Aria soon woke up when she didn't find Alan next to her. Rubbing her eyes, she peeked towards the ensuite but lights were off. Getting off the bed, she noticed Alan's laptop was missing from the desk so putting on a nightdress sheath, she went to Alan's study room thinking there might be an intricacy at the company end.

She opened the door to see Alan sitting on the floor leaning on the bookshelf rubbing between his brows. Many papers were scattered on the floor. She never saw Alan in so much despondent.

​​

Hearing the door creak, he raised his head to see Aria and his back unconsciously straightened, "Honey..."

Aria pushed the door to close. She knew Alan couldn't be upset due to office work. She went to him and sat on his lap to face him straight. Cupping his face, "I'm not taking nothing as a response this time." Her gentle concern tone sounded in the room.

Alan tried to change the topic, "Why are you awake? Let's go..."

Aria cut in securing him to face her from looking away, "Alan..."

Alan saw her determined so he chose to tell even if he sounds selfish, "I will tell but you shouldn't take any drastic step."

Aria calmly nodded. Alan continued watching her intently, "The one who wanted to separate you from us is grandfather Gray."

Aria's hand lifted from his face and a frown on her face started jabbing his heart. Alan tried to calm his raising heartbeats and cupped her face to make her look into his eyes. "I didn't want to hide it from you but I didn't know how to tell you and ask you to let my grandfather go..."

Aria shook her head, removing his hands from her face. Alan panicked and spoke without letting her speak, "Aria, I didn't mean to hide it..."

Aria cut in seeing his anxiousness. She didn't expect that a few seconds of her silence could affect him so much. "Shhh... Relax, I knew it. I had removed all the pieces of evidence, how did you get to know?"

Alan was dazed hearing her. He needed time to understand Aria knew about Ford Gray and purposefully hid from them all.

Aria had to shake him to get any response and he spoke eagerly, "You knew it? Why didn't you tell me? And why did you clear the evidence?"

Aria placed her hand on his lips, "I will tell you, I will tell. You relax first. I'm not going anywhere or I will not misunderstand anything. So relax first."

Alan breathed a sigh of relief and embraced her. He calmed down knowing his wife wouldn't leave him or be disappointed by him.

Aria spoke rubbing his back to relax him, "When my... Lucas Cooper told us somebody who is close to you and the Morgan family did it, I somehow doubted on Grandfather Gray and Jeremy Grayson. So I started a private investigation on Grandfather Gray and got to know about it. I didn't want to tell you because I know how it feels to be betrayed by a grandfather so I don't want you to feel the same. Let's not talk about this to anyone, Rian and Mum will be hurt."

Alan knew his wife was way too sensitive than himself in everything that she was ready to endure alone without letting them suffer.

Aria continued after a pause, "Next time if anything, talk to me first without thinking so much, alright?"

Alan moved and fondly kissed her forehead humming to her. Aria finally smiled seeing him fine, "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not your crush but your wife."

Alan smiled hearing and hummed again, "Yeah, my pretty little dummy wife."

Aria whined making a face at him, "I'm not a dummy. You are my dummy, a big dummy."

Both continued to bicker and went back to bed. Afraid that he might put her to sleep and leave again, she hugged his neck, "Sleep."

Alan raised his head and smiled resignedly. Pulling her close wrapping his hands around her waist, he didn't worry her more and soon slept so that she could rest at ease.

To be the fact, he didn't care what his grandfather Gray feels/happens, he was just concerned about his mother and wife. And his wife was worried about them getting hurt. He couldn't explain how content and blissful he felt having his dummy wife.

---

The next day morning,

Aria remembered about Finn and pulled Alan towards her sitting in front of the dressing mirror, "What do you think about Finn and Rose? Rose has a crush on him but she isn't serious because of his status. I want to help her but I'm afraid if she falls in love and he ignores her."

Alan flicked on her head, turned her to face the mirror, he brushed her hair as he gave his opinion, "If you want to help your secretary, go on but make sure to inform her that Finn Stanley isn't interested in her. If she couldn't handle, tell her to back off sooner so she doesn't get hurt. And you, my dummy, stop worrying about others."

She pouted hearing his last line and soon got ready to leave for their work. As decided, Aria and Alan didn't speak anything about Ford Gray to anybody.

---

In Skyline Industries,

Aria stressed each word clearly while explaining Rose to be careful and not to get in deep unless she will be sure Finn could reciprocate her feelings. Rose wasn't sure what would happen but she didn't want to lose the chance and regret later.

"But President Cooper, I want to work under you." Rose said anticipatorily.

'Oh' Aria tried to tease, "If you start dating Finn, will you tell the same?"

Rose's cheeks were slightly pink and she responded decisively, "I don't want to use any relationship when it's about career."

Aria smiled hearing her, "I will not fill your position here. You are going for temporary, if you want to continue thereafter a month, you can else return here whenever you want. Alright?"

Rose was surprised how Aria had planned accordingly to her requirement. She was sure none of the employers would be so sweet. She hesitatingly asked, "President Cooper... May... May I call you if I want to ask anything?"

Aria responded certainly, "Yep!" Then Rose bid everyone to her new job location.

Aria then called Levi to her office, Thinking she might ask about the project files and the meeting schedule, Levi took them in but saw her pointing chair for him to sit.

Aria cleared the file and saw him working even in that five minutes of the period. She wasn't sure how his response would be but she was sure she would miss him if he wanted to leave, "Captain Brown!"

Levi was confused hearing that, "Are you planning to do anything prankish? President Cooper."

Aria chuckled, shaking her head. According to Levi, she was a whole lot of fun and hated boring silent life. He wasn't irritated by that, instead, he looked forward to what she would be doing.

"I know you joined here on Grandfather Stanley's order. The problem is resolved and I never asked what you actually wanted to do after retirement. So do you want to continue working as my assistant? Or If you had planned to do something of your liking, I will help you set it up for you."

Levi had thought he would be bound by Harold's word and stuck in there as her assistant, "I wanted to open a custom made superbikes and car showroom."