Chapter 68 Please Be Serious
The strong scent of Aria’s perfume entered Hansen’s nostrils, and he could not help but frown slightly.
Jenna also used perfume, but hers was very simple and fragrant. It would make people want to get close to her. However, Aria’s perfume was too pungent and he couldn’t get used to it.
Hansen was surprised to find that since he had hugged Jenna, he had lost interest in other women. Even when Aria, whom he once regarded as feminine, threw herself at him, he was not interested and even felt disgusted!
Whenever he touched Jenna’s soft body, he was on fire all over and couldn’t help wanting more. He was afraid of that terrible feeling of his life turning into a mess and making him feel like he was being manipulated.
He liked to be free and did not like to be tied down, which made him feel restricted, but he could not help thinking about her and what she was doing at present. He thought of her every twinkle and smile. When he saw her chatting and laughing with another man, he was extremely uncomfortable.
Of course, he would never admit that it was jealousy.
“Aria, go sit on the sofa first. I’m working,” Hansen pushed her away and said impatiently.
“Hansen, when are you going to settle the matter that you promised me?” Aria refused to let him go.
“Go sit on the sofa or get out,” Hansen continued typing on the keyboard and did not even raise his head. His voice was cold, and his face was expressionless.
Aria was startled. Hansen exuded a cold aura, as if he didn’t want her anywhere near him. She stood up, full of grievances, but she dared not offend him.
She recalled one time when she offended him; he was as cold as ice and he ignored her for a month. There were numerous women who appeared by his side during that time. He only returned to his original state after Aria took the initiative to apologize and beg for his forgiveness. Since then, she didn’t dare to upset him anymore.
Aria reluctantly sat down on the sofa and felt bored.
Hansen lowered his head and buried himself in his work, as if he had forgotten her existence.
After a long time, she could not stand it anymore. She cleared her throat to remind him that she was still waiting for him in the office!
Hansen frowned, feeling that her voice was very unpleasant. He still remembered those nights he spent with Jenna in Collier Manor. They were both busy with their own work and didn’t even realize that it was late at night and he worked efficiently.
But now, Aria was just sitting there and he found her raucous!
He was really unhappy and annoyed. The feelings made him more and more disgusted.
“Hansen, where are we going for lunch?” Seeing that it was almost noon, Aria thought that she could finally have lunch with Hansen. She wouldn’t be disturbing him she thought. She had been waiting in the office for a while and she was bored to death!
“Okay, the Phyllis River,” Hansen finally finished his work. He turned off his laptop, raised his head to look at her, and answered straightforwardly.
“Okay,” Aria’s face lit up. She stood up happily and walked towards him. She was about to wrap her arms around him, but as she got close to him, she seemed to think of something and withdrew her hand, looking at him with some unease.
Hansen noticed it and chuckled, then he generously stretched out his arm to her.
“Let’s go,” he said gently. Aria quickly reacted and wrapped her arm around his. The two walked out in an intimate manner.
The joyful music was playing slowly.
Hansen ordered a bottle of red wine for him and Aria, and they began to eat.
“Tell me, what do you want from me?” Hansen was not stupid. Aria definitely had something in her mind. There were things that he had to face.
“Hansen,” Aria drank a glass of red wine, and her face began to heat up. It was not easy for her to have such an opportunity. She blinked her almond eyes and said coquettishly, “Hansen, regarding the Camphor Tree Villa, my father…”
“There’s no need to talk about this. I will find a way to solve it. You don’t have to worry about it,” Hansen took a sip of red wine, looked at the scarlet liquid in his glass, and said calmly. He was a man, and he didn’t need Aria’s help to solve the problem. Although the problem was quite serious, he could certainly set it right if he wanted to. It was up to him to make up his mind about it!
“Hansen,” Aria’s face darkened. She had thought that he would treat her differently with her father’s power to help him solve the problem with the Camphor Tree Villa or at least, he would give her face, but he denied it. Not only did he not need her help, but he didn’t even ask her for anything.
“But I promised Mom that this matter would be taken care of and that it wouldn’t make things difficult for Richards Group,” Aria thought for a while and said sincerely. She knew that Hansen could solve the problem, but he would have to put in extra effort. If her father could solve it for him, it would not be so troublesome.
“Aria, don’t repeat the same topic. We are all busy,” Hansen was unhappy again.
Aria could only keep her mouth shut and looked at him with a face full of grievances, “Hansen, my father has asked about our marriage several times. When can you give me an accurate answer?”
