A deep rose-colored belt cinched the pale pink dress, creating a striking color contrast that added a vibrant, lively touch to the flowing gown.The wavy hem of the dress trailed long behind her, and when caught by a gentle breeze, the feathery embellishments swayed like a dreamlike wisp of clouds.Aria couldn't take her eyes off this dress.Though the color was quite fresh and bold, there was no denying that this gown resembled a princess dress from a fairy tale—the kind that would captivate any woman's heart."This gown suits you perfectly," the stylist commented.Kent's gaze also fell on the dress. From his straightforward male perspective, the dress was indeed beautiful. Though not red, it looked almost like a wedding gown! Even more suitable for Miss Jackson."I'm going to get divorced, not walk a red carpet. Isn't this a bit too extravagant?" Aria asked.Surely only celebrities dressed like this for events."Not extravagant at all!" Kent jumped in emphatically. "Miss Jacks
"Let the reporters take a few photos when we arrive. This dress looks most beautiful when photographed from a higher angle. If the reporters don't take pictures, we'll hire our own photographer."Now that Miss Jackson was dressed so beautifully, how could they not capture it in photos or videos?"I'm really not walking a red carpet... I'm getting divorced," Aria reminded him with resignation."But you're getting married in the afternoon, right? We definitely need to take some beautiful photos," Kent reminded her once more.That's right—divorce in the morning, then marriage license with Archer in the afternoon.Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily. This time when Kent mentioned photos again, she didn't object....By the time they reached the registry office, it was nearly ten o'clock. Reporters crowded around the building, apparently having gotten wind that Larry and Aria would be divorcing today.Larry and Lucy had already arrived. Lucy wore a green dress and stood beside Larr
"Aria, where's that man? You had to bring him along for our divorce?"Larry lowered his voice, clearly embarrassed and not wanting the reporters to hear.Kent played with his phone nearby. Hearing this, he looked up and gave Larry a sidelong glance, an ambiguous smile directed at Larry's mouth as he clicked his tongue very softly.Larry immediately recalled the day Kent had pinned him down and forced water down his throat. A chill ran through his body.Not daring to provoke this troublemaker, he entered the registry office with a sullen face.Larry had already arranged everything. The clerk had been waiting for some time.Seeing the two—no, three—people enter, the clerk's expression turned slightly strange.The clerk had heard the gossip last night about Larry having a mistress. She'd received a call from her supervisor late in the evening asking her to make special time to process this divorce.While she knew Larry had several women on the side, she never expected he would brin
Memories from the past played like a movie in her mind.The soft light in the room fell gently on her, outlining her slender yet graceful silhouette.She seemed somewhat different from the radiant Aria of her memories. Her smile was no longer as bright, replaced by a calmness that came from weathering life's storms.Larry stood nearby, his gaze never leaving her.Despite all his harsh words before the divorce, now that they actually held the certificate, he felt disoriented.Looking at this woman who was both familiar and strange, Larry felt an indescribable ache in his heart.He too remembered how Aria used to be—always wearing a confident smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future. But after marrying him, her eyes had gained a depth and sadness, as if she had experienced too many hardships.Yet now, Aria seemed to have transformed back into the person she was years ago, a renewed vitality visible in her expression."Aria..."Larry's voice was somewhat hoarse,
Aria noticed Lucy's stare and merely glanced back briefly. She found it rather ridiculous that Lucy, the woman who had destroyed her marriage and stolen her husband, somehow felt entitled to hate her.She tucked away her divorce certificate and lifted her dress as she walked toward the exit.The reporters swarmed like hyenas catching a scent, thrusting microphones nearly into her face as camera flashes flickered."Miss Jackson, how do you feel about divorcing Mr. Spencer?" a veteran paparazzi asked first, with a hint of caution in his voice."Did Mr. Spencer divorce you because you forced Miss Landon to miscarry? Is that the truth?" Another younger reporter followed up with a sharp, direct question."Miss Jackson, if you couldn't get pregnant yourself, why did you have such deep hostility toward a woman carrying your husband's child? Say something!" A bespectacled reporter pressed aggressively.The reporters fired one pointed question after another, each like a barbed hook strikin
In the noisy hallway, Aria was ready to leave and end this suffocating interview.However, a familiar voice suddenly shattered the quiet she was about to claim."Aria!" Larry's voice echoed through the hallway, filled with undeniable authority and anger.He strode up to her, his gaze intense as he stared directly into her eyes. "You can't just leave like this."The reporters' attention immediately shifted back, camera flashes lighting up again as microphones extended toward the two of them.Larry's expression was frighteningly dark, his voice low and tense, "Lucy miscarried because of you. You need to explain this to everyone."Ignoring the stares around them, he blocked Aria's path, insisting she give Lucy an explanation.Lucy stood nearby, a flash of satisfaction in her eyes. She gently covered her abdomen with both hands, tears hanging on her face as if to emphasize her helplessness and pain. She knew that at this moment, all eyes were on her—the more fragile and pitiful she a
