As soon as my heart steadied from the shock of Aiden's flirty expression—his face far too close for comfort—I shook my head and strode away as fast as my legs could carry me. What the hell was that about?
Aiden was supposed to be the guy who avoided people, not the type to make hearts race against their will. And for heaven's sake, why did he always seem allergic to wearing a shirt in his own house? My cheeks burned just thinking about it. My thoughts churned as I rounded the corner, trying to banish the memory of his piercing gaze.
But then, my heart nearly stopped.
There she was. The blonde woman from last night. Her sharp, blue-eyed glare locked onto mine the instant I noticed her, and I froze like a deer caught in headlights.
She didn't stop. Instead, she marched toward me, her heels clicking with purpose. I scrambled to the side, pressing myself against the wall as she brushed past me without so much as a glance.
Straight to the kitchen she went.
And then, it began.
"I knew it!" Her voice echoed, sharp and biting. "I knew that witch was coming from where you were!"
I walked closer to the kitchen, Peering around the corner, I spotted her standing in the middle of the kitchen, fuming. Aiden leaned casually against the kitchen island, his expression unreadable as he watched her pace like a predator circling prey.
The tension in the air prickled along my skin.
"Why does it even matter?" His voice was calm, smooth as silk—a clear contrast to her fiery tone.
"Because it matters!" she snapped, her heels punctuating her words as she turned on him. "Did you hire her because of this?"
"No," Aiden replied, his tone dismissive.
"Rose hired her?" she pressed.
Aiden chuckled low, the sound rich and infuriatingly self-assured. "You're good, Eva. You've known me for, what? A month?"
"That's because I love you," Eva shot back, her voice breaking slightly as she tried to keep her composure.
Aiden crossed his arms, tilting his head. "You don't love someone you see twice a week."
"That's why I'm asking you—pleading—to give this relationship a chance!" She stopped pacing and faced him, her desperation laid bare.
"We gave it a chance. That's why you're here," he said flatly.
"Its only been a month, I'm the one who fought for this, Aiden," she insisted, her voice sharp with conviction. "I've put in the effort. I'm still putting in the effort."
"And how's that working out for you?" His question was laced with an edge I couldn't quite understand.
"Fine! It's going fine," she replied sharply, nodding as if her insistence could make it true.
I pressed myself harder against the wall, caught in a swirl of curiosity. The scene unfolding between them was impossible to look away from, yet I couldn't risk being caught eavesdropping—again.
Aiden suddenly moved, his slow, deliberate steps carrying him toward the living room. I bolted. My heart pounded as I slipped off to the other side of the house. , Eva's heels clicking faster behind me. Whatever this was, I wasn't about to get tangled up the second time today.
"We have visitors tomorrow. The living room needs a bit more attention, Nelly!" Rose's voice cut through the quiet, pulling me toward her.
She glanced up from the checklist she always seemed to have. "Could you head to the garden at the far end? Williams will show you the flowers. Bring some back and arrange them for the dining room."
I nodded, already moving. As I stepped away, I glanced back at Rose. Anyone would think she owned this house. She ran everything with such precision, her diligence bordering on obsession. I wonder if Aiden even noticed our efforts. He never seemed to ask for anything directly; it was always Rose barking orders on his behalf.
How much did she really know about him to take care of his home? I'd assumed Aiden was distant, closed off—a man shrouded in mystery. But now, I wasn't so sure.
Still, my thoughts wandered to the drama I'd overheard earlier. Not that I was particularly interested in Aiden's personal affairs, but let's be honest—there wasn't much else to entertain myself with around here.
The garden was vibrant, a sea of greens and colors, but I didn't have time to admire it. I hurried to the far end, where Williams was already waiting, a bundle of flowers in his hands.
"Hi, Miss…?" he began, his tone warm.
"Nelly," I replied quickly, flashing a wide smile as I reached for the flowers.
"It's nice to meet you."
"You too, Williams! I've heard so much about you," I said, already turning back toward the house. "Things are hectic today. I'll catch up with you some other time!"
Before he could respond, I was heading back inside. The dining room came into view, and with it, Eva—still there, still arguing. Though calling it an argument might've been a stretch. She'd been rambling for minutes, her voice rising and falling in desperation, while Aiden stood there like a statue, offering no response.
"We're done now, Eva," Aiden finally said, his tone flat as he turned to leave.
"You're just—you're someone with serious issues!" Eva's voice cracked, the edge of her frustration giving way to something raw. "You're an embodiment of what's wrong with your entire family!"
I froze, bracing for a reply, a reaction, something.
But Aiden didn't even flinch. "You're not far off my mental diagnosis," he said casually, disappearing from sight.
Eva's shoulders sagged as a quiet sob escaped her. After a few moments, she stormed out, the sound of her heels fading down the hallway.
I stood there, stunned. That...wasn't what I'd expected. Not from either of them. Eva, who'd seemed ready to claw her way to victory, had folded like a wounded animal. And Aiden—untouchable, impenetrable—had barely acknowledged her efforts to provoke him.
As I stood in the aftermath of it all, Aiden's voice drifted back, low and distant.
"That's because there are rules in the relationship she created."
****
I tiptoed down the stairs, every creak beneath my feet reminding me of the chaos earlier. After everything that had unfolded today, I couldn't risk being seen.
Slipping outside, I headed to where Aiden's lounge wear hung neatly under the sun—Rose's orders, of course. The sun is the most effective germ killer, she'd said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She'd been precise about when they needed to be brought in before she left, and I wasn't about to get on her bad side today.
Grabbing the clothes, I hurried back inside. The laundry room was quiet, warm from the afternoon light filtering in. But as I stepped in, I froze.
Aiden was there.
He stood by the shelves, rifling through the stored clothes, his broad shoulders pulling taut against his shirt. He looked up as I entered, his gaze landing on the bundle of fabric in my arms. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of his stare sent a shiver down my spine, making me acutely aware of every crease in my clothes, every hair out of place.
Then, without warning, he stepped closer and reached into my arms. His fingers brushed mine as he pulled out a T-shirt from the pile, the contact brief but electric.
I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but he moved before I could. His hands gripped the hem of his shirt, lifting it over his head. My breath hitched, and I spun around so fast I nearly dropped the rest of the clothes.
"It's okay, Nelly," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'm not going to flash you."
His chuckle was soft, deep, and far too casual for how unsteady I suddenly felt. I heard his footsteps retreat, and only then did I exhale. My hands trembled slightly as I set the clothes down, his scent lingering faintly in the air.