Aiden's POV Doctor Collins came over later that evening without my notice. I was surprised to see because the next appointment with him was supposed to be the following day. “But our next appointment is supposed to be tomorrow?”I demanded some explanation. “I invited him over,” my mother said. I don't seem to understand what is going on. What is my mother's plan with the doctor? “Yes she did,” The doctor confirmed. “Why?” I asked. “I noticed your mood the other time you were seated here, I saw you're so restless. That was why I called the doctor to come and check what's going” my Mother explained, and I was vexed. What does my being restless have to do with inviting the doctor over? What is she even thinking? “So what is the doctor here to do?” I asked my mother, giving her this cold look from those green eyes of mine. My mother already noticed my uncaring attitude. That was my normal way of behaving, so I don't know if I had changed or if I have become a softie that my mot
Aiden's POV I woke up after some hours, staring at the ceiling.As I lay in bed, I couldn't wash off the feeling of unease, I was not feeling comfortable. My mother's presence in the house was suffocating me, and I needed to find a way to get her to leave. I knew she was only trying to take care of me, but I am a grown man, and I didn't need her constant hovering; I could always take care of myself like I used to without letting them know I was sick.I threw off the covers on my body and got out of bed, my head banging like a stone was being used to hit my head, but I still struggled to get up because I needed to be strong; I began pacing back and forth across my room. I needed to come up with a plan to get my mother to leave, and fast. If she doesn't leave, I can't save Artemis.I sent for Martin to come to my room, I needed him to do some particular things for me. He was the only one I could plan with at the moment because he was the most trusted of my men.Just then, there was a k
Artemis POV I felt so comfortable and safe resting on Daymon's shoulder, it was like I don't have any problem at all for the rest of my life again if I'm left in that particular position.I looked up at Daymon, who was battling with the handle of the little stainless bucket that was removed when we were to use it.I left my two hands folded inside the big top I was putting on which belongs to somebody we don't know. We saw it in the cabin and I had put it on since there are no clothes for me .“Yep!” I heard Daymon scream and I raised my head from his shoulder. “What's going on?” I asked, looking confused. “What happened?” “I just fixed this bucket, and it's back to normal,” he answered happily, like has just achieved something so meaningful.“Is that why you screamed?” I asked him, looking so surprised by his actions.“Yes, it's been a while. I tried to do it for some time, and I got it right at once,” he replied, smiling from ear to ear.I understood his feelings. He has been bl
Artemis POV Suddenly, a figure emerged from the underbrush. It was a woman, dressed in hiking gear and carrying a backpack. She looked around cautiously, her eyes scanning the area.As soon as she saw us, she was frightened. She raised her hiking trails in a way that she wanted to defend herself with.“Who are you?” She asked us, looking so scared, her voice trembling with fear.Daymon and I exchanged a look, and without saying a word, we knew what we had to do. We slowly approached the woman, trying not to startle her.As we got closer, the woman turned towards us. Her eyes widened in the ear; she was startled, but then a look of relief washed over her face when she saw Artemis, but she still didn't trust us.“Who are you?” Daymon asked the middle-aged woman. “And how did you get here all by yourself?” “I should be asking you,” the woman replied.“Did you miss the road?” I asked her. “ I can see you are going hiking”“Yeah,” she finally answered, her fears kinda reduced. “I am goin
Artemis POV After we got all the information we needed from the woman, Daymon whispered into my ear. “ Can we talk over there?” He pointed to the spot and I nodded.“We will be right back,” I said to the woman on the left with Daymon.“What do you think we should do to the woman?” Daymon spoke softly for the woman not to hear what he was saying.“What do you mean, what should we do to the woman?” I frowned at his question. “The plan was to let her go after making sure she was not a spy, and she has given us some information, so why the question?”“ You are not seeing this situation from my point of view” Daymon mentioned. “What if we left her go now, and she ended up talking to Kane's men, or they even asked her if she saw anything?”“Yeah, you're right, Daymon,” I reasoned with him. “so what are you suggesting we do to her now?”“Get rid of her, of course,” Daymon Shrugged.“What?!!” I exclaimed out loud, my voice high that the woman might hear from where she was sitting. Daymon cov
Artemis POV I began to reason with Daymon but killing the woman is not an option for me. I know what kids with any or both parents go through; I'm sure the woman has children at home, and it won't sit right If she gets killed here.“Daymon, I understand you but let's just look for another way to sort this out,” I said to him“Okay, what way do you have in mind?” Daymon asked me, folding his arms around his body.“I don't know,” I replied, looking confused. “Hhmm, we can just send her away, warning her not to answer anybody who asks herasksy questions about what she saw in the Forest.“Do you think that makes any sense?” Daymon asked me angrily. “So you expect her to still stay quiet and loyal even under pressure and threat? Even If you are in that kind of situation, would you Kee quiet?”I began to reason with what Daymon was saying but I still didn't see any reason why he should kill the woman. If he kills her now, I will still feel guilty; her blood will still be on my neck even if
Daymon's PovI wish Artemis would listen to me and make us do what we are supposed to do to save, but she won't listen, which is more reason why I hate doing business with women.I looked from Artemis to the woman, the woman looking for me to attend was trying to figure out what was going on. Artemis noticed the look on my face and dragged me out of the scene.“But we've talked about it daymon! Why don't you just take her to where you want to take her to and then we'll continue our lifestyle here. We already know there's no hope for us, so just let the poor woman go,” Artemis yelled at me; I was so sure the woman overheard her.Artemis' statement made me more vexed and angry. If not for her being my boss's woman, I would have killed both of them without looking back; what does she mean that we don't have hope and let the woman go?I left her standing and went to sit on a big stone, trying to figure out what to do. “So I will just let her go or kill her while taking her to the end of
