Chapter 5 Why Didn’t You Lock the Door

• Staring hopefully at Erin with starry eyes, Jude asked in a low voice, “Class 6-A and Class 6-D will go on the autumn outing together next week. Will you join the outing as well?”
• “I—”
• “Yes, yes. She’ll join the outing, of course,” Isabelle interjected when Erin had barely begun to speak.
• Erin had a twitch in the corner of her mouth before she looked back to glare at Isabelle. You know that Uncle Arthur didn’t allow me to join the trip!
• Isabelle stuck her tongue out at Erin.
• Jude could hardly conceal the delight on his young and handsome face when he heard that Erin would join the autumn outing. “See you at the autumn outing then.”
• “I…” Erin still couldn’t finish her sentence this time, as Jude had turned around and left through the classroom’s back door.
• Erin’s curly and thick eyelashes fluttered as she looked at his handsome and slender figure from behind.
• Isabelle rested her arm on Erin’s shoulder from behind while looking at the latter’s slightly blushing face with her head tilted to one side. “Erin, it’s fall now, but why do you think I smell the scent of spring?”
• Erin gritted her teeth while glaring at Isabelle with her sparkling eyes. “You’re the one who’s in heat! Also, why did you tell him that I’ll be joining the autumn outing? You know that Uncle Arthur didn’t allow me to.”
• “Just act spoiled and cute in front of Uncle Arthur when you go back, and perhaps he’ll be out of character and give you the nod.”
• “You’re the one who’s out of character!”
• “Look at you. I’m talking about your Uncle Arthur, not you. Do you have to stick up for him like this?”
• “He’s my Uncle Arthur!”
• Isabelle was speechless. But he doesn’t take you as his niece; he takes you as…
• Instead of speaking further, she casually took Erin by the arm and walked out of the classroom.
• Erin went back to the villa in Coral Pavilion with her school bag on her back. She thought that Arthur would still be in his office at this hour; to her surprise, as soon as she stepped into the villa, she heard a soft female voice coming from the living room.
• “Arthur, why didn’t you tell me that you came back last night?
• Upon hearing this voice, Erin instantly realized who was speaking.
• She was Aria Peterson, the daughter of the president of the jewelry retailer Dane & Co. and the rumored No. 1 socialite of Wingston City.
• Erin puckered up her lips while changing her shoes in the hallway. Then, she walked upstairs to the second floor of the villa, her eyes looking steadily ahead as she walked past the living room.
• “You’re back, Erin.” Aria’s ‘gentle’ voice spoke from behind right before Erin heard the rustling footsteps of someone coming her way.
• Erin rolled her eyes slightly, then turned around and looked at Aria, who was walking up to her, with a smile, greeting, “Hi, Ms. Aria.”
• Ms. Aria…
• Aria had grown used to Erin calling her Ms. Aria, but she wished she could seal her mouth with something whenever she heard her calling her that way.
• She calls me Ms. Aria even though I’m only six years older than her…
• Aria took a deep breath. She was frustrated, but it didn’t help that Erin was Arthur’s treasure. If she wanted to marry into the Harrison Family, she had to build a friendly relationship with Erin.
• Therefore, she smiled while reaching out to hold Erin’s hand, which was grabbing her school bag’s strap. “You look more radiant since I last saw you a few days ago.”
• Erin merely smiled without saying a word.
• “Why are you still carrying your school bag? It’s so heavy; hurry up and put it down,” urged Aria as she reached out and tried to take the school bag off Erin’s shoulders.
• However, just as her hand was about to reach the school bag’s strap, Erin suddenly turned around and pattered upstairs. “I’m sorry, Ms. Aria, but I’m dying for the toilet. I’m about to explode.”
• Aria’s outstretched hand froze midair, and her face twitched uncontrollably when she heard what Erin said.
• Her language is so vulgar!
• Despite her thought, she wore a smile of resignation as she turned around to face the stony man who was sitting on the sofa. “Just look at how hurried she is. Arthur…” she said. She still wanted to say something, but Arthur suddenly rose from the sofa; his height of nearly 190 centimeters gave an imposing pressure like a tree that sprang up from the ground. “A-Arthur—”
• Arthur glanced impassively at Aria with his cold eyes. His low, deep voice sounded indifferent as he said, “I still have some business to deal with, so make yourself at home.”
• “Arthur, I…”
• Arthur went upstairs without giving Aria the chance to speak at all.
• Aria silently clenched her teeth as she stared grudgingly at Arthur’s broad and imposing back.
• Erin put her school bag onto her desk after getting back into her room. Then, she started to take off her school uniform to get ready to change into her loungewear.
• The autumn had set in, but the summer heat persisted, so Erin’s current school uniform consisted of a white shirt and a pair of school pants.
• Erin had just undone all the buttons on her shirt and was about to take her shirt off when she suddenly heard the sound of her bedroom door being pushed open from the outside. Startled, she immediately lifted her shirt, which she hadn’t finished taking off. Clutching both sides of her shirt with her tender hands, she looked back at the door in a panic.
• When she saw Arthur standing at the door, she immediately went red in the face. His eyes, in particular, were frighteningly dark as he looked at her.
• Staring at Arthur, she raised her shoulders slightly, her lips quivering a few times before she pleaded in a low voice, “Uncle Arthur, c-can you go out first while I change my clothes?”
• “Why didn’t you lock the door?” chided Arthur with a frown before slamming the door shut.
• Looking at the door, Erin shuddered and covered her burning cheeks in embarrassment.
• On the other hand, Arthur, who stood outside after closing the door, clenched his fists until his knuckles paled.