NOVEL WEB Chapter 612: Was it because she is his wife?
Selene was sitting at the dining table when Arwen entered the space. Their eyes met, and Arwen offered a smile.
"I hope we didn't make you wait for long, Ms. Martin." Her voice was polite, but not much.
Selene glanced at her and hated that smile on her lips. It reminded her of how she had earlier held her hands. It might not have left any mark on her skin, but it definitely left a scar on the arrogance she had taken pride in.
There was no way she was going to let her get away with that.
"No," she replied, shaking her head. "You didn't make me wait. I came down, freshening up just a few minutes ago." From the corner of her gaze, she caught a glimpse of Aiden approaching their direction, and she added, "And call me Selene, Arwen. There is no need for you to be so polite with me."
Arwen didn't miss it. Her gaze shifted to look to her side before returning to Selene again. "I guess you got something wrong there, Ms. Martin."
Selene was about to say something to Aiden, but she paused when she heard Arwen. With her brows knitted in confusion, she turned to her. "What is it?"
Arwen didn't say it immediately. She let her gaze linger on her for a seemingly long moment before she spoke. "I am not being polite to you. It's just that I don't like getting familiar with people I don't know. Since I don't know you well, I am just following the basic manners around you."
It was an insult in disguise. But even knowing it, Selene couldn't react.
She simply stared at Arwen, clenching her fingers under the table. "Oh, is it? Then I am relieved. I did not want to make my presence awkward to you."
Arwen shook her head, letting her lips curl in a generous smile. "Don't worry. You can't make me feel awkward in my own home, around my husband."
Selene gave a tight smile, which Arwen didn't feel like reciprocating. Turning to the side, she instead looked at Aiden.
"Completed your call? I thought it would take you a bit longer."
"It wasn't important," he replied.
She nodded. "Then let's not make Ms. Martin wait any longer. The dinner is already here, prepared. Let's have it."
"Yes, Aiden. Let's have dinner first. It's been so long since we last had a meal together," Selene said, letting her eyes meaningfully shift to Arwen. "To be honest, this is one of the things that I missed a lot in all these years."
However, Arwen barely showed any reaction. She simply moved to take her seat in the chair before calling for the butler. "Mr. Jones, ask someone to serve us."
Mr. Jones, who had been nearby, responded immediately, and two maids came forward to serve. Usually, when dining alone, Arwen wouldn't ask anyone to serve them, but with Selene, the situation was different.
"Ms. Martin is our guest, husband," Arwen spoke with a smile. "She is reminiscing the past you two once shared. Won't you join her?" Although she said it with all smiles, her gaze never reflected the same.
Aiden watched her for a brief moment before picking up a bowl to serve a dish on her plate. "There is not much of the past," he said, slow but deliberate. "I was too busy with work to miss anything."
He said it so blatantly that Selene was left utterly embarrassed. She never thought Aiden wouldn't give her the face at all.
Even Arwen was taken aback. She didn't like Selene, and she never hid that fact, but Selene was still a woman. And no woman deserves to get that blatantly embarrassed.
Not knowing how she should balance the situation, she coughed and rubbed her nose before letting out a small chuckle.
"Of course, how could you miss anything? You used to miss the whole meal itself."
Aiden watched her, and Arwen stared back at him, pressing her gaze onto him.
"Did I say anything wrong?"
He shook his head. "You didn't."
"Better, then," she nodded. "Then, let's just dig in." She didn't look towards Selene to save her from further embarrassment.
Selene lost her appetite. She had thought that coming here, she would make everything change. However, nothing seemed to be going the way she had thought it would go.
Aiden's attitude was killing her. It was not like he was treating her differently from how he used to treat her before. It was just that she could see how differently he was treating Arwen. She has never seen him give those gentle gazes to anyone.
Why was he so different around her?
Her gaze turned envious as she saw him scooping food onto Arwen's plate. He never did that to her. Not even once in all the times they had meals together.
Hasn't he treated her the best than everyone else?
Then how come today she felt like the way he treated her could compare even a little to the way he was treating Arwen?
Why?
Was it because she is his wife? Because he married her?
There seemed to be no other reason that could make Arwen worth having Aiden such care and attention … devotion.
As that thought struck her, her jaws tightened.
Arwen felt her continuous gaze and couldn't ignore it any longer. She lifted her head and asked, "What's wrong, Ms. Martin? Is the food not to your liking?"
"No," Selene shook her head, trying her best not to let her true emotions show on her face. "The food is great. It's just that after having a long journey, I don't feel like eating much."
Arwen looked down at her plate. She seemed to have barely touched anything. "It's fine. Take your time, eat slowly."
Aiden turned to look as well. With a straight face, he said, "You can try having something simple, then."
Selene perked up hearing him. She was about to ask him to serve something on her plate as well.
But before she could, Aiden gestured to the maid on the side and instructed, "Replace the plate and serve some salad to her."
The maid nodded before stepping forward to do as asked. However, Selene only frowned.
Arwen watched her. Noting her displeasure, which was clear on her expression, she spoke, "Seems like you don't want to have salad. If there is something particular you are craving, you can let Mr. Jones know. The chefs will prepare it and bring it in no time."
"Can I do that?" Selene asked.
Arwen nodded. There was no problem with that. After all, she was their guest.
"Then I would like to have some Fettuccine Alfredo," Selene said, looking towards Mr. Jones.
Arwen paused for a second before repeating, "Fettuccine Alfredo?"