Levi didn't continue the topic thinking she would continue being negative. "Why were you crying with Ms.Miller just now?"

"What?" A deep voice interrupted.

​​

Aria and Levi's attention went to Alan who heard that question. Alan ignored Levi's greeting and kneeled in front of Aria.

Her face was still flushed with the red rims around her eyes. Cupping her face in a hand, he asked worriedly, "What happened?"

Aria faintly smiled to let him at ease then she pouted, "Noah turned out to be pigheaded and the girl who he loves her actually loves him back but both never confessed until the girl's family forcing her to marry somebody else. He was drunk and cried saying he lost her and..." She didn't continue and grinned.

Levi shook his head in resignation.

Alan pinched her cheeks making them red. Thrice she had cried watching sad ending romance movies so it didn't surprise him.

"Dummy! I will get fresh and come." He kissed her forehead and went upstairs.

Levi said, collecting all the files, "You guys aren't little kids. President Wood can take her to the marriage bureau and clear things."

"Actually, other than my case, I might ask you guys to work on finding that girl too but it can only be after hearing Noah completely... Let me give you heads up, other than her name and country P as her address, we know nothing about her."

Levi: "..."

Aria didn't want to tell the whole story so she knew Levi would find it unrealistic.

Levi finally spoke, "Don't tell me this is a teenage crush or some telepathic love? President Cooper, If he doesn't know anything, how can he be in love just by the name?"

"Telepathic love? I don't think I told you a fantasy love story here. Levi, you can be a writer too. With the name, we have her picture. Dig the name first and compare the pictures."

Levi thought to think about it when she would assign it and he soon left thinking the Fourie wasn't in the right state of mind.

All had dinner. Isaac had a late-night shift shoot so he didn't join. Roxy and Amelia had plans to watch a romance series so she didn't go to Cooper mansion.

It was still early hence Alan worked on his laptop wrapping a hand around Aria who had the mood to do nothing other than snuggling in his arms.

Thinking about Noah, Aria spoke, "If that girl turned out to be a difficult one to get her out of her parent's place, Should we go and kidnap her or hire Brother Vince's team?"

Alan asked caressing her head, "Sweetheart if she hid everything about her, why do you think she wouldn't have a different name as you? If she is a simple girl, why did she hide everything about her?"

Aria was surprised.

Yeah! She didn't think that way even once and understood why Levi was speechless hearing her.

She kissed his cheek and said, "You are so smart. In that care, I will hire Brother Vince's team."

Alan wasn't sure what to tell seeing her brush off the main problem purposefully, "Honey, practically speaking, everyone will not have a happy ending. Learn to accept instead of creating trouble for Noah later."

Aria's mood soured hearing him. She knew Alan was just preparing her for the worst-case scenario but she didn't want to think Noah couldn't get his love.

"I will sleep." She left him and slid under the duvet to sleep.

Alan sighed in resignation and kept his laptop away. He tried to flip her towards him and heard, "I don't want to talk to you. Go and sleep with your practicality and work."

"Aria..."

She tried to move away but anyway, Alan pulled her to his arms forcefully, "Shhh, don't cry... I will support you even if we have to bring her from another planet. Now stop crying."

Aria couldn't push him away and whined, "He isn't in love with an alien."

Alan chuckled lightly hearing her. "Dummy, why are you crying for little things?"

Aria cried louder, "How can you say little things for Noah losing his girl? Alan, why are you so heartless? Can't you see anybody else other than me?"

Alan understood his dummy wife threw her brain away. He pulled her to face him and yawped, "Quiet, Calm down. What's wrong with you?"

Aria pouted as she sniffed. Alan almost thought it worked but Aria cried louder, "Why are you shouting at me? Go to study, if I'm disturbing... Okay, I will only leave."

She got down from the bed and took a step, Alan embarrassed her tight. He was a little late to realize, she was still affected due to her father's decisions which left her too sensitive.

He wanted to console her but she herself stopped crying, "I'm sorry. I will behave. I will not cry."

Aria knew she was emotionally imbalanced and only taking things negatively. She didn't want her messed mind to trouble Alan anymore.

Alan pulled her back, "What do you mean by 'behave'? When did that come between us? Aria, I only went to work because you wanted me to go. You think I don't know your struggles. I'm not your husband just to be with you when everything is fine. Now shall we talk about what is going on in your little head."

Aria couldn't understand why she turned into such trouble. Standing on the bed, she wrapped her limbs around him.

"It's good I have you. If somebody else, they would have tossed me out by now."

Alan lightened her mood, "It's good that you are light else I would have had a sore neck, arms, and waist."

Aria wanted to get down but anyway, Alan sat keeping her in his arms.

"Actually I am not understanding what to do. The more I think to disperse my thoughts, I will get numerous what-ifs until my headaches. One or another thing reminds of Dad and I start doubting all over again. I understand Dad has his reason to hide from mom but why couldn't he tell me anything? Am I so unvalued or short-sighted to judge him?..."

Aria slowly told everything to Alan who patiently heard her. He knew she gave importance to very fewer people. Her father was her source of strength, encouragement, and emotional strength before him.

So he didn't feel any odd hearing her. One can't be strong all the time so he wanted to be there for her at every turn of her life.

"Do you trust me?" Alan asked a single question after she said everything.

Aria nodded without any doubts.

"Then keep in mind that, you are amazing. You are the capable employers to your employees, a best friend to your friends, a filial and responsible daughter to parents, and my dummy wife. Stop doubting yourself."

Aria giggled pinching his cheeks, "That's because you love me, Idiot."

Promising she would try her best to stop judging herself, she fell asleep with Alan.