Two dayster, Owen ordered food from Amour Bistro in advance for them and told them he’d be homete.
Aria replied: [Okay.] But she felt something was off, so she scrolled through their chat history.
She noticed that Owen usually kept her informed about everything he did, yet he hadn’t mentioned where he was going this time.
Aria texted him directly: [What were you doing?]
Two hourster, she finally received a reply: [Handled some business. All taken care of now. Heading back to the office. Get some rest. No need to wait for me.]
He didn’t borate, and Aria didn’t press further.
She only replied: [Okay.]
After her bath, Aria leaned against the headboard at nine o’clock, reading. The blue glow of her vibrating phone lit up her face. A message from Owen popped up. [I’m home.]
Aria didn’t reply. Closing her book, she headed next door. The soft click of the fingerprint lock startled the figure standing in the entryway.
Owen turned around, his shirt hem slightly creased. With his usual calm smile, he greeted her, “Madelyn? What brings you here<b>?</b><b>” </b>
His expression was as calm as usual. Nothing seemed amiss. But Aria trusted her gut. She was certain Owen was keeping something from her.
She didn’t hurry toward him. Instead, she leaned casually against the wall, looked at him with a faint smile, and asked, “You’re not happy to see me?”
“No, always happy to see you,” Owen replied with a gentle smile.
Then, Aria stepped closer to him.
Owen’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He took a half–step back, then stopped himself. “Stay over tonight?”
Standing close, Aria caught a faint whiff of antiseptic. She looked up at Owen with a frown. “Did you get hurt?” she asked.
Owen maintained hisposure, his gaze unwavering in its sincerity. “No, why would you think so?”
He wasn’t hurt, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.
Aria’s gaze cooled. “Want me to strip you down and check you myself?<b>” </b>
Aria couldn’t figure out why Owen would bother hiding something as simple as an injury.
‘He seems fine, so even if he did get hurt, it shouldn’t be anything serious,‘ she thought.
Aria fell silent, turned, and started to leave. Panicked, Owen instinctively grabbed her wrist. “I’m not hurt. I just had a minor surgery at the hospital<b>,</b>” <b>he </b>
said.
His warm fingertips absently traced her wrist bone, like a silent apology.
Aria let out a soft sigh and turned away. “What kind of surgery did you have that you’d keep from me?”
She added, “Fine if you don’t want to tell me.”/
“Well… I got a vasectomy,” Owen hesitated before finally admitting.
Aria lifted her gaze in surprise at his answer, studying him for a long moment. “You… Why the sudden surgery?”
Owen smiled slightly as he exined, “I’ve wanted to do this for a while. I just had to wait until I wrapped up my current case?
‘No wonder he didn’t want to tell me,‘ Aria thought.
“Have you thought this through?” she asked.
“Yes,” Owen gently tweaked her earlobe. “I never nned on having kids, seriously.”
Before he met her, he was a confirmed bachelor.
After falling for her, all Owen could think about was treating her right and spending his life with her. Never once did the idea of having kids cross his
mind.
Aria murmured a soft “Okay,” hershes lowering as her gaze flicked
Owen quickly put his hand in front of her eyes. “Eyes up here,” he said.
Aria averted her gaze.
ownward involuntarily.
“As long as I take good care of myself, I’ll bounce back quickly. Plus, there aren’t any side effects to worry about,” Owen said.
She nodded. “Then, for now, let’s order food from Amour Bistro. Don’t cook. Did you <i>take </i>some time off work?”
Owen nodded. “Now that the case had wrapped up, I’ve got nothing on my te. I can take a <i>few </i>days off.”
Aria said, “That’s good, then.”
Inte June, filming began for the fifth episode of “Cozy Screening Room.”
Aria went to Lily’s room and asked, “We’ll be filming all day. Do you two want to hang out at Owen’s or stay in your room?”
AD