Chapter 127 - She Still Loves You

Ch-125

"You divorced?" Simon asked. 

A heavy silence took place in the room. 

"Surely, word reaches fast," Aria commented. 

"Is it true?" Simon asked again. 

"Hm… I tried to preserve all these years. But… now I feel there is no need to preserve anymore," she said. 

"His love towards me was overpowered by greed in the starting days of our married life. But after we stumbled and came to zero. There was only love. When the money… different women came. When I tried to give, Valene came into my life. I wanted all my hardwork to belong to him. I fought for it with all I have. 

"I got it now. But in this fight… I saw… how low he can stoop. I am sick of him. I only want peace right now. I want my son to be married and give me a grandson to spend my leisure life with," she said. 

"You did well," Griffin said. 

"How about tying up both families?" Griffin said. 

Aria looked at him in shock. "Uncle, give her some time," Valene said. 

Aria understood there was something more to this thing. 

"Well, my daughter will come in three days. You both can meet when she is back." Griffin said. 

"That would be great!" Aria said. 

"Aunty, how do you know everyone is meeting here?" Eleanor asked. The most bugging question. 

"Oh… that… My butler saw Eric and Stephen walking out of the grocery store. I guess they are having drinks, I saw them having beer cans with them. So, when he asked why they were there… instead of in their master's house. They said you all are meeting here and might hear good news after your lunch," Aria sold off both Eric and Stephen to Eleanor's cuteness. 

"Oh...  You got a nice butler," Eleanor commented. Eleanor and Aiden shared a look. 

Suddenly, Eric sneezed hard as he had his lunch with Stephen. Rubbing off his nose, he realized that his master must be scolding him. But he was too lazy to bother about it. He continued to eat his food. 

*cough* *cough* Valene cleared his throat. Unlike enthusiastic Aria, he could sense something was amiss. 

"Let's continue eating," Valene said. 

They continued to eat food in silence. 

"I heard that Owens is building a new community. The location is great for that community. Why not take a house from there, Regan," Griffin said, breaking the silence between them. 

"Yeah… It's great. I took a look at that community there a few days ago," Valene said. 

"Then I should go there and take a look," Regan said. 

"Dad… select a spacious house. Eleanor wanted to have enough space for kids to play," Cedric said, selling her off in front of her father. Before Cedric could realize it, someone hardly stuck his leg under the table.

"Hiss," he hissed in pain when a sharp heel pierced into his leg. 

"Eleanor, I will go with you to the office after lunch," Aiden said. 

Eleanor smiled at him. She knew what was about to come. 

She gave a vicious look to Cedric. For which he shivered. He knew he ran his mouth unnecessarily. 

Everyone could understand the reason for his hiss. No one asked the reason for his grunt, but instead, they just hid their smiles. 

"Simon, send your oven to me when I take a look at the houses," Regan said. 

"Regan! It's Owen! Not oven!" Simon said. 

"Dad… just call him Ray if you don't want to say Owen," Cedric suggested. 

"Cedric, you should eat," Eleanor said as she put a piece of meat in his bowl. She knew it's hard to convince her father-in-law about something. So, she wanted to divert Cedric from facing his wrath. 

"Guys, enough," Griffin said. 

That put an end to Simon and Regan's staring war. 

Everyone continued to eat food. No one spoke. Once in a while, Aria and Eleanor would talk and men would talk about the business things. 

"I invite your family to my house tomorrow, President Emerson," Aiden said. He knew why he was here. Instead of running in circles, it would be better for them to face it head-on. Regan flashed a bright smile. Since his goal was achieved. He didn't pay any more attention to other things. 

After lunch, everyone left. Eleanor went to attend a call. Aria went to the washroom. Cedric and Regan left. And Simon and Griffin got their drivers. Valene paid the bill and saw Aiden waiting for Eleanor. 

"Hi, Uncle," He greeted. 

"Hi," Aiden said. 

"Eleanor is grown up. Didn't expect she would achieve so much," he said. 

"Yeah… even me. She surprised me," Aiden said. 

