Come home with me

The driver glanced at his boss from the mirror in the car. It had been more than an hour since he arrived and stopped by the side of the road, but there was nothing he did.

Arthur didn't move, focused on the earphones in his ears. If he hadn't opened his eyes, the driver would have thought Arthur was dead.

Even though they stopped on a quiet side street, the driver knew that this was the area near Livy's old house. He immediately asked, "Sir, are we going to Mrs. Livy's house?"

Arthur didn't answer.

It wasn't until half an hour later that Arthur pulled down his earphones after listening to so much sickening stuff, then clenched the thing in his hand expressionlessly.

"Drive. Go to Livy's house."

"Yes, sir."

At first Arthur doubted whether he would immediately pick up Livy to Camile's place or not. In the end, he picked up his phone and called his 'little wife'. But after trying several times, the call went unanswered.

In the recorder, the conversation continues. It was only Camile's grumbling voice, while Livy only occasionally answered.

Arthur's expression darkened.

It didn't take long for their car to arrive around the area. As soon as they entered the courtyard of the house, the door seemed to be closed tightly. Arthur immediately went down.

Before he could knock, Camile came out and greeted him.

"Arthur, son, you coming? I heard a car and rushed out. So it was you." Camile exchanged pleasantries clumsily.

Arthur looked at her flatly. "I just wanted to visit."

Camile smiled stiffly. "You must have waited a long time. Livy is just like this, cares too much for her aunt and likes to forget the time. You go in first, Livy is inside."

Arthur walked slowly past the steps in front of the door.

Inside, Livy was in the living room with her head down. Looked very surprised to see him coming and confused. The girl rubbed her face, washing away the remaining tears, but that didn't make her face any better.

Upon remembering that Arthur's eyesight was poor, Livy was somewhat relieved. Arthur probably wouldn't know that she was crying.

"Arthur, you sit down first. I'll get you something to drink." Camile excused herself to go inside.

When he heard that, Arthur looked at the contents of the table, no drinks were provided for Livy.

"Y-You're coming ..." Livy greeted.

"Mn."

He sat up with Livy's help. The couch he was sitting on was a bit hard and had wooden protrusions in it. Maybe this sofa is old.

Livy glanced at Arthur from the side. "How did you know I was here?"

Arthur heard that Livy's voice had turned nasal. Even though he knew that Livy was crying, hearing it for himself made his forehead furrow. However he didn't want to expose it and said, "I didn't know you were here."

Livy was a little distrustful of that.

"You will stay here?" he asked.

"No. I was only visiting briefly. Actually I was going to leave but you came. So, I will accompany you here." Livy smiled.

Arthur didn't see the smile. "Where are you going after this?"

"I ..."

"Go home."

"What?"

"Go home with me." Arthur repeated it more clearly. "The day after tomorrow I'll take you back to the university."

Livy felt uneasy, she had no intention of coming back. She didn't know Arthur was home at first.

"You do not want?"

"I-It's not like that," Livy answered quickly. "I was thinking about visiting auntie's house for a bit, then returning to the dorm. It's too sudden, so I'm a bit surprised."

Arthur's expression was still deadpan, as he said, "Come home every weekend."

Livy looked at him in surprise.

"In the dorm alone wouldn't be much fun. Everyone comes home every weekend, right?" Arthur continued.

And what Arthur said was true, even Sarah admitted that she always came home on weekends even though her house was close to the university. At home, she didn't do anything, but she said it was better to be home than in a dorm room alone.

"Okay, I'll be home every weekend." Livy agrees.

At this time, Camile returned with a cup of tea to the table. Arthur looked at the cup with a cold gaze.

"Arthur, come on, have a drink, son." Camile smiled broadly.

Arthur took the cup without hesitation. The fragrance of the tea filled his nostrils and it seemed that the drink was fine. It's just that he also never accepts drinks given by strangers. So instead of drinking it himself, he gave it to Livy.

"Drink," he said, "your voice is hoarse."

There was surprise in Livy's eyes. She looked at Arthur, then her aunt and noticed her aunt's sour expression. She finally took the cup reluctantly and drank it.

Camile laughed awkwardly. "I wanted to make her a drink earlier, but she refused and said she was leaving." Then looked at Livy. "Sweetie, why don't you just be honest that you want a drink too?"

Livy didn't know what to say.

The pressure of this situation made her uncomfortable. She could feel dissatisfaction in her aunt's tone. It was more like dissatisfied with Livy herself.

"Sorry, Auntie. I don't know if my voice is hoarse." Livy answered flatly.

"Oh my, are you sick? Look at your face, it's red like that." Camile feigned surprise.

Arthur, who was near Livy, looked at the girl, his eyes were not very clear, but he knew that her face was red. He touched her cheek and felt it slightly wet and rubbed it with his thumb.

"You okay?"

"I-I'm fine. Really." Livy's heart skipped a beat at this touch.

Livy felt lost when Arthur's hand left her cheek. This was evidently blushing not because she was sick, but because she had been crying recently. Now she wanted to cry again.

Crying in happiness!

"Well then. Next time you take care of your health, ok? I'm not with you anymore, can't take care of you when you're sick." Camile said sweet as sugar.

Livy almost wanted to puke with her acting.

"Ah, yes, Arthur, you came here without warning. Is there anything important?"

As soon as this question fell, the atmosphere immediately became colder. Camile didn't understand why she always felt scared and uncomfortable around Arthur, even talking to him. The man seemed to have an unspeakable cold aura. Very hard to guess.

Sure enough. Arthur was now looking at her. The gaze was serene, but as if penetrating and looking straight into her head. Made her shiver.

