Free Web NovelChapter 223: Chapter 223
Aria’s POV
Nala didn’t flinch nor shrink. She looked at Nathan calmly and emotionless, unlike her nervous reaction when she had met Jonathan and I for the first time.
Nathan’s frown deepened.
Nala turned and walked away without a second glance.
Behind him, Sophia studied Nathan’s displeasure with care. Frustration flickered in her expression, followed by smug satisfaction.
She tilted her head sweetly, my sharp ears caught her words. “Nathan, my sister is so impulsive.”
Nathan let out a cold laugh. “Who could ever control her?”
The sarcasm dripped thick, but beneath it, buried deep, was frustration and envy. I could sense it.
They were still standing there when Jonathan and I walked out and went to the already waiting car and got in.
Jonathan turned to me. “What made you decide to sponsor Nala so suddenly?”
I leaned my head against the window, smiling faintly. “Weren’t you hesitant to donate too?”
I glanced at the check in his hand, it was an amount large enough to renovate the orphanage or transform the children’s meals overnight.
We shared a quiet, knowing smile.
The children were thin, underfed. Martin, meanwhile, was anything but that.
“I’ll have my assistant convert the funds into supplies,” Jonathan said. “They’ll be distributed directly to rural schools.”
I nodded. “That sounds great.”
Then I checked my watch and handed Jonathan’s driver an address. “Take me here, the Starlink Institute.”
I’d planned to visit my studio in the morning, meet Francis in the afternoon. The orphanage had shifted everything.
“The Starlink Institute?” Jonathan asked, surprised. free𝑤ebnovel.com
“You know it?”
“Of course. They’re expanding in Veridale, but they’ve had... problems.” He glanced at me. “What are you going to do there though?”
I smiled at him and said vaguely, “it’s related to the problems you mentioned.” freeweɓnøvel.com
He raised a brow. I smiled and said nothing more. He took that as a cue that I didn’t want to reveal too much and didn’t press any further.
At the institute entrance, the guards recognized me immediately and opened the doors without question.
Jonathan watched me step into the sunlight, my silhouette rimmed in gold.
“You’re early,” Francis said as I entered the lab, irritation fading into warmth when he saw me.
“Where’s Attorney Stephan?” I asked.
He smirked. “You ask about him first thing?”
I laughed. “The court session is this afternoon. Why am I more nervous than the client?”
“He’ll be here soon.” Francis said with a smile.
I skimmed through the documents while we waited. Sure enough, Stephan arrived shortly after, his belly leading the way, eyes lighting up.
“Attorney Aria!”
I laughed at his enthusiasm. He proudly spread out the files he had prepared with Francis’ assistant. “Take a look.”
“I already did,” I said. “It is very thorough.”
His chest puffed with pride.
Francis’s assistant brought tea, but her gaze lingered on me strangely. My wolf bristled. I looked away.
“Ms. Darvin, try this,” Stephan said cheerfully.
“Attorney Stephan!” the assistant hissed. “There’s only enough tea for one person.”
He waved it off. “Then we’ll brew more!”. He poured me a cup.
I hesitated, then accepted it, offering the assistant a silent, knowing smile.
In life, one shouldn’t let those who despise you feel too comfortable. My wolf growled softly under my skin, eager and impatient.
I downed the tea in one smooth motion, letting the warmth slide down my throat. “Good tea.”
Francis’ grin widened, his excitement just as infectious as Stephan’s. “Right? Have some more!”
I drained the second cup without hesitation. The teapot was already empty, my wolf’s impatience mirrored in my movements. Francis thrust the empty pot toward his assistant. “Go brew another pot. I want more.”
The assistant froze, her grip tight on the tray. I could smell her fear mingling with frustration. My wolf smirked inwardly. She doesn’t like this game, but she’s not allowed to show it.
Francis noticed her hesitation and furrowed his brows. “Why are you just standing there? Want me to do it?”
Her eyes flashed with annoyance, but she swallowed it down and left. My gaze met Francis’. He shook his head, a small, indulgent smile playing on his lips. I could read it.
Stephan, Francis and I discussed the defense with meticulous care, each word measured. Hours passed, and the assistant knocked again, her presence radiating tension sharper than iron claws.
“Enter,” Francis said.
By then, the tea had taken nearly two hours to brew. Her resentment was almost tangible, swirling like mist around her.
“I’m heading to the courthouse now. Reheat it for me when I return,” Francis said, waving his hand as he left with Stephan and me. The assistant’s shoulders sagged; my wolf chuckled at the sight of her frustration.
The courthouse loomed before me, Asterfell First Court. Its familiar steps carried a flood of memories, each brick a memory, every crack a story. I could feel my wolf stirring as I approached, excitement and anticipation mingling with a predator’s thrill.
I climbed the steps slowly, savoring the heat rising in my chest, my wolf bristling as I glimpsed the high-hanging national emblem.
“Aria?”
The voice sliced through my thoughts, sharp and surprised.
