NOVPUBArwen looked up at him, and seeing his brows tugged into a frown, she chuckled softly. "Don't tell me you thought I was just trying to act normal this whole time to hide my real pain?"
"..."
Aiden didn't speak. But his gaze —intense and unwavering —said enough.
Her smile softened, the amusement fading into something gentler. She shook her head, trying to ease the weight in his eyes.
"I won't say that's not in my nature," she admitted. "I do put on a show sometimes … just to hide myself."
She paused, then apple with quiet sincerity. "But today wasn't like that. I wasn't acting, Aiden. Truly."
He didn't interrupt. He just listened.
"Yes, I won't deny that the news affected me. Seeing the headline —it did stir something inside me."
She looked down at the ring resting on her finger. "But not the way it would have before."
Her voice held calm steadiness now, one that came from reflection.
"I have severed my relationship with the Quinns. Which means … their matters aren't mine anymore. They made that choice when they let me go, and I made mine when I walked away."
A soft breath left her lips.
"So, when I was in the kitchen earlier, I wasn't just trying to busy myself. I was forcing myself to let go of an old habit —the habit of caring about things that no longer belong to me."
She looked up at him again, her eyes clear. "Don't worry about me. I am okay."
Aiden stared at her for a long moment, taking in the clarity in her gaze, searching for any flicker of doubt or unease.
But there wasn't any.
She meant every word she said.
Quietly, he extended his hand for her to take.
Arwen slipped her hand into his without hesitation, letting his warmth envelope her fingers.
"What is it?" she asked gently, knowing there was something he wanted to say. The clasp of his hand was not just to hold and comfort her —it was to reassure her, to anchor something.
"I am your family," he said after a pause. "Your constant. No matter where you go or what you decide, I am the home who will always be waiting for you —whether it's to celebrate or to cry. Never hide away from me."
Arwen stilled.
She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear that until the words left his lips.
But once again, he knew it, and he gave it to her without asking.
Hints of tears shimmered in his eyes, but she blinked them away quickly, a soft smile blooming in their place.
"Mhm-hm ~ I know."
They stared into each other's eyes, letting the moment settle between them like a quiet promise.
There was no rush, no urgency —just the shared silence of two hearts finding rhythm together.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time, at Foster Ventures —
Ryan had drowned himself in the work, sitting behind his desk in his office.
Since the morning, he had been working like there was no tomorrow. He had barely eaten his breakfast or lunch. And now, even planning to skip lunch.
Zenith was sitting outside his cabin at her desk, watching him with eyes full of concern.
She hadn't dared to ask him, but she could tell there was something he was trying hard to forget about, and that was why he was forcing himself into work like that.
At first, she thought it was about Delyth Ember …
And she tried to find out, but later she realized that it had not just been days but weeks since Ryan had gone to visit her at the hospital.
"Ms. Jones," suddenly, a voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to look at the colleague who had just come, ready to leave. "We will be leaving now."
She nodded at them with a smile.
But the group stared at her with confusion before one of them finally asked, "You won't be leaving? It's already past the work timing."
Zenith briefly looked down at her watch before darting her gaze back towards Ryan's office. Her gaze once again filled with worry.
"You all can leave first," she said, returning to look at them. "I still have a few things to do. I will leave in a while."
The colleagues briefly nodded before turning and leaving at once. But that was not before they knowingly gave a glance towards Ryan's office.
Once they were gone, Zenith looked back to gaze in the direction of the office. Just when she was about to turn back and work, she heard the telephone on her desk ring.
She frowned when she saw the number, but then she took it without a second delay.
"Hello," she answered and heard a gentle yet authoritative tone from the other side.
Once she heard what the other person had to say, she nodded, discussing a few details before mutually hanging up the call.
Then, keeping the receiver back on her desk, she stood up, pushing the chair, walked down the way to Ryan's office.
Knocking at the door, she waited to hear him allow her in.
However, even after a minute and two, no affirmation came.
Zenith couldn't help but knock again —this time louder than before. But still, no response came.
In the end, she had no choice but to push the door open and enter.
"Sir," she called softly, yet holding the tone of urgency.
Ryan had been reading a fine when she saw his gaze halt. She knew he had heard her.
Hence, she didn't wait to inform him of what she had come there for.
"I just received the call from Mr. Winslow's secretary." She paused briefly, continuing, "They have agreed to meet … tomorrow."
Ryan halted for a moment before nodding to her. "Got it," he said and then went back to read the file he was reading earlier.
Zenith wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't.
Nodding to him back, she just turned and left.
