Marina was about to say something else when he hung the phone up. What did he mean by what he said? There was no way Aiden would have stolen anything from him but still, she couldn't help but feel a little betrayed. What if it was true? What if it turned out to be true? What if Aiden has really stolen something of great value from him? Maybe that was the reason why Aiden didn't want to discuss Claw with her. And that was what she feared the most. Marina's mind raced with thoughts and doubts as she stood there, phone still in hand, trying to process what had just happened. He had hung up on her, leaving her with more questions than answers. What did he mean by his accusatory tone? What could Aiden have possibly stolen from him? She couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal, even though she knew Aiden wouldn't do something like that. But what if... what if it was true? What if Aiden had taken something of great value, something that could ruin their relationship forever? The
"What?" Marina rolled her eyes as she stared at him with anger-filled eyes, his eyes were itchy and he was twitching his brows wondering how to avert the situation that he had brought upon himself. It wasn't the right time to tell her about Claw but he knew that it was either he told her now or it might affect their relationship that they were just finding its footing. He couldn't risk that. "Oh, now you're the one who's going to stand there and act like you have no clue what I'm talking about, right?" Marina's voice was laced with frustration and a hint of resignation. He sighed, taking in a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Marina's expression. He was already aware that she must have dug around somehow and uncovered a few secrets. There was no way she would have discovered that he had stolen something from Claw otherwise. Aiden's mind raced, wondering how much she knew and how she had managed to uncover the truth. Marina's eyes held a determined glint,
"Here, drink this." Marina offered Aiden a cup of whatever the content was as she sat slowly on the corner of the bed while he stared at the cup curiously. "What's in it?" He questioned as he received the cup from her. He wasn't asking because perhaps, she might have given him something that would be harmful to him, he just asked out of curiosity because he had come to learn the hard way that his dearest wife was capable of a lot of things. And that includes making him shed tears! Motherfucking freaking tears. Something that no amount of situation or life struggles had been able to put him through. In more than 20 years, he hadn't shed a single tear so it was alarming, freaking alarming” Thank you very much” that he could cry in her arms like a baby before. And when she had led him to the room, he had fallen asleep still in her arms. He stared at her for a bit and smiled broadly that she raised her brow in question as to why he was grinning like a freaking teenager in love. Bu
"Hello Prynthesa. I figure your husband is somewhere in the background trying to figure out a superhero method of tracking me down and sending the police to arrest me. That has always been his stronghold so I don't really expect much anyway." Maxwell Claw's voice sounded lazy with boredom and Aiden out of anger that he had been trying to repress snatched the phone away from Marina. "On the contrary big bro, I'm afraid and sad to admit that you have it all figured wrong in your head space this time around. I told you the last time we met not to meddle with anything that concerns me, didn't I?" His voice was a little daunting while Marina placed her hands on his back and patted him slowly. That slow repeated pattern of talking to him slowly was the only thing helping him to repress the anger that he was feeling inside of him. "So is this where you give me the pep talk to back off now that I still had the chance? Because if it is, I don't want to fucking hear it." Aiden rolled his e
THE HAWTHORNE'S MANSION "So up till now, you don't have a valuable reason why Claw showed up that day at their engagement dinner and even after their arranged marriage was canceled, he hasn't shown up until now?" Mr Salvatore Delm questioned as he appeared like he hadn't had enough sleep in days which he hadn't had. Both of the men precisely, Mr. Salvatore Delm and Mr. Hawthorne. The sudden appearance of Claw, the deranged and psychotic son of the Wellington's was not something that anyone was supposed to be intrigued about. "To keep things nice and straightforward, I haven't. But I suppose that before you would ask me that with all the guts you garnered up, you must a least have something." Mr Delm shook his head in negativity and Mr Hawthorne who was sitting upright before, relaxed into the couch like that was his only means of survival. "All I'm asking is did you peddle into any of his affairs? By any chance? This is so frustrating, Especially at this time." Mr Hawthorne level
"I want to believe that you've done something about setting up a meeting with the CEO of Wellington Group." Mr Hawthorne stated with furrowed brows as his assistant walked into his study room after knocking lightly on the door. "Sir, I—" He scratched his head as his hand suddenly began jittering like he was a patient of epilepsy. His pulse had increased by 10 times its original speeding rate and his heart was pumping and pounding loudly in his chest that anyone nearby would hear it. "Have you or haven't you?" The tone was commanding, dangerous, and one of the sternest things that the guard had heard in his entire lifetime so the jittering of his hands only intensified. "Forgive me for saying this but I'm afraid it might be impossible for us to set up a meeting with him." He dropped the pen he was using to sign on the files as he placed the paper he was using slowly on the tabletop while maintaining eye contact with the assistant who had just broken an eerie news that he wanted to
