Chapter 019
Alina had just finished making dinner. The smell still hung in the air as she wiped her hands on a towel and walked down the
hallway to call Aiden. Maybe he was too busy to notice the time. After all, he was mostly on his phone or buried in files. A
businessman like him could easily forget to eat.
But before she reached his door, the head chef gently stopped her.
“Where are you going, miss?” she asked.
“I was going to call Aiden. Dinner’s ready,” Alina said with a small smile. “He might’ve forgotten.”
The chef sighed softly. “He won’t come. He doesn’t eat cooked meals.”
Alina frowned. “He doesn’t?”
The woman nodded. “He mostly eats junk food. Always has. We cook because it’s our job, but honestly, he barely touches anything
we make.”
Alina stood there, a little surprised. Now it made sense; she’d never seen leftovers or used dishes. Even at his grandmother’s birthday party, he hadn’t touched a single thing on the table. And strangely, no one said a word about it. It was like everyone was
used to it.
“Oh,” she mumbled, then politely walked away toward his room.
When Alina reached Aiden’s door, it was slightly open. Inside, he was pacing slowly, talking on the phone. His voice was calm but firm, clearly in business mode. She stood quietly at the doorway, not wanting to interrupt. Instead, she watched him, her curiosity
growing.
What had he gone through to become like this? A billionaire who avoided real food, possibly only trusting himself to prepare meals. And yet, he had hired a full kitchen staff. Why?
When he finally ended the call and turned, he saw her.
He didn’t look surprised.
He walked to his bed, sat down, and looked at her. “What do you want?”
Alina cleared her throat and stepped into the room. “I’m hungry.”
He raised an eyebrow. “There’s a cook in the house.”
“I know. But I made something myself. And… I can’t eat it all alone. I thought maybe you’d join me?”
His shoulders tensed and his jaw tightened, but he looked down and shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
“Okay, but…” she paused, then looked at him again, “can you still come with me? I’m not used to eating alone.”
1/4
Chapter 019
+25 BONUS
Aiden let out a slow breath. He didn’t speak right away, he just stared at her. Then, without saying a word, he stood up and followed her to the dining room.
The table was full of dishes she had made, nothing too fancy, but made with care. Alina sat down, and he took the seat across from her, arms folded. His eyes moved over the food, but nothing seemed to catch his interest as usual.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try something? Even a little?” she asked gently.
“Should I just go back to my room?” he said flatly.
She gave a small, awkward laugh but didn’t push him. “Thank you for today. I didn’t get the chance to say it earlier.”
Aiden tilted his head slightly. “That bottle incident… you did that to yourself, didn’t you?”
Alina froze. Her eyes widened a bit.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said quietly and started eating, hoping to end the conversation.
He didn’t say anything else. He simply sat there, watching her eat.
Once she finished, she stood and helped the maids clean up. Aiden stayed where he was, watching with that same unreadable
expression.
When she was done, he pointed at a door next to his room. “That room’s yours.”
She nodded, offering a quiet “Goodnight.”
He didn’t reply, just turned and walked to his own room while she made her way to hers.
***
The Blackwoods sat quietly around the grand dining table, the clinking of cutlery against porcelain the only sound for a moment.
Grandma Linda lifted her fork, then paused again, her eyes narrowing as she looked across the table at Mandy.
“Are you absolutely sure she told you nothing?”
Mandy let out a low sigh, trying hard to keep her expression neutral. “She didn’t, Grandma. If she had told me who hurt her, you
know I would’ve acted before even mentioning it to you.”
It was the same question again. Maybe the hundredth time that day. And each time, Mandy had to repeat herself, biting back the
irritation that rose a little more every time.
Grandma Linda didn’t reply right away. She gave a faint nod, eyes downcast. “I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow…” she murmured,
then finally picked up her fork again to eat.
****
Aiden was about to leave for work when he caught sight of Alina stepping out of the kitchen with a glass of water in hand. She looked casual, her hair slightly messy from sleep.
