Chapter 211
D
Aiden’s voice always carried an undeniable authority, its deep, magnetic timbre both soothing and thrilling to anyone who heard it.
Sydney liked Aiden’s voice, but not so much at that moment.
She turned to see Aiden standing ramrod straight, his entire being radiating an intimidating aura, even more unapproachable than he had been in their university days.
He gave her a cold, disdainful look, but almost instantly looked away, as if even a glance at her was a waste of his time. “She is my wife,” he said coldly.
He strode forward with measured steps, each footfall resonating with authority. Fixing his gaze on Sydney, he said coldly, “Mind how you address her, and remember your boundaries, Miss Skinner.”
Valerie had never expected Aiden to take such a stance. She was surprised, but couldn’t help feeling a secret delight.
‘Wait, is he actually standing up for me?‘ Valerie wondered, a mix of surprise and secret delight bubbling up inside her.
Aiden had reached Valerie’s side. As Sydney took in his tall, striking figure, her heart stirred.
Compared to that awkward boy from years past, Aiden had now grown into a towering presence, a true powerhouse who commanded everyone’s attention wherever he went.
Sydney thought, ‘Only a man of his caliber is worthy of me.
‘Only someone like me deserves a man of his stature.
‘What right does this penniless nobody have?‘
But the thought vanished as quickly as it came. Sydney’s face blossomed into a flawless smile. “Aiden, what a pleasant surprise to see you again.”
Her tone suggested she was completely oblivious to the thinly veiled scorri in Aiden’s words.
Valerie was secretly impressed.
Aiden clearly wasn’t about to let this pass. Fixing Sydney with a frosty stare, he demanded, “Is this how the Skinner family raises their daughters, clomping around in high heels and barging uninvited into a married couple’s private quarters, like you own the place?”
Sydney’s smile froze for a split second, her eyes instinctively darting down to her high heels.
“When I first walked in, Camille did suggest I change my shoes,’ Sydney thought resentfully, ‘But I never do that in my own home, so why should I lower myself just to visit this orphan?”
Sydney thought, ‘Honestly, I never expected Aiden to come back now. Otherwise, I would’ve changed my shoes.‘
Sydney gave an awkward smile and said, “My apologies. I was in such a hurry to check on Valerie that it slipped my mind.”
Aiden’s lips curled in silent derision.
Camille emerged from the bathroom with Timothy in tow.
$200
Timothy wiped his little hands dry, skipped over, and called out, “Daddy!”
Valerie was startled, but Sydney was downright shocked.
‘Daddy?‘ Sydney thought, stunned.
Aiden’s eyelid twitched as the little guy, clung to his leg. “Who’s this woman?”
1/3
Wed, 25 Jun
Chapter 211
Timothy looked at Sydney with wide, curious eyes and said bluntly, “This woman looks so fiercel She’s not as gentle as Mommy at alli”
As he said “Mommy,” Timothy instinctively looked up at Valerie.
Sydney’s face fell, a sudden heaviness pressing down on her chest.
Sydney thought, ‘They actually have a child together?
‘When did this happen? How could I have known nothing about this!
‘So that’s why Aiden is so set on her!
‘Aiden really is such a responsible man… So this woman actually trapped him with a child?
‘He looks at least three years old… So, three or four years ago…
‘Wait… Aiden was studying abroad back then. Could it have started all the way back then?‘
Forcing a strained smile, Sydney could hardly believe it as she managed, “Aiden, this child…”
“Miss Skinner,” Camille said with a polite smile, “how about t get you some drink? Now that Mr. Walker is back, it might not be appropriate for you to stay in the newlyweds‘ private bedroom. Why don’t we move to the living room? I’ll bring you some refreshments as well.”
Sydney’s expression flickered. Forcing a polite smile, she said stiffly, “No, thank you.”
With great effort, Sydney managed a strained smile and said, “My apologies, I acted thoughtlessly in my eagerness to bring the medicine up to Mrs. Walker as soon as possible. I’m afraid proper etiquette quite slipped my mind. Mrs. Walker, I do hope you won’t hold it against me?”
“Thank you,” Valerie said with a faint smile.
Neither blaming nor absolving, Valerie deftly sidestepped the crux of Sydney’s words. The subtle evasion left Sydney momentarily breathless, but she quickly composed a tight smile and took her leave with practiced grace.
The moment she turned away, her smile froze, her eyes flashing with venomous malice.
Sydney thought bitterly, ‘Looks like my intel was off.
‘This woman is far more formidable than I’d been led to believe.
‘And that kid…
‘Could that really be Aiden’s kid?‘
Her mind preoccupied, Sydney quickly left.
The moment Sydney left, Aiden pulled Timothy closer and gave him a light swat on the bottom. “What did you just call me?” he asked, half–amused.
Timothy wasn’t hurt by the light swat, but he immediately put on his best pitiful face, his big eyes welling up with crocodile tears. He sniffled dramatically, “Aiden doesn’t like that lady, and Timothy doesn’t like her either, so I just wanted to make her go away…”
Timothy was already as delicate as a doll, and when he pouted like that, Valerie’s heart simply melted. She quickly said, “Alright, Timothy, you mustn’t do that again, okay? If you call people Daddy or Mommy randomly, outsiders might get the wrong idea.”
Timothy pouted and hung his head. “Do you not like Timothy anymore?”
Valerie’s heart melted at his pitiful expression. She ruffled his hair gently and reassured him, “Of course not.”
Timothy instantly bounced back to life, beaming as he planted a big kiss on Valerie’s cheek and declared, “You’re my favorite!”
2/3
Chapter 211
Alden couldn’t help but chuckle at the kid’s mischievous antics. “For someone so young, where do you get all these tricks, you little schemer?”
Timothy blinked his big eyes, looking pitiful, and said, “Mommy says being clever means other kids won’t bully me. Since I don’t have a daddy to protect me, I have to protect myself… so one day I can protect Mommy!”
Valerie’s heart ached at his words. She couldn’t help but gently ruffle his hair. “What a good boy,” she murmured tenderly, her voice soft and full of affection.
Aiden looked at him, recalling what Aaron had just said on the phone, “Aiden, I finally remembered who this kid looks like. Do you remember your high school archenemy, Orson Law?
““His family shipped him overseas since he was accused of murder. It happened before he even finished college, and he only just came back this year. 1 even dug out our old yearbook and graduation photos, and damn, that kid is the spitting image of him! Where on earth did you get that kid?”
Aiden brushed it off, but as Orson’s face flashed through his mind, he couldn’t help but notice, the kid looked uncannily like him.
The doorbell rang.
Camille opened the door to two unfamiliar faces.
“Hello there,” Russell said with a friendly smile, “I’m Valerie’s friend, here to see her.”
Camille was baffled. ‘Why are so many people coming to see Valerie today?‘ she wondered.
Camille reported to her employers and promptly ushered them in.
Hearing it was them, Valerie was almost certain, the paternity test results must be out.
Her heart raced, a mix of nervousness and anticipation welling up inside her. Valerie turned to Aiden, her voice barely above a whisper, “What if it really is true? Then what should I do…”
3/3
