Chapter 768
Chapter 768
The Fletcher family had prepared the silver needles. Aria performed a few acupuncture treatments on Avery, adjusted the prescription, and then handed the new prescription to Susan. “Take medicine before bed, and from now on, you can come back for a check-up every two months.”
Susan tried to contain her excitement and asked, “Is she really getting better?”
Aria nodded. “Yes.”
Susan’s eyes grew misty with gratitude as she said, “Aria, thank you so much.” Aria had saved Avery’s life.
After dinner, Aria got up to leave. Lexie held her hand and said, “It’s so late. Why don’t you stay the night? Fryderyk can take you to school tomorrow.”
Aria smiled and shook her head. “No, Owen will be here soon.”
Lexie teased. “He’s really keeping a close eye on you.”
“We’re just used to being together,” Aria said, a gentle smile at the corner of her eyes.
Fryderyk stood up. “I have to head back to the station for some overtime. I’m off this week, so I’ll come back on Saturday. Take care of yourself, Grandma.”
Lexie sighed, “If you could just get yourself a girlfriend, I swear I’d live to a hundred.”
Fryderyk replied, “Work keeps me too busy. Even if I found someone, I’d just end up dragging her down.”
“Go on, go on. None of you ever let me rest easy,” Lexie said, waving her hand helplessly.
Derek sprang to his feet too. “Fryderyk, I’ll go with you. Give me a ride back to school.”
Fryderyk nodded. “Alright.”
Lexie turned to Derek and said with heartfelt concern, “Derek, you’re not getting any younger. Maybe it’s time you started dating. Once you start working after graduation, it’ll only get harder to meet the right girl.”
“I know it, Grandma.” Derek grinned and called back.
When the three of them reached the gate, Owen’s car had just come to a stop. Aria glanced at the two of them. “Take care on your way.”
Fryderyk watched her get into Owen’s car. Derek leaned in. “Fryderyk, Owen’s cooking is out of this world. We’re all totally under his spell. You can forget about Aria. She’s long gone. Let me set you up with some other girls from our school—”
“Cut the chatter. Get in the car,” Fryderyk interrupted him.
“Poor soul,” Derek said, glancing up at the sky.
The next day at noon, Aria got a call from Cathy. “Lucas has confessed. He and Mark are close friends. Mark couldn’t have killed Isaac on his own. Lucas helped him out. In return, Mark agreed to take the fall for Lucas,” Cathy said.
Aria asked, “So how’s Mark holding up now?”
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Cathy let out a sigh. “He’s doing okay. Brodie found out you were the one who caught Lucas, and he got so mad he landed in the hospital. You can bet he’ll try to meddle in Mark’s case.”
Brodie might not be the head of the Shaw family, but as the eldest, his word still carried a lot of weight. Who knew, he might even try to stir things up and force Mark to take the blame for Lucas.
“But Lucas figures he’s already facing the death penalty, so he’s admitted to killing Isaac too,” Cathy added.
Mark had ever shown Lucas any warmth. He never meant Mark to take the blame. This was all just to lure Brodie out and set a trap for him. Brodie had already done enough to land himself in prison.
“I just called my brother,” Cathy said, her tone noticeably lighter. “He’s going to take on Mark’s case and defend him.”
Aria let out a soft “Mm.” “Looks like this case is pretty much over.”
Cathy cleared her throat. “By the way, summer break is coming up soon. Got any plans?”
“Just doing experiments,” Aria replied.
“Come on, it’s your break. Don’t just think about work all the time. There are plenty of fun things to do,” Cathy said.
Aria picked up on the hint and chuckled. “Like what?”
“The State Security Bureau is hosting its Skills Evaluation at the end of July. It only happens once every four years. I’m planning to put together an all-girls team and stomp all those guys into the ground,” Cathy said.
“We’re just missing one person, and you’d fit right in,” she added.
Cathy had gotten plenty of offers to join other teams, but she found them all boring. The top players always team up together and snag first place every single time. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’ she thought.
The State Security Bureau had way more guys than girls. Some think women are protected in male-dominated teams. Actually, men often band together and only support each other when there are benefits.
During assessments, physical strength was a big deal, and it wasn’t exactly in the girls’ favor. But when it came to actual missions, they were just as capable as the guys and often walked away with bonuses and prizes.
That only made the guys more determined to beat them and keep them from getting good results in the assessments. Cathy was full of fighting spirit, ready to take on the world. After hearing her out, Aria actually got interested.
“Please!” Cathy, thinking Aria’s silence meant a no, started to act all clingy. “If you don’t say yes, I’ll just move to Mandino City and bug you every single day.”
“How long?” Aria asked.
“Just half a month.” Cathy instantly perked up.
Aria replied nonchalantly, “I’ll think about it.”
“Deal!” Cathy said brightly. “I’ll be waiting for your answer.”
Just as Aria hung up, there was a gentle knock at the office door. “Come in,” she said.
The door opened, and a few female students squeezed in. One of the girls, holding a bouquet of flowers, stepped forward. “Ms. Saxon, these are for you. Thank you for saving me that day.”
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Aria stood up, her eyes gentle. “Protecting students is a teacher’s duty. You really don’t have to go out of your way to thank me. Besides, he was actually after me, and I nearly dragged you into it.”
The girl said. “Even if he was after you, the truth is, I was almost killed. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t even be here
right now.”
Her voice caught for a second, but then she managed a smile. “My parents are super grateful and would love to treat you to
dinner.”
Aria took the bouquet of carnations. “Thank you, but you really don’t have to treat me to dinner. I’ll gladly accept the flowers, though.”
The girl nodded with a soft “Mm,” then took a beautifully wrapped box from her friend and set it on the desk. “Ms. Saxon, I made this myself. It’s for you.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Saxon.” The girls left the office together.
Aria opened the box to find a pair of delicate ceramic figurines inside. Their outfits were unmistakably modeled after hers and Owen’s. She couldn’t help but smile as she put the gift away.
After finishing her experiments, Aria left work carrying the bouquet in her arms. Owen’s car had just stopped at the school gate. When he saw the flowers in her arms, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
