CHAPTER 30 — The Photograph

Lunch lasted much longer than anyone expected.

By the end of it, Justin had eaten enough food to sustain himself for an entire week and had somehow managed to insult Charlie's family wealth at least six different times.

"I'm serious," Justin said, pointing his fork at Charlie. "Nobody needs this many desserts."

Charlie leaned back in his chair. "And yet you ate three."

"That is not the point."

"It feels like the point."

Aiden laughed into his glass.

For a brief moment, everything felt strangely normal.

Mrs Kate began clearing the table while Sean excused himself to return to the company headquarters with the documents Damien had requested.

"So," Charlie said, turning toward Justin with a suspicious smile, "would you like a tour?"

Justin narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Because this mansion is beautiful."

"It belongs to Damien."

Charlie pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "Again with the emotional damage."

Aiden burst out laughing.

"Go," he told Justin. "Otherwise, he'll complain for the rest of the day."

"I already do that," Charlie corrected.

Justin stood reluctantly. "Fine. But if I disappear, tell the police."

"Noted," Aiden replied.

Charlie grinned. "I promise to return him in one piece."

"That's exactly what kidnappers say."

Charlie laughed as he dragged Justin out of the dining room.

The moment they disappeared, the mansion became strangely quiet. Aiden sat back in his chair and stared out the window. The silence reminded him of Tokyo. The hospital. The plane ride. The nightmares.

His phone buzzed, Unknown Number, He hesitated. Then answered.

"Hello?"

No response.

"Alo?" Still silence.

Then, finally, a voice.

"I heard you're recovering well."

Aiden froze.

His fingers tightened around the phone.

The voice was calm, Pleasant, Familiar.

Mike.

"What do you want?" Aiden asked quietly.

"I wanted to check on you."

"You came to my café the other time."

"Yes."

"You frightened me."

Mike chuckled softly. "That wasn't my intention."

"Then what was?"

For several seconds, there was only silence.

Then Mike spoke.

"Tell me, Aiden. Are you happy there?"

Aiden frowned. "What?"

"At Damien's mansion."

His heart skipped. "How do you know where I am?"

Another soft laugh. "Monaco is very small."

Aiden stood up immediately.

"What do you want?"

"I simply wanted to warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Damien Smith protects things he considers his."

The words sent an uncomfortable chill through Aiden.

"I am not his."

"No?"

Mike's voice sounded amused. "Then why did he leave an emergency board meeting this morning?"

Aiden's mouth went dry. "You're lying."

"Perhaps."

The line went silent again.

Then Mike spoke one final time.

"Tell me, Aiden... when was the last time someone protected you without wanting something in return?"

The call ended. Aiden stared at his phone. His heartbeat had become unbearably loud.

What did he mean?

Before he could think further, voices echoed from the hallway.

Justin and Charlie. Arguing. Again.

"You absolutely cheated!" Justin shouted.

"I won fairly."

"You changed the rules halfway through!"

"Adaptability is an important life skill."

"You are impossible!"

They entered the room. Charlie looked victorious. Justin looked personally offended.

Aiden forced a smile. "Welcome back."

Justin immediately noticed something was wrong.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"I said nothing."

Charlie studied him for a moment.

"Was it Damien?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Aiden hesitated. "Mike."

The room fell silent.

Charlie's expression changed instantly.

The humor disappeared.

"What did he say?" he asked quietly.

Aiden looked down at his phone. "He asked if I was happy here."

Charlie and Justin exchanged a look.

A look Aiden didn't understand.

"That's weird," Justin muttered.

"No," Charlie corrected softly. "It's dangerous."

Before Aiden could ask what he meant, Charlie's own phone rang. He looked at the screen. His face hardened.

"Speak." Silence.

"What?"

Justin sat up. Aiden froze. Charlie stood.

"When?"

Another pause.

His expression darkened.

"I'm coming." The call ended.

"What happened?" Aiden asked.

Charlie looked at him.

Then at Justin. Then back at Aiden.

"The media just released photographs."

Aiden frowned.

"What photographs?" Charlie swallowed.

"Pictures of you."

The room seemed to stop breathing.

"Me?"

Charlie nodded. "You."

Aiden's voice became barely audible. "Doing what?"

Charlie looked away.

"Getting into Damien's car."

.......

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck and stood up. "I think we should all go to the study."

"The study?" Justin repeated. "Why does every rich family have a study? Can't people just discuss things in the living room?" nobody answered.

