Chapter 58
A surge of warmth spread through my chest. I looked up and met Aiden’s gaze, a tender smile tugging at his lips.
“By the way,” he said abruptly, his tone serious. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to live alone?
Why don’t
you move in with me!
1 blinked, caught off guard by y such a startling proposal. “There’s no need. I’m not a child, I can take care of myself.”
Aiden’s gaze was gentle yet intense. “Natalia, my parents have adored you since you were a child. They wouldn’t mind at all. You can stay as long as you want, and we could even bring Benedict home with us” he said earnestly.
His words made my nerves tighten. A wave of unease swept over me as I caught an emotion in his gaze that I had never noticed before–a sense of deep affection and longing
My mind flashed back to that night when he was drunk.
In the past, I had been blind to everything but Quinn, oblivious to the affections of anyone else. But now, as I rediscovered myself piece by piece. I had become more attuned to the emotions around me.
Could it be that the woman Aiden loved was.. met
It was only then that I began to realize the depths of his feelings. My chest tightened at the thought, but 1 quickly brushed it off. The realization left me shaken and awkward.
was silent for a moment. “Even if your parents don’t mind, wouldn’t your future wife have a problem with it!” I quipped weakly, forcing a smile in an attempt to case the tension.
Aiden paused, his gaze unwavering as he said, “Natalia, I’ve only ever loved you.”
I froze,
e, my eyes wide 35 his words hit me, my heart racing. The man I had always seen as a brother was now confessing to me
Aiden seemed resolute, as though revealing a long–held secret, “I knew you loved Quinn, so I never said anything. As long as you were happy, I was willing to keep my feelings to myself forever.
“But he hurt you. He doesn’t deserve you, Natalia. Now that you’re free, I can’t keep quiet anymore,
His voice softened as he asked, “Will you give me a chance to take care of you?”
Our eyes met, and I felt the weight of his sincerity, but feelings couldn’t be forced.
“I’m sorry, Aiden.” I murmured, lowering my eyes to avoid his
gaze
Aiden was undoubtedly an ideal partner, a man worthy of trust and devotion. But in my heart, he was–and would always be–like a brother to me. “It’s because of Quinn, isn’t it?” he asked
I pursed my lips, unsure of how to respond.
“I thought so. You still can’t forget about him” Aiden let out a rueful laugh. “Don’t apologize. I expected this. I just needed to tell you how I feel Keeping it in any longer would’ve been unbearable”
I could never love anyone else the way I loved Quinn, and I would spend my life trying to get over him. I nodded, at a loss for what else to say.
iheavy sigh, Aiden tried to lighten the mood. “It’s all right,” he said softly. “You don’t have to feel pressured. You don’t have to accept me but reject my feelings either I’ll wait for as long as it takes for you to move on!
that, he stood up and looked at the time. I need to get back to work. If I hear anything new about U3, I’ll with a stufe before leaving
catched his departing figure as I wrestled with the chaos of emotions swirling within me.
I let you k
know right away,” he said
afternoon, while I was resting in my apartment, 1 received a call from the police. “Ms. Hinton, this is the Eastside Police Department. We
So, there had been progress in the investigation. My pulse quickened, but I agreed without hesitation, No one wanted the truth to more than I did. After condemning the address, I called for a cali and leaded over immediately
to come to light
me to ligh
“Have the blood test results come back yet Lasked after giving a full account of the events.
At the station, the officer in charge asked me to recount everything that had happened in the hospital that day, and I answered as truthful coulid, leaving no retail out
as 1
12
The officer didn’t answer icily: Instead, star narrowed her eyes and questioned, “Did you and your adoptive parents have a strained relationship?”
12:08 PM
Chapter 58
I stiffened. Her scrutinizing gaze unsettled me. “My conscience is clear. I’ve never hurt anyone, 1 said indignantly.
With a grim expression, the officer said, “The results aren’t back yet, but the hospital’s surveillance footage shows you were the only person who entered the room during the hour Jenna Patton was poisoned”
“And that proves I’m the culprit?” I countered.
“Ms. Hinton, there’s no need to get defensive. This is just standard procedure, the officer replied, closing her notebook. That will be all for today. Thank you for your cooperation
After the interrogation was over, I left the police station. Before I could get a cab, I was ambushed by a swarm of reporters waiting outside. Camera flashed incessantly, and microphones were shoved in my face.
“Ms. Hinton, did you poison your adoptive mother? Why would you do such a thing? What’s your motive?” a reporter asked. “Is it true that you’ve been struggling with mental health issues since the loss of your child and your divorce?”
“Does your identity as an adopted daughter have anything to do with your divorce from Mr. Madden?” another reporter asked. “Ms. Hinton, please say something to the camera!”
The reporters‘ voices were deafening. The bidding event had caused such a stir, and with reporters already present and a live broadcast underway that night, the story quickly became a sensation.
how fast the reporters had caught wind of my interrogation and camped out
Within days, my name had gone viral. What I hadn’t anticipated was h in front of the police station,
my name.
I tried to keep my composure. “I didn’t do it,” I said firmly. “I’m waiting for the police to clear The reponers were relentless, shouting more questions. Pushing away the microphones, I tried to make my way through the crowd, but I tripped over someone’s foot, I stumbled forward, bracing for a hard fall–only to be caught by a firm, familiar grasp
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me before pulling me into his chest. The faint scent of mint washed over me. I raised and met Quinn’s deep–set eyes.
My heart skipped a beat. Did he come all the way to pick me up after hearing the news?
“Come with me,” he said. His arm stayed protectively around my shoulders as we pushed through the throng of reporters toward his car
As if they had just gotten the scoop on explosive news, the reporter trailed behind us, their cameras flashing wildly,
Someone asked pointedly. “Mr. Madden, are you and Ms. Hinton getting back together!”
Quinn’s expression was cold. Without turning around, he said tersely, “No comment”
my
head
The ambiguous response only seemed to fuel the frenzy. Unruffled, he opened the car door and ushered me inside before driving off, leaving the chaos behind
Chapter 39
