Free Web NovelChapter 374: Chapter 374
Aria’s POV
Light spilled across the floor, golden and warm. I stayed in the shadows, leaning lightly against the wall, my ears sharpening.
“What’s the deal? You didn’t even know she doesn’t eat onions, ginger, or garlic?”
They were talking about me. My wolf lifted its head.
Margaret’s voice came, tight. “She doesn’t live with us. How would I know?”
“But every dish?” Patrick sounded frustrated. “Every single one?”
There was a pause. Then Margaret’s voice came, sharper, “Ann was the one that cooked! And Sophia likes that flavor. That’s how we always eat. You’ve never complained.”
So it wasn’t even personal. Margaret wasn’t even the one who prepared the meal.
I almost laughed.
“And you got the room wrong too,” Margaret added. “Ann told me.”
Patrick sighed, the heavy kind. “Aria finally came back, and we keep messing up. We have to be more careful.”
They had to be careful? Like I was some skittish animal they were trying not to scare off.
Well, they weren’t wrong.
I didn’t expect Margaret to cook. A woman who’d lived cushioned her whole life wouldn’t suddenly play house for me. The fact that it was Ann who did, made more sense.
My hunger suddenly faded.
Expectation was a dangerous thing. I’d learned that young.
I glanced once into the kitchen, at my supposed parents in warm light, worrying about a daughter they’d never really known, then I turned and slipped back upstairs.
My room was silent. I sank into the bed and was gone in seconds.
*****
Knock. Knock.
I opened my eyes instantly.
Sophia’s scent reached me before her voice did.
“Aria, Dad and Mom asked me to get you for breakfast.”
I opened the door. She was smiling, her smile looked bright and polished. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve believed it.
“Okay,” I said, cool. I closed the door.
By the time I came downstairs, the food was cold.
Patrick stood the moment he saw me, smiling too quickly. “Come, Aria. Your sister called you long ago. It is such a shame, breakfast won’t taste as good now.”
I didn’t sit, I didn’t even look at the chair.
“I’m not eating,” I said. “I’m going to the office.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out.
I could feel all their stares like claws between my shoulder blades, but I didn’t let that bother me, I just kept moving until I left the villa.
I grabbed food on the way. It was something simple, something that didn’t offend my senses.
By the time I reached the office, Amelia and Chloe were already there.
“You bought breakfast?” Rowland’s voice came from behind me. I turned. He was carrying multiple bags, smelling like takeout.
“What is all this?” I asked.
“I figured you wouldn’t like the food at the Darvin house.” He looked at me like a hopeful pup. “Breakfast matters, you know.”
My mouth twitched. “But I already—”
I hadn’t finished when he snatched my takeaway and dropped it onto Jackson’s desk. “Eat mine.”
Jackson blinked, clearly startled, then looked between us like a deer caught between wolves.
I shot Rowland a glare, then walked over to Jackson instead. “You haven’t eaten, have you? Come. Let’s eat together.”
I sat and pulled Jackson into the seat across from me. Rowland hovered, tragically ignored, until I gestured for him to sit.
The food was unpacked. The smell filled the room, it was warm and rich. Jackson swallowed hard.
I smiled and urged him. “Go on.”
I placed some of the food in front of him. He dove in like a starving cub. Rowland joined in too, wolfing down the food on his plate.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open. It was Chloe and Amelia
They stood in the doorway with their arms crossed in perfect sync, like two sentries guarding absolutely nothing, their eyes glittering as they took in the scene: me, Jackson, and Rowland at the table with food everywhere. frёewebnoѵēl.com
My lips twitched.
Great, the chaos twins have arrived.
Chloe strutted in first, her tongue clicking twice like she was calling a pair of unruly pups. “Wow. You three look like such a cozy little family. How’s breakfast?”
Rowland didn’t even pause. He chewed slowly, unbothered, then corrected her in that calm, infuriating way of his. “Family of three? Lana isn’t here.”
Chloe raised a brow, her mouth forming a dramatic “O.”
I could practically hear her brain loading new teasing material.
Before she could unleash it, I cut in. “Why are you standing there? If you’re here, sit and eat with us, there is plenty to go round.”
I gestured to the empty chairs.
Amelia waved a hand. “We’ve eaten.”
“Then stop interrupting mine,” Rowland muttered, clearly territorial.
Amelia caught his expression and smiled in a slow and knowing manner. Spending too much time with Chloe had definitely corrupted her.
“Aria,” she said, her eyes shifting back to me, “when will you be done? We need to talk. Or can we talk while you eat?”
“No, we talk after she eats!” Rowland slapped the table lightly, like he had any authority here.
I calmly picked up a food box, stuffed it full, and shoved it into his hands.
“You and Jackson, go eat somewhere else. I have work.”
There was silence.
Rowland stared at the box like I’d handed him a formal exile order. Chloe burst into laughter, bending at the waist.
Jackson, on the other hand, instantly stood, clutching his share like an obedient young wolf awaiting instructions. He looked at Rowland expectantly.
“Go” I said, my brows lowering slightly. “Please.”
I knew it was not my place to order an Alpha around, but this wasn’t just any alpha, this was my friend. Rowland huffed, shot a glare at Amelia and Chloe and finally stalked out with Jackson in tow.
The door shut.
I pushed my breakfast aside and leaned forward. “Talk.”
Amelia’s entire demeanor shifted. Her voice softened. “You can eat while we...”
“No.” I shook my head. “If you’re here, it’s important.”
She nodded once and went straight to the point.
“It is about Tyler, Jackson’s father. I think we have found out where he is.”
My spine straightened. “Where is he?”