No, she couldn't let Aria gain the upper hand, or she'd have no chance of winning!Lucy suddenly shrank timidly behind Larry, looking at Aria with fear and panic in her eyes."Aria, why must you treat me this way?""That baby was something I'd hoped for so long. I know I did wrong—you can hate me and not forgive me... but you shouldn't have made me lose my baby..."Lucy's voice was choked with sobs.The reporters' expressions changed.Camera flashes continued to blink as the reporters' questions rose again.Aria stood there facing countless questions and doubts, her expression still calm as still water."Miss Jackson, is Miss Landon saying you forced her to miscarry?" one reporter asked loudly, while others joined in, momentarily creating chaos.Lucy hid behind Larry as if afraid Aria might attack her, her eyes filled with fear and anxiety.Aria smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping across everyone before finally settling on Lucy.With a gentle smile, Aria slowly asked, "Were yo
"I desperately wanted to escape the Spencer family," Aria continued, "while you longed to enter it. So now I'm handing over the position of Mrs. Spencer to you. Welcome to your nightmare. I wish you and Larry a lifetime of love and happiness together."She spoke as if she truly no longer cared about Larry at all.Casually wishing them love and happiness.Lucy's throat tightened, tears welling in her eyes. She felt powerless, as if her entire world was collapsing in that moment.Seeing this, Larry couldn't help but exclaim, "She's talking nonsense!" His voice filled with anger and dissatisfaction.Their Spencer family wasn't such a mess! Aria was clearly just making things up!Aria laughed coldly, looking directly into Larry's eyes, "You can talk to me about this when you're finally able to keep it in your pants."Her words were sharp and hit the mark, leaving Larry momentarily speechless, his face flushing with embarrassment.Just as Larry was about to rush forward and grab Aria
"Today you officially became my wife, so I'm finding it hard to hold back." He leaned forward slightly, brushing the corner of her lips, gently grazing them. "So, Mrs. Duncan, may I kiss you?"His lips were already touching hers, yet he still asked this question—wasn't that question a little redundant?Aria felt her first impression of Archer hadn't been wrong."Wolf in sheep's clothing" or "gentleman on the outside, beast on the inside" would definitely describe him accurately.Her face grew even redder, her breathing uneven, her eyes closed as she dared not look at the man before her."So may I kiss you, Mrs. Duncan?"He was still asking.As if waiting for her answer before truly kissing her."We're married..." Her voice was soft, but this was clearly an answer.He smiled. "So that's a yes?"A barely audible "mm" escaped her throat, and the man smiled as he moved closer, finally kissing her.At last his lips met hers. Aria was stunned for a moment, then slowly relaxed.H
He wore only a white shirt, perhaps because of the summer heat. His tie was loosened slightly, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone and attractive Adam's apple.His sleeves were casually rolled up to his elbows, his hands gripping the steering wheel, making his forearms look even more solid.When he turned the wheel, his arms moved, causing the shirt to stretch across his upper arms. The fabric clung tightly to his muscles, revealing his elegant, powerful contours.Her gaze moved upward to his handsome, refined profile. This was the first time she had observed him so carefully and from such close proximity. She realized his features were truly exceptional.His eyes were as beautiful as expensive obsidian, his nose as perfectly sculpted as a work of art. She had often heard people mention how handsome Larry was, but now she saw that compared to Archer, Larry's appearance seemed rather ordinary.Archer was mature and dignified, with
He was very clear about certain things and never gave these women any reason to think they were special....In the car, Aria sat in the passenger seat, still looking somewhat dazed at the ring on her finger.She had been married to Larry for three years and naturally had a wedding ring.But Larry never wore his wedding ring in public, so she hadn't worn hers either. Her ring finger didn't even have that circular mark from wearing a ring. Now, though, things seemed different."What are you thinking about?"Suddenly, she felt warmth at her ear as hot breath caressed her earlobe and neck, carrying the man's cool, fresh scent.Aria quickly turned her head, surprised and stunned.Archer's face was just inches away. When she had turned, his lips had nearly brushed her cheek and the corner of her mouth.Now his warm breath fell on her face, making her ears burn and her entire face flush.They were so close that for the first time, she looked directly into his eyes through his glasse
