Chapter 4 Simon's Uncle

"Are you Simon's elder?" Aria asked, her voice sounded with uncertainty as she eyed the man in front of her.

He looked about Simon's age, but his calm vibe and powerful presence made her think that he might be an elder in the Windsor family.

The man gave a slight nod and said, "His uncle, Lewis Windsor."

The name hit Aria like a bolt of lightning.

People feared Simon not for the reason of who he was or the Windsor family itself.

It was all because of his uncle, Lewis.

He ran the Windsor Group, which controlled the state's economic lifeline, and he was also the Secretary of the Treasury, holding immense financial power!

He was practically perfect, except for one thing— his legs were paralyzed, confining him to a wheelchair.

Rumor had it that his disability made him violent and reclusive, rarely seen in public.

But why was he here?

Aria was confused, and what shocked her even more was how much Lewis resembled the man from her memories last night—tall, strong, with a deep, captivating voice. But the man from last night didn't seem disabled.

Thinking about those wild moments, her cheeks flushed, and her chest felt warm.

A faint scent of aphrodisiac perfume drifted into her nose. Aria frowned, quickly noticing the unusual smell.

Without a second thought, she walked to the window and shoved it open, letting fresh air flood the room and clear out the unpleasant fragrance.

Lewis watched her quietly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

In his memory, his Clea was gentle and innocent, but the Aria standing before him was calm and decisive, her sharp response to unexpected situations completely different from the girl in his memory.

"You're very smart," Lewis said in a deep voice, hard to tell if he was praising or regretting.

Aria sneered, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "After going through so much, I know these tricks."

"It wasn't me," Lewis said, realizing something and explaining a bit late.

Aria cut him off, "I know."

With Lewis's status, capable of shaking the capital with a single word, how could he stoop to such dirty tricks?

She even had to thank him.

If it weren't for him, she would have been forced by Duke the moment she entered the lounge.

As for why Duke was in her lounge, it was obvious Laura had set it up. Only she would be so vicious as to want to ruin her.

She had faced Laura's ruthless methods many times before.

A brief silence fell.

After a moment, Lewis suddenly spoke, "Marry into the Windsor family, and you can get rid of their harassment. The Windsor family's power is not something the Fisher family can contend with."

His tone had a few hints of undeniable firmness.

Aria was stunned; she hadn't expected Lewis to suggest that.

Marry into the Windsor family? That was a crazy idea!

She didn't want to sacrifice her marriage to avoid problems, nor would she let Laura and Billy off the hook.

Moreover, her relationship with Simon was just a one-night stand; how could it escalate to marriage?

This Simon was really odd, telling his uncle about a one-night stand.

Aria looked at Lewis, feeling conflicted.

It was a huge temptation for her. But her pride and self-respect made her unwilling to easily compromise.

"Just a one-night stand, no need for the Windsor family to take such responsibility," Aria refused.

"Just a one-night stand?" Lewis's eyes turned cold at Aria's indifferent tone, but his face stayed impassive.

"This is your chance to change your fate," he said, his gaze deep and complex, like he could see right through her.

"Why? What do you want?" Aria asked, wary.

She wasn't naive enough to think that the formidable Lewis would make such a losing deal.

Lewis seemed to read her mind and smiled slightly. "You just need to know that I'm giving you a choice. As for what I want, that's not important."

His tone had a hint of mystery.

Aria bit her lip, her thoughts in turmoil.

She recalled her experiences over the years—betrayal, framing, and the disfigured face that had become the source of her pain. She had fantasized countless times about restoring her appearance and starting over.

But now, with this opportunity right in front of her, she hesitated.

"I can't just accept it. I don't want to be controlled by the Windsor family, to become your pawn," Aria said firmly.

Lewis frowned slightly. "You think I'm using you? I'm just offering a way. Don't you want to take revenge and make those who hurt you pay?"

His deep, alluring voice carried a hint of persuasion.

The thought of revenge flashed through Aria's mind.

She had thought about personally crushing those who had hurt her, making them pay.

But every time this thought appeared, she would think of her disfigured face, the discrimination and ridicule she faced, and she hesitated.

"Even if it means death, I will solve it my way, not by relying on the Windsor family," Aria finally stood firm in her stance. She didn't want to be anyone's tool, nor did she want to sacrifice her dignity and freedom for revenge.

Lewis sneered, "Death? Even if you die, they will still remain free and unpunished. Are you willing to accept that?" His tone carried a hint of mockery.

Aria fell silent.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, causing waves of pain. But she seemed to feel nothing.

"If your face could be healed, it would surely be very beautiful. Especially your eyes," Lewis said, his deep eyes calm, his gaze lingering on her eyes as if looking through her at someone else.

Aria frowned, feeling uncomfortable, wanting to avoid his gaze, yet she was inexplicably drawn to his eyes.

She simply stared back at Lewis in silence.

Lewis sighed. "Sometimes, accepting help is not a sign of weakness. If your face isn't treated soon, it will leave permanent scars. Don't you want to restore your original appearance?"

This time, Lewis's tone carried a hint of sincerity and concern.

Aria's heart stirred. Of course, she wanted to restore her appearance!

Over the years, her disfigured face had caused her immense pain and discrimination.

Both getting help from the Windsor family and healing her face were significant temptations.

But the more temptations Lewis offered, the less she dared to agree easily, fearing that the price behind it would be too much for her to bear.

"Thank you, but no," Aria turned her face away, afraid she might agree impulsively.

"I respect your choice. But remember, in this world, there are no eternal enemies or friends. Only interests are eternal," Lewis said, looking out the window calmly.

"I..." Aria bit her lip. She didn't know if she should trust Lewis's words or accept his help.

Lewis looked at her familiar and beautiful eyes again. "If you agree, I will immediately arrange the best doctors for your treatment. At the same time, I will help you reclaim your mother's family business."