Aria put down the magazinepletely and looked at him quietly. Then, she suddenly chuckled.


    “Owen,” she called his name, her voice a little softer than before, “I’ll ask, okay?”


    Owen nodded, his expression turning serious, and even a hint of joy flickered across his face. “Ask anything. I’ll tell you everything.”


    Aria smiled. “Were you two very close before?”


    He replied, “Just ordinary ssmates. I rarely went to school, so we hardly ever interacted.”


    Aria nced at Owen and asked, “Did she confess to you?”


    Aria could tell that Lydia liked Owen. She saw it in the way she looked at her during their first meeting.


    “No,” he answered.


    Aria said, “Then I have nothing else to ask.”


    Aria thought for a moment. There really wasn’t anything else she needed to know. After all, Owen had turned down Lydia’s request to stay for dinner. There was no room for her to worry.


    Owen finally realized she hadn’t been curious at all. She had only asked those two questions because she noticed he really wanted her to ask.


    Owen asked softly, “You trust me that much?”


    Aria nodded. “Yeah, I trust my judgment.”


    Owen felt warmth in his chest and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Wait for me. I’ll go cook.”


    “Alright,” she replied softly.


    Just as Owen stepped into the kitchen, Aria’s phone rang. It was a call from an unknown number in Masmubia.


    “Hello?” she answered.


    “Aria, it’s me, Niks.”


    Aria already knew that Niks had gone to Masmubia.


    Culver was affiliated with Ivy Hospital, and if they were hiding something, it was very possible that Tristan was there.


    Niks hadn’t hesitated to go abroad. After investigating for a while, he managed to sneak into Ivy Hospital.


    He said, “I’m almost certain Grandpa is in Ivy Hospital.”


    Niks’s voice was very low on the other end, with a faint echo. Aria could tell he was speaking from a small, enclosed space.


    She asked, “You’re in Ivy Hospital?”


    “Yeah,” Niks replied.


    It had been Niks’s oversight that led to his grandfather being taken. He didn’t trust anyone else and chose to investigate


    on his own.


    He said, “A key figure lives on the top floor, guarded by two groups. One is from the Wolfshade Syndicate, and the other group is frequently changed and harder to trace. I suspect they belong to some organization too.”


    Aria asked, “You suspect it’s Dr. Todd?”


    “Yes.” Niks’s voice lowered even more. “I tried several times but couldn’t get close. The surveince is too tight. I don’t know what to do anymore, so I wanted to ask you.”


    Niks was always tactful, but he’d never done something this dangerous and intense before. Posing as cleaning staff to get into Ivy Hospital was already his limit. He had no clue what to do next and could only seek help from Aria.


    Aria said, “Holiday ising up. I’ll make a trip to Masmubia.”


    The other end of the call fell silent for a moment. Then Niks let out a long breath of relief. “Thank you, Aria.”


    She said, “Dr. Todd taught me medicine. Even though I wasn’t formally his apprentice, I’m at least a half-disciple.”


    Niks thought about it and realized it was true. He blurted out, “Then you’re technically my senior.”


    Aria was several years younger than him. But she was so capable that his grandfather would have been pleased to see her.


    Thinking that, Niks felt less tense and joked, “I’ll wait for you.”


    Might as well hold on to this opportunity tightly.


    Aria responded, “Take care of yourself. I’m hanging up.”


    Niks replied, “Okay.”


    After the call ended, Aria began booking her ticket.


    From the kitchen came the soft tter of cooking. She turned to look.


    Owen was slicing vegetables.


    She thought for a moment, then stood up and walked over, leaning against the kitchen door frame as she watched him toss sliced peppers into a ceramic bowl.


    “What is it?” he turned his head to ask.


    Aria said, “I might need to go to Masmubia.”


    Owen didn’t stop chopping. He raised an eyebrow slightly, “When?”


    She replied, “Tomorrow.”


    He paused. “That soon?”


    She nodded. “Yeah. To investigate something.”


    Owen turned to face her. “Can Ie with you?”


    Aria smiled. “Of course.”


    Owen looked pleased. “Good.”


    Aria suddenly felt a little warm in her chest. She went to wash her hands and started rinsing vegetables. “Aren’t you going to ask what it’s for?”


    He replied, “If it’s not something you want to say, that’s fine. Just tell me what to do.”


    Aria said, “Niks found a lead at Ivy Hospital. Dr. Todd might be there. I’m going to verify it.”


    Owen reached over and gently brushed her hair back, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “Okay. We’ll go together.”


    ** ***


    As Aria was double-checking their seat numbers, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her. “Owen? Ms. Saxon?”


    Lydia stood in the aisle, visibly surprised.


    Owen nodded slightly and subtly ced himself in front of Aria to shield her from the crowd.


    Holding her hand, he gently led her back to their seats.


    “Mypany rushed me back with some excuse,” Lydia said. She walked toward them, smoothing her hair. Her smile was a little forced. “Didn’t expect to run into you here.”


    She said, “I went to Seacrest Law Firm this morning. Mr. Webb took my case.”


    “Mr. Webb is very experienced with international contract disputes,” Owen said calmly.


    Lydia nodded. “Yes. I had to leave in a hurry, and he’ll be arriving in Masmubia in a few days.”


    “Move it!” A foreign man with arge backpack shoved his way down the aisle. Lydia stumbled in her heels, nearly falling forward.


    Owen instinctively reached out to steady her wrist, then quickly let go. “It’s crowded. Better find your seat.”


    “Thank you.” Lydia’s ears turned red as she fumbled for her boarding pass. “I’m right behind you.”


    She took a few steps back and sat down quickly. Because she bookedst minute, she could only get economy ss.


    This was her first time flying economy. She’d been in a foul mood until she saw Owen. Then she couldn’t help but feel happy again.


    The hand Owen had used to steady Lydia reached out to the side, tightly holding Aria’s.


    Aria felt hot and tried to shake him off instinctively, but Owen leaned closer and whispered, “Can’t I hold your hand?”


    Aria said “It’s hot.”


    Owen held on even tighter. “Still need to.”


    Aria let him.


    Some time passed. When Lydia got up to go to the restroom, her eyes drifted over to their row.


    Aria was leaning against Owen’s shoulder, her eyes closed. Owen’s head rested gently on hers. The two were close and intimate, hands still entwined.


    Jealousy welled up in Lydia’s chest. She took a deep breath and pushed it down.


    As she walked toward the restroom, a tall figure stood up behind her and headed in the same direction.


    The foreign man swayed as he walked, arge tattoo peeking out from his tank top.


    Aria opened her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of the man’s back before she looked away and shifted her arm slightly.


    Owen stirred. “What’s wrong?”


    “I’m going to the restroom,” Aria said.


    Owen let go of her hand. “Alright.”