Chapter Seventy-Six: A Twist in Time

Chapter Seventy-Six: A Twist in Time

The crowd's speculations were quickly confirmed when a waiter approached Lydia Moore and said respectfully, "Miss Moore, Master Aaron King is waiting for you in the VIP room. Please follow me." Lydia Moore? The onlookers were even more shocked, nearly dropping their jaws. Hadn't Aaron King recently announced that he was going to make her life miserable? Why was she now receiving a level of treatment that even they had never experienced? What on earth was going on? Under the bewildered gazes of everyone, Lydia calmly followed the waiter to the VIP room.

Aaron King sat quietly by a table draped in a blue and white chiffon tablecloth, gazing out the window with a smile that fluttered like butterfly wings. Had she really become his girlfriend? He hadn't even realized how crazy he would be last night, rushing to find her like that. But he couldn't stand the thought of anyone else liking her or being close to her. He wanted her by his side, her smiles only for him. Only she could bring peace to his heart.

When he saw Lydia Moore at the door, a bright, crystal-like light flashed in Aaron's eyes, and a faint blush spread across his cheeks. D*mn it! He was Aaron King, who had dated countless girls, and yet here he was, like some lovestruck teenager, with his heart racing out of control. He cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to regain his usual cool, nonchalant demeanor.

Calm down! Calm down! Just pretend nothing happened and everything will be as it was before. Within three seconds, Lydia adjusted her mindset, then smiled brightly as she placed the cake box on the table. "Freshly made tiramisu, just out of the oven."

"Oh, idiot," Aaron muttered awkwardly. "Why are you standing there like a piece of wood? Sit down."

"Oh…" Gathering her courage, Lydia slowly began, "Actually, I came here today because there's something I need to clarify with you. I—"

"Clarify what? You haven't eaten lunch yet, have you? I ordered red wine steak for you. We'll talk after you eat."

Red wine steak? "No, no, that's not necessary…" Lydia hastily waved her hands, laughing awkwardly. "Actually, I ate something before coming here, so I'm not really hungry. There's no need to trouble yourself." She was joking, right? A single dish at Laou cost hundreds, and a red wine steak would be even more expensive. She didn't have enough money on her to pay for even a drink.

Seeing her nervous expression, Aaron rolled his eyes several times. "Idiot! I never let my girlfriend pay for anything. Just eat. You're already so scrawny…" Without giving her a chance to refuse, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a chair, then snapped his fingers in that cool, confident way of his.

Within minutes, a waiter brought over a plate of red wine steak, the aroma tantalizing.

The steak was delicately shaped like a heart, surrounded by fresh fruits and vegetables, creating a visual feast for the eyes. Lydia couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva as her stomach growled in response.

Aaron chuckled softly before opening the cake box and scooping a piece of tiramisu into his mouth. The rich, smooth flavor spread across his palate. It was from her cakes that he first tasted the elusive sense of happiness, prompting him to ask her to teach him how to bake, leading to everything that had happened between them. Perhaps it all started with that cake—if he hadn't walked into that unassuming "Fairy Cake Shop" that day, none of this would have happened, and he might never have known that he, too, could find happiness.

Sometimes, fate's threads are woven in the most mysterious ways. A pure, contented smile spread across Aaron King's handsome face.

Lydia Moore looked up, and when their eyes met, she froze. If the warmth in his eyes was truly for her, then shouldn't she clear things up now, before they couldn't even remain friends? She began, "Actually…what I want to say is…"

"Idiot! Don't you know you're interrupting me while I'm enjoying this cake? Wait until I show you something after we eat." Aaron continued to savor the tiramisu, his seductive lips curving into a smile from time to time. Seeing his childlike, innocent smile, Lydia couldn't bring herself to say anything further. She lowered her head and cut into the steak on her plate, though her heart was heavy with worry, making the food taste like nothing at all.

The other students in Laou were stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing. Aaron King had just grabbed Lydia Moore's hand, and there was a rare smile on his face, along with a hint of gentleness they had never seen before. Were they dating? But wasn't Aaron King supposed to hate her? And he had never dated anyone but beautiful girls—why was he suddenly so close to her? Everyone's minds buzzed with questions about this dramatic change.

But if they really were dating, one thing was certain: those who had tormented Lydia Moore in recent weeks were in for a terrible fate. Aaron King was known for his wild and domineering personality; at Sakura, if he wanted something, there was nothing he couldn't get. It seemed that this time, there would be many who would choose to withdraw from school voluntarily.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before two tall boys dragged a disheveled girl into the restaurant. Her hands were tied in front of her, black eyeliner smeared all over her face, and bruises were visible everywhere. She struggled and cursed as she was dragged along: "So what if I messed with Lydia Moore? She deserved it, she deserved to die…"

It was Lila Yu! Even she had been beaten so badly. The students covered their mouths in shock, too afraid to make a sound, watching helplessly as she was dragged into the VIP room.

"Master Aaron King, we've brought her," one of the boys said ingratiatingly.

"Mm." Aaron gave her a casual glance, but it was enough to make her shudder in fear. Lydia turned around to see Lila Yu, covered in injuries, glaring at her with a murderous gaze, as if she wanted to tear her apart. Was this the "thing" he had mentioned? Was he taking revenge on her behalf? Lydia's heart skipped a beat, and her knife and fork clattered onto the table.

"I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you again. And I won't let those who've hurt you off the hook, either."

"She didn't hurt me! Let her go." Lydia stood up and rushed over, but the boys hesitated, unsure of what to do. Just then, Lila Yu suddenly screamed like a madwoman, "Get away from me! I don't need you pretending to be nice! I've liked Aaron King for three years! Everything I did was for him! What gives you the right to have him the moment you showed up? What gives you the right? I hate you! I hate you so much I could kill you, kill you…" She broke free from their grasp and lunged at Lydia Moore with all her might.

Aaron King pulled Lydia into his arms protectively, his gaze chillingly cold. "If you don't want to die, you'd better shut up!" His voice was so cold and ruthless that it sent a shiver down everyone's spine. Lila Yu stopped struggling immediately, and the boys tightened their grip on her. Seeing him hold Lydia Moore so tightly, Lila Yu let out a bitter, despairing laugh. Why? Why? Everything she had done was for him, all for him, and yet, in the end, he was this heartless. She was beyond pitiful.