Chapter 12
Chapter 42
FREYA
“Daddy!” I slowed down as Gia excitedly sprinted towards the hallway where Aiden was waiting. She had been wanting to show him the second she put on the dress, Figured I wanted to give them a moment alone
Aiden glanced up from his phone and almost immediately his face broke into a big smile while he watched our daughter twirl for him
“Look at you! You look like a princess. Do you know that?”
Gia smiled giddily, “Mommy did my hair.”
“Yeah! Ir looks beautiful. He touched a curl of her hair with so much affection. The adoration in his eyes as he watched her, God! It did something Strange to my heart.
“Hey, where is Mommy! Aiden’s question reminded me that we hud to be somewhere and I hated running late. I decidedly walked in, even though My entrance appeared too well–timed.
“Here” My voice caused both of them to turn around and look at me. I took a second to just watch their eerily similar faces. I had given birth to Aiden’s clone
“Mommy looks like a princess too, doesn’t she?” Gia tugged at her father’s hand, waiting for him to agree. Following suit I too stared up at Aiden. I wish I hadn’t because I wasn’t ready for the look on his face. The unmistakable lust swirling in those brown orbs had knocked me right off my balance
“She does” He stated still holding me captive with that intense eye contact. I couldn’t break it even if I tried to. Or I wasn’t trying that hard, was I didn’t know. My brain was a little mushy, even though I could hear the warning bells from what felt like somewhere far away.
“We aren’t getting late, are we?” I ended it with an awkward smile and a swallow.
Aiden’s eyes d
did another once over before he spoke. “No. Come on, let’s go
I thanked the man in his mid forties, who had held the door open for me and helped me out of the car. It was hard to not leave my jaws hanging at bow ridiculously big the property was It felt like I was in some sort of-
“Castle! Is this a castle. Mommy““
Yeah. That. It looked like a gigantic freaking seventeenth century castle. The lush gardens, the huge pool laid out in the front and all the security sprawled all over the place this was the kind of extravagance you watch in Disney movies. I was so lost taking in everything that I hadn’t noticed when Aiden appeared at my side.
ing Gia’s hand in his.
“Shall we?” Aiden was holding
“Yeah.” He placed his other hand on the small of my back, guiding us inside. Let my eyes roam about every corner of the place as we walk in. Every inch was immaculate and exquisitely furnished. Every showpiece probably cost more than my entire future.
“Do you like.. have a really big family?”
“No.” Rylan replied.
“Oh okay.” I mumbled which led him to raise an inquisitive brow
“It’s just that this place is awfully big for two people. I mean it must feel lonely or something Although guessing by the number of guards outside and the staff at the hallway, a lot
a lot of people probably lived here.
“It did at times” I tried to make sense of the note in his words. The way he said it made it sound like it wasn’t a bad thing. Before I could ask, a guy walked in. Dirty blonde hair, light brown eyes, tall lean build. I had seen him somewhere before.
“Brother” He united at Aiden who nodded in response. Brother! The club! I remembered him from that night at the club. As if on cur, he looked at
“Preya” I offered an awkward smile. How would I have responded to that! He knew my name and up until now I didn’t even know Aiden had a
His gaze alid over in Gia and immediately a warm smile broke over his face. “And you. You must be the little princess.”
2:32 PM c d
Chapter 42
He walked closer before crouching down. The warmth and affection in his eyes reminded me of Aiden, it was almost how he behaved with Gu. “Do you know who I am!”
Gia pushed her face against her father’s legs. He however wain’t discouraged by that. He smiled even wider. “I’m your Dad’s brother.
Uncle
Cillian
She observed him with her big round eyes for a good few seconds before ultimately deciding to step in front. “I’m Gia. I’m my Daddy’s daughter.”
In made both Rylan and I chuckle. That was one of the silliest, most adorable things she had said,
Cillian grinned wide. “Yeah!”
Just then another woman walked in. She seemed to be in her late fifties, I was guessing Aiden’s mom. She was tall and classically beautiful. God, the genetics in this family! Everyone was way too good looking.
“There you are!” She smiled up at Aiden who on the other hand had his lips pursed in a
thin line
“Mother. Was his clipped greeting as he kissed her cheek with cold detachment. He wasn’t even trying to hide his unwillingness to be here. She swallowed, trying to hide the hurt before she looked at me.
“I’m Freya. Nice to meet y
you, Mrs. Knight. Smiling. I forwarded a hand. She held my hand with both of hers and gave it a gentle squeeze
“Likewise, sweetheart. And call me Barbara”
1 held up
p the box in my hand. “I–uh–brought a little something. It’s cupcakes”
“Oh, thank you. That’s very nice of you. She accepted it. A woman who was standing a few feet away took it from her and disappeared into the kitchen.
Barbara bent forward to talk to Gia. “Hey
sweetheart, I’m your grandmother.”
Gia muttered a soft “Hi“. She was a little shy around new people. And this was a lot of new people for her at once.
“Can I take you to the kitchen? I have some ice cream for you.” She asked her before looking up at me, probably seeking permission. I nodded, not finding a reason not to. Turned out Aiden wasn’t as comfortable with the situation though
“I’ll keep an eye out for my daughter” The veiled threat in Aiden’s words was unmistakable. What confused me was why did he feel the need to threaten his mother. Maybe his issues with his family ran deeper than I had thought.
“Aiden His brother gritted. Aiden however made no move to acknowledge him. He simply stared his mother down, awaiting
“Of course” Barbara spoke, hiding behind a fake smile. She took Cia towards the kitchen, I assumed.
g her response.
We walked farther into the living and I had to try and not be wide–eyed at the sheer luxury of the place. And what was with so many people in uniforms? A woman came in to serve drinks, another one came and placed a plate of finger food on the coffee table. I felt like I was standing in some rich matia boss’s house.
to his sons, an older version. His eyes scrutinized me before they finally
Speaking of whom, he rose from a lounge chair. He looked eerily alike to his so landed on Aiden.
“Son” Again a clipped acknowledgement. There was no warmth in his voice whatsoever. Some really cheerful people, huh!
“Father” Aiden’s voice mirrored that sentiment. It was as if they were greeting their business rivals. Geez! Aiden really didn’t wanna come here and he was making sure everyone widerstood that very clearly. I was busy watching the very warm exchange of pleasantries when Cillian appeared by my side.
“How about a tour of the mansion?” He offered with a charming smile, I understood he was trying to save me the awkwardness of having to stand there and watch the Knights stare each other down. I admit it was getting a tad hit uncomfortable.
I offered a smile of my own. “You mean the castle!”
Herl
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