After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 318

Graham thought for a second, then quickly checked his old chat logs with Aria.

"It was right around the time you first returned from abroad, Mr. Brent."

The color drained entirely from Charles's face.

So that was it. The day Aria had drank until she suffered internal bleeding, she had been completely alone.

And where had he been?

He had been right next to her, taking care of Flora.

Charles's eyes grew red.

Thinking back to what Raphael had just said in the office, the words felt like a vicious slap across the face.

He had been so incredibly wrong.

The emergency room nurses had told him how dangerous her condition was, mentioning that she had to force herself to call the ambulance alone.

He shuddered as the terror of the situation finally hit him.

What if she hadn't managed to make that call? What if Graham had just walked away out of fear? What would have happened to her?

Charles slumped back into his chair, bowing his head in suffocating silence.

Graham let out a heavy sigh and hurried away.

The secretary shot Charles a strange look.

Normally, after the previous guest left, the next person in line would go in. But Aria hadn't buzzed her desk at all.

The secretary didn't dare rush her boss, so she simply ignored him.

Charles sat there like a statue for the entire morning.

Around noon, Aria walked out, chatting and laughing with Raphael as they headed out for lunch.

"Aria..."

Charles immediately stood up.

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."

Aria walked right past him.

Charles reached out and grabbed her arm.

"I know the whole story now. I was reckless and accused you wrongfully. Please, forgive me, okay?"

Aria nodded and got into Raphael's car.

Charles didn't look away until the car vanished from sight.

His phone rang. Seeing the caller ID—'Mom'—he hesitated but eventually answered.

"Where are you? Harold just got released. We're having a family dinner to celebrate."

Charles's breathing grew heavy. He exhaled a long, ragged breath, a suffocating weight pressing on his chest.

"Fine. I'm on my way."

Helena quickly texted him the restaurant's address.

It was an incredibly expensive place.

Charles pressed his lips into a hard line. Harold's actions were a major reason the Brent family was spiraling toward ruin, yet Helena was throwing him a lavish welcome-home party.

He drove over in grim silence.

Pushing open the private dining room door, the first thing he heard was Harold's voice.

"Aria actually got divorced? Well, without the Evernight family protecting her, you have to help me get revenge, Mom! It was absolute torture in there!"