Chapter Nine: A Gentle Stranger

CALISTA

When I opened my eyes, I was met with a pair of sharp brown eyes staring intently at me. My breath caught in my throat, and for a brief moment, my muddled mind panicked. Where was I?

The man leaned back slightly as if sensing my unease. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice warm and calm.

he said, his voice calm and deep. “I’m Alaric King. “I found you collapsed in the rain and brought you here. You were freezing and unconscious. Do you remember?”

I blinked at him, processing his words. Fainting? Rain? The memories returned in scattered fragments—the suffocating argument with Cassius, the storm, my heartache—and shame burned in my cheeks.

He leaned back in his chair, giving me space, though his eyes never left me. “Walking in a rain as that wasn’t the best idea,” he said lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You’re lucky I happened to pass by when I did.”

I didn’t respond, my thoughts still tangled with worry about Aaron. Was he okay? Did Mr Dario notice I was gone? Would he let me near my son again?

The man cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “As I said before, I’m Alaric King,” he said, “And you are?”

“Calista,” I said softly, my voice shaky.

“Calista,” he repeated, as if testing how the name felt on his tongue. “Well, Calista, I’d recommend not making a habit of wandering in the rain. Next time, at least bring an umbrella.”

Despite myself, I almost smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I murmured.

He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “Are you okay? And I don’t mean just physically.”

His question caught me off guard, and I looked away, my hands clutching the blanket draped over me. “I’m fine,” I lied.

He didn’t press, though his gaze told me he didn’t believe me. “Well, you should rest a bit more,” he said, his tone gentle but firm.

I shook my head, forcing myself to sit up despite the protest of my aching body. “I need to go home.”

“You’re not in any shape to—”

“I’ll rest at home,” I interrupted, my voice more determined than I felt. “But I need to leave now.”

He sighed, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t argue further. “At least let me handle the paperwork and get you out of here properly,” he said, rising from his chair.

“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for my abruptness.

---

True to his word, Alaric took care of everything. By the time he returned, I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my feet barely touching the floor.

“Ready?” he asked, his eyes scanning me as if to ensure I wouldn’t collapse again.

I nodded. “Thank you again... for everything.”

He waved it off. “Let’s get you home.”

---

The drive was quiet, the hum of the car filling the silence between us. I gave him directions to the apartment Lila had arranged for me and Aaron when we first arrived in the city. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for the two of us.

Alaric didn’t press me with questions, though I could feel his curiosity. He was polite, offering the occasional comment about the weather or traffic, but I was too lost in my thoughts to respond.

When we arrived, I pointed to the building. “Here. Thank you again for the ride.”

He parked and turned to face me. “Are you sure you’re okay to be on your own? You’re still recovering.”

I nodded, offering a faint smile. “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

He hesitated, as if debating whether to insist further, but eventually handed me a card. “If you need anything, call me.”

I took the card, unsure why I felt a small sense of comfort in his gesture. “Thank you, Mr. King.”

“Alaric,” he corrected, his smile easy and warm.

“Alaric,” I repeated softly, slipping out of the car.

He waited until I was safely inside before driving off, leaving me to the quiet stillness of the apartment. As I closed the door behind me, the weight of the day crashed over me, and I sank to the floor, clutching the card in my hand.

“Calista!” Lila’s voice rang out the moment she entered some minutes later. She rushed toward me, her eyes wide with worry. “Where have you been? You look awful!”

I barely had the strength to respond. “I...I just needed some air,” I said, my voice trembling.

Lila’s expression softened as she guided me to the couch. “What happened?”

Her question made the dam break. I'm sure the amount of tears would have filled a cup with the way it was flowing. I told her everything—Cassius’s accusations, the DNA test, his cold demeanor, and the suffocating control he was exerting over Aaron.

Lila listened quietly, her lips pressed into a thin line. When I finished, her eyes burned with a mix of anger and determination.

“Cassius mentioned a scandal,” I said, my voice cracking. “What scandal, Lila? I don’t understand what he’s talking about.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, but whatever it is, is the main thing causing your troubles. And if you want to get to the bottom of it, you’ll need to be smart.”

I frowned. “Smart how?”

“You need to gain his trust,” she said firmly. “Play the game, Calista. Show him you’re not his enemy. Since you can’t fight him head-on, you have to find another way.”

My stomach churned at her words. “You’re saying I should grovel?”

“No,” Lila replied, her tone gentler now. “I’m saying you should think about Aaron. Right now, Cassius has all the power. If you want to be close to your son, you’ll have to play by his rules—for now.”

Tears burned in my eyes as I buried my face in my hands. “I hate this,” I whispered. “I hate that he has control over everything.”

Lila wrapped an arm around me. “You’re stronger than this, Calista. You’ve been through worse. You raised Aaron on your own. You can do this.”

Her words offered little comfort, but I knew she was right. If I wanted any chance of reclaiming my life, of protecting my son, I couldn’t afford to break down now.

I lifted my head, wiping my tears away. “If he thinks he can keep me from Aaron, he’s in for a fight,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute.

Lila nodded, a small smile breaking through her worry. “That’s the spirit.”

But deep down, doubt gnawed at me. Could I really do this? Could I face Cassius and his relentless control without losing myself in the process?

As I started at the ceiling, one thought echoed in my mind: For Aaron, I have to.