Chapter 007
The car ride was quiet. No one said a word. Jesse sat in the front passenger seat, staring at his phone. His eyes were glued to the news that was spreading everywhere. The headlines were all over the internet, and the silence in the car made it feel heavier. He didn’t say anything. He just kept reading, his face blank.
After a while, Jesse turned his head and looked toward the back seat. Aiden was sitting there next to Alina. He wasn’t saying anything either. His attention was on his own phone. He wasn’t scrolling or texting. He was just staring at the screen. Jesse had a strong feeling the phone was ringing. It had to be a call from the Blackwoods. Who else would be calling at a time like this?
Jesse opened his mouth and started to speak. “Sir… Won’t you…’
But before he could finish, Aiden pressed the power button on his phone, turning it off, and slipped it into his pocket without a word.
Alina noticed the small action and looked at Aiden. But his face showed no emotion at all. He looked completely calm, almost like he didn’t care. That made her uncomfortable, and she quietly turned her eyes away.
Then, Jesse’s phone suddenly rang, making him sit up a little straighter. He cleared his throa and answered it.
“Where is that boy?” A voice said on the other end before he even had a chance to say hello.
Jesse paused. He glanced at Aiden again, unsure how to respond.
“He’s…”
Jesse hesitated, then took a quiet breath.
“He’s tired and resting at the moment, ma’am,” he finally said with a respectful tone.
There was a pause.
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“You should let him.” The woman on the line replied softly. And just like that, the call
ended.
+25 BONUS
Jesse lowered his phone and placed it on his lap. He let out another soft breath and leaned back into his seat. No one spoke. The ride continued in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space.
Minutes later, Aiden’s car stopped in front of Lorraine’s apartment. The night was calm and quiet. Alina turned to face him with a small sincere smile.
“Thank you for saving me tonight,” she said earnestly. “I’ll make sure to repay you and do my best.”
Aiden gave a small nod, saying nothing in return.
Without another word, Alina pushed the car door open and stepped out. She paused, inhaling the cool night air, and turned to watch the car drive off into the distance, the red
taillights fading until she could see them no more.
“That was close,” she whispered under her breath. “I only have to pretend to date him for
one week.
She looked around for a moment before making her way inside, closing the door softly
behind her.
*****
Meanwhile, Aiden arrived at his mansion not long after. The grand entrance was silent as he
stepped out of the car, exhaustion etched on his face. His assistant seemed to have
something to say, but Aiden didn’t wait. He was too tired to talk. With one hand, he tugged at the knot of his tie, trying to loosen the pressure around his neck.
“Sir…”
“Later, Jesse,” Aiden muttered as he entered the hallway, with Jesse following. Then, the
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Chapter 007
unexpected happened.
His cook, hurrying around the corner, slipped on the polished floor. Instinctively, she
-for balance. Jesse gasped behind them, grabbed onto the nearest thing-Aiden’s hands
alarmed.
He pulled the cook away from Aiden quickly, turning to look at Aiden with concern.
“Are you alright, sir?” Jesse asked, unsure if that was the best question to ask at that
moment.
Aiden turned his head slowly, but before he could speak, something shifted inside him. A strange itch climbed up his throat, followed by a dry cough. At first, it was short and light, but it quickly worsened. His chest tightened, and breathing became difficult. His body felt as if it was being squeezed from the inside. His eyes widened in panic at how fast his body was
reacting.
“Fuck… how had I forgotten?” he cursed under his breath, struggling to stay upright even though he could barely stand. His limbs felt heavy. His lungs burned. His body was shutting
down.
Jesse, his assistant, quickly covered the space between them, helping Aiden stay on his feet. The driver, who had just walked in, saw the situation and rushed over to support Aiden on the other side. Together, they guided him toward his room, leaving the confused cook
behind.
They got him to his room just in time, and the driver excused himself.
Aiden, shaking, reached into his pocket, but his fingers grasped nothing.
“It’s not with you? Did you leave it here at home?” Jesse asked urgently, already moving to the cupboard and rifling through drawers.
Aiden collapsed against the wall, his hands instinctively going to his neck to scratch it, but his doctor had warned him against it. “It’ll get worse,” the doctor had said.
“Get me… my drugs,” Aiden rasped, his voice weak as his lungs fought for air.
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Jesse found the container and rushed back to him. “Found it.”
He slipped a tablet into Aiden’s mouth and helped him drink a little water.
+25 BONUS
Aiden swallowed with effort. The moment the medicine hit his system, his legs gave way completely. He collapsed to the floor, his body going limp. His head spun, and his vision blurred, the colors fading at the edges of his sight.
“Just breathe,” Jesse said, kneeling beside him, observing him.
Aiden’s eyes fluttered shut. He didn’t respond. He was still breathing, but just barely.
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