Ariana frowned and huffed. "Well, I've watched you grow up since you were little. I know exactly what you're up to before you even open your mouth, so save me the formalities." Zaden could only smile helplessly. He hadn't expected Ariana to still be the same—bold and straightforward as ever. When he and Maya were together, Ariana had been like that too. So many years had passed, and yet she hadn't changed a bit. Everything else, however, was no longer the same. Zaden couldn't help recalling what Preston had told him last time. His brows furrowed, and a heavy feeling settled in his chest. He had been deliberately avoiding that matter these past few days, pushing it out of his mind. But now, seeing Ariana again, he couldn't help but think about it. When Ariana noticed Zaden spacing out, she suddenly grew excited. There's still something between Zaden and Maya! If he doesn't care about Maya anymore, how could he show such an expression? With a gleam in her eye, Ariana eagerly asked, "Zaden, tell me. Are you sure there's no chance for you and Maya to get back together?" Zaden came back to his senses and replied, "Mrs. Ariana, that's all in the past. I'm married now, and my wife's wonderful." His words made it clear that there was no possibility between him and Maya. Ariana's expression instantly fell. She frowned at him and said, "You still haven't gotten over Maya, have you? Otherwise, why did you stay single for so many years—and only find someone right before Maya came back? "What happened back then was a misunderstanding. Maya didn't mean to leave you. But later, didn't you also have a child with another woman?"That makes you even, doesn't it? You shouldn't hold a grudge against her anymore. "I saw that woman just now. Honestly, she's nothing special. No family background, no status. Your mother will never approve of her. Maya, on the other hand, is your equal in every way ... " Listening to Ariana's endless chatter gave Zaden a headache. So, Mrs. Ariana had met Athena already? And now she was saying that what happened between Maya and me was just a misunderstanding, just like what Preston had claimed. But Mrs. Ariana's version didn't quite line up with his ... or maybe she just didn't know everything. Zaden felt tangled in confusion. He realized he had to look into this matter carefully. "Mrs. Ariana, you don't have to worry about our personal affairs. Even if Maya and I aren't together, the Rices and the Storms are still on good terms." Ariana's next words caught in her throat. What a stubborn boy! After all that I'd said, he still refused to listen. "Mrs. Ariana, I have some matters to attend to," Zaden said politely. "I'll visit you again when I have time." With that, he turned and left. Ariana watched his departing figure and couldn't help letting out a sigh. She truly liked Zaden. His looks, his character, his family background—everything about him was exceptional. It would be perfect if he could marry Maya. What a pity. Still, perhaps there's room to try again. ... As Zaden walked down the hallway, he ran into Jaylee. Recognizing her as Athena's assistant, he immediately stopped her and asked, "Where's Athena?" Jaylee hadn't expected to see Zaden there. She looked startled. "Mr. Storm! Dr. Hall ... She's in the lounge right now." Zaden gave a brief nod and was about to head toward the lounge when Jaylee suddenly gathered her courage and said, "Mr. Storm, Dr. Hall ran into some trouble today." Zaden stopped and turned back to look at her. Jaylee continued, "Dr. Hall took on a patient today, but the patient kept making things hard for her, and I think Dr. Hall even got hurt." The moment he heard that Athena was injured, Zaden's expression darkened. His brows drew together, his face tense. "Which patient?" he asked in a low voice. "It's ... Mrs. Ariana Rice. Because of Professor Rice, she doesn't seem to like Dr. Hall and went out of her way to give her a hard time. If only Mrs. Ariana would switch doctors, Dr. Hall wouldn't have to suffer like this." Jaylee looked at him with hopeful eyes as she finished. She wasn't just speaking up for Athena, she was also speaking for herself. Being Athena's assistant, her very first day had already been a nightmare. If Athena had to keep treating Ariana, both of them were in for a rough time. So she decided to tell Zaden everything, hoping he would persuade Ariana to choose another doctor. Zaden nodded slightly after listening to her explanation. His tone dropped a few degrees colder as he said, "I understand. I'll look into it."