NOVEL WEB Chapter 610: Do you think you have a choice?
Arwen suddenly remembered something, and she turned to look back at Aiden. "I had something to ask you," she said, her thoughts wandering back to the picture she had brought with her.
She would have asked him the moment she entered home, but the presence of Selene had delayed her.
But now that he was there with her, she felt it was the right time to clear things out with him.
"What is it?" Aiden asked, going a shade deeper with curiosity.
When she had arrived earlier, he had noticed something in her gaze. Although it was just for a fraction of a second, he hadn't missed the lingering sparks of anticipation and excitement in her eyes.
Arwen stared into his eyes and took a step closer. Her heart beat against her chest, slightly louder, but she wasn't sure if that could be heard outside.
"I had something to ask you," she repeated, her words coming more eager this time.
Aiden waited … patiently, nodding to her in response —cueing her to go ahead.
"Did we —"
Just as she was about to speak, a knock at the door interrupted them. She halted, and he frowned, looking at the door.
"Madam, sir," the maid spoke from the other side of the door, her voice coming from a distance. "Mr. Jones has asked me to come and inform you that the dinner is ready, and Ms. Martin is waiting for you at the dining table."
Arwen rolled her eyes, getting disappointed for a moment. "We heard you," she said, reciprocating. "Ask Mr. Jones to serve the dishes. We will be there soon."
"Okay, ma'am," the maid said and soon after, the subtle sound of her retreating steps was heard.
"What were you saying?" Aiden asked, and she glanced back at him.
If it had been a different situation, she would have gone further and asked him straight away. But with a guest waiting for them at the dining table, she knew she had to find another time to discuss it.
Shaking her head at him, she said, "It's fine, I will ask you some other time. For now, let's head to the dining hall. Ms. Martin is waiting for us."
He frowned, but she held his hand.
"I could only afford to give her this basic hospitality. Let her enjoy it, or else, later she would definitely come to you complaining about me."
"I don't mind."
"But I do," she enounced. "I do mind. Being the lady of the family, it's my responsibility to look after our guests. Although I don't like her, I can't shrug off or forget my responsibility —not until she forces me to."
She didn't know why, but with Selene in context, she had all the rules coming with terms and conditions. She simply doesn't want to stay bound to any restrictions when confronting her.
So, she has decided that as long as Selene stays good and within her limits —she wouldn't mind giving her some dignity and respect.
Or else, … she would act on her instinct as she has done earlier.
Aiden nodded to her, and Arwen smiled back. "Wait for me," she said before gesturing towards their closet. "I will come changing into something comfortable. And then we can go down together."
And then, saying that, she walked towards the closet to change, and he turned to look towards the mirror, noting his own reflection in it.
————
Meanwhile, back at Ryan's apartment —
Finally, the long, awkward dinner came to an end. Zenith put down her fork only to hear Ryan ask.
"You want something else?"
She glanced up, slightly caught off guard, before shaking her head. "No, I am full." Her gaze shifted to look at Delyth, who sat across from her.
"Don't do the dishes," Ryan spoke again. "Just keep them in the sink and return to your room and rest. You need it."
She nodded and stood up, feeling the glare from Delyth. But she chose to ignore it.
However, it wasn't as easy as she had thought.
Because the next moment, she heard Delyth ask in a tone of disbelief.
"What does that mean? She is staying here with you?"
Zenith paused and stared at Ryan, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Staying at one's boss's place was awkward and quite speculative. She didn't want to portray a wrong picture, but the way Delyth put it exactly gave that.
"What?" Delyth sneered again. "What are you staring at him for? Don't you have the answer yourself?"
"I —"
"Yes, she is staying with me," Ryan's voice came, interrupting Zenith's attempt. "In this house. She is staying. What else do you want to know?"
Delyth's fingers clenched at the table, and her face hardened. "Why, Ryan?" she asked through the grit of her teeth. "She is merely your secretary, isn't she? Why is she staying here with you? This is scandalous and —"
Zenith shook her head, ready to explain. But once again, before she could, Ryan's cold voice pierced the air.
"Even if it is, it shouldn't be any of your concern, Delyth." Ryan put down his fork with a clank. His tone was stern and oppressive, almost making the two women flinch. "Don't forget I allowed you to have dinner with us because this is your last week here. You are leaving next week."
Delyth gritted. "I don't want to leave," she said, trying her best to make her words come as firm and strong as possible but failing terribly in keeping that tone.
"You, what?"
"Ryan, I want to start afresh here. I don't want to leave and go to a place where I barely know anyone. I —"
"Do you think you have a choice?" he snapped, the edge his words held was clear. "This isn't an arrangement of your welfare, Delyth. It's the punishment you are receiving where your like or dislike doesn't matter. If you refuse to take this smooth end of the deal, I don't mind revising it and giving you what you really deserve."
The threat was true in his tone, and it made Delyth shiver. But she shook her head, not ready to give up. She didn't want to leave this place, and for that, she was willing to do whatever it took.