Bonita’s feet halted as she was about to rush towards Aria. From a distance, she saw Aria embraced by the pink-haired uncle—what was his name? Renon?

As Bonita hesitated, he quickly slipped away in the opposite direction, apparently unaware of the Duke and Bonita’s presence.

Luke’s brow furrowed, somewhat displeased by the scene.

‘What were they doing so close together?’

He knew Renon as someone who valued personal space, not one to get too close to others. Why was he like that with that woman?

“Mother!”

“Bo, Bonita?”

While he pondered, Bonita had already run towards Aria, who was left alone.

Aria, startled by Bonita’s sudden appearance, stuttered for a moment before lifting her head. Only then did Luke get a good look at her face.

Her eyes were red and swollen. Her cheeks were damp, not yet dried.

Bonita’s eyebrows drooped.

“Mother, have you been crying?”

“Eh?”

Caught off guard, Aria quickly realized her appearance and hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve. The tears were gone, but the puffiness around her eyes remained.

Aria denied it with red, bloodshot eyes.

“It’s, it’s just something got into my eye. It’s nothing.”

“Really?”

“Surely.”

Aria gave a characteristic mischievous smile, her eyes still red but now with her usual spark.

Bonita, who had been worried that Aria might have ‘returned’ to her old self, showed a relieved expression.

Yet she couldn’t completely relax. Bonita held Aria’s hand and asked cautiously.

“Mother, what’s my name?”

“Huh? It’s Bonita, of course.”

“Good.”

Bonita murmured and buried her face in Aria’s dress, recalling the old Aria.

“Emily, Emily…”

“Emily, why are you crying? Mommy’s here.”

Aria used to cry several times a month when drunk. Bonita was always by her side during those times.

When Aria cried like that, she called Bonita by a different name.

Fortunately, the current Aria didn’t seem to confuse Bonita with someone else.

But for the Aria inside, who was unaware of these circumstances, it was all very confusing.

And Luke…
“Why am I feeling so irritated?”

Luke furrowed his brow, troubled by the creeping emotion.

Renon embracing Aria was a curious sight, but not something to be displeased about.

Yet, inexplicably, he felt annoyed.

His eyes, now a deep red, scrutinized Aria’s face. The remnants of unshed tears irked him.

This was the woman who, even when threatened with being separated from her cherished Bonita, would only respond with a beaming smile.

Crying?

In Renon’s arms?

What had happened?

As these thoughts crossed Luke’s mind, his eyebrows twitched.

“Why am I even thinking about this…”

His time should be solely devoted to Bonita. He owed her seven years of absence and had a duty to fill that void.

Aria Hilton was merely retained as Bonita’s nanny, nothing more.

If Bonita no longer needed her, Aria would be utterly useless, if not someone to be questioned.

She must have been involved in Bonita’s disappearance.

The likelihood of it being otherwise was slim, although not impossible. He couldn’t fathom why she had come to the mansion after seven years.

…But why?

He always hit a wall when trying to deduce that particular reason. Luke, for all his contemplation, couldn’t discern the motive.

Just then, Aria turned her head towards him.

As he had been observing her, their eyes met.

Aria smiled warmly.

“Your Grace, did you come out because you were worried about me?”

“…Hardly.”

He scoffed dismissively.

“I came because Bonita was looking for you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Despite his cold retort, Aria smiled brightly like a blooming flower.

“How sweet of Bonita to worry about me.”

“Hehe.”

Aria gently stroked the child’s head, and Bonita’s cheeks flushed with affection. They truly looked like a loving mother and daughter.

“…”

Luke felt a sense of unease.

For reasons he couldn’t quite grasp.