“Zephyrisan wine. Although it has a higher alcohol content than typical aperitifs, this is more sophisticated.”
Sip.
The sound of red grape wine pouring into a wine glass echoed pleasantly.
Aria, still in a daze, accepted the glass that Luke handed her.
“I know how you drink it. You always liked alcohol, didn’t you?”
“I do like Zephyrisan wine.”
Aria said so, casually shaking the glass and giving it a gentle swirl.
Immediately, a rich grape aroma filled the air.
Grapes produced in Zephyris, located on the southernmost peninsula of the Crocus Empire, were known for their exceptionally high sweetness compared to grapes from other regions.
Zephyrisan wine was the finest wine made from those grapes.
Luke observed as Aria took a sip of the wine. Aria swallowed the wine with a hot gaze, almost stubbornly focused on her.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Well…”
Luke still provided evasive answers. After Aria emptied the glass, he promptly refilled it.
On the side were cylindrical-shaped cheese, a cheese knife, and various jams and crackers.
Luke watched attentively as Aria added apricot jam to the cheese.
“Do you like apricot jam?”
“More than others.”
Aria, who placed a cracker on the cheese, replied, “Strawberry or marmalade is too tangy for me. I prefer strong sweetness.”
“…I see.”
Elodie and Aria shared similar tastes.
It wasn’t an unexpected revelation.
Luke thought that Aria and Elodie had become close over time, sharing habits and preferences, but that seemed too convenient.
In reality, even siblings found it challenging to share all habits and preferences.
Just considering Lenn and Dylan, who grew up together, they had different talents, aptitudes, and tastes.
But Luke didn’t repeat the foolish mistake of openly revealing his inner thoughts. He didn’t plan to burst out alone like last time, unleashing a one-sided torrent of words.
Today, it had to be the opposite.
Aria Hilton.
Determined to somehow extract the unknown woman, he intended to make her confess all the secrets deeply hidden in her heart, just as he did that day.
“By the way…”
Elodie, who emptied another glass of wine, rolled her eyes.
“Why did you suddenly suggest we drink? You’ve been avoiding me all this time.”
“Well…”
Luke said expressionlessly, “Anyway, I can’t kick you out right now. So, I’ve decided to spend some time with you for now.”
Luke was Bonita’s biological father, and Aria was Bonita’s primary caregiver.
If their relationship continued to be distant, it would undoubtedly affect Bonita’s emotions. Aria easily understood the explanation that not maintaining a cold relationship was necessary for Bonita’s well-being.
However, even after drinking, the awkward atmosphere between the two didn’t seem to dissipate. Luke ordered a servant to bring another bottle.
“Shall we have a bit more?”
“Sure…”
Aria accepted the drink Luke offered. As Luke emptied his glass at a pace similar to hers, Aria didn’t catch onto his intentions.
Typically, men have a higher tolerance for alcohol than women. Considering the physical difference between Luke and Aria, the winner of this drinking game was predetermined from the beginning.
Luke confirmed that Aria’s blue eyes were completely unfocused. The cheeks flushed with the rising intoxication.
“Hehe.”
Aria smiled childishly.
She laughed heartily, leaning back on the sofa, her head spinning. Even that habit of hers resembled Elodie’s drinking manners, making Luke’s eyes turn cold.
Nevertheless, he maintained a gentle tone.
“Shouldn’t you stop drinking now? You seem quite drunk.”
“Nooo. Please give me a little more.”
Her words were slurring.
Luke pretended to lose and poured her another glass of alcohol.
Then, as if continuing the mundane conversation they had just moments ago, he calmly asked.
“Aria Yang, there’s been something I’ve been curious about for a while.”
“Yes.”
“How on earth did you find the living Bonita? Are you a magician or something?”
It sounded like a joke at first listen. Aria, who heard those words, burst out.
“I don’t know either! That!”
He had a good sense.
Luke observed Aria, who seemed to be suddenly overwhelmed by emotions. Her face, which had been smiling just a while ago, contorted.
“Maybe you kidnapped her in some way. It’s just something I heard. Judging by Bonita’s words…”
“Judging by Bonita’s words?”
Luke tried to calm his pounding heart.
He didn’t know if he could really find out the truth. In fact, the moment those words came out, it was almost like a half-confession.
The next moment, Aria stood up abruptly.
“Do you know how happy I was when I first saw Bonita?!”
Luke’s neck was caught.
From Aria, who spoke with a trembling voice, the scent of wine wafted. Luke tried not to furrow his brow.
“It was a miracle. So, I thought it didn’t matter if you didn’t love me anymore…”
However, the moment he heard those words, Luke’s patience snapped.
“Ugh…!”
Luke grabbed Aria’s wrists, which were holding onto his neck. As he was somewhat inebriated and angry, controlling his strength was harder than usual.
“Hilton.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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