Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 523: Chapter 523

The moment Owen appeared, Liam keenly noticed Aria relaxed, even her usually cold eyes softened with a hint of a smile.
It was an expression he had never seen before. It was vivid and full of life.
His chest tightened as if something was stuck there, making it hard to breathe.
"Have you been waiting long?" Owen walked up to Aria and tilted the umbrella toward her.
Aria shook her head. "No, I just got here."
"Take this." Owen handed her the umbrella handle, his fingers brushing hers lightly before holding her hand. "It's a little cold."
Aria's heart skipped a beat.
Though it wasn't their first time holding hands, something about this time felt different.
Liam stared at their joined hands, his face dark as thunder.
His assistant stood silently by the side, pretending to be invisible.
Owen was significantly taller than Aria. She had to raise the umbrella high and look up at him.
Raindrops drummed against the umbrella, some splashing onto Owen.
Aria reached out with her other hand and gently pulled Owen's wrist toward her.
She only stepped back a little, but Owen took two steps forward, instantly closing the distance between them to less than an arm's length.
Owen shot a sidelong glance at the "third wheel" and smiled. Liam gripped the umbrella handle tightly, his lips pressed into a pale line.
His assistant shivered in the cold, muttering to himself, 'Why hasn't he left yet? Why stay here and be a third wheel?'
Just as Aria was about to say "let's go", Owen let go of her hand, took off his coat, and in the next second, the warm jacket landed gently on her shoulders.
"It's getting cold." He took the umbrella with one hand and adjusted the coat with the other. "Put your arms in."
Aria obeyed and slipped into the jacket.
"Let's go." Owen turned and faced the rain. The wind had picked up, and his shoulder was soaked in seconds.
"Okay," Aria replied.
Aria noticed this and subtly tilted the umbrella more toward him.
Liam stood frozen, watching Owen guide Aria into the passenger seat and walk around to the driver's side.
The rain poured like curtains, blurring his vision until even the car became indistinct.
The assistant reminded him, "Mr. Cole, should we leave too?"
"You think..." Liam's voice was hoarse. "You think they're together now?"
The assistant rolled his eyes.
He thought, 'Didn't you push her away yourself? You were the jerk, and now you want to act all heartbroken?'
He took a deep breath and said with a "screw it" attitude, "Mr. Cole, if you're that curious, why don't you just go ask?"
"You're right," Liam said.
Even if Aria and Owen weren't officially together yet, their feelings were heating up. If he kept hesitating, Owen would soon completely win her over.
"Let's go!" Liam strode into the rain, umbrella in hand.
The assistant stood dumbfounded. He couldn't believe Liam would really go after them.
"What are you standing there for? Drive," Mr. Cole snapped.
The assistant cursed his own mouth and quickly ran after him. 'God, please let Ms. Saxon not slap me later.'
In the car, Aria turned to Owen.
"Maybe turn up the heat a little?" she suggested.
Owen glanced at her. "Are you cold?"
"I'm not, but you seem cold," Aria replied.
His clothes were pretty soaked from the wind and rain.
"I'm good," Owen said gently.
Silence settled in the car. Then Owen caught a faint scent of alcohol. "Did you drink?"
"Three glasses. You can smell it?" Aria was surprised. She sniffed herself but didn't notice anything.
Owen saw her do that and chuckled softly. "Can you smell it?"
Aria replied, "Nope."
The traffic light started counting down. Realizing they wouldn't make it, Owen hit the brakes.
Then, he leaned slightly toward Aria, lifting her chin gently so she'd face him.
She felt a kiss land on her lips. It was light and fleeting.
"Now do you smell it?" he asked.
He stared at her eyes. They were like whirlpools drawing her in. Aria slowed her breathing, her eyes drifting to his lips. She shook her head. "No."
Owen smiled, lifted her chin again, and kissed her once more. The second time was the charm.
His lips pressed more firmly, parting hers and exploring gently, stealing her breath with restrained tenderness.
There was an urgency hidden beneath the softness that Aria could feel in every move.
He didn't kiss her for long. Pulling back slowly, still close to her lips, he asked again, "Now do you smell it?"
The red light started its countdown, the numbers blinking faintly through the rain. Their breath mingled.
This time, Aria really did smell the faint trace of alcohol.
She said, "Yeah. I smell it."
Just then, the car behind them honked impatiently. The light had been green for a few seconds.
Owen sat up, gripped the steering wheel, and glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes darkening with mockery.
Liam actually followed them.
The car moved forward slowly. The car behind followed closely.
The assistant in the trailing car noticed his boss's stormy expression but had no idea what he was mad about.
Then, he nodded to himself. He got it now.
The car didn't move when the light turned green. Liam probably thinks Aria and Owen were... doing things.
The assistant thought, 'This drama's getting good. Totally worth staying late for.'
Aria picked up on Owen's subtle emotional shift and asked directly, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Owen gave her a smile, but Aria still sensed something was off.
She looked into the rearview mirror and recognized Liam's car.
She asked, "Why is he following us?"
"Ignore him." His tone was calm, but the chill in his voice gave him away.
Aria was now sure. This wasn't just her imagination.
Owen was usually composed, but when Liam was around, he'd go cold and strange. Like jealousy, but more subtle.
Aria had never been one to hold back her words. "You're acting strange today. Are you mad? Because of Liam?"
"I'm not mad," Owen smiled, caught. "Just... a little affected."
"Affected how?"
"Affected by seeing you with him."
Aria had once given Liam her trust, but he didn't cherish it.
Seeing Liam now stirred a rage in Owen.
Yet Owen was also grateful for Liam's blindness. Because only by letting her go, had he gotten the chance to meet Aria, and stand by her side.
Hearing this, Aria smiled. "Don't worry about anyone else. You're the one I'm with now."
Owen smiled, and the last trace of gloom in his heart vanished.
He was the first man she truly loved. And he would be the last.