Chapter 178
‘Aiden’s good friend? Those three words were surprising,’ Valerie thought as she was momentarily taken aback.
She studied him carefully and was sure she did not recognise him. “And you are?” she asked.
“Well, it’s perfectly normal that you don’t know me. I’m Aaron Reed,” Aaron said with a friendly grin, giving Valerie a once–over. “Not bad….Aiden really kept you under wraps. If it hadn’t gone viral online and become public knowledge, I wouldn’t have even known he was married. Seriously, what a surprise!”
Valerie thought his tone sounded oddly familiar. She was sure she’d heard it before during one of Aiden’s phone calls. Yet, she was certain she had never met this man in person.
Aaron said, “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not a bad guy. If you don’t believe me, give Aiden a call and ask who I am.”
“Sir,” Mandy stepped protectively in front of Valerie. “We’re in a hurry to catch our flight. Please, step aside.”
Aaron was not lying about it being a coincidence, and that he was just curious about Valerie. Thus, he chuckled as he hopped back into his car, “I told you, I’m heading to the airport too. This was just a coincidence. No need to be so nervous around me! Alright, alright, maybe I came on a bit too strong. My bad. I’ll head off first. Catch you later!”
Valerie watched as the tangerine sports car sped away, blinking thoughtfully.
‘He doesn’t seem to have any ill intentions,’ Valerie thought, ‘but is he really Aiden’s friend?‘
Valerie soon arrived at the airport. To her surprise, she ran into Aaron again in the VIP lounge.
Aaron took off his sunglasses and let out a low whistle. “What a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here.”
Mandy blocked his path, her expression wary.
Aaron burst into laughter. “Why so wary of me? You’re breaking my heart here.”
P
Putting on an exaggerated wounded expression, he slumped into a nearby seat, took out his phone, and started a video call.
Not long after, Valerie heard Aiden’s familiar voice. “What is it?” Aiden asked curtly.
Aaron clutched his chest dramatically, feigning injury. “Oh man, why so cold? We haven’t seen each other in ages. Every time I ask you out, you always turn me down. I thought you’d changed your ways, but it turns out you’ve just been keeping a beauty at home.”
Aiden remained expressionless. “I’m hanging up if that’s all you have to say. I’m busy.”
“Hey, hey, don’t hang up! Guess who I just bumped into at the airport?” Aaron playfully turned the camera toward Valerie. Ta–da! I just met this gorgeous lady.”
Aiden’s usual cold gaze flickered when he saw Valerie. “Are you following her?” he asked coldly.
Aaron exclaimed, “Damn it! What’s that supposed to mean? Do I look like that kind of creep to you?”
Mandy said expressionlessly, “Yes. We only got to know each other because you tailed our car all the way, Mr. Reed.”
Busted, Aaron rubbed his nose sheepishly. “Hey, can’t blame me for being curious about the person who could tame our Aiden. Turns out, she’s a beauty! Right, Aiden?”
Aiden fell silent, offering Aaron no response. Instead, he looked at Valerie and said softly, “Come back soon.”
Valerie felt a sweet warmth blossom in her chest, the corners of her lips lifting gently. “Okay,” she responded softly.
Chapter 178
Aaron teased, “Wow, what a public display of affection! Aren’t you going to introduce me to your wife?”
Aiden finally glanced at him and said coolly, “This is Aaron Reed.”
Aaron exclaimed, “That’s it? Holy shit, just like that? Did our four years as bunkmates mean nothing? I even picked up your damn underwear for you, and this is how you repay me, man?”
Valerie couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Aiden fell silent. Without another word, he abruptly hung up the phone.
Aaron was still muttering curses as he stuffed his phone away, but when he turn
to Valerie, his face broke into a beaming grin. “See? I’m not some shady character. I just knew that guy wouldn’t breathe a word about us. He’s always been the quiet kind and never says more than he has to. Honestly. who would’ve thought he’d actually settle down? I was sure he’d die a bachelor! Hahaha!”
Valerie found him quite amusing. “You and Aiden were college friends?”
“To be precise, we were college roommates,” Aaron said with a beaming smile. “Man, this guy is such a mystery! Come on, can I get a photo with you?”
Valerie glanced at him, then smiled and agreed without hesitation.
From Aiden’s manner, it seemed he didn’t really mind this guy.
Valerie soon found herself chatting with Aaron. He was so bubbly and outgoing, the complete opposite of Aiden. She couldn’t help but wonder, “How could two people this different possibly be such good friends?”
As soon as the flight attendant announced boarding, Aaron and Valerie stood up together. They exchanged a quick glance, then, almost instinctively, compared their boarding passes.
They were taking the same plane.
Mandy frowned and said with a hint of suspicion, “This is too much of a coincidence.”
Aaron quickly waved his hands in denial. “I swear, I’m not following you guys! My home’s in Endver City. I’m just heading home, that’s all.”
Valerie didn’t pry. Fearing she might misunderstand him, Aaron spent the flight sharing stories about Endver City, along with tales from his college days
with Aiden.
As he scrolled past a photo, Valerie’s sharp eyes caught it. “A cruise?” she blurted out.
Aaron had already swiped past it, but when Valerie spoke up, he quickly swiped back. “Yeah,” he said with a grin.
In the picture, Aaron was perched on the railing, taking a selfie. Not far behind him stood Aiden and another man.
The third man was someone Valerie recognized. A man named Marco Palmer.
Marco was a man of few words. In her previous life, Marco had come to pick her up in Aiden’s stead during Aiden’s power struggle with his old man. Back then, Marco had only asked her one question, “Do you love him?”
Valerie could not recall how she’d answered. Now, her attention was completely drawn to that photo.
In the photo, endless azure waves stretched across the sea as Aiden sat conversing with Marco. Besides the three men, there was just a fleeting glimpse of the fluttering hem of a floral dress.
There was a woman.
She sat not far from Aiden, her face hidden from view. Only a slender hand and the fluttering hem of a floral dress were visible.
Aaron scoffed, “We got invited over. I thought it’d be fun, but damn, it was messed up. We should never have gone.
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Chapter 178
“Why do you say that?” Valerie asked, her curiosity piqued.
“They were selling stuff,” Aaron lowered his voice, “Selling playthings.”
“Playthings?” Valerie echoed, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “You mean…toys?”
“Yeah, ‘toys!. They were people the rich use for their own amusement and pleasure,” Aaron sneered. “Men and women, both.”
Valerie gasped in shock. “You mean…the ‘toys‘ were people?”
Aaron shrugged. “That’s why I said it was mind–blowing in the worst way. It was total debauchery, so disgusting you couldn’t even look. Anyway, I’m never setting foot on that damn cruise ship again. What a shithole.”
Valerie’s mind flashed to the Durelia Cruise Ship Aiden had mentioned before.
AD
