Chapter 6. Tangled

Aidan smiled as he listened to Malikha’s reaction on the other end of the phone.

He could already picture her expression—wide eyes, trembling lips, that soft, overwhelmed look she always had whenever something touched her heart. The thought alone was enough to satisfy him.

“Do you like the surprise?” Aidan asked when he heard her breath hitch, as if she were on the verge of tears. There was no immediate answer. Malikha fell silent for a moment. For a moment, Aidan wondered if she had started crying because of what he had done.

His grin widened. He could almost see it—her shock, her disbelief, the way her fragile heart was slowly melting because of him. If only he had done this twelve years ago. Back then, he might have been the happiest boy alive. But now, Aidan was no longer that boy.

And yet, despite the bitterness he carried, he couldn’t deny the strange warmth spreading through his chest. Knowing that the girl he once liked was reacting exactly the way he wanted—it pleased him more than he expected.

On the other end of the call, Malikha stood motionless in the middle of her apartment. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed them against her lips, biting down on the corner of her lower lip to steady herself. Her breathing felt uneven, her chest rising and falling too quickly.

She turned slowly, her gaze sweeping across the room again. Everything was so different. The worn-out corners she had grown used to were gone, replaced by elegant furniture, soft ambient lighting, and polished surfaces that reflected a life she had never imagined for herself. It all felt unreal, like she had stepped into someone else’s life.

Her heart pounded violently when Aidan’s voice echoed through the phone again. Slowly, she turned in place, her gaze sweeping across the room as if afraid everything would disappear if she blinked.

“Malikha?” Aidan mentioned her name again.

“Huh…?” Her voice came out small and breathless.

“What’s wrong?” Aidan asked, his tone laced with gentle concern. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“A-what?” she stammered, her mind still struggling to catch up with everything around her.

Aidan let out a soft chuckle at her flustered response. “I’m sorry if I surprised you,” he said lightly. “I wanted it to be special. Was it too much?”

Malikha swallowed, her throat tightening. “Why…” she began softly, but her words faltered before she could finish.

Aidan chuckled again, amused. “Didn’t I tell you I wanted to surprise you? Looks like it worked.”

“For what…?” Malikha asked, her voice trembling, threatening to break.

Aidan leaned back slightly, his smile calm and composed.

“To make up for how I treated you when we first met.”

That was all it took. Tears slipped down Malikha’s cheeks. She never thought about it for a second. Though she had ever wondered how Aidan could be so mean to her, while she had no idea who he was.

“Aidan… I can’t accept all of this,” she said, her voice shaking. “I already forgave you for what happened. I don’t want to bring it up again.”

On the other end, Aidan’s smile sharpened—subtle, but unmistakably satisfied. Just as he thought, Malikha was exactly the kind of person he remembered─so innocently stupid.

She was too soft and easily forgiving. She didn’t even realize how dangerous that made her. But a small part of him remained cautious. What if she was pretending?

“Thank you for forgiving me,” Aidan said gently. “Then… you can take my gift, right?”

Malikha fell silent. Her fingers tightened around the phone. Did she deserve this?

A man like Aidan was appearing in her life so suddenly, bringing light into the darkness she had grown used to. She had never dared to ask for more from life. Even something as simple as the gloves he gave her had already meant so much.

What he did felt overwhelming.

“Malikha… why are you so quiet?” Aidan asked softly, his voice almost melting her resolve.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

Aidan paused. He could hear it clearly now that she was crying.

“…Are you crying?” he asked.

A soft sob answered him.

“N-no…” Malikha whispered, trying to steady her voice. “I’m just overwhelmed. I didn’t expect this. There’s really someone like you, Aidan… it feels like a dream.”

Aidan’s eyes darkened slightly. It’s perfect timing.

“Then stay with me,” he said smoothly. “Be mine.”

Malikha’s breath caught. Her eyes closed as she tried to steady herself.

“I… I can’t,” she said softly. “I don’t want people to think I’m taking advantage of you and everything you have. I’m not like that.”

