Jason felt Emyr''s tension and stood up at his request. "What are you guys up to? I am getting all suspicious now. You better explain to me well later, or else —" He was mid-sentence when a familiar voice cut in, freezing them both —one with surprise, the other one with dread.@@@@

"Dr. Clark?"

Jason recognized that voice all too well —to the point where, instead of turning to check who had arrived, he turned to Aiden, gazing at him in disbelief. "Aiden, you couldn''t have..."

But Aiden simply shrugged, confirming all of Jason''s complicated suspicions with one simple gesture. His gaze showed no sympathy, not even in the slightest.

Jason couldn''t believe it. He knew his friend could be cruel and heartless at times, but he never imagined this would be one of those moments. How could he?

On the other hand, Arwen didn''t know what she should conclude with all this. She had just returned home when she saw her attending doctor frowning at Emyr. Not only did Jason''s presence surprise her, but the casual air around him did too. It was as if this wasn''t his first time here, nor was it their first conversation.

Then, could it be that they had known each other for a long time?

Could it be that Aiden and Dr. Clark were long-time acquaintances?

Her gaze shifted between Emyr and Aiden, trying to decipher Emyr''s guilty expression. He looked like someone caught red-handed. But what was he hiding?

Her eyes darted toward Aiden. Yet, he sat there so casually, as if he had nothing to hide at all. Why was he so at ease when the other two were clearly rattled?

Aiden leaned slightly to the side and asked casually, "You are back?" He sounded like a househusband who had been waiting for all this while for his wife to arrive.

When Arwen heard him speak that way, she couldn''t help but smile. The suspicion still lingered, but she decided to tend to her husband first.

Emyr looked at Jason and wisely chose not to engage. Shaking his head, he simply dodged, "Oh, it''s about a company client, Dr. Clark. You wouldn''t know."

But Jason wasn''t fooled. He made a mental note to deal with Emyr later. Right now, something more pressing demanded his attention —Arwen''s gaze, which had shifted back at him and was now locked on him.

He smiled at her. "Ms. Quinn, you are here as well. What a surprise, I —" I

Before he could finish, Aiden stood up beside Arwen and announced, "You can address her as Mrs. Winslow now, Jason."

And that statement felt oddly familiar.

The next time you see her, address her as Mrs. Winslow. The title of Mrs. Foster neither suits her nor is it meant for her.

Jason remembered well the last time he had heard Aiden say those words. Does he have to rub it in like that?

Forcing a smile, Jason glanced at Aiden while speaking. "Oh, you guys got married. Congratulations! Only if I had known earlier, I would have brought a present on my way here. It''s such a surprise," his tone slightly strained.

He shot a quick pointed look at Aiden before refocusing on Arwen, his expression softening, "But anyway, it''s fine. Now that I know, I will make sure to get you something next time," he added, a light chuckle escaping as if he were trying to break the tension in the room.

Jason tried to seem casual, but his gaze betrayed him as it darted back to Aiden, the silent message clear: This isn''t over.

Arwen, who had always been observant, didn''t fail to notice this. Of course, she had seen the small exchange between Aiden and Jason''s gazes. And she could feel all her suspicions from earlier getting confirmed.

Still, she didn''t ask them about it aloud. Instead, looking between Aiden and Jason, she simply said, "Never knew this would be such a small world. Have you two known each other for a long time?"