Chapter 598
Liam flushed with shame, his expression growing increasingly grim. “My family’s been through a lot lately, so Mom’s not in the best state of mind. We’d like to settle this amicably.”
“Liam?” Elena shrieked, her voice trembling with rage. “Aria has destroyed our family. And you’re still obsessed with that
bitch.”
Allen’s face hardened. “Article 42 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law,” he stated coldly. “One more insult and you’ll be detained on the spot.”
Liam grabbed his mother, his voice sharp with warning. “What does Orlando taking over the Cole Group have to do with Aria? Stop making a scene.”
At first, Liam was furious and suspected Aria was involved. But the information he dug up showed the Stars Group hadn’t interfered at all.
“Mom, if you keep making a scene, I’ll move abroad and cut all ties with the Cole family for good,” Liam warned.
Elena froze, her world collapsing around her. She cried out, “I carried you for nine months and raised you with my own hands-is this how you repay me? You’d rather see your own mother wronged for the sake of your ex-wife?”
Liam’s face contorted, finally reaching his breaking point. He stood up and stormed out of the police station.
Now that Liam was her only lifeline, Elena scrambled after him, pleading, “Liam, please. I was wrong.”
The mediation room fell silent.
Fred shook hands with Allen and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Chief Lawrence.”
Allen said, “Don’t mention it.”
Allen looked at Aria and said, “Next time this happens, feel free to slap or kick back-just don’t go overboard. Wouldn’t want you accidentally killing someone.”
Fryderyk and the other officer, both of whom knew Aria, didn’t bat an eye at Allen’s words.
But Fred was utterly stunned. Fred couldn’t help but think, ‘Why did the chief say it like Aria might actually kill someone?’
On their way back to campus, Fred couldn’t help but ask, “Ms. Saxon, do you know Chief Lawrence personally?”
Aria shrugged. “We go way back.”
Fred let out a long sigh of relief. “That’s great. At least we won’t have to worry if they cause trouble again.
“By the way, the Cole Group has been renamed the Phosphor Group, and Liam is highly likely to pull their funding.”
Aria shrugged. “Let him pull out. I’ll have the Stars Group cover it.”
Fred’s face lit up with a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. ‘Martin certainly had an eye for talent,’ he wondered.
At 4 PM, after finishing her lab session, Aria was preparing to leave.
Helen and Larry came up with their notebooks, ready to ask questions.
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Chapter 598
Aria glanced at the two students. “Is this urgent?”
“No rush, Ms. Saxon,” they said.
Aria said, “I’ve got something to attend to now. Organize your questions and send them to me-I’ll reply by the end of today.”
“Got it, Ms. Saxon.” They nodded.
Today is Owen’s birthday.
Emma invited Aria to the bakery.
Ever since that staged accident brought them together, Emma would often chat with Aria, no longer worried about intruding on the couple. Whenever her maid made homemade delicacies, she’d have some sent over to them.
Aria arrived at the bakery ten minutes early, but Emma was already there. James was also there.
“Hi, Emma. Hi, James,” Aria greeted.
“Hey Aria,” Emma beamed as she walked over and looped her arm through Aria’s. “We just got here ourselves.”
The staff member smiled and said, “The bakery kitchen is all set. Please follow me.”
James instinctively moved to follow, but Emma turned back and said, “You’d just be in the way inside. Wait for us out here.”
Emma never intended to bring James along, but ever since that staged accident when he wasn’t there for her, he’d been drowning in guilt-there was no way she could leave him behind this time, even if she wanted to.
James understood his wife’s reasoning and responded playfully, “Got it.”
Watching Emma and Aria disappear inside, James found a seat in the waiting area and settled down to wait.
“Mr. Shaw?” Suddenly, a surprised voice rang out.
James looked up to find a man and a woman standing before him.
A puzzled expression crossed James’s face. “And you are?”
Lydia smiled gently and said, “Mr. Shaw, I’m Lydia-a classmate of Owen’s.”
Before Lydia went abroad, she had crossed paths with Owen’s parents a few times.
“Oh, Owen’s classmates? Nice to meet you,” he smiled. James’s gaze fell upon the man of mixed heritage standing beside Lydia.
