Chapter 214

214
At the dinner table , Anabel ate quietly while stealing glances at Owen , her eyes intent on every detail of his expressiona
The Shaw Family always insisted on silence at meals , but Owen’s home felt different , so she didn’t bother holding back . “ Owen , your true l better every time , Honestly , this tastes as good as Amour Bistro . ”
Owen glanced up and asked , “ So , what’s the reason for running away from home this time ? ”
Anabel flashed a proud smile . “ I didn’t run away this time — I did a good deed . ”
“ Oh ? What kind of good deed ? ”
“ I threw ink all over Liam and Hannah , ” she said , lowering her voice and sneaking a look at Aria , only relaxing when she saw Aria’s face was unreadable )
Owen sighed . “ Didn’t you learn your lesson last time ? ”
The whole Shaw family had seen the last incident . Brodie had almost lost his mind and wanted to make trouble for the Saxons , but Anabel had gotten
up further . down on her knees and begged forgiveness before it blew
Even so , Brodie had sent word to Aiden to give the Saxons some grief , but Aiden had just ignored him – only making family ties worse .
Blushing , Anabel mumbled , “ Well , they deserved it for pretending to be innocent . ”
After that fiasco , Aiden had forbidden her from going to Mandino City , but she’d snuck out anyway , telling only her mom .
When dinner was over , Aria offered to help with the dishes , was firmly refused , and so she headed back to her own place .
As Owen washed up , Anabel leaned by the kitchen door , peering in . “ Owen , do you like Aria ? ”
He turned , voice steady . “ Why do you ask ? ”
She grinned . “ You look at her differently . I can just tell .”
As a kid , Owen was always more popular than Kim – soft – featured , bright , polite , almost like someone had programmed him to be gentle with everyone .
But things changed when he turned twenty and became the family’s black sheep – everyone called him ungrateful , ruthless , cold .
He’d been slapped with every label imaginable .
But through it all , he stayed as gentle and composed as ever , the insults barely touching him .
He treated everyone the same , including her .
Still , Anabel could sense a difference in the way he looked at Aria – something softer , maybe even a little vulnerable .
Owen just said quietly , “ Go get some rest . I’ll take you home first thing tomorrow . ”
“ Can I stay until the afternoon ? ” Anabel wheedlo
“ I have work , ” Owen replied , not budging .
She pouted . “ Fine , fine . ”
Back in her apartment , Aria’s phone buzzed , Martin : [ Aria , any chance you’ve changed your mind about being a grad advisor in Ma
He’d asked the same thing every morning and every night since that first day .
City ? ]
214
Hic messages had gotten shorten ter responses more perfonatory ( Sorry , Martin Thave had arms thane That mea qualified to teach grad students ) had fomed into a simple ( Not for now )
She glanced at Martin’s latest message , and it made her think of her teacher , Mano ,
She scrolled to his pinned contact his latest message filling the screen with just two words : Get out
She’d gotten married so suddenly , she hadn’t had time to tell Mono , but he’d found out anyway and blown up at her first
She started typing : II heard you’re judging for the Fine Art Society is it on the 7th ?
Mono replied with a single word . Not “ get out “ -just a chilly “ Heh . ”
Aria: [ It’s been more than two years , you’re still mad at me ? ]
He didn’t answer until that night .