Hansen gently shook the red wine in his hand, drank it in one gulp, and asked slowly, “Is it you asking or is it your father? If it’s just your dad asking, then …”
“No, that’s what my doubt too,” Aria was afraid that he would say something bad, so she changed her words immediately. The truth was that she was really the one asking.
Hansen breathed a sigh of relief and poured another full glass of red wine. He held it in his hand and said casually, “Aria, I have something to say to you today.”
He had something to say too? There was a soft glow in Aria’s eyes, and her face was full of excitement and anticipation. She knew that since Hansen had promised her, he would not go back on his words. It seemed that he had not forgotten about the agreement between them. Was he going to propose?
“Aria, you should know that I am just a divorced man, and you are still young. Don’t you feel aggrieved to be married to me?” He lifted the red wine glass in his hand, smiled and asked gently.
Aria’s face was full of happiness, without a hint of grievance. She shook her head hurriedly and swore, “Hansen, you’re so amazing. I even want to marry you in my dreams. I’m just afraid I don’t deserve you.”
“Don’t be so modest. It’s not good,” Hansen shook his head slightly, took a sip of red wine, and said very seriously, “Aria, I am afraid that you will be wronged if you marry me.”
He blinked his bright eyes with a smile, but his words were incomparably sincere.
“No, I won’t feel so,” Aria was a little anxious and shook her head desperately.
“You have to think it over. Your father is Mayor McAdams. Your marriage is linked to his reputation. You may not care about it, but he will,” Hansen sighed, “You know, I am a descendant of the Richards’ family. There are some things that I can’t help myself with.”
He smiled helplessly and his face was full of desolation.
“What do you mean?” Aria was shocked and she turned her body. She held the glass in one hand and leaned against the table with her other elbow. She was worried that her hands would tremble, and she was even more worried that he would turn her down.
“Aria, I can be with you, but I can’t give you the title that you deserve. If you want to be with me, you can only be my concubine. You will not be able to live in the Richards Manor. You will not be able to attend any family events and you will not be recognized as our family member,” Hansen said very seriously, “You should tell your father these things and consider them carefully. This is a big event in your life and you can’t afford to be sloppy. Forgive me, my hands are tied too.”
Concubine? Aria was dumbfounded. As far as she knew, Grandma Richards didn’t say she would be a concubine. She just wouldn’t allow her to live in the Richards Manor and recognize her as their family member. Since when was she only to be a concubine?
The words which came out of Hansen’s mouth made her uncomfortable.
In fact, as long as they registered for marriage, they would be a lawful couple, which was what she thought. As for being recognized as their family member and the right to live in the Richards Manor, it would only be a matter of time. Grandma Richards was already in her nineties. Once she had passed away, and when she was pregnant with Hansen’s child, could he deny her rights? Her children would be recognized in the Richards’ family tree, how could she, as their mother not be? She had already thought it through.
“No, Hansen. Grandma just said that I can’t live in the Richards Manor and my name won’t appear in the family tree if we got married. However, we can get registered legally, we will be a lawful couple. Other things don’t matter as long as you are by my side,” Aria’s face flushed as she corrected him.
“How do you know this?” Hansen’s face darkened. Except for his grandmother, he was the only one who knew about the content of their conversation. Moreover, it was their family’s private affair. How could an outsider like her know about that?Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Aria’s expression suddenly changed. She realized that she had spoken too much. In fact, she knew that Hansen hated people playing tricks behind his back. She found out the truth only after she bribed a servant of the Richards’ family, but now she let it slip and had to cover up, “Hansen, I’m just guessing. In the past, when Claude married a concubine, there was a rule that they were not allowed to move into the Richards Manor and that her name would not be recorded in the family tree. However, after the Old Master has passed away, Norton and his sister eventually moved into the Richards Manor. Norton’s mother, Maria Clancy’s name was also added into the family tree.”
If it was just a guess, it was still reasonable. Hansen’s face softened and he reminded her, “Aria, think about it carefully. She is still a concubine until now. She only moved in because Claude’s wife was infertile and with the approval of Grandma. She has lived such a shady life for more than 20 years. Can you live in such disgrace? Moreover, once Grandma is gone, there won’t be any elders who will agree to let you move in. Think about it, it may be an endless wait.”
Hansen was helpless and frustrated. It was true. In fact, he was in a dilemma. He was about to be abandoned by his family. How could he not worry about that?
He was a man, a descendant of Richards’ family. He was supposed to be the family heir. How could he not be concerned about that!