<b>Chapter </b>346


    <b>Chapter </b><b>346 </b>


    Derek took a deep breath, telling himself, ‘Rx. Stay cool. Keep it together,


    “We have the suite,” Aria said evenly.


    Everyone knew that Aria had a tinum card granting her unlimited ess to the Golden Premier Suite.


    Of all days, why did it have to be today?


    Could it be that Derek had also been provisionally admitted?


    A meaningful glint shed in Lennox’s eyes before he broke into what appeared to be a genuinely warm smile. “So, Derek, are you here to celebrate getting into the Pharmaceutical Analysis graduate program?”


    Lennox grinned and said, “Guess what? I got into Kanit University’s Computer Science program too! Let’s celebrate together!”


    Arnav, unfamiliar with this major and convinced it was a dead end, said sternly, “You’re graduating soon. Either go help your brother at the Fletcher Group, ore train with me in the military.”


    Derek stiffened his neck and shot back, “I’m going to grad school.”


    Arnav scowled and said, “What’s so good about that worthless Pharmaceutical Analysis major? Don’t waste your time!”


    Aria set her coffee cup down with a sharp clink and fixed him with a cold stare. “Do you think it’s polite to criticize Pharmaceutical Analysis right in front


    of me?”


    Arnav’s opinion of this so–called niece plummeted instantly. He snapped, “What’s it to you?”


    Lennox stepped in to exin, “Uncle, Aria is a supervisor in Pharmaceutical A


    Analysis at Mandino University. Derek must have chosen her as his advisor.”


    “Oh, right, Derek,” Lennox said with a hint of feigned concern. “I just checked the provisional admission list for Pharmaceutical Analysis on my way here, but your name wasn’t on it–did I miss something?”


    Derek thought, “Seriously? I applied for Computer Science of course, my name’s not on the Pharmaceutical Analysis list!”


    “I didn’t even apply for-” Derek began.


    “Derek!” Arnav roared, cutting him off. “Are you nning to use Aria to pull strings and get into grad school?”


    Derek just stared at his father, too exasperated to even bother replying.


    Derek couldn’t be bothered to exin. After all, it was just a provisional eptance–not a final offer–and no one could say for sure what might happen


    in between.


    Derek snorted, “Even if I did pull strings, it’d be through Aria–not the Fletcher family.”


    “You ungrateful brat! Get your ass back home–now!” Arnav roared.


    “I’m twenty–two<i>, </i>not twelve. You think I’ll just scram because you say so?” Derek shot back, his rebellious streak ring up. “My mom gave birth to me, and the Fletcher family’s money raised me–what did you ever contribute, besides your five minutes <i>of </i>fun?”


    Arnav’s face turned purple with rage as he raised his hand to strike.


    Blinded by rage, he instinctively put all his might into the swing.


    If that p hadnded, things would have gotten really ugly.


    <b>Chapter </b><b>346 </b>


    <b>Luckily</b><b>, </b>Aria caught his hand mid–swing.


    <b>Arnav </b>instinctively let out a sigh of relief. But the moment he realized what had happened, his eyes narrowed in shock as he turned in stare at her


    Unlike his burly anm, Aria’s hand looked slender and deceptively delicate almost fragile.


    Yet it was this slender hand that effortlessly intercepted him.


    She looked utterly unfazed, as if it took no effort at all.


    Arnav’s face changed, realizing Aria was no ordinary girl.


    Gloria pped Arnav’s hand away sharply, her voiceced with anger. “Do you think you can treat your son like one of your solilers? Keep your hands to yourself!”


    Arnav snapped, “It’s all that brat’s fault–he just had to piss me off!”


    As his words faded, he sized up Aria, his gaze still dark and unreadable.


    He couldn’t help but wonder about her fighting prowess.


    Lexie gave Lennox a calm, meaningful look and said, “Since Aria is already using this suite, let’s just find another one.”


    Hearing this, a sh of embarrassment flickered in Lennox’s eyes. He turned to Derek and said with feigned disappointment, “Derek, you should’ve given me a heads–up about taking the Golden Premier Suite. That way, I could’ve booked another one in advance. Who knows if Amour Bistro even has any tables left now?”