"You asked to see me, brother? It makes me wonder why because for as long as I know, you never really liked my presence." Aiden had just driven into a deserted beach and headed towards an empty bench that seemed to be like it had been decades since it was in use when he heard Claw's cynical voice behind his head."And over the years, I thought that you would at least strive to make your presence more appealing but no...you just like doing the opposite. Though that's not my problem, it's yours to deal with." Aiden reiterated as a small smile crept up his face; he immediately swiveled to meet Claw's eyes."It's a little bit intriguing to see that I'm your worst nightmare." Claw's smile was way broader as he clenched and unclenched his fingers inside his pocket. His hands felt itchy as all he wanted right now was to slam his fist into Aiden's perfectly molded face."Maxwell, I think you should know that you have never shown up in my dreams even once; so you don't get to call yourself my
"There is a reason why I would always be your elder brother right? You don't have to know how the camera got in there, in fact, you weren't supposed to know that there was a camera there in the first place if your wife wasn't so loud-mouthed and I wasn't so straightforward." Claw smoothed his head slightly like he was proud of himself and Aiden rolled his eyes. "There were a few slight occasions where I presume the camera got snuck in but if you think I'm really interested in that, then I think you have to really think again. The only good damn thing I'm interested in is the fact that you didn't just watch her from your camera, you called and threatened her." Aiden's voice was like a low growl, like a patient beast that was waiting for the right time to strike. "Did she tell you I threatened her? I didn't, I just gave out some information and sent her on an errand which from the looks of things, it seems like she delivered." Aiden smiled as he walked to the bench and this time, sat
"You know, I am completely fed up with your newfound attitude of coming home late without even giving me as much as a call," Marina whined as Aiden had his dinner. It Was late, about 10 pm in the night and Marina had to stay up, waiting for him to get back home. "I'm having my dinner, baby," he said, his voice low and husky, his eyes fixed on hers with an unnerving intensity. "Let me finish it up before you talk about all the ways you would kill me." He smiled, his lips curling up in a sly, seductive grin that made her heart skip a beat. "Although, I do have a favorite way I'd like to die - in your arms, with your hands wrapped around my throat." She felt a shiver run down her spine as he spoke, his dilated pupils making her heart flutter in her chest. But she refused to back down, keeping up her angry act even as her body betrayed her. "No, I am definitely serious, and I'm not waiting," she said, her voice firm, but her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability. "Why were you late hom
"What are you talking about?" Francesca decided to use the denial route as she didn't know exactly what Aiden had said. Though with the accusing look that she was getting from her dad, she knew that whatever Aiden had told him wasn't good at all. "Don't! Don't do that Francesca." Her dad yelled banging his hands on the table as he folded his fist while gritting his teeth in anger. "Daddy! What's going on? You're just going to believe anything he said because he told you that? Is that what you're doing to do?" Francesca fired back as she walked closer to the table matching her father's glare. "That's brutal," Aiden muttered. "That's your guilty mind talking right there, Francesca. How would you even know he told me anything bad if you hadn't started incoming yourself with bad activities?" Aiden shook his head and chuckled a bit, totally amused by the show that the father and daughter duo were putting on. "That's a little twisted," Aiden muttered again. "Out of everyone Francesca,
"It's been a while boy, I'm kind of concerned that you came to see me. I'm actually on my way out so maybe, you would like to reschedule?" Francesca's dad adjusted his tie as he carried his briefcase in one hand ready to leave his office for an important meeting. "No." Aiden simply stated as he relaxed onto the rolling chair and wheeled it to a position where he was blocking the entrance. "What?" "I said no! You're not leaving here until we have a little nice chat, I have other places to be too so I won't waste much of your time as that would technically mean that I'm wasting my time as well." Aiden smirked and Francesca's dad went back to his chair, dropping his briefcase on the top of the table while Aiden wheeled the rolling chair back to the center of the office, I'm front of the table. "Are we going to have a problem?" Aiden queried as he tapped his chin and Francesca's father stared at him for a few seconds before chuckling lightly. "I don't think there is any reason for us