"I heard auntie is in need of money." Arthur spoke to the point.

"T-That's ..." Camile glanced at Livy, but got no response, "how did you know about that?"

Unfortunately, Arthur deliberately did not answer.

Camile was a bit clumsy, finally deciding to be honest because she felt this was her chance. "Yes, you know, everyone always needs money every day. If I say I don't need it, that's a lie. Usually Livy helps me financially, Livy also still helps me to this day. Actually that's still enough. I feel uncomfortable burdening Livy at all times."

Livy wanted to punch her aunt in her heart.

Is that enough? You're blackmailing me fifty thousand!

However her aunt was very cunning. If Arthur gave her a way out then her aunt would take advantage of him easily. So how was she going to tell Arthur there was no need to serve this woman?

"Auntie, you are the elder. It is natural for the younger family to help you. It is not wrong." Arthur said calmly before continuing, "But Livy is my wife now, she has her own life and she has a husband."

Camile was at a loss for words.

"What I mean is I'm her husband, so I'll help in return. You don't bother her anymore," Arthur continued.

"W-What? What do you mean, son? I don't get it."

Arthur answered by pulling out a check.

Camile's expression changed at the sight of the check, but she still made a good impression. "Livy is my niece, how can I not bother her? It's a good family relationship. I was having a hard time and she helped me. It's a very close family relationship, isn't it?"

Arthur's hand movement stopped and looked at Camile.

That gaze was extremely cold and sharp. The color in Arthur's eyes lit up and it made Camile tremble.

What? What will this stinky kid do? She thought.

"Anything you want, you can write it here." Arthur replied with an unexpected answer.

Camile gaped.

"But once you write it, you can't bother her anymore. Make your choice." Arthur placed the blank check and pen on the table.

Camile couldn't digest at once and she was confused. If she asked for a lot of money, she would be helped with many things, Arthur would definitely fulfill whatever money she needed. But after that, she couldn't bother Livy anymore, and this would piss off her in-law, as their plan failed.

On the other hand, if she refused, a plan that didn't necessarily work could destroy her. If it really failed, she would gain nothing.

Meanwhile, she urgently needs money to pay off her current debt.

Camile was in a dilemma. Her hands were cold and she was trembling incessantly.

She pretended to be annoyed. "You ... what are you saying?! I am a mother and I will be separated from my child? Does this make sense? Livy was not born from my womb, but I love her like my own child, why can't I contact her anymore?"

Arthur's expression was unperturbed.

Camile let out a fake cry. "Livy, tell me, what does your husband mean? I can't bother you anymore? Has he forgotten that family ties are closer than anything else? And he wants to keep you and me separate!"

Livy sneered inside, 'Sorry, Auntie, your tears look fake and your acting sucks. But Arthur's plan is pretty good.'

Although Livy didn't expect Arthur to come to this discussion, she still couldn't understand why Arthur had planned this. How did he know that her aunt needed money?

What is he doing here to help her?

Camile suddenly held her hand. "Livy, sweetie, do you agree with your husband? Are you going to leave me?"

"I ..." Livy looked at Arthur who didn't change his expression at all.

If with this her aunt could leave her life, actually Livy really agreed.

It was just that she couldn't say what's in her heart.

"Auntie, I don't force any of your choices. Take this money and stay out of her life. Or forget this idea and you'll get nothing." Arthur finally said.

"No, I won't take it. Livy is my niece, I would never sacrifice my family for money!" Camile exclaimed.

Livy rolled her eyes.

"Your husband is currently being chased by loan sharks with debts whose interest increases every month. Your child is in need of money for his exams. Next year she will be in third grade." Arthur took the check back.

Camile saw the check waved in front of her face mockingly.

"Just by writing down all the money you need, you can meet all those needs. Whatever the amount, I can definitely fulfill it."

The three people in the room took turns looking at each other.

"However, if your familial relationship is inviolable, that is very good. It means you are a good person." Arthur spoke politely and pocketed the check.

Camile gulped.

The check was in his coat pocket, and she looked at it with a shudder.

"If you change your mind later. You can contact me. You still have a chance to think for three days." Arthur continued dryly.

He was just about to stand up, but he paused to hold out his hand to Livy.

"You promised to come home with me," he said.

Without hesitation Livy took his hand and stood up. "Auntie, I'll take my leave first."

Camile was still in a long dilemma and didn't react at all. The two stepped out of the house together.

"May I ask? Why did you do that?" Livy asked as soon as they were in the car.

"So that she stops bothering you."

Livy didn't answer and neither of them said anything the whole way until they got home.

"Don't you like it?" Arthur asked.

"About what?"

"I meddled in your affairs. Don't you like that act?"

"It's not like that," Livy replied weakly, "My aunt is a stubborn person. It wouldn't be that easy to persuade her with money. That wasn't her intention in the first place."

"I know." Arthur said.

Livy looked at him confused.

"Before I married you I did everything I could to get information about you. I know she didn't treat you well."

It wasn't surprising, it was just that Livy didn't expect Arthur to care about something like this.

She had also wanted to enlist Arthur's help to get her aunt out of her life, but she was afraid that asking too much would make Arthur uncomfortable.

So she kept quiet.

"You already know and that's the truth."

"So what will you do?" Arthur got out first when the car door was opened by the driver.

"Do you have any ideas?" Livy asked back.

"If you're not comfortable in your situation, just say so, I'll help you with anything. According to our contract—I'll help you and you'll help you too."

Contract, huh?

Can they stop discussing the contract?

Livy looked at Arthur with a sour face. In the end she didn't have the answers to her own questions and her feelings soured again.

... to be continued ...