Chapter Sixty-Six

EVELYN'S POV:

The security guards were having a heated argument at the gate. From where we stood, we couldn’t see who they were arguing with. Curious, Leonard and I walked up to them.

As we approached, I was startled to see Aaron. He looked tattered, almost homeless. A surge of pity rose in me as I took in his disheveled appearance. I instructed the guards to let him in, despite the clear disapproval in Leonard’s eyes. His gaze darkened the moment I spoke, but I couldn’t turn Aaron away.

As soon as the guards allowed him in, I tried to speak with him. But before Aaron could finish a single sentence, he collapsed to the ground. Without wasting a moment, Leonard and I rushed him to the hospital.

At the hospital, we sat in tense silence, waiting for news of his condition. My mind raced with questions. What had happened to him? Was Caleb or Dana involved?

“Doctor, how is he?” I asked urgently as the doctor approached.

“He’s still unconscious, but we’re doing everything we can,” the doctor replied. His tone didn’t carry much hope, but I forced myself to remain optimistic.

I clung to Leonard’s arm as we returned to the waiting area. Hours passed, and the weight of uncertainty pressed down on us. The stillness of the night only amplified our worries.

“I think Caleb is behind this,” Leonard said softly. “Aaron has been feeding me information. I called him yesterday after the message. What if Caleb found out?”

His words sank into my mind, and suddenly I realized the calls Leonard had been making were about this. Though I didn’t respond, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more Leonard wasn’t telling me.

Finally, the doctor returned. “He’s stable for now,” he said.

Leonard’s eyes lit up slightly. “Can we see him?”

“Yes, but don’t disturb him too much,” the doctor cautioned.

We hurried to Aaron’s ward. Seeing him lying there, pale and frail, stirred an ache in my chest. Despite everything that had happened in the past, it hurt to see him like this.

I approached him, my voice soft. “Aaron, you’ll be fine.”

He nodded weakly and turned to Leonard. “Caleb and Dana have proof to back up their allegations. You need to stop them soon,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, faltering as he spoke.

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. Proof? My stomach churned at the thought. Did this mean my father really did it?

Anger surged through me, and Leonard noticed. He gently took my hand, his touch calming me slightly. But before we could ask Aaron more, he slipped back into unconsciousness. We called for the doctor and stepped out of the room, leaving Aaron in the care of the medical staff and a hired caregiver.

On the way home, I was fuming. Leonard tried his best to calm me down, but nothing he said could erase the growing disappointment and embarrassment I felt toward my father.

“You’re jumping to conclusions, Evelyn. You don’t even know the full story yet,” Leonard said.

But his words felt hollow. I wanted to confront my dad right away, but Leonard convinced me to wait until morning.

When we got home, Leonard offered to prepare a meal as usual, but I insisted on cooking this time. He had done so much for me, and I wanted to show my appreciation. After a bit of playful arguing, he relented. I slipped into an apron and began cooking, keeping our conversation light as a distraction.

The meal was ready in no time, and we ate quietly before heading upstairs. After a warm bath together, we changed into our nightwear. Leonard cuddled me, whispering soothing words, but I couldn’t shake the thoughts weighing on my mind. Was my father truly a monster? Had he really raped Dana?

The questions haunted me throughout the night. I couldn’t sleep, and neither could Leonard. Every time I got up, he would wake and console me until I lay back down.

By 5 a.m., Leonard had finally fallen into a peaceful sleep. I watched him, his features soft and serene. He mumbled something in his sleep, his voice low and dreamy.

I leaned closer but only caught the end: “I love you, Evelyn.”

My heart skipped a beat. I loved Leonard too, but this wasn’t the time for love. I had responsibilities—a company to run, a crisis to resolve. But as I thought about it, I realized Leonard had been nothing but supportive. Maybe, with him by my side, I could handle everything.

“You’re good?” Leonard’s deep morning voice startled me from my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I managed to reply, though it was far from the truth.

He rolled over, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Good morning, princess,” he greeted, his voice filled with warmth.

“Morning,” I replied with a faint smile.

“Don’t think so much. Everything will be fine,” he said as he got out of bed.

“You had a dream,” I said, teasing. “I heard you say you love me. Was it just a dream?”

Leonard turned to me with a sly grin. “Dream or not, my feelings for you are real and unbreakable,” he said simply.

His words warmed my heart, but a question lingered in my mind: why hadn’t he asked me to be his girlfriend? Was it because he was Caleb’s uncle? It didn’t matter to me, but maybe it did to him.

“We should go see Aaron early so we have time to handle everything else,” Leonard said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Sure,” I agreed.

We headed to the bathroom. I hugged him from behind, and he turned to face me, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. He handed me my toothbrush, and we brushed our teeth together before stepping into the shower.

As we bathed, I started feeling a strange yearning—a craving for his touch. I wanted him. Yes, I wanted to feel him in me.