2/4
Chapter 019
+25 BONUS
He paused for a second, then walked toward her.
“What do you think about getting a fake marriage certificate?” he asked, “Maybe even a proper ring to convince Grandma. We
could get it all done within the week.”
Alina blinked, nearly choking on her water. She swallowed hard, staring at him like he’d just proposed a bank robbery.
“This week?” she repeated, lowering the glass slowly. “Isn’t that a little… fast?”
He didn’t reply. Just watched her quietly, as if her answer didn’t really matter, or maybe it mattered more than he was willing to
say.
She inhaled slowly. Her mind flashed back to that awful confrontation with her mother, to the lie she’d thrown out so recklessly- that she was already engaged to Aiden. That she’d slept with him.
Well. The lie was out there now.
And maybe… a marriage certificate and a convincing ring would help sell the story.
“I know this was all supposed to sorted out last week,” Aiden began, “but-”
“What are you both whispering about? Let this old lady in on it.”
They froze. Slowly, both turned to see Grandma Linda walking toward them, her brow arched in suspicion, but her lips curved in playful smile.
Aiden glanced at Alina, and she stared back at him with wide eyes, silently begging him not to say anything about it.
He ignored her.
“Uhm… Grandma,” he began, voice steady, “we were talking about how we made an arrangement last week to, you know… start trying for a baby. But we didn’t go through with it since we were busy with your birthday.”
Alina inhaled sharply and choked on her breath, coughing violently.
She turned to Aiden in horror, but he kept a perfectly straight face, like he’d just commented on the weather.
Grandma Linda’s eyes shifted from Aiden to Alina, then back again. For a moment, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. Then, suddenly, she smiled, a knowing, amused kind of smile that made Alina’s cheeks burn.
“Oh!” she said cheerfully. “Well, it’s not too late. You can start today. I’ll come back later for whatever I came here for.”
And with that, she turned and walked away, humming.
A stunned silence settled.
Alina stood frozen, her mouth slightly agape, speechless.
“What the hell did you just say?” she whispered, snapping her head toward him.
3/4
Chapter 020
“I can’t believe you said that,” she said again, her voice hoarse. Aiden shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction like it was some sort of entertainment.
“The thing is… I thought-”
“You thought?” she cut in, eyes wide. “Aiden, you told your grandmother we planned to make a baby like it’s just another item on a to-do list!”
“It was the only thing I could think of, alright?”
She let out a groan and covered her face with both hands. After a second, she peeked at him through her fingers. “This is not
funny.”
“Too bad. You’re turning pink,”
She blinked at him. Was he serious right now?
“I was traumatized a few seconds ago!” she snapped. “That’s why I’m turning pink!”
Aiden sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I was just trying to save us. Would you rather I tell her we’ve been lying to her?”
“Aiden…”
“She walked in asking questions, and I gave her an answer she wouldn’t question. You think she’d smile and walk away if I said, ‘We’re thinking about maybe, one day, possibly considering a ring’?”
Alina gave him a flat look. “Good, fine, but you didn’t have to throw the B-word into it. Something else would have worked.”
“Well…it did get her out of here”
She couldn’t argue with that.
A beat of silence passed. Then, Aiden stepped forward, more serious now. “You haven’t answered my question,”
She lifted a brow, confused.
“Marriage certificate. Proper ring. This week.”
There it was again…that tone. Low. Sure. No teasing. No smile.
Her stomach fluttered. And she hated that it did. “You’re not…you’re not joking?”
“No.” He shook his head, eyes locked on hers. “I’m asking if you’re okay with it. We already said we’re engaged. I think it’s only
proper to go with that.”
“But it’s not real,” she said softly, her brows furrowing. “None of it is. Do you know what it means getting a marriage certificate? And what happens when this ends? When we go our separate ways? Who’s going to want a divorcee with a fake marriage behind
1/4
