At the red light, Owen kept one hand on the steering wheel while the other caught hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Really not,” he insisted.


    Any trace of jealousy he felt melted away under herfort.


    As their car entered the residentialplex, both Aria and Owen sensed something was off.


    They were being watched.


    Aria and Owen exchanged a knowing nce, tacitly agreeing to pretend they hadn’t noticed anything. They stepped out of the car and entered the elevator as usual.


    Once the elevator doors closed, Owen murmured, “Might be people from Ivy Hospital.”


    Lily was busy with school, sticking to a fixed routine between the ssroom, dorm, and library. Pearl mostly stayed at home. The only one potentially at risk was E.


    Aria said, “I’ll handle this. You’ve got that business dinner to attend.”


    Owen gently ruffled her hair. “Let me handle this, or I’d feel like apletely useless boyfriend.”


    Aria yielded with a small nod.


    Owen went to take a shower while Aria returned to her apartment.


    In the living room, E was helping Pearl with her homework when she saw Aria walk in. Surprised, she said, “Ms. Saxon, you’re home already?”


    Pearl’s eyes lit up with joy. “Aria!”


    Since moving in with Owen, Aria hardly ever came by right after work; she usually didn’t show up until around eight or nine in the evening.


    84


    They’d gotten so used to Ariaing homete that seeing her at this hour actually caught them by surprise.


    Aria walked over and gently pinched Pearl’s chubby cheeks, then smiled at E. “Let’s take a break from tutoring for the next few days. You can stay at the hospital with your mom whenever needed. I’ll drive you thereter.”


    Even during the holiday break, they’d been having tutoring sessions, so when Aria suggested taking a break, E didn’t question it.


    After finishing thest section, E texted Rhett and started packing up.


    Just as Aria stepped back into her room, her phone rang.


    She nced at the caller ID-it was Tristan. “Kiddo, watch your back these days. Someone might be keeping tabs on you.”


    Tristan’s voice on the phone was heavy with concern. “How about you give me the medical book for safekeeping? I’ll return it to you once this blows over.”


    Aria chuckled lightly. “Come on, it belongs to you, not me.”


    Tristan almost wanted to say, “I’d give you anything you ask for.”


    But he had a feeling Aria would refuse.


    1J30


    She was only keeping them now to help him safeguard the medical book and the National Doctor’s Seal.


    Aria reassured him, “Rx, we’ll handle these tails.”


    Tristan caught the key in her words and asked, “They’re already watching you?”


    “Yeah,” Aria said.


    Tristan hadn’t expected Ivy Hospital to act so swiftly. “Their intelligencework is rmingly efficient,” he muttered.


    They’d only just returned yesterday, but they’d already traced the medical book to Aria-and even pinpointed her exact address.


    “It might be Culver Webster,” Aria said.


    The mere thought of Culver turned Tristan’s stomach. Back then, Culver had been desperate to apprentice under him, acting as if he couldn’t live without traditional medicine. Out of a moment of soft-heartedness, Tristan took him in, never realizing he was inviting a viper into his bosom-it nearly cost him his life.


    After hanging up, Tristan turned to Niks and ordered, “Spread the word.”


    Niks acknowledged respectfully, “Yes, Grandpa.”


    After dinner, Aria called Pearl over. “Owen will be back soon. Lock the door and wait for me to return.”


    Aria would be moving back for the time being.


    Pearl caught a hint of seriousness in Aria’s tone. “Aria, are we in danger?”


    Aria gently ruffled Pearl’s hair and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”


    Pearl nodded confidently, shing a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Aria. I can handle myself.”


    After spending so much time around the Wolfshade Syndicate, Pearl was much bolder than most people her age.


    Aria shed a gentle smile, then turned and left with E.


    As they entered the elevator, Aria said, “Things have been tensetely. I’ll have bodyguards assigned to you and Pearl.”


    E seemed to catch on. “Thank you, Ms. Saxon.”


    As soon as the car pulled out of theplex, sure enough, shadowy figures began to tail them.