"I and Martin used to have enmity in business. I can't say it's enmity… but competition. I thought I had less competition. But… now looks like I have to face the female version of Martin," he said with a slight chuckle. 

"Such a pity… she didn't do business," Valene added. 

"Hmm… She loved cooking. What can we do?" Aiden said. 

"If she takes business seriously, she will create a history," he said. 

"Of course. After all, she is my daughter," Aiden said proudly. 

From afar, he saw Eleanor was returning to their side. 

"I always saw her as my sister. Don't worry about my feelings, Uncle," Valene said, clearing it off. 

"That's good. I don't want any bad blood with anyone," Aiden said. 

"I already have someone. But don't know how to tell her," he said. 

"She is a lucky girl," Aiden said. 

"What does she do?" Aiden asked again. 

"She is into the civil services and not even 20. Six years younger than me. I am wondering if I am doing a sin by loving a kid," Valene said with a heavy sigh. 

"Love is complicated yet sweet. Sometimes… people may get together when they are old," Aiden said. 

Sometimes, there was a time he regretted not letting Aria into his life. 

"She still loves you," Valene said suddenly. 

Aiden looked at him in surprise. 

"My mom tried to forget you. But she always failed. Now… she is finally freeing herself. I want her to be happy and live happily with the ones she loves," Valene said. 

"Timings are too bad in life," Aiden said. 

Eleanor heard their talk. Not the whole, but the last part. No wonder he was here today. Valene is only twenty-five years old while Cedric is twenty-eight. They both have three years of gap. But they look as if they were of the same age due to the aura they emit. When she confirmed Aiden and Valene ended their conversation, she entered the scene. 

"Dad… shall we?" Eleanor asked. 

Aiden nodded his head at her. 

"Take care, young man," he said, patting his shoulder. 

Valene nodded at him and watched them leave. 

"What did you talk about?" Eleanor asked. 

"Nothing. This and that…" he said. 

"Oh.." she responded. There was a silence between them. 

"Dad… we need to punish Uncle Eric. For plotting against me," Eleanor said. 

"Hmm…" he responded. 

There was another silence between them. 

"Do you love him?" he asked all of a sudden. 

Eleanor was shocked by his sudden question. What should she shall say? If she frets now… she will fret in the future too. 

"I do," she said. He sighed. 

"It's not that Cedric was a bad guy but it's just that...Emerson's are complicated. Entering their household is no less than entering a battlefield. If you truly wish to be with them. I won't say anything. But I can only ask you to be careful about it," he said to her. 

Reaching the car, they climbed it. They both went to the company. Aiden checked her progress with his employees and felt good with their responses. He could say they were more than satisfied with her work. A smile formed on his face as he looked at his daughter proudly. After all, everyone has nothing but praises for his daughter. Even the shareholders weren't as cold as before. Some even started supporting them straight. And others were even happy about her. Even though they didn't mention it aloud, he could sense it. 

[Martin, I hope you are awake to see this.] he thought in his mind. 

In the evening they both left the office together. 

Eric came to receive them. The moment Eleanor's gaze fell on him, her eyes flashed with something foreign to Eric. 

Aiden saw this and coughed gaining both attention. 

"Eleanor, I am tired. You take care of this thing. I will rest," Eric has to agree that he messed up this time, even his master abandoned him. He cried without tears as he looked at Eleanor with puppy eyes.

"Uncle, looks like your circle has increased?" Eleanor said, asking a maid to get a feather duster. 

Eric gulped visibly when he realized he was going to get beaten by her. 

"My Lady, I deserve punishment. Do anything but don't do anything to me. If I get sick, who will take care of Master," he said as he pleaded with her with puppy eyes. 

Eleanor couldn't see him suffer. She wanted to be hard but her heart… wavered at his puppy eyes. 

"Uncle, next time. Don't pass information," she said. 

"Why?" he asked, blinking his eyes. 

"Do you want them to dominate us? We shall dominate them!" Eleanor said. Eric realized something precious, 

"I will! Trust me! I will get information from them from now on!" Eric said with loyalty dripping from his body. 

----

Night passed. 

Early in the morning, they got a call that changed everything.