Chapter 65 Temper's edge Daymon's Pov But as I turned to face Artemis, my relief quickly turned to anger. “What is wrong with you Artemis? I demanded, my voice low and menacing. “Why can't you just listen to me and do what we're supposed to do? What if we get ourselves into more issues, do you even think at all?” I couldn't hold my anger and the words coming out of my mouth.Artemis raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Daymon,” she said. "You're so predictable. Do you think you're the only one who knows what's best? Newsflash: you're not. And don't keep behaving like I'm the younger sister here or the baby”My anger boiled over, and I took a step closer to Artemis, my fists clenched. “You're going to get us both killed,” I snarled.“And then what if they don't get us killed, are you still the right one here?” Artemis snickered. “Have you ever thought of the good side at all, here you are always thinking about the bad side of everything that is going to happen,
Aidan POVThe next few days after Kane's threat began to unroll in a whirlpool of events -- within each minute the quiet strain between Artemis and I. We had decided on attending the charity gala, together, for the display of unity and defiance against the haunting shadows of Hera and Kane. I stood in front of the mirror, while adjusting my tie, pondering upon what I may have done, or not done of late, to have the weight of expectation hanging upon me. The gala would be where the most influential people would congregate. If ever there was a time for Hera to strike, it would be here."Are you ready?" Artemis called from the other room. She sounded almost haughty with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Almost," I replied, forcing a smile. I had to be his strength. It was his entry into, a very new and dangerous world-and I had to make sure that it felt like a support.I was silent for a moment when she came out. She was wearing this lacey red gown that molded her body all the right
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe night air was cool under my feet as I stepped outside the garden, and everything was cast under a silvery glow by the moon. I could not shake the unnerving feeling pressing at my heart since dinner. Aidan's father and his expectations were hovering like a dark cloud above us, and I felt like a puppet in their great play. There was some magnetism in Aidan that drew me toward him, something I could not quite put a finger on. I found Aidan leaning back against a marble pillar, the phone still clutching in his hand. The air was thick with tension as my heart fluttered at the thought of going up to him. Did he feel it too? "Aidan?" I softly called, stepping closer. His head rose, and those piercing green eyes locked with mine. For a moment, everything ceased to exist outside this sphere that encapsulated both of us in limbo and yearning."Artemis," he said, his voice low and sultry, making me shiver. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some air," I swallowed, hoping
Aidan POVThe night hung heavily as we drove back to my family's estate, enshrouded in tension. The showdown with Kane had jolted us, and I could feel the pall of uncertainty over Artemis. I glanced at her: her jaw was set in a determined line, though fear, I knew, lurked beneath the surface. "You okay?" I asked after I parked the car, breaking the silence. "Just trying to process everything," she answered, her voice steady, but her eyes were full of worry. "What do you think Kane meant? That we were in over our heads?""Don't know," I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "But we cannot allow him to scare us. We are stronger together, and we need to focus on Hera."As we stepped inside, it was like suffocation; the grand foyer resounded with the silence of empty echoes. I felt my father's wishes bearing down on me as his wildest expectations presented themselves. I had gone against him, and I was wise enough to know that my father would not bear it lightly.''Let's go talk to hi
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVThe next few days rolled into a blur of work calls, meetings, and strategizing: Aidan and I finally reached out to our closest friends, determined to spend anxiety-ridden hours seeking out enough people to build a network of support able to help us resist Hera's power. With every discussion, one more layer of the web unfolded before us, and, with the feeling of growing tension as we neared the time of confrontation, I could feel the strands beginning to coil tighter.One evening we had gathered in my apartment. The air buzzed with anticipation, and Aidan, Emily, and Ryan comprising the rest sat serious in the living room discussing what would be the next move with me."I know it's a risky affair," Aidan said in a very firm tone. "But we've got to confront Hera directly. If we let her decide the narrative, we'll never free ourselves from her dictation."Emily nodded with her brow knitted in thoughts. "But what if she tries to retaliate? She has connections in places that ca
Artemis POVNights like these trail, having turmoil and kept whispers that swung clouds around Aidan and me. Hera's oculus, I could feel her weight, and every time I spotted her, a shiver disturbed my bones."Are you alright?" Aidan asked, coming closer and lowering his voice."I am fine," I said while forcing a smile, "just trying to grapple with all of this."With his expression raining, he answered. "I know it's quite some taking in, but remember, we have each other."As the gala went on, I tried focusing on the talks we were having, but my mind would attach itself to the topic of threat on us, as Kane's echoed himself in me. Somehow, it all felt like we were walking on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster."Let's get some air," Aidan said, finding my hand with his.I nodded, relieved to get a moment away from the crowd. Together we stepped out onto the balcony where the coolness of the night air felt revitalizing against my skin. The sounds coming from the gala disappeared