After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 219

Flora was left frozen in place, unable to believe Charles had just walked out on her. She had been so forward, and yet he remained completely unmoved. A wave of humiliation washed over her, and tears began to stream down her face. The door clicked shut, accompanied by the sound of her own choked sobs. All she could do was console herself. Charles had always been like this. He hadn't changed; he was just a responsible man.

***

It was past midnight by the time Gideon finished with company matters. He found himself involuntarily thinking of Aria’s pale face, and with a turn of the steering wheel, he headed for the hospital.

After a battery of tests, doctors couldn't definitively say whether he was showing early signs of a genetic disease relapse, but Gideon couldn't afford to waste any more time in the hospital. Major and minor decisions at Evercrest Prosperity Holdings were all waiting for his approval.

If only Aria were by his side. She had been his right hand, his most trusted strategist, and Henry wasn't even a fraction as competent as she was. They were getting divorced now. If he gave her half the shares in the company, did that mean she would soon be working with him again?

Gideon tapped his fingers on the steering wheel at a red light. His phone chimed with a notification. He glanced at it distractedly, but his eyes widened when he saw a picture of Aria. He immediately picked up the phone and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

#GeniusAriaFightsBack

#AriaIsTheMoment

Overnight, Aria’s name was dominating multiple trending topics. Gideon clicked on each one, reading through them. Finally, his finger stopped on the list of awards in her profile bio. Her comment section was lively, and she was replying to nearly every message.

[SilverEcho: Girl, are you really Professor Alden’s last student?]

[Alden: @SilverEcho Of course.]

Raphael drew the privacy curtain again and lay down on the cot. He had specifically asked the nurse to delay her treatment for the day.

Aria drifted into a light sleep but was jolted awake by the sound of an argument.

“Raphael! Aria is my wife! It’s not your place to be fawning over her!”

Gideon had Raphael by the collar, the veins in his neck bulging with suppressed fury. He had arrived full of excitement, carrying a gift, only to find Raphael sitting on the cot, staring at Aria. Aria had been sleeping, her face tinged with a rosy hue that made her look especially lovely. And Raphael had just been staring at her!

Gideon was no fool. How could he not see that Raphael’s behavior was far from ordinary? Eveline had suggested there might be something between them, and he hadn't believed her. He never thought Raphael would actually have feelings for Aria.