Aiden noticed the change in Charlie's expression. The playful, teasing senior he had spent the afternoon arguing with had disappeared. In his place stood someone else entirely.

"Let's go," Charlie said quietly.

---

The study was larger than the entire apartment Aiden and Justin rented near campus.

Dark wooden shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Books, awards, and framed photographs occupied every available space. Heavy curtains blocked the evening sunlight, leaving the room illuminated by warm golden lamps.

And standing beside the massive desk near the window was Damien.

He had already removed his suit jacket. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong forearms. He looked tired.Very tired

But the moment Aiden entered, Damien's eyes found him.For a brief second, something softened in his expression. Then it disappeared.

"Sit," Damien ordered.

Justin immediately sat.Aiden remained standing for a moment before reluctantly taking the chair beside his friend.

Charlie closed the door. The click of the lock echoed throughout the room.

Justin swallowed. "I officially regret accepting the invitation."

Damien ignored him.

"Sean called," Damien began. "The investigation has escalated."

Charlie frowned."The company investigation?"

Damien nodded.

"Someone leaked confidential documents to the media. Three more shareholders were arrested this afternoon."

Justin blinked. "Wait. Actual arrests?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Justin suddenly looked much less interested in making jokes.

Charlie walked over and leaned against the bookshelf.

"The problem is that whoever leaked those photographs knew exactly where Aiden was. And they didn't release one picture. They released dozens."

Aiden's chest tightened."Why are you telling us this?"

The room became silent.

Damien looked directly at him. "Because Mike approached you."

Aiden froze.

"You never told me that."

"I..." Aiden hesitated. "I didn't think it mattered."

"It matters," Damien said sharply.

The sudden force in his voice startled everyone.

Aiden stared at him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Damien exhaled slowly and lowered his tone.

"What did he say to you?" Aiden looked down at his hands.

"He asked me to think about something."

"What?"

"He said..." Aiden swallowed. "He said that not everyone who protects you does it because they care."

The room went silent again. Charlie cursed under his breath. Justin looked confused.

"What does that even mean?"

But Aiden wasn't looking at Justin. He was looking at Damien.

Because for the first time since Mike's visit to the café, he couldn't stop himself from wondering.

What if Mike wasn't lying?

Not completely. Damien noticed the look. His expression hardened.

"What else did he say?"

Aiden hesitated.

"He said..." His voice dropped. "He said that I was important to the Smith Empire."

Justin laughed nervously. "Well, that's ridiculous.

Aiden felt cold.

"What?" Charlie exchanged a glance with his brother.

It was the kind of glance that confirmed everything without saying anything.

"You knew?" Aiden asked quietly.

Damien walked toward the window.

"I was going to tell you."

"When?"

"When it was safe."

Aiden stood up. "So Mike was telling the truth?"

Damien turned back.

"I don't know what Mike told you."

"You know exactly what he told me!" Aiden stood up too.

"Okay, can someone explain what's happening because I feel like I'm watching the final episode of a drama without seeing the previous seasons."

Charlie sighed.

"Aiden, listen carefully."

"No," Aiden interrupted. "You listen."

His voice shook.

"I was kidnapped because of your family."

Nobody responded.

"I almost died because of your family."

"And now you're telling me that somehow I'm important to your company?"

Damien stepped closer. "You are not a tool."

"Then what am I?" Aiden demanded.

The question hung in the room.

For the first time since Justin had ever met him, Damien Smith looked uncertain.

That frightened Aiden more than anything.

Finally, Damien spoke.

"You are someone I intend to protect." Aiden laughed.

"Protect?" he repeated softly. "Is that why everyone keeps making decisions for me?"

Damien's jaw tightened.

"Starting tonight," he said, returning to his usual cold tone, "you and Justin will remain here until we identify the threat."

"What?" Justin yelped.

"No," Aiden said immediately.

"It wasn't a request."

Aiden stared at him.

For just a second, Mike's voice echoed in his head.

"...Not everyone who protects you does it because they care..."

"No," Aiden repeated, louder this time. "I'm not staying."

Justin nodded rapidly. "Yes. Exactly. We appreciate the hospitality, but we're going home."

Charlie stepped forward. "Aiden, this isn't about control."

"Then why does it feel like it?"

The room fell silent once more.

And for the first time since Damien had brought him back from Tokyo, Aiden found himself wondering if Mike had planted something far more dangerous than fear."doubt"