Chapter 524: First Love

Winston faintly smiled hearing Aria understand his out-of-control reaction. He was glad she didn't ask why he was over-emotional that time. He turned to the rest who were gazing at Aria at the loss of words.

Then his eyes landed on Aria who had her son and husband holding her protectively. Instead of feeling it a display of affection, his lips curled up.

He was glad she had a complete family standing by her after losing her father and mother.

Finn's voice cut in the silence as soon as he saw his uncle smile, "Woah… I don't even know when you had smiled last time, Uncle Win."

Winston's smile quickly disappeared and his grim look was back causing the Stanley family to shake their head in resignation.

Winston didn't get the chance to scold his father, Harold asked, "Winston, how do you know Aria's mother? And why did you blame her? You never care about anybody."

Winston blankly gazed at Harold so Aria revealed half-truth, "Mom was Professor Wen's patient."

However, Finn shook his head, "No, no, there is something more. I clearly remember Uncle knows Alia pretty well and Grandfather Wen had told me something but I forgot."

Aria: "..."

Winston's gaze shifted on Finn's thinking face before on his father. Zeke behaved dumb and deaf by looking here and there.

Alan noticed everyone and settled his gaze on Winston. Didn't Winston make his wife cry? Why should Alan care about their emotions and preferences?

"I heard Mom is the first love of Professor Wen." Alan nonchalantly revealed.

Aria: "..."

She accurately knew why he revealed the past things but also knew he was holding back from scolding Winston for three years.

Winston gritted his teeth looking at Alan while Zeke hid his smile, Zeke is aware of how Alan takes care of minute things when it's about Aria, hence he wasn't surprised to hear Alan after looking into Winston's odd behavior.

And the Stanley family members were in real shock without their jaws drop looking at Winston as though he was an alien.

Winston looked at Aria who wasn't surprised or shocked but pinching her husband's waist for saying it off. He had thought she might detest 'cause she loves her father too much, "You knew it?"

Aria saw his gaze and realized the question was at her, she nodded as she added, "Yes Professor Wen, I got know on the day you scolded me."

Winston nodded slightly surprised by her smile, "You can call me Uncle."

That was unexpected for everyone. Winston never lets anybody address him intimately other than the Stanley family where his sister is married off.

Aria almost wanted to say, 'It's alright, you don't have to make an exception for me due to my mother.' But she didn't voice it. She felt it as rude so she accepted, "Then feel free to address me as Aria… Uncle Wen."

Winstone was nodding with a light hum when Zeke started coughing signaling her to convince Winston or start her plan to help him.

Aria certainly knew why he was doing it but the situation didn't look like she should try to convince him in front of all but thought if she could trick Winston.

Aria passed Arsh to Alan's arm, "Baby, go with Dad to the car, I will be there soon."

Yawning, Arsh agreed to her obediently, "Okay Momma." he hugged his father's neck and rested his head on his shoulder to catch some sleep.

Alan nodded at older men and Madam Stanley when they turned to him before walking out. Aria dilly-dallied changing her position towards the door but faced Winston, "Uncle Wen, may I ask you a favor for your apology and calling you uncle?"

Winston glanced at his father who avoided his eyes. He knew his father was cooking something again yet he agreed to know what Aria is up to, "Go ahead."

Aria slowly moved her heels back, towards the main door as she announced, "I am going to arrange a date for you soon. Bye."

Then she turned, pressed her palms on her ears, and scurried away so that she doesn't have to hear him scold or witness his death glare.

Winston: "..." He couldn't believe she jumped to action without speaking to him.

The rest burst into laughter. They were expecting big convincing words on life, experience, or requests for him to try but she asked a favor like order and ran away like a teenager escaping after her mischief.

Winston was too older for them to tease him with Emily's name. They realized why the man was alone all these years. They respected his choices and hoped he could have one by his side.

--- 

In the car, Aria carried Arsh on her lap and hugged him so that he could sleep. Then she revealed Zeke and Harold's plans for Winston.

Alan who quietly heard, plainly suggested knowing his wife will try to help them, "How about President Morse?" 

Melissa Morse, twin sister of Emily parker. But Aria shook her head after thinking about it, "Honey, I don't want Aunty Melissa or Professor Wen to think we brought them together because she looks like Mom. And also I don't want Professor Wen to accept or reject her due to the similar looks. What if Professor Wen…"

"Shhh…" Alan cut her off as he held her hand in one hand, "We aren't talking about teens or below thirty aged ones here. They are mature than us to handle the situation."

Aria nodded as she smiled at him. She was generalizing them as a couple whereas they will be more like friends. "But I don't think I can convince both. I don't even know I can convince one here." Both are stubborn and mature.

Before Alan's voice, Arsh mumbled in haze snuggling against her chest, "Momma can do everything."

Aria gently chuckled kissing his crown as her right hand continued to rub his back to put him to sleep. Alan glanced at his son's ear on his wife's chest listening to her heartbeats so he remarked, "He is conquering too much." He wants their little ones to quickly grown up and leave their mother's lap and embrace.

Aria sniffled twice and teased her husband, "I smell something burn."

Jealous Alan: 'I am not jealous.' He thought.

Anyhow he diverted the topic back hearing her giggle kissing his knuckles, "Maisie will do that for you."

Aria faintly smiled remembering Maisie and Vince. Maisie is pregnant with a baby whereas they expected twins hence Maisie was angry at Vince for a pretty long time for no particular reason. 

Vince didn't bother about it thinking she was on mood swings, thanks to Alan's pre-education about the pregnancy.

"Maisie will force her mother with her pregnancy as a reason. She cheats the easiest way to obtain results." She sighed.

Alan could only sigh hearing her while Aria continued to think about how to convince mature older people.

---

After putting Arsh and Arna to their bed, Aria had dozed off in the bathtub while brainstorming on her new task.

Wrapping in the bathrobe, Alan took her out before he carefully slid her in his nightshirt on their bed. Then he dropped a message to Vince. First, they have to convince Melissa Morse and Winston Wen generally before revealing about each other so he shifted one responsibility to Vince.

After helping his wife silently, he quickly got on the bed seeing her hands trying to search her warm cuddles mumbling, "Alaaan... Alan."