<b>Chapter </b><b>284 </b>


    They shared a look and stopped dead, wisely deciding not to intrude.


    All of them knew Liam, Aria’s ex–husband.


    Liam found himself inexplicably nervous. Meeting her calm, unreadable gaze, his heart started to race.


    Aria scoffed with a coldugh. “We’ve been divorced for months, so why bring this up <i>now</i>? What exactly are you trying to say?”


    Liam stammered, “…”


    Liam thought to himself, ‘If Aria had been the one to save me, I definitely wouldn’t have…‘


    61<b>% </b>


    Aria went on, “Even if I had been the one who saved you, would that have stopped you from cheating? Did you really fall for Hannah just because she saved you?


    Aria wrenched her hand free, wiping her sleeve with visible disgust. “Even if it wasn’t Hannah who saved you, you’d still have fallen for her. Just be honest for once. Stop making excuses for yourself.”


    Liam thought, ‘She’s right.


    ‘Hannah saving me was merely the trigger. The real reason I dared to rebel against my marriage, divorce Aria, and be with Hannah ran much deeper.


    ‘Even if Hannah hadn’t saved me that day, even if I already had feelings for her, I probably would’ve gritted my teeth and tried my damnedest to suppress those emotions. But for how long could I really keep pretending?


    ‘Maybe I could suppress it then, but how long could I really keep pretending?


    ‘Aria is simply too formidable. Just standing next to her makes me feel inadequate–she always seems to dominate every situation, and I just can’t stand that dynamic.


    ‘There’s no way I could ever fall for someone like that.


    ‘Divorce was inevitable, even without Hannah in the picture.’


    Now that Liam had figured things out, he didn’t dwell on it any longer. Remembering the recent gossip, he asked casually, “So, is it true Owen Shaw’s


    trying to date you?”


    Aria’s expression screamed, “Buzz off“. Without a word, she spun on her heel and marched straight to theb,pletely ignoring him.


    Liam hade for Violet, so he didn’t linger.


    As Aria made her way into theb, just as a few students were about to follow<i>, </i>someone stepped in front of them, cutting them off.


    Standing in their way was none other than Owen.


    They exchanged knowing nces, instantly catching on, their eyes gleaming with gossip–fueled excitement.


    Just as Aria slipped on herb coat, Owen extended a wet wipe toward her. “Here, you need this,” he offered.


    ‘For what?‘ Aria looked a little puzzled. Following Owen’s gaze to her wrist, she understood. “Oh, I was just heading to wash up,” she said.


    Owen gave a small nod. “Fair enough.”


    As soon as Owen withdrew his hand, Aria reached out and took the wet wipe. “Well, since you already brought it, might as well use it,” she said with a small smile.


    <b>13:13 </b>Fri, <b>13 </b><b>Jun </b>G


    4.61%公


    Aria lowered her head, meticulously wiping her wrist. After thoroughly cleaning it, she was about to head for the trash bin when Owen plucked the used wipe from her fingers. <b>“</b>I’ll toss it. You go wash up–the others are waiting,” he said.


    Aria nced up to find the students wearing gossip–hungry expressions, their eyes gleaming as they shamelessly stared at her and Owen.


    The moment she looked over, they instantly averted their eyes, pretending they’d seen nothing.


    Aria didn’t know how to exin. It wasn’t like she could just go around telling everyone, “That’s just how Owen treats his friends.”


    Without a word, she washed her hands, took her ce at theb bench, and got to work.


    At around ten at night, Aria went to the lounge. As she pushed open the door, she suddenly froze in her tracks since something seemed amiss.


    She frowned, her eyes sharpening with wariness.


    Aria stepped inside, her eyes fixed on the sofa as her right hand reached for the light switch, about to flip it.


    Before she could flip the switch, the candles on the table suddenly flickered to life, apanied by two warm male voices singing softly.


    Caleb and Owen started singing, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”


    The candles burned bright, letting Aria clearly see the two figures standing beside the sofa.


    It was her birthday.


    She had been so swamped with worktely that she barely even nced at her phone.