Chapter 011
Outside the house, Alina stood before Aiden’s grandmother, who greeted her with a warm smile.
“You can call me Grandma Linda,” she said kindly, and Alina returned the smile.
“I’m very curious about you and how you met my grandson,” Grandma Linda continued. “But we’ll talk more about that next time. For now, I just hope your relationship leads to marriage. I’d love to see Aiden start a family, hopefully even hold his children
in my arms before I pass on.”
Alina forced a polite smile. “Don’t worry, Grandma. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Aiden and I will talk about it… and
consider it seriously.”
Her response made Grandma Linda chuckle softly. “Alright, alright,” she said, gently tapping Alina’s hand.
Just as she was about to say something else, a car pulled into the compound. Two elegantly dressed women stepped out; one in her
late forties and the other in her early twenties.
From their appearance, Alina could easily guess they were mother and daughter.
“Grandma!” the younger one called as they hurried over.
“How’s my son?” the older woman asked, sounding worried.
“He’s fine. Nothing serious,” Grandma Linda said calmly.
Alina watched as the two women sighed in relief, then turned their attention to her. She gave a polite bow.
“Good morning” Alina greeted softly.
“Alina, this is Jessica, Aiden’s mother,” Grandma Linda said, then gestured to the younger woman, “and his sister, Mandy”
“It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am,” Alina said with a respectful smile.
“She is…?” Jessica asked, eyeing Alina curiously.
“Aiden never lets any woman into his house…except us,” Mandy murmured, clearly surprised.
“I’m…” Alina began, but Grandma Linda cut in proudly.
“Aiden’s girlfriend.”
“What?” Jessica and Mandy exclaimed at once, making Alina flinch slightly.
“You’re saying Aiden has a girlfriend? Are you kidding me? Aiden is…” Mandy began, but stopped abruptly as her mother gave her
arm a sharp pinch.
“Ow, Mom!” she hissed.
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Chapter 011
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“You should be happy your brother’s finally found someone,” Jessica said, though she still sounded unsure. Mandy muttered something under her breath and rolled her eyes.
Alina stood there, surprised.
This was the infamous family everyone feared? They didn’t act like it at all. She had expected stiff formalities and icy glares from a family tied to wealth and power, but instead, they felt almost…ordinary. So unlike the image of a powerful, intimidating billionaire family everyone claimed them to be.
Grandma Linda’s voice gently pulled her from her thoughts.
“You should go inside, dear. Aiden’s probably waiting for you,” she said. Alina nodded and looked at Jessica.
“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll take good care of him,” she said quietly.
Jessica stared at her, surprised. Was this real? Could someone truly speak so confidently about caring for her son; someone so
fragile, so guarded? Even she had to be careful around him, and now this stranger spoke as if it was easy. Then her eyes widened as a thought struck her.
“Mother, is she…” Jessica began, her voice faltering as she turned to Grandma Linda, who responded with a knowing nod.
“Oh my God…” Mandy gasped, eyes widening. It was like they had read each other’s thoughts. The realization hit instantly; this
woman was her, the girl from the scandal involving her brother.
“I’ll see you again soon,” Grandma Linda said to Alina, then motioned for Jessica and Mandy to go back to the car.
“The couple needs some privacy,” she whispered, gently holding Mandy’s hand and leading her into the vehicle. Jessica glanced at
Alina, still trying to process everything.
Before stepping into the house, Alina looked back and gave a respectful bow. Jessica nodded, still shocked.
Then Alina entered the house, disappearing from view. Brittany remained still, eyes fixed on the doorway. Wasn’t the scandal
fake? Weren’t those photos just photoshopped lies?
She needed answers….and she would get them from her mother-in-law.
Without saying a word, she got into the car with them, and the driver quietly drove away.
Alina stepped into the house and barely had time to breathe before Aiden suddenly grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the
wall.
She gasped, startled. “What are you doing?”
Aiden didn’t answer. He just stared at her, his eyes sharp, like he was searching for something she wasn’t sure she had.
“Sir Aiden,” Jesse called softly.
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But Aiden didn’t answer. His attention stayed on Alina.
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Alina shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Didn’t I play my part well?” she asked, in confusion. “Or were you expecting me to cross the line and kiss you? You know I…”
“What are you?” Aiden interrupted, his voice low.
She blinked. “What?”
“I’m asking what you are.” he repeated, almost accusingly.
Alina’s brows furrowed. “What am I supposed to be if not Alina?” she said, pushing lightly against his chest until he stepped back.
A moment passed before she smoothed her top and let out a short breath. “I’m going home. I’m done for today.”
She brushed past him toward Jesse. “Can I borrow your phone?”
He held it out wordlessly. She took it, quickly dialing her number, “Call me if you need me again,” she added dryly.
Just as she turned to leave, Aiden’s voice stopped her.
“Tomorrow. 4 p.m. Be here.”
He didn’t wait for her reply. Without so much as a glance back, he started walking to his room, as if her schedule didn’t matter.
“I’ll take you home.” Jesse offered, already at her side.
She didn’t argue. Together, they stepped outside and got into the car.
Everyone was seated around Grandma Linda, eyebrows raised curiously.
She cleared her throat like she was about to reveal the secret to eternal youth. “Well, I’ve seen the way they act… but I can tell it’s
fake. Aiden’s never been that confident with anyone before.”
They all nodded in agreement.
“So?”
“So,” she continued, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to make sure he stays glued to her.”
“How exactly?” Jessica asked suspiciously.
“Simple. I’m giving her twenty percent of the family fortune.”
“WHAT?!” Jason, Aiden’s father, nearly tripped over the rug, where he’d been standing like a statue.
“Mom,” he said, walking up to her.
“Isn’t that a bit… sudden?” Jessica asked. “We barely even know this girl.”
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“She’s a nice person. My spirit aligns with hers,” Grandma said with a dreamy nod, then turned and walked into her room, leaving the rest looking like they just saw a cat walk in wearing sunglasses and heels.
“Mom, is Grandma alright? Why would she just give that out like a piece of cake? What if she’s a gold digger?” Mandy asked, frowning. Jessica just frowned too, unsure.
***
Meanwhile, Aiden stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in his room, one earbud in as he quietly wrapped up a virtual meeting.
“I should be there in a few days,” he muttered, tapping the earbud to disconnect.
The moment the meeting ended, he walked over to the bed and sank down with a sigh only for his phone to buzz in his hand. He glanced at the screen and groaned when he saw his father’s name lighting up the display.
“What now?” he muttered, swiping to answer.
“You have a girlfriend?” his father asked bluntly, no greeting. “Is she the girl from the news?”
Aiden hesitated. “Uh… why?”
“Because your grandmother just handed her twenty percent of the family fortune.”
Aiden sat up so fast he nearly knocked himself out of the bed. “She WHAT?!”
“Yup. Anyway, I’ve got a meeting. Later.”
The call ended, leaving Aiden staring at his phone in disbelief.
“Just like that?” he whispered. “Twenty percent?”
He dropped the phone onto the bed, staring blankly ahead.
“What is she… a witch? Did she cast a spell on Grandma?” His eyes narrowed. “Or worse… was this her plan all along? Am I just the
idiot bait?”
He dropped his phone onto the bed, eyes wide with suspicion as a hundred paranoid theories raced through his head.
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