As the call disconnected, Aiden felt the familiar pressure of stress weighing heavily on his mind. He pushed himself up from his chair, hoping that a brief break might help clear his thoughts. He walked purposefully out of his office and onto the balcony, his steps echoing lightly on the polished floor.The office balcony offered a stunning view of the city, a mosaic of lights and movement. Aiden inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling his lungs. The architectural beauty of the building he was in, with its intricate designs and modern touches, was a small solace amidst the turmoil of the past days.He gazed out at the sprawling cityscape, taking in the bustling streets below and the towering skyscrapers that reached for the sky. The fresh air and the scenic view provided a momentary escape from the chaos that had surrounded him. He allowed himself a few moments of peace, letting the calmness wash over him.After a while, Aiden turned to head back inside, but something caught his eye. A
Aiden turned to Silvana, who was watching with a soft smile. "And for you," he said, walking over to her and enveloping her in a warm hug. Silvana teased him, her eyes twinkling. "I hope you brought me cookies too, or I might just cry." Aiden laughed, pulling out a bag of freshly extracted fruit juices and some snacks. "I’ve got something even better." Silvana's smile widened as she took the bag. "Good for you," she said, playfully nudging him. "You know how to keep a girl happy." They all laughed together, the tension of the past few days momentarily forgotten. They headed inside, the mansion's grandeur welcoming them as they settled in for dinner. The dining room was warm and enchanting, with soft candlelight and the rich aroma of roasted vegetables and seasoned meats. The long, elegant table was adorned with their favorite dishes, carefully prepared to bring comfort. As they sat down, Zia’s face was alight with excitement. "Daddy, guess what happened at school today!" Zia's v
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you here?” A woman glared at a little girl who was holding onto her leg, the disdain in her eyes was evident. With a sneer, she tries to free herself from the clutch of the child, cruelly kicking her aside. “Get lost brat!” Aiden, upon seeing the actions of his wife immediately rushed over to carry the child sprawled on the ground. “Amelia, how can you be so heartless to our child?”Amelia openly glared at him. “Our child? This brat! Get her out of here, her presence is embarrassing.” She sips from the champagne glass in her hand.There was a party currently happening and everyone was engrossed with the conversations and socializing that no one noticed the pair in a corner. Aiden held his daughter in his arms and looked around, he didn’t want to be present, he felt out of place. “Can we leave now?” He asked with a persuasive tone.“Why should I leave? This is my aunt’s birthday party and if you’ve suddenly forgotten, I seem to be the guest
“How dare you speak to Mr Andrews in that manner?” A middle aged woman suddenly appeared and slapped Aiden across the face. “Do you know who he is? Do you think you both share the same status?”“Mother-” Aiden stared to speak but another slap on his face interrupted him.“And who are you calling mother? I don’t have a son like you. Instead of being rude you should grovel at his feet and hope that he favors you but no, you simply have to cause a scene.” Ruby Reyes, Aiden’s supposed mother in law who appeared at the scene looked enraged, not even giving him a chance to speak. “Why should I beg for his favor, I don’t need it?” There was an unyielding expression on Aiden’s face, he didn’t not intend to back down.Everyone burst into laughter, Amelia most especially. “Did I hear you correctly?”“Yes!” Aiden replied.“You couldn’t even afford to get my aunt a proper present, your presence here was just because we didn’t want it to seem like you were being cast aside.” Amelia rolled her e
As soon as he left, the party resumed it’s usual glamour, Aiden was pushed to the back of the minds of everyone, no one really cared about him as there were no benefits attached. As Aiden walked away with nothing but Zia in his arms, no one could tell what he was thinking from his expressionless face, one of his hands were clenched in anger and frustration. Upon arriving outside the venue, he quickly flagged down a taxi wanting to be away from the place immediately. He entered the taxi with his daughter and gave the driver his address. Getting home, he quickly ran a bath for his daughter and soon tucked her in bed. “Daddy,” Zia called out to him with a smile as Aiden tucked her in.“Yes darling.”“Is mummy going to come see me?” she inquired with an hopeful look on her face.“Mummy has to be somewhere else right now but I’m sure she’ll come see you when she returns.” Aiden had no choice but to lie to his daughter seeing the expectant look on her face, he couldn’t bear to crush he
The next day, Aiden tried to avoid everyone in the house, some of the people who he unfortunately came across gave him strange looks and threw harsh comments at him but he was completely indifferent about this, ignoring their words and trying not to act on his emotions. He knew that something was brewing and decided to go with the flow of things. He spent the day in his daughter’s room, telling her stories and playing with her, he only left when he had to get breakfast and lunch for the both of them which led to encounters with Amelia’s cousins.“Look who’s here?” A young boy in his teens laughed boisterously and extended his arm out, blocking Aiden as he was stepping out of the kitchen. “So you are Aiden, my cousin’s husband?” His tone was condescending. “I am. Liam A good dog doesn’t block the path, if there’s nothing else, please step aside.”“How dare you speak to me that way, you are nothing but my family’s servant.” Liam leaned forward, wanting to mock him more but this was
