Chapter 8 Widowed

Aria looked up to find Larry and Sophie approaching their table. A bitter irony washed over her.

God really did have a twisted sense of humor.

Just one mall. And somehow she'd run into them three times already.

"Sophie! It really has been ages. I was just on the phone with your teacher the other day, and now here you are. What a coincidence."

Luna's gaze shifted to Larry beside Sophie.

"Is this your husband?"

In an instant, both Larry's and Sophie's expressions darkened.

Aria, by contrast, remained perfectly composed. If anything, a faint smile played at her lips.

Ever since Sophie's return, she'd been dropping hints about her relationship with Larry at every opportunity. And Larry had never once denied it.

Now, with his actual wife sitting right here, Aria was curious to see just how far he'd go.

The silence stretched for several seconds.

Sophie edged closer to Larry and deliberately slipped her arm through his, her smile bright and possessive.

"Yes, this is my husband. We're out shopping today—he insisted on buying me some gifts."

As she spoke, Sophie's eyes flicked toward Aria, gleaming with triumph and challenge.

Larry said nothing. Made no move to correct her. Offered not a single word of explanation.

Aria sat across from them, watching in silence. It felt as though an invisible hand had clamped around her heart, squeezing until she couldn't breathe.

They really did make a perfect pair.

If not for her, Larry and Sophie would have reunited long ago.

But they weren't divorced yet. And here Sophie was, openly provoking her—practically announcing herself as the other woman in Aria's marriage.

In the stillness, Larry's dark, unfathomable gaze locked onto Aria.

Her expression remained eerily calm. Not a ripple of emotion crossed her face.

If this had been before, Aria would have thrown a fit by now. But today? She was completely silent.

Luna, oblivious to the undercurrents, smiled warmly and gestured for Larry and Sophie to join them.

"Let me introduce you—this is Aria, one of my former students."

As both Sophie and Larry turned their attention to her, Aria offered them a cool, detached smile.

"Hello."

The distant, almost indifferent tone made Larry's brow furrow. Discomfort stirred in his chest.

They'd been married for years. And now she could greet him as though he were a stranger?

Was she actually serious about this divorce?

Sophie put on a show of politeness and greeted Aria in return.

"Ms. Grey, it's nice to meet you. Professor Lee has mentioned you before. I heard you're married as well. Are you here alone today, or with your husband?"

Aria paused mid-sip of her coffee. Her eyes instinctively flicked toward Larry.

He didn't meet her gaze. Instead, he turned his head away, as though the woman sitting across from him wasn't his legally wedded wife at all.

Aria nearly laughed.

In all their years of marriage, Larry had rarely introduced her to anyone. But now, he was perfectly content to let Sophie claim him as her husband.

Of course.

She was disabled. Sophie was accomplished, radiant, full of promise. What man wouldn't prefer that?

Aria's lips curved into a faint smile as she met Sophie's smug gaze head-on, her voice clear and deliberate.

"Unfortunately, my husband passed away."

The sound of shattering glass cut through the air.

Aria glanced toward Larry.

He was staring at her, his expression dark with displeasure. The coffee cup in his hand had cracked.

Had Aria lost her mind?

Saying he was dead?

He was sitting right in front of her, alive and breathing, and she was acting like he didn't exist?

Larry's jaw tightened, a cold huff escaping through his nose.

"Ms. Grey, if I recall correctly, I saw you with your husband just moments ago. Cursing him like this—aren't you afraid of breaking his heart?"

Breaking his heart?

If anyone's heart had been broken, it was hers.

She'd thought she could have a happy marriage. Instead, Larry had ignored her for five years.

Even so, she hadn't given up. She'd tried everything, hoping that with enough effort, she could change how he felt about her.

Aria couldn't understand why Larry was so furious over a single sentence.

Wasn't Sophie the one he loved?

She was stepping aside, clearing the path for them to be together. Shouldn't he be grateful?

Aria's smile turned brittle.

"I'm afraid this gentleman is mistaken. If you claim you saw my husband, then by all means—bring him out here."

Larry couldn't very well do that.

Because he was her husband.

His expression darkened further. His fists clenched and unclenched. The discomfort in his chest intensified.

Was she throwing a tantrum on purpose?

He hadn't corrected Sophie's claim because he didn't want to embarrass her. And even that was too much for Aria to handle?

Luna, sensing the tension, frowned slightly.

"Do the three of you know each other?"

Aria quickly looked away and shook her head.

"No."

The speed with which she denied any connection made Larry's face darken even more.

She was that eager to distance herself from him?

Shortly after, Luna excused herself, citing another appointment.

Aria stood to leave as well.

But Sophie suddenly spoke up, her voice dripping with false remorse.

"Aria, I'm so sorry about earlier. I wasn't thinking clearly. You're not upset with me, are you? If you are, let me buy you a gift to make it up to you."

Aria's expression turned icy.

"What's done is done. An apology won't change anything. If you really think you weren't thinking clearly, maybe you should see a neurologist. Otherwise, people might start thinking you're the kind of woman who goes after other people's husbands."

Sophie's face twisted with humiliation. Beneath the table, her sharp nails dug into her palms, her eyes flashing with suppressed fury.

Before she could respond, Larry shot to his feet, his voice cold and cutting.

"Aria, do you have to be so vicious? Sophie and I are friends. But you're calling her a homewrecker? Do you think every woman I interact with is trying to steal me away? Is that really how narrow-minded you are?"

Of course.

The moment Sophie felt even the slightest bit wronged, Larry would leap to her defense.

But Aria? She'd endured years of mistreatment in the York household. Years of suffering in silence.

And her husband had never once spoken up for her.