Chapter 6
#Back at home, Caroline sorted through their financial documents.
Aiden’s credit cards, jewelry, property deeds–she arranged them on the table like a final inventory of a dream gone wrong.
Three days later, Aiden came home.
He appeared at the door in a perfectly tailored suit with tie knotted immaculately, looking nothing like someone who’d just escaped death.
“Hey, babe. Work’s been insane lately. Sorry I haven’t been around much.”
He concealed his hospitalization completely as he approached to hug her, the faint smell of antiseptic still clinging to him.
Caroline knew he’d rushed his discharge, afraid she might question where he’d been and what had
happened.
What he didn’t know was that she’d witnessed everything–how he’d risked his life for another
woman.
“How’s our little one doing?” he asked, eyes drifting to her stomach. “Have you been taking your prenatal vitamins? Your bump looks smaller somehow.”
When he reached to touch her belly, Caroline instinctively stepped back.
“I don’t feel well. Don’t touch me,” she said coldly.
Aiden’s brow furrowed as he immediately called the housekeeper to ask about Caroline’s condition.
Learning she hadn’t been taking her medication, his expression darkened. He went straight to the
kitchen to prepare it himself.
“Come on, baby, please,” he coaxed, holding out the mug of dark liquid. “Take this for your health. It’ll make things easier when it’s time for delivery.”
Caroline stared at the brownish mixture, about to make an excuse when the doorbell rang.
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Chapter 6
Several of Aiden’s friends arrived looking agitated.
He told her to rest and led them to his study.
Once their footsteps faded, Caroline immediately dumped the medicine down the drain.
As she headed back to the bedroom, heated voices carried from the study.
“Dude, Elise’s family is forcing her into an arranged marriage. She refused, so they locked her in. Wedding’s set for the day after tomorrow. They want to make it a done deal.”
A crash–like a teacup shattering.
Then Aiden’s voice came, ice–cold and resolute. “I understand.”
“What do you mean ‘understand“?” another friend Levi asked.
“I mean,” Aiden said slowly, “I won’t let her marry someone she doesn’t love.”
The study erupted.
“Are you serious? You’re going to crash a wedding?”
“Bro, calm down. You’ve got a wife. You’ve got a baby due in a few months!”
“Have you thought about what people will say about Caroline? What about your kid’s future?”
“Aren’t you afraid Caroline will divorce you?”
Amid all the protests, Aiden’s voice cut through with steel–like certainty.
“I’ll handle it. Caroline’ll never find out.”
“And if she does?”
After a few seconds of silence, his reply came.
“So what? I’ll just sweet–talk her. She’s obsessed with me–she’s not going anywhere.”
Standing outside, Caroline’s face went pale. Her fingers slowly curled over her chest.
Though there was a dull ache there, it no longer felt like the searing pain from before.
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Chapter 6
And just like that, she knew she was letting go.
She didn’t love him anymore.
