CHAPTER 25: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

In Damien's Car

"Sir, should we head straight to the mansion?" Sean asked as he glanced at Damien through the rearview mirror.

Damien remained silent for a moment, staring out at the city lights rushing past the tinted windows.

"Have you confirmed it?" he asked finally.

"Not yet, sir. But we should have the final report by tomorrow morning," Sean replied.

Damien tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.

"I want to check on him."

Sean nodded immediately.

"Very well, sir. We'll head to his apartment. According to our people, he didn't go to work today after his classes."

"Hmm."

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

By the time they arrived near Aiden's apartment building, the sky had already darkened. Street lamps cast long shadows across the pavement, and the evening air carried the distant sounds of traffic and laughter from nearby restaurants.

Damien's gaze shifted toward the entrance of the apartment complex.

Then he saw them.

Aiden and Justin were walking slowly toward the building.

Or rather, Justin was walking.

Aiden was practically hanging off him.

"Justin..." Aiden slurred, attempting to free himself. "Can you let me drive?"

Justin nearly dropped him.

"Drive what? The pavement?" he snapped. "Thank goodness we took a taxi. Otherwise, we'd still be wandering around downtown while you tried to argue with every streetlight in Monaco."

Aiden burst into drunken laughter.

"I wasn't arguing..."

"You challenged a traffic sign to a staring contest."

"It started it."

Inside the car, Sean remained expressionless.

Damien did not.

For the first time that evening, something resembling amusement flickered across his face.

As they approached the gate, Justin suddenly noticed the black sedan parked quietly outside.

He froze.

"Aiden..." he whispered.

"Hmmm?"

"Do you know that car?"

Aiden squinted at it through half-closed eyes.

"What car?"

"That one!"

Aiden stared for several seconds before breaking into another drunken smile.

"Ohhh... that car."

"Yes. That car."

"It belongs to the neighbors."

Justin blinked.

"You don't even know our neighbors."

"Exactly," Aiden replied proudly.

Justin suddenly regretted every life choice that had brought him to this moment.

Still supporting his friend, he cautiously approached the gate.

Just as they reached it, the rear door of the sedan opened.

A tall figure stepped out.

Justin's soul briefly attempted to leave his body.

"Oh my God," he whispered. "This is definitely a kidnapping."

The man adjusted his suit jacket.

"You must be Justin."

Justin stared.

"Well... I'm not obligated to answer that."

The man nodded politely.

"Fair enough."

An awkward silence followed.

"...Okay, yes," Justin admitted. "I am Justin. How can I help you?"

The man inclined his head.

"My name is Sean."

Something about the name felt familiar, but Justin couldn't place it.

Sean walked toward the driver's side door, then stopped and turned back.

"You may go inside."

Justin frowned.

That was it?

No kidnapping?

No weapons?

No ransom?

"That's... weird," he muttered.

Sean gave a small smile.

"Please tell Aiden to answer his phone from now on."

Before Justin could ask another question, Sean returned to the vehicle.

The black sedan pulled away slowly into the night.

Justin stared after it.

"I've had enough strange people for one day."

---

Earlier That Evening

"Did you check the group chat?" Justin asked while stuffing books into his backpack.

Aiden didn't even look up.

"No. Why?"

"The seniors are hosting a gathering tonight."

"I'm not going."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"I don't want to."

"Great. Thanks."

Justin grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

"Hey!" Aiden shouted, running after him. "I didn't agree to anything!"

---

The party had actually been fun.

There was food, music, games, and enough laughter to make Aiden temporarily forget everything that had happened over the past month.

For a few hours, there were no kidnappings.

No Smith family.

No Damien.

Just university life.

Then the room suddenly erupted.

"Oh my God!"

"It's Charlie!"

"Charlie Smith is here!"

A group of girls nearly dropped their drinks.

Justin looked confused.

Aiden looked terrified.

Before either of them could react, Charlie spotted them.

He smiled.

And started walking toward them.

"Aiden!" Charlie called cheerfully. "Brother-in-law! How long has it been?"

He patted Aiden on the shoulder.

Aiden nearly choked on his drink.

Justin, meanwhile, had forgotten how breathing worked.

"Hi," he managed weakly.

Charlie turned and smiled politely.

"Justin, right? Nice to see you again."

Justin nodded.

Then nodded again.

Then accidentally nodded a third time.

After chatting for several minutes, Charlie excused himself and joined a group of senior students.

The moment he was gone, Aiden slowly turned toward Justin.

"Hmmm."

"What?" Justin asked defensively.

"I know you like older people."

"I do not."

"But Charlie?"

"I do not."

"The way you were staring—"

"I was not staring."

"You stopped blinking."

Justin looked horrified.

"I did?"

"For almost twenty seconds."

Justin covered his face.

"Oh my God."

Aiden laughed.

"Relax. It's not like I don't understand your taste."

Justin lowered his hands.

"Excuse me? Says the person hanging around billionaire CEOs."

"That's different."

"Is it?"

"...Shut up."

Justin grinned triumphantly.

"I need to use the restroom."

He stood up and headed toward the hallway.

Aiden watched him disappear into the crowd.

For some reason, he suddenly remembered Damien.

The memory irritated him.

He grabbed another drink.

Maybe one more wouldn't hurt.

He was very, very wrong.