Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 391: Chapter 391

Aria flicked Vanessa on the forehead. "What nonsense are you spouting now?"
Vanessa immediately hooked her arm through Aria's and leaned in, grinning, "Aria, I know what's on your mind. Honestly, it's fine not to get married. We could just date, live together, and have some fun."
Aria gently nudged her away, "Go to bed. I don't want to think about it anymore. Besides, I don't even like him."
"Sure, sure, you don't like him," Vanessa said, playing along, but inside, she was practically giddy. 'Aria's finally falling for someone.'
"Oh right, Cason wants me to join a variety show—Tina's a regular on it. There's this segment where they film at a friend's house, and Cason wants me to ask you. I haven't agreed yet," Vanessa said.
Aria didn't even hesitate. "Go ahead, agree. My place is presentable enough."
Vanessa feigned outrage, raising a fist at her and laughing, "Mayen Garden is more than presentable. But... Tina will be there too."
Aria shrugged, "So what? I've got no beef with her."
Vanessa replied, "End of June, Lily's done with her SATs by then. I'll tell Cason tomorrow."
"Alright. Time for bed," Aria said.
Vanessa stretched, and just before leaving, reached out to give Aria a playful squeeze on the chest, quipping, "Wonder if Owen will get lucky with these one day..."
Aria could only think, 'This girl is asking for trouble.'
Lying in bed, Aria found herself wide awake. Finally, she gave up, threw on a jacket, and tiptoed to the balcony. The cool night air did nothing to calm her nerves.
She glanced at her phone—it was already midnight. After a moment's hesitation, she quietly stepped out of the living room and closed the door behind her.
Meanwhile, inside another room, Willie was grumbling as he pressed a hand to his scratched-up face.
"How the hell did Tina know I was trying to sneak photos of her?" He muttered, pulling the door shut.
If he left it open, Tina would tear him to shreds.
The moment he turned around and saw Aria, his eyes lit up.
"Hey, it's you!" he said, forcing a cocky grin—only to wince as the cut on his lip pulled painfully. Inwardly, he cursed Tina for being a viper.
Embarrassed by the mess he was in, he forced a couple of awkward laughs and explained, "By the way, your cousin and I broke up."
Willie had already asked Tina about Aria on the way over. He knew the two were related.
Aria said, "You've got it wrong. She's not my cousin."
Seeing Willie's sorry state, Aria felt completely at ease and turned to go back inside.
But Willie saw an opportunity and quickly stepped in front of her, leaning one hand against the wall, trapping her. With ridiculous confidence, he said, "You're waiting for me, aren't you?"
He'd noticed Aria and Tina didn't get along. If she was out here waiting, it must be for him.
Aria caught a strong whiff of his cologne and, annoyed, spat out a single word, "Move."
"Oh? Playing hard to get?" Willie only got bolder, grabbing her hand on the doorknob and leering, "Honestly, you're better-looking than Tina."
A loud crack rang out.
A bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence of the night, setting off the building's motion sensor lights one by one.
Aria had broken his hand and kicked him away. "Trash," she said coldly.
Tina, who hadn't gone to bed yet, came running the moment she heard the commotion. She couldn't help but curse, "Holy shit."
Willie's right hand hung at a grotesque angle behind him. The scene looked straight out of a zombie movie. 'Way too violent.'
Tina warned, "Willie, this place is crawling with actors. If you don't cover up and get out, everyone's gonna come watch the show."
His career was just taking off. Any scandal could ruin him. Despite the tears streaming down his face from the pain, Willie could only clutch his jacket to his face and run for it, humiliated.
He burned their faces into his memory. One day, he'd make them pay.
Tina turned to Aria, sincere for once. "Thanks."
She would never have slept with someone like Willie, but if any photos or videos got out, her career would be over.
Aria just replied with a cool "Mm," and walked back inside.
Tina stared after her, exasperated. "What kind of family does she come from?" she muttered. Thinking it over, she realized no one else in Aria's family was anything like her.
She still didn't understand why Aria had cut ties with her family, but she had to admit—there was something kind of badass about her.
When she heard Aria's door close, Tina quickly went back to her own room.
The next day, Vanessa told Aria to keep her distance and just watch her film from afar, to get used to the cameras before joining in. Aria did as she was told.
"Can you believe Russell and Olivia aren't here today? It's a great day!" Vanessa laughed as she did her makeup.
Aria laughed too. "Yeah, it really is."
At lunch, Aria glanced over at the extras' rest area but didn't see White Fox anywhere. A little worried, she went to the casting manager.
"Hi, have all the extras for today's shoot arrived?"
The manager shook his head. "A few called in sick."
"Thank you."
Aria texted White Fox, but by dinnertime, there was still no reply. A sense of dread crept in.
Aria thought, 'Maybe he's on a job. Russell and Olivia aren't here either… did White Fox take their assignment?'
Her heart sinking, she found Vanessa. "Are there any night scenes tonight?"
Vanessa shook her head, but noticing Aria's anxiety, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Aria said, "Help me track down White Fox."
"Okay."
They found a quiet spot and sat down.
Aria gave Vanessa White Fox's number, and Vanessa opened her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard.
Not far away, Lorelai's assistant spotted them and murmured in surprise, "Vanessa's a computer whiz too. What are they up to?"
Lorelai, seeing how serious the two looked, said, "Must be something important."
The assistant hesitated, then said, "Should I ask Vanessa to help with your situation?"
Lorelai shook her head, her voice suddenly cold. "No."
The assistant fell silent.
A moment later, Vanessa looked up. "Found him."