Chapter 877

“Yes!” Lena and Aaron replied in unison.

Mrs. Goodwick froze for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh. “You two are uncle and niece, having grown up together, but now that you’re adults, you should have your own spaces. What if Mr. Ace brings a girlfriend home? It wouldn’t be convenient, would it?”

She certainly knew how to mind others’ business.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, so there’s no inconvenience,” Aaron replied flatly, blocking her attempts at argument like swatting away a fly.

“But men and women are different,” Arthur said, his gaze toward Lena taking on a peculiar edge.

“Only dirty-minded people think that way,” Lena shot back without hesitation.

The back-and-forth between Aaron and Lena left no room for the Goodwick family to save face. Their expressions darkened considerably.

Mrs. Lane had to step in to smooth things over. “It’s just that Lena had some trouble with a medical dispute recently. We were worried about her safety, so we let her stay with her uncle for the time being.”

“Oh, I see,” Mrs. Goodwick replied with a forced smile.

Lena, however, caught the underlying meaning in her mother’s words and rebelled instinctively. “Actually, I plan to stay with my uncle permanently.”

Her casual remark made the Goodwick family’s expressions worsen again.

Mrs. Goodwick was no pushover, either. She smiled faintly. “It’s fine for now since your uncle doesn’t have a girlfriend. But once he does, living together might not be appropriate.”

“No one can dictate how long Lil’ Lena stays at my place or how she chooses to live,” Aaron said, his tone unwavering, as if the two of them were taking turns challenging the Goodwick family.

By now, the Goodwicks could see that Lena and Aaron had no intention of entertaining their matchmaking proposal. Moreover, the idea of the two living together—uncle and niece or not—left them deeply uncomfortable, especially as they were both unmarried adults.

“Mr. Ace really dotes on Miss Lane. Those who know your relationship might understand, but to outsiders, it could easily look like you’re a couple,” Mrs. Goodwick said sharply, unwilling to back down.

Aaron’s gaze turned icy, his expression darkening. “Speaking of misunderstandings, we might as well mention Chairman Goodwick. Not long ago, when he went out with his secretary, people were outright calling her his wife.”

The atmosphere froze. Mrs. Goodwick’s face immediately turned black. Forgetting the occasion, she turned to her husband, glaring. “Harvey, you brought that vixen out again? Are you planning to make her official?”

“I didn’t mean it like that! President Dimon of Crimson took a liking to her, so I brought her along,” Chairman Goodwick explained, glaring at Aaron. “Can you stop spreading nonsense?”

“Would you like me to provide the footage from that day?” Aaron’s calm retort left Chairman Goodwick speechless.

“Well done, Harvey Goodwick! Sneaking around behind my back again. Fine, I’ll just die and make space for you two!” Mrs. Goodwick erupted, alternating between hitting, yelling, and crying.

The Ace family exchanged uneasy glances, collectively displaying a reluctance to get involved in the mess.

Lena and Aaron exchanged a subtle glance. Quietly, they hooked their pinkies, a childhood gesture they used to celebrate getting away with mischief.

Arthur, however, stood there with a face like thunder. Watching his parents’ escalating drama, he turned his fury toward Lena and Aaron. “You’re nothing but a pair of shameless scoundrels!”

Before the words even settled, Aaron stood up and kicked him squarely. Arthur flew backward, crashing into the furniture with enough force to shift it, sending everything on it tumbling to the floor.

Seeing their son being attacked, the Goodwick couple stopped their fighting and rushed over. Pulling Arthur to his feet, Mrs. Goodwick pointed at Aaron. “This is too much! Just you wait!”

“Get out. If you’re not gone in the next minute, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for trespassing,” Aaron said coldly, his rare fury laced with a sharp, dangerous edge.

The Goodwick family, with Arthur clutching his stomach, left in a huff. Peace returned to the Ace household, though the mess left behind stood as a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

“Aaron, you’re usually so composed. What happened today?” asked Grandpa Ace, looking at his adopted son.

Aaron’s gaze swept over everyone before settling on Lena’s mother. “Lil’ Lena hasn’t eaten your food or drunk your water. What gives you the right to shove her into the arms of such trash?”