“I know,” Aidan replied calmly. “I don’t think you are.”

A faint sound of her sniffing reached his ears. “Hey… don’t cry,” Aidan murmured gently.

“I’m just… touched,” Malikha admitted. “No one has ever treated me like this before.”

Aidan let out a soft laugh, his tone warm and comforting. “Good thing I didn’t walk you upstairs,” he teased lightly. “You would’ve kicked me out just so you could cry, right?”

Malikha let out a small laugh through her tears. “I just… don’t want to trouble you.”

“You’re not troubling me at all,” Aidan replied. “I like doing this for you.”

“Now you are my girlfriend.” He paused briefly before adding, “Everything in that apartment is yours now. Including the phone you’re holding. I bought the place for you.”

Malikha’s tears fell even more freely. She hadn’t even dared to sit down yet. Everything felt too expensive, too unreal to touch.

“I won’t be able to repay you, Aidan,” she whispered. “I feel like I owe you.”

“Don’t think like that,” Aidan said calmly. “If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll take care of it.”

“No… this is already more than enough.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said softly. “Don’t forget to call me tomorrow.”

“I will, thank you, Aidan.”

“Good night, Babydoll.”

The call then ended. Aidan stared at his phone for a moment before a satisfied smile spread across his face. Now, as the door opened, Aidan wouldn’t waste a single moment. Another surprise would melt Malikha and ready to take his offer to marry.

Without wasting time, he dialed another number. Glenn picked up almost immediately.

“Glenn, find Malikha’s bachelor’s degree certificate. She said she never completed the administrative process. Take care of it.”

“Yes, sir,” Glenn replied. “Miss Swan won’t suspect anything. Should I prepare it by tomorrow?”

“I’ll handle it personally,” Aidan said. “And tell Adrian—he’ll supervise her directly.” He paused, his tone turning colder.

“I want updates every two hours.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Track everything, she does.”

“Yes, sir.” The call ended. Aidan leaned back, exhaling slowly before reaching for a glass of liquor. He downed it in a single motion, the burn doing little to dull the sharp edge of his thoughts.

A low chuckle escaped his lips.

“That wasn’t difficult at all, Malikha Swan,” he murmured. “You’re just like the rest… easily dazzled by money and beautiful things.”

A cold smile flickered across his face. But it disappeared the moment his iPad screen lit up.

“Hey, Sexy Angel! How was your day?” Shawn’s voice rang out, followed by several screens lighting up one after another.

Aidan’s expression shifted instantly—warm, relaxed, effortless.

“Interesting,” he replied casually, joining the call with The Seven Wolves.

The next day, Aidan met Raphael Augustin, who had come to New York for a psychology conference. Raphael had arrived the day before, but Aidan had only just found the time to see him. The moment he spotted him, Aidan broke into a wide smile and pulled him into a hug.

“You finally decided to show up?” Raphael said as he pulled away.

“Sorry,” Aidan replied. “I had something to take care of.”

Raphael nodded. “I still have a meeting in a few hours, so that we can grab a quick coffee.”

Aidan gestured toward the hotel restaurant, and they took a seat together.

“How have you been?” Raphael asked, sipping his coffee. “You barely call anymore.”

“I’ve been busy,” Aidan replied. “Estrela is expanding faster than I expected.”

“I heard,” Raphael said with a smile. “The review was amazing. It’s becoming one of the best hotels in New York.”

“Thanks.”

A brief silence settled between them before Aidan spoke again. “So, what’s the conference about?”

Raphael leaned back slightly. “Mental health,” he said. “Depression, social anxiety… especially among bullying victims. Mostly students.”

Aidan’s gaze sharpened. “You’re focusing on that?”

Raphael nodded, watching him carefully. “Why?” he asked. “Does it interest you?”

Aidan didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tightened slightly around his coffee cup. Something flickered behind his eyes—brief, unreadable. Then it was gone.