His fingers showed no ring marks, indicating he had never worn rings before.The platinum band fit perfectly on his long, elegant fingers, looking especially graceful.For the first time, Aria felt that a man wearing a ring could be incredibly attractive.His hands were fair and well-defined, slender yet elegant, with veins faintly visible beneath the skin. Now, with a ring on his finger, it was as if she had claimed him.Aria paused, unable to resist touching his refined fingers. They were long and slender, the skin wrapped smoothly around each slightly protruding knuckle, giving his hands a lean, graceful appearance.At this moment, she suddenly realized that this man now belonged to her.Ethan went to pay for the necklace and ring for his companion. As she waited, she turned around and witnessed this scene, her eyes darkening.Seeing how dismissive Ethan was toward her compared to this moment, her face paled slightly.She glared at Aria with hostility, then suddenly stepped t
"I've got no wedding on the horizon, not even close." Ethan showed no concern for his female companion's paling face.When they first got together, he had made it clear—he would provide money and gifts, and she would only need to offer emotional support. Any deeper feelings were off the table.Theirs wasn't a physical transaction but an emotional one. The two of them were simply in a business arrangement.So she was a companion, not a girlfriend, and there was certainly no "wedding bells" in their future.Archer noticed that Ethan's companion seemed upset, but he just nodded slightly."Feel free to look around. I'll help Aria pick out rings."Ethan clicked his tongue softly as Archer led Aria to the counter displaying matching rings. The styles were relatively simple. Aria didn't like anything too flashy, and she sensed Archer probably didn't either. Simple, understated rings would be perfect."I know it's not a good time for you to wear a wedding ring right now, so let's start w
Only getting married once in a lifetime…Aria froze for a moment, her eyes slightly dazed.Only once—what did that mean?It meant he had chosen her. It meant there wouldn’t be anyone else. No betrayal. She would be his one and only wife.Was this Archer’s way of making her a promise?She wasn’t a naïve girl anymore, easily swept away by pretty words. But still… she couldn’t help letting herself imagine what it would be like, just for a second.Kent didn’t get in the car this time. Archer was the one driving.Eventually, the car pulled up in front of a high-end jewelry flagship store.“Let’s go,” Archer said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out first.Aria was a little confused—why were they stopping here? But as soon as she got out, Archer took her hand and gently led her toward the store.“Wait,” she said, tugging at his hand just as they reached the entrance.He looked down at her.She stared at his handsome face, suddenly second-guessing herself. What if she misun
This can’t be real.It has to be a coincidence. Maybe he was just helping her walk in.The clerk at the marriage office was secretly stunned—but still managed to keep a polite, professional smile on her face.“Miss Jackson, did you forget something?” she asked pleasantly.Aria paused in surprise.She hadn’t expected the same clerk from this morning to be the one handling their marriage license too.Her gaze shifted to Archer.Archer looked completely calm. “We’re here to get our marriage license,” he said. “We need the application form.”The clerk froze.Wait… what?Miss Jackson really did get divorced this morning… and now she’s back to get married?Her eyes widened in disbelief, but she kept smiling and professionally handed them the paperwork.Wow. Miss Jackson, you're bold.Of course, the clerk wasn’t clueless—she’d heard all about Larry Spencer and his scandals. The guy had mistresses all over the place. A complete jerk.If he could mess around however he wanted, why
Aria barely had time to react to his last joking comment—because as soon as Archer said he was taking her to meet his family, her nerves kicked in.She hadn’t expected that when he said he was bringing her home, he meant straight to his grandparents. Meeting the head of the Duncan family right away? That felt like… a lot.She was starting to panic.Even before her family fell apart—and even when she had never been married—she never dared dream of being introduced directly to the elder of a family like the Duncans. And now, after having gone through a marriage and divorce?“Mr. Duncan… I’ve never asked you this before, but… does your family really approve of you marrying me?”The Duncans weren’t just any family—they were old money, a real high-society dynasty. Archer, as the direct heir, could have had his pick of society’s most eligible women. And yet… he chose her.But why?“At the very least, my grandparents definitely approve,” Archer replied with a soft laugh. “Two years ago,
A flicker of emotion passed through Archer’s eyes, but he replied calmly, “I just got here.”He placed a dish in front of her—black pepper steak, her favorite.Aria smiled, her eyes curving slightly. This time, she didn’t say thank you. Instead, she picked up the tongs and placed a shrimp onto his plate, then happily dug into the steak on her own.The chef at this restaurant really knew their craft. The steak was tender and fresh, and even as she ate, Aria still remembered to maintain perfect table manners.Archer, seated across from her, simply watched in silence. Just watching her brought a quiet sense of peace.The meal didn’t take long. Aria had never been a big eater, and she finished off the lunch with a glass of sweet fruit juice.As they neared the end of the meal, Archer set down his utensils and asked, “Did anything upset you today? Did Larry or Lucy give you a hard time?”His tone was calm as always, but there was a trace of concern hidden beneath it.Aria gave a soft