?Chapter 1810:


    A blush crept across her cheeks. “You’re shameless, just making excuses to mess around. So creative of you.”


    “Be good and open up, honey. I really want you,” Jayden urged, turning on the bedside light.


    A few dayster, Aileen received a message from her father informing her that her date was paying a visit. She needed to leave school early and wait at home.


    The message left her stunned.


    She perched dejectedly on a chair by the pond, watching ducks glide across the water, lost in thebyrinth of her thoughts.


    Erica approached, noticed Aileen’s downcast expression, and asked with genuine concern, “Why are you so upset?”<fn8149> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fn8149>


    “My date ising to my house for dinner today,” Aileen confessed, her voiceced with unhappiness. “He didn’t like me. Why is heing? Shouldn’t I expect the meeting to fall apart?”


    Erica’s shock mirrored Aileen’s, and after a moment’s contemtion, she asked, “Do you think he’sing to end the arrangement between you two?”


    Aileen’s eyes widened in realization. “End the arrangement?”


    “Yeah, why else would he show up without warning? I don’t think he’s here to discuss wedding ns,” Erica reasoned, her tone matter-of-fact.


    Aileen pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “You could be right. It seems more likely he’s here to put everything to an end.”


    “Don’t be sad,” Erica said encouragingly. “If he’s here to break things off, you can pursue Clive, who you genuinely like.”


    Aileen nodded with growing resolution. “You’re right. I need to go home now.”


    When Aileen arrived home, she discovered her father engaged in animated conversation with a man whose back faced her. Though she couldn’t see his face, his posture exuded natural grace.


    She was observing from the shadows when Peyton sensed her presence and turned slowly, his eyes locking with hers in mutual surprise. Aileen’s father spotted her too and rose to his feet. “Honey, this is Peyton Ellis, the man I mentioned.”


    “Peyton Ellis?” Aileen stammered, her lips trembling with shock.


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    Peyton stood and addressed her formally. “I’m sorry, Miss Lawrence. I’ve been overwhelmingly busy with surgeries. The hospital underwent reorganization recently, so I now have a bit more free time. Nice to finally meet you.” Peyton emphasized his words with a hint of mischief in his expression.


    Aileen took a moment to find her voice. She forced a smile and said, “I’ll just put my things away. I’ll be back shortly.”


    Peyton’s smile broadened as he watched Aileen hurry away, a yful sparkle dancing in his eyes.


    Aileen retreated to her bedroom sanctuary, tossing her bag onto the bed as she hurriedly sent a text to Erica.


    The mystery of her father’s arrangement with Peyton gnawed at her thoughts. Something in her father’s demeanor suggested that this wasn’t a meeting to dissolve the arranged marriage n, as she had hoped.


    Frustration washed over Aileen as she thought of Clive. For thirty minutes, she paced her room, gathering her courage like scattered petals. With a deep breath, she finally left.


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