<b>No </b><b><i>Ads </i></b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>330 </b>


    Aria turned her head and saw Liam running toward her.


    When he finally reached her, he bent over with one hand on his hip, gasping for breath, his expression unreadable.


    He locked eyes with her, his voiceced with sincerity. “I’m sorry.”


    ‘What the hell?‘ Aría thought, not even sparing him a nce.


    She had just lifted her foot to leave when he grabbed her arm.


    “What do you want?” She looked up, her eyes shing with irritation.


    Seeing this, Liam quickly released her hand and blurted out, “I had no idea Hannah was setting you up. I didn’t know she’d do this.”


    If he had known, he wouldn’t have fallen for Hannah, wouldn’t have taken the wrong path, and wouldn’t have divorced Aria.


    He then said, “Go ahead and sue her. I won’t stand in your way.”


    Aria curled her lips into a mocking smile. “As if you could stop me even if you wanted to.”


    “That’s not what I meant,” Liam said hurriedly.


    Liam looked visibly awkward, with words stuck in his throat that he couldn’t bring himself to say.


    Gazing at Aria’s unadorned, makeup–free face, Liam couldn’t help but recall their first meeting three years ago.


    He remembered how, back then, Aria used to greet him with an aloof yetposed smile and a gentle “hello.” But now, all he could see in her eyes was unfamiliarity and chill.


    She hadn’t changed much in three years–the only difference was the way she looked at him now.


    Liam started, “Aria, I know it was you…”


    “Aria.” Owen’s clear, mellow voice cut him off.


    Liam looked over, and Owen’s figure came into view.


    Owen was dressed casually, carrying grocery bags, radiating thefortable familiarity of daily life.


    “You’re back? Is Vanessa alright?” Owen’s voice was warm and familiar, as if he were just chatting with family about everyday things.


    “I’m fine.” Aria nced at the groceries in Owen’s hands, her voice unconsciouslyced with concerned reproach. “The wind’s pretty strong today. Should you really be out when you’ve just recovered?”


    Owen lifted his brows slightly, his voiceced with a smile. “I’vepletely recovered from the fever, and it just so happens your master ising over today. I’ll cook up a feast–it’s the perfect chance to thank you for taking care of me.”


    Listening to their conversation, only one sentence stuck with Liam, which was “thank you for taking care of me“.


    ‘Was it Aria who took care of Owen Shaw when he was sick? Since when did they be this close?‘ Liam thought bitterly, a pang of unease twisting in his chest.


    Liam stood frozen in ce, watching as Aria and Owen conversed intimately,pletely oblivious to his presence. A bitter ache twisted in his chest.


    Back in Jamn, Aria and Owen were practically glued to each other because of their research.


    Back then, Liam thought it was just a regr partnership. But now, seeing them, he knew there was definitely something more going on.


    Liam tried to speak, but before he could get a word out, Owen subtly shifted to the side, positioning himself in front of Liam and effortlessly blocking him


    from view.


    His tall frame effortlessly cut off Liam’s line of sight.


    Liam frowned and shot Owen a displeased look, their eyes locking.


    Owen’s gaze was a mix of scrutiny and cold mockery, edged with the faintest trace of wariness.


    “Let’s go inside,” Owen said, turning to Aria.


    Aria nodded.


    They walked away side by side, barely a hand’s breadth apart.


    The setting sun bathes the earth in a warm golden glow.


    Their elongated shadows stretched across the ground, intertwining and merging into <i>one</i>, leaving Liam further and further behind.


    A breeze drifted by, snapping Liam out of his thoughts–only to find that Aria and Owen were already far ahead, their figures growing smaller in the


    distance.


    Remembering that look in Owen’s eyes, one thing became crystal clear to him.


    It wasn’t just a guess–Owen genuinely liked Aria.


    ‘If I hadn’t been with Hannah, would things have been different?‘ Liam couldn’t help but wonder.


    Feeling restless, Liam suddenly remembered Aria’s three paintings. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hi, this is Liam Cole. I’m calling to ask about the whereabouts of those three paintings.”


    AD


    Comment