Keeley needed to warn Aaron about the impending confrontation with his parents, but he was engrossed in conversation. She subtly nudged him with her hip, directing his gaze toward them with a tilted head. The gesture was so discreet that only Aaron noticed; the temperature within a five-foot radius instantly plummeted. He understood perfectly.

She instantly regretted the warning, wondering if it would have been better to let him be completely surprised. She longed to go home; she was exhausted even before his parents arrived.

Aaron's demeanor remained unchanged, but the man he was speaking with, terrified by the sudden shift in atmosphere, quickly excused himself. No one else dared approach while Aaron's icy aura persisted.

"Why are they here?" he growled.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Keeley whispered. "Probably to give you a hard time."

His expression hardened. "More like to give you a hard time."

He had a point. In this life, Aaron had diligently avoided any encounters with his in-laws. Except for one accidental meeting during her college years, Keeley hadn't seen them in eighteen years—a period far too short, in her opinion. She'd hoped never to see them again.

"Maybe they won't come over," she offered optimistically.

Her hope was short-lived. Alistair and Roslyn seized an opportunity to approach. Had Keeley not alerted Aaron, he wouldn't have become so intimidating, and others might have engaged him, preventing this confrontation.

There was no point in dwelling on it. Gritting her teeth, Keeley plastered on a smile, though Aaron didn't bother with such pleasantries. He was furious and made no attempt to hide it.

"What a surprise," he said flatly. "What do you want from me?"

"I can't say hello to my only child?" Roslyn replied with equal flatness.

Keeley thought the entire family was frigid. Even she, more warmly dressed than most women present, felt the chill emanating from the Hales.

Aaron's disdain intensified. "I'm surprised you still consider me your child, considering you haven't bothered to see me in ten years."

Despite his claims of indifference, Aaron clearly resented his parents' lack of warmth and affection. His pretense of immunity was thin; he'd often made offhand remarks about Robert's excellent fatherhood, revealing his longing for a better relationship with his own father. He'd worked tirelessly to be a better father to his own children.

"Don't be like that, Aaron," Roslyn snapped, her composure shattering. "You never tried to see me either."

He shrugged off the accusation. "That's because I didn't want to see you. My life has been infinitely better without your interference."

Though he appeared nonchalant, Keeley felt his hand tremble with anger. She tried to comfort him silently, unsure of its effectiveness.

Roslyn turned to Keeley stiffly, looking down her nose. "I assume that's because of this crass woman and those half-breeds you call children."

Before anyone could react, Keeley swiftly dug her fingernails into Roslyn's wrist. Wincing, she then dug her heel into Roslyn's foot.

"You can insult me," Keeley said in a low, dangerous voice, "but don't you dare insult my children."

"And I'll have you know," she continued, "I may be 'crass' by your standards, but I'm more intelligent than you could ever dream. I'm halfway to curing cystic fibrosis; I contribute to the world, unlike you who squander resources. My children are beautiful, wonderful human beings, unlike the son you ignored unless convenient. They are far more valuable than you could ever hope to be. Stay away from me, and more importantly, stay away from Aaron, you pathetic excuse for a mother."

Releasing Roslyn, Keeley smiled pleasantly, maintaining a quiet tone audible only to the four of them.

"The same goes for you, Alistair," she said brightly, her words a stark contrast to her smile. "Leave my husband alone."

Alistair stammered, unsure how to respond. Aaron, stunned by his wife's unexpected defense, visibly relaxed.

Keeley pulled Aaron away before they could retort, leaving them speechless. He followed silently, but she sensed his elation.

"What are you so happy about?" she asked, confused. "You hate dealing with your parents."

"Yes, but you defended me," he said dreamily. "No one has ever defended me to my parents before."

She squeezed his arm. It was true; no one dared to defy Alistair Hale, even in his diminished state, his presence remained intimidating.

In their past life, both Aaron and Keeley had been at fault. He hadn't defended her against his parents, and she hadn't defended him. Now, they supported each other.

"Hopefully, I won't need to do that again," she muttered.

She'd possibly overreacted; while subtle enough to avoid notice from others, she usually didn't verbally attack people. But they deserved it. They were horrible, selfish people who had caused their son needless suffering, and had deliberately sought a confrontation.

"I'm not worried if they try again," Aaron said confidently. "I have you."

His genuine affection made Keeley's heart melt. If they were alone, she would have kissed him senseless. However, they still had obligations to other guests.

(The final sentence about NovelFire.net is promotional and unrelated to the story, so I have omitted it.)