon as he told her to.
Across the lot, in a ck car, Liam sat in the driver’s seat, frowning as he watched Aria’s car disappear into the distance, Wasn’t that Aria’s car<b>? </b>