"What's going on?" Aiden questioned as he got into his office a day after firing Francesca. The whole company was in a ruckus when he got there and the workers told him that all the Hods had called an impromptu meeting in the board room. A meeting that he wasn't aware of, it only meant that things were going haywire and he raced there. Aiden walked into the conference room, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. The heads of the different departments were already seated, their faces grim as they murmured to each other. One of them had to clear his throat in a suspicious way to alert the others that their boss was present in the room. "Good morning, everyone," Aiden said, trying to sound calm as he sat down with a lot of poise and confidence going on inside of him. He didn't look slightly disturbed by anything that was going on. "Good morning, Sir." They replied in unison, their voices laced with tension as Aiden perused their faces and expressions. "Is there a reas
Francesca and Claw worked in silence, their movements swift and efficient as they disposed of Grim Jack's body. "Well, that's taken care of," Claw said, his voice low. Francesca nodded, her mind already racing with the implications. "Yeah, but we're not out of the woods yet. Aiden is still out there, and he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants and you know that means exposing you."Claw's expression turned grim. "We'll deal with him when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on covering our tracks." They dismissed everyone after Claw forced Amira on a date for some unknown reasons. After 2 days, Francesca walked into the lobby of Aiden's company, her heart pounding in her chest. "Can I help you?" the receptionist asked, her eyes narrowing. "I'm Francesca, the receptionist," Francesca replied, her smile confident. "I've been...out sick. But I'm feeling much better now."The receptionist's expression turned skeptical. "Uh, okay. Well, welcome back, I guess. B
Claw dragged Francesca to his main study room and shoved her to the floor while she kept a straight face though it was mixed with hurt. He turned to Francesca, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and urgency. "Francesca, how could you betray me like this? I trusted you with everything." "You betrayed me! You helped Aiden escape, you were with him all these while and I wonder how I failed to realize that." He snarled, glaring grimly at Francesca who had her hands bound. Francesca looked up from where she knelt and stared at him, a look of surprise on her face as she repeated what she had been saying all the way here. "I know you're fed up with hearing this but what the fuck are you talking about, Claw?" She quirked her brows up and he slapped her across "Don't play dumb with me!" Claw spat. "I know it was you who told Aiden about our plans. You're the only one who knew that as a new member of my team. He couldn't have possibly figured out, that he isn't a genie." Claw r
After a few minutes of sprinting, Aiden finally slowed down, ducking into a small alleyway to catch his breath. He leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the rooftops for any sign of pursuit. "Hey Sir, you there?" The P.A.'s voice came through the earpiece, breaking the silence. "Yeah, I'm here. I made it out." Aiden replied, his chest heaving with exhaustion. " I've got a car waiting for you a few blocks from your location. It'll take you to your house." The P.A. stated and Aiden just let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding in. "And my phone?" Aiden questioned, pushing off from the wall and starting to move again. "Your phone is with the Chauffeur that would pick you up, they really fell for the trick." "Okay." As he turned a corner, Aiden spotted the car, a sleek black sedan, waiting for him by the curb. *CLAW'S MANOR: OAKVILLE* "What do you mean he's gone?" he snarled, his voice echoing off the walls as he banged his hands into the table whil
OAKVILLE *Claw's Hideout* Aiden sat calmly in the room after being brutally tortured by Claw, his eyes fixed on the door as Claw's men approached him. He knew this moment would come, and he was prepared. Too bad his brother was a naive soul who didn't think before he acted. If he took even a fragment of his time, he would realize that Aiden already knew all this was going to happen. As the guards grabbed him, Aiden didn't resist. He knew it would only make things worse. Instead, he waited until they were distracted, and then he made his move. With a swift motion, Aiden used his knowledge of martial arts to take down the guards, one by one. He moved swiftly and silently, his training allowing him to avoid making any noise. Once the guards were unconscious, Aiden quickly made his way to the door. He knew the route out of the compound, having studied it beforehand. Pressing the button of the speaker in his ear that was too little for anyone to see, he whispered. "I'
Marina paced to and fro the room as she felt an empty feeling inside her stomach. She didn't even know what to feel as she kept staring at the wall clock every second. The time read 10:38 pm and Aiden wasn't home yet, he didn't even try to reach her which was questionable. She tried to push away the growing sense of worry, telling herself he was probably just working late or had stopped to hang out with friends. But then on second thought, Aiden never went out with friends. She even began to wonder if he had any friends. She knew Aiden rarely came home late especially since she came back from the hospital so she couldn't sit still without her anxiety striking in. With every passing minute, Marina's heart sank more. She tried calling his number but the call wasn't going through. She sent a series of texts but it was left unreplied. She began to imagine all sorts of scenarios - car accidents, muggings, or worse. But why in the world was he not taking his calls? What was goi