Aiden frowned at her words, but it quickly disappeared before it was seen. It was dark and raining heavily, there was no way he could leave since he didn’t have a car and hasn’t thought of place to stay, there was only one place he could run to but he wasn’t sure if it was still safe. He turned to the patriarch who was still looking in his direction with indifference. “I have to leave right away?” Aiden inquired.The man nodded his head. “The five years are up and from now onwards, you would no longer be a part of our family so it is only right that you leave immediately. I won’t pursue what you did to my grandson.”Aiden felt conflicted. “But it’s late-”“And what does that got to do with us, why don’t you hurry out of here, we don’t have forever.” Ruby, his ex mother in law interrupted him. She couldn’t wait for him to leave.“My mother is right. Could you take your daughter and leave my house, and you must never return here.” Amelia said. “Okay, I hope you don’t regret your ac
Aiden opened the door, the room was clean but it was very obvious that no one had lived there for a long time but it was very warm and cozy. Aiden helped Zia out of her wet clothes and wrapped her up in a clean blanket. “Sweetie, I’m going to run you a hot bath, do not move an inch from here.”“Yes Daddy.” Zia had already stopped crying, she was shivering from the cold and Aiden had wrapped her up like a burrito to warm her up. Her eyes were red and swollen and she was in a daze, completely traumatized by what had happened earlier. Nothing went wrong and soon Aiden tucked Zia in bed for the second time. “Daddy, are you okay?” She finally asked. Throughout the time Aiden bathed and dressed her up, she was still in a daze, like a puppet. Aiden didn’t know what to say or how to reassure her. “Yes honey, I’m fine,” She lied to her once again and she seemed to buy it. “We would stay here for a while and wait-” “Mummy isn’t coming.” Zia announced all of a sudden, catching her father unaw
Aiden turned to Silvana, who was watching with a soft smile. "And for you," he said, walking over to her and enveloping her in a warm hug. Silvana teased him, her eyes twinkling. "I hope you brought me cookies too, or I might just cry." Aiden laughed, pulling out a bag of freshly extracted fruit juices and some snacks. "I’ve got something even better." Silvana's smile widened as she took the bag. "Good for you," she said, playfully nudging him. "You know how to keep a girl happy." They all laughed together, the tension of the past few days momentarily forgotten. They headed inside, the mansion's grandeur welcoming them as they settled in for dinner. The dining room was warm and enchanting, with soft candlelight and the rich aroma of roasted vegetables and seasoned meats. The long, elegant table was adorned with their favorite dishes, carefully prepared to bring comfort. As they sat down, Zia’s face was alight with excitement. "Daddy, guess what happened at school today!" Zia's v
As the call disconnected, Aiden felt the familiar pressure of stress weighing heavily on his mind. He pushed himself up from his chair, hoping that a brief break might help clear his thoughts. He walked purposefully out of his office and onto the balcony, his steps echoing lightly on the polished floor.The office balcony offered a stunning view of the city, a mosaic of lights and movement. Aiden inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling his lungs. The architectural beauty of the building he was in, with its intricate designs and modern touches, was a small solace amidst the turmoil of the past days.He gazed out at the sprawling cityscape, taking in the bustling streets below and the towering skyscrapers that reached for the sky. The fresh air and the scenic view provided a momentary escape from the chaos that had surrounded him. He allowed himself a few moments of peace, letting the calmness wash over him.After a while, Aiden turned to head back inside, but something caught his eye. A
Zain’s face twisted with frustration. “please do, thank you. I’ll have to find other ways too. I can’t just let him rot in jail.”“Do what you must Zain. At this point, anything is better than nothing. I’ll take my leave now.”Both men shared a handshake, and Zain watched the Lawyer head for the door.Zain reached for his phone, his hand trembling slightly with a mix of anger and desperation. It was time to pull every string he had.Zain dialed the number of his old friend, Senator Marshall, a man with considerable influence. The phone rang twice before a smooth, familiar voice answered.“Marshall speaking.”“Senator, it’s Zain Romanov. I need a favor,” Zain began, trying to keep his voice steady.“Zain, it’s been a while. What can I do for you?” Marshall’s tone was friendly, but Zain could sense the underlying caution.“My son, Bryden, has been arrested. I need you to use your influence to get him out. The situation looks bad, but I know you can help.”There was a long pause on the o
