CHAPTER 10: Preparations and Secrets

"So, you mean Damien had memory loss regarding the incident, and none of you really know the full story of what he saw?" Aiden asked, leaning forward. The weight of Mrs. Kate’s story made the luxurious room feel suddenly cold.

"Yes… he never opened up to anyone. And he’s told us never to call him Charlton since the day he woke up," Mrs. Kate replied, her voice dropping to a cautious whisper.

"But why? It’s just a name."

"I noticed that whenever we do, he gets these terrible headaches—and sometimes he ends up in the hospital," she whispered, looking toward the door. "Let me tell you a little secret…" She leaned in closer.

"What is it?" Aiden whispered back, caught up in the tension.

"Hey! You don’t have to whisper back," she scolded playfully, hitting his arm lightly.

"Oh… then why are you whispering? We’re the only ones in the room!" Aiden chuckled, the heavy mood breaking for a second.

"Err… yeah, true," she laughed dryly, and Aiden burst into a genuine fit of laughter.

"You really are in the mood to gossip, Mrs. Kate," he said with a grin.

"Well… he’s suffered from sleepless nights ever since then," she confided more seriously.

"Really? How do you know?"

"I’ve come across him almost every night, drinking alone in the study until midnight—or sometimes even until the sun comes up," she said, clapping her hands softly in a gesture of pity.

"That’s so lonely," Aiden sighed, looking at the door. He thought of Damien’s cold exterior and wondered if it was just a mask for exhaustion.

"Yeah, I guess that’s why he works late… to keep his mind busy," she waved it off. "But come to think of it… you asked how I owe him my life? After the tragedy, the family estate was in chaos. I was dismissed and things became hard. I couldn't even feed my child. But when Damien returned to Monaco as an adult, he found all of us. He took us back in and even sponsored our children to the most prestigious schools. My son is only able to go to university because of him."

"Wow… that’s actually really noble," Aiden smiled. "I guess that explains why he’s so different from his brothers."

"Exactly," Mrs. Kate replied, zipping up the last of his bags. "I have to go now. Sir Damien asked me to supervise the catering at the hotel."

"The event is at a hotel? I thought it was here," Aiden mumbled.

"No, he insisted on his hotel. He likes to keep his private residence… well, private," she explained before patting his cheek and leaving.

Left alone, Aiden flopped onto the bed. "If I knew I was getting into something this messy, I wouldn't have come... not that I had a choice," he grumbled to the ceiling. "And it's not like I'm gay. I'm as straight as Tokyo Tower."

He spent a few minutes hunting for his phone, finally finding it buried in the wardrobe. There was a notification from an unknown number.

HEY, IT’S ME, FROM LAST TIME… HOPING TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING.

Aiden’s heart skipped. Mike. He stared at the screen for a long time before deciding to ignore it. He didn't need any more trouble with Damien.

A moment later, a maid entered carrying a garment bag and a sleek shoe box. "Instructions from Master Damien, sir," she said, bowing quickly and departing. Aiden opened the bag to find a tuxedo that looked like it belonged on a red carpet.

He immediately dialed Damien’s number. "Hello? There's been a wrong delivery. A tuxedo and designer shoes."

"Wrong delivery?" Damien’s voice was smooth and distracting over the line.

"Yeah… I'm not really a suit guy. I’ll have the maid return them."

"Aiden… don’t worry about it. I’ll get you what you want," Damien assured him. "At 5 p.m., my driver will pick you up so we can go out and find something you feel comfortable in."

"I have clothes here! You're just wasting money," Aiden protested.

"Get ready. No more talks," Damien said firmly, ending the call.

Aiden groaned, but a small part of him felt a flutter of excitement. He took a quick shower and was resting when Justine called.

"Dude, how are you? Still in one piece?"

"I’m pretty good, actually," Aiden replied.

"You missed a lot," Justine chuckled. "The rumors at the university are insane. People are saying you’re on a secret honeymoon with the Smith heir."

"Ehhhhh!" Aiden exclaimed, his face turning bright red as he buried his head in a pillow. "Shut up, Justine! It's not like that!"