For a moment, there was only the sound of their heavy breathing, the aftermath of their heated encounter settling around them. Aiden’s mind slowly began to clear, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him.Amelia, sensing his return to reality, pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “See?” she whispered. “You still want me, Aiden, you always have, and I do too. You know how to make my body tremble right at your feet.”Aiden’s heart ached with conflicting emotions. He knew he had betrayed Silvana whom he truly loved, and yet he couldn’t deny the powerful pull Amelia still had over him. His mind was a maelstrom of guilt and desire, leaving him adrift in a sea of confusion.Amelia’s voice broke through his thoughts, a seductive promise in her tone. “You don’t have to choose, Aiden. We can keep this between us. No one has to know.”Aiden was not planning on telling anyone, especially as it could hurt Silvana so much. He knew he had done wrong, but he could not deny that his body
“We were married for five years, Aiden,” she murmured, leaning closer, her breath warm against his ear. “You just met Silvana. She can’t possibly know you the way I do. I know you love exploring my body, you love it when you bend me over, or have my legs hung on your shoulders.”Aiden’s resolve was crumbling, piece by piece, under the weight of her words and the relentless onslaught of desire. For as long as he could remember, for the past five years of his life as husband to Amelia, there was no day he did not worship her body. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as she was until he met her. How could he forget all the things she made him love when they made love or had random sex, especially during her pregnancy with Zia.Aiden could not deny it, Amelia had a body he had known too well. The curves, the bends, everything. It was for this reason it killed him more than treating him like trash when she went around sleeping with anyone who wasn’t him. She knew how to make him beg he
“Amelia, please stop,” he said, his voice strained. She ignored him, her movements growing more frantic. “I can’t... I can’t do this alone,” she cried. “I need... I need...” Aiden moved closer, his heart pounding. He wanted to comfort her, to help her, but he was torn between his love for Silvana and his desire to alleviate her suffering. “Amelia, let me help you.” Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a mixture of desperation and hope. “You can’t help me, Aiden. Not in the way I need.” Aiden reached out, his hand trembling, and gently took her hand in his. “I can try. Please, let me try.” Amelia’s body shook with sobs as she leaned into him. Aiden had plans only on holding her close and comforting her that way, but before he knew it, his tongue was in her mouth, searching it’s depth. As his hand rested in between her legs, it dawned on Aiden that he was about to do more than he should have. He knew he no longer loved Amelia as much as he did some years back, not with Silvana i
“Mr. Romanov, we have a warrant to bring Bryden in for questioning regarding his possible involvement in Daniel’s death,” one of the officers stated, handing Zain the official document.Zain’s face flushed with anger. “This is preposterous! My son has nothing to do with any of this. I will not allow you to take him.”“Sir, we are just doing our job. Please do not obstruct justice,” the other officer replied calmly, unperturbed by Zain’s outburst.Realizing that his influence was failing to sway the officers, Zain watched helplessly as they proceeded to handcuff Bryden and escort him out of the mansion. Bryden’s expression was a mix of fear and resignation as he was led away.Once the officers were out of sight, Zain hurriedly pulled out his phone and called his lawyer, pacing the length of the living room. “This is unacceptable. Bryden has been arrested. I need you to do whatever it takes to get him out,” he barked into the phone.After ending the call with his lawyer, Zain dialed Pat
Sam scribbled down notes, his mind piecing together the events. “Mr. Benson, a person was murdered, and your car was seen near the scene. We’re trying to find the culprit, and it seems your car might be involved.”Carl’s eyes widened. “Murdered? My God... I had no idea.”Sam leaned forward, his tone reassuring. “Don’t worry. As long as you cooperate, you’ll be fine. Do you remember anything else? Anything that might help us identify this man?”Carl seemed to hesitate, then his eyes lit up with a sudden recollection. “Wait, there is something. When he tried to grab my car keys, we struggled a bit. I managed to hit him on his left arm, and he winced in pain. It looked like he had a pretty bad wound there.”Sam noted this down with keen interest. “That’s very helpful, Mr. Benson. Thank you. If you think of anything else, no matter how small, please let me know.”Carl nodded, looking relieved to have contributed something useful. “I will, Mr. Larson. I just hope they catch whoever did thi
“I saw the email come in,” Sam replied. “I was about to call you, actually. We’ve managed to trace the engineer who disappeared after your parents’ crash. He’s been living in the Caribbean under a new identity.”Aiden’s pulse quickened. “Are you sure it’s him?”“Positive. We’ve verified his identity through multiple sources. I wanted to confirm with you before involving the local authorities.”“Do it,” Aiden said decisively. “And also run a check on the plate number from the footage. We need to know who owns that car.”“On it,” Sam replied, his tone crisp with determination.The next day, Aiden’s phone buzzed early in the morning. It was Sam, and his voice carried a note of urgency.“Aiden, we’ve got him. The engineer, Dan, has been arrested and is currently in custody.”“That’s great news,” Aiden said, feeling a mix of relief and tension. “What about the interrogation?”“It’s just started. I’ll keep you updated,” Sam promised.Hours crawled by as Aiden paced his study, the weight of