Chapter 3

3

The silence after Dr. William’s diagnosis was suffocating.

No one dared breathe, as if the weight of his words might shatter the fragile hope still clinging to the Hunt family.

Kayden stepped closer to the group, his expression unreadable.

For once, he stood near his grandfather instead of apart like a shadow. “What are the treatment options available, Doctor?” he asked, his voice low but steady. “Is there any way to bring my brother back to who he was? Anything we need to—”

“Enough!” Madam Hunt’s voice sliced through the air like a whip, her eyes blazing with accusation as she glared at her older son.

“Stop pretending you care. Do you think we don’t know you were behind this? Why else would Jayden get into an accident after he met with you?”

“Audrey!” Austin Hunt snapped.

“Daughter-in-law!” Old Master Hunt’s tone was sharp with disapproval.

Audrey clamped her mouth shut, but the hatred in her eyes burned hotter than ever.

She had never forgiven Kayden for the past. When the priest told their family about Kayden being the “cursed” twin twenty-seven years ago, that he was the one who'd bring doom to this family, they should have just sent him far away.

Years of indifference and resentment had turned her into a woman who could barely look at her own son without seeing doom.

Kayden’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Pretending?

The word tasted like ash. He had returned from hell—three years in prison because of his ‘good’ brother—and this was the welcome he received.

Even now, with Jayden lying there fighting for his life, he was the villain in their eyes.

The doctor cleared his throat uncomfortably and continued with instructions: “Jayden can be moved to a VIP ward soon. He needs psychological support, rehabilitation, and careful monitoring. Emotional stress could worsen everything. I advise that you pay attention to what you say around him.”

Once the doctor left, Old Master Hunt turned to Kayden, his gaze heavy and searching. “Tell us. What did you and your brother discuss before the accident?”

Kayden met his grandfather’s eyes without flinching. Inside, a bitter sneer twisted through him. Even the old master suspected him.

But for the sake of peace, he answered anyway.

“He wanted to talk about what happened three years ago,” Kayden said vaguely.

“Is that what really happened?” Old Master Hunt pressed.

Kayden’s jaw clenched. Since they saw him as the villain so much… Fine.

He pulled out a small recording pen and pressed it into Robert, the butler's, hand. “Here. Listen for yourselves. I have nothing to hide.”

Without another word, he turned and strode down the hallway, his back straight, shoulders rigid. He could feel their stares boring into him—curious, judgmental, and cold.

It was nothing new to him. For twenty-seven years, he had been the abomination. The cursed one. The black sheep who should never have been born.

As he walked away, the old master and his son, the twins' father, retreated to a private room to listen to the recording.

Madam Hunt insisted on joining. Old Master Hunt reluctantly agreed.

~~~

“Brother,” Jayden's voice came through the recording pen and filled the room.

The twins’ voices were similar, yet each carried its own distinct tone. One could detect the cheeriness within Jayden's voice and the aloofness within Kayden’s voice.

Just listening to the sound of their voices would tell you Jayden grew up in an environment full of love and pampering, while Kayden grew up isolated and rarely spoke, making his voice lack emotion and causing him to sound colder.

“Say what you want to say; you don't need to hug me,” Kayden said flatly.

“You are no fun,” Jayden shot back in a playful tone. “I know it's too late for what I’m about to say, but—"

For a moment, it was silent, as if the recording pen had stopped functioning. Old Master Hunt was about to press it again when it began to play again.

"I'm sorry… Back then, I shouldn't have made you take the blame for me; I shouldn't have stolen your woman too. Grandfather wants you to become the new CEO of Hunt Corporation, and I think you deserve it. You are the best candidate after all.”

“Why are you telling me this? Jayden, why should I believe you? Do you think I don't know you tried to kill me in prison? So tell me, what kind of soap opera are you playing?” Kayden growled; his voice was low but full of authority.

“Brother, I would never do that…”

“Oh, don't 'brother' me, Jayden. I have evidence, and the warden is willing to testify, so don't think your fake remorse would fool me." Kayden cut him off.

“I'm sorry… I really am, believe me, Brother," Jayden said, sounding genuinely sincere, before adding. "I admit I must have been crazy for a moment there and wanted to get rid of you, but I changed my mind later… See, no one came after you since that one time, right?”

“That's bullshit, and you know it. I got myself allies to protect me in prison; even if you had tried again, your lackeys would have reported to you that I was untouchable,” Kayden spat.

“Kayden, believe me, I'm truly sorry for everything that happened. Look, I'm setting Aria free,” Jayden said, followed by the sound of papers rustling.

"You're divorcing her?" Kayden's voice was even colder.

“Grandfather wants me to go to Africa and reflect on what I did, and I think he's right. However, I don't want to take Aria with me. That place will be too harsh on her, so please, I'll leave her in your care. Please take care of her,” Jayden said, sniffing. It sounded like he was crying.

“What do you see her as? An object to be passed around between us? You knew she was the only light in my dark world, but you manipulated her and took her away from me, and now what? You want to return her to me? What the hell is wrong with you, man?” The anger in Kayden’s voice was palpable.

“Kayden, Brother, I'm sorry. Okay, what do you want me to do? Going to Africa without any connections from the Hunt family would be difficult; I don't think Aria would be comfortable with such a life,” Jayden said.

“Then you never knew her. Since she chose you, then she would stick with you, for better or for worse. Now, if you have nothing else to say, I'll be on my way,” Kayden said, followed by the sound of footsteps and a door being slammed shut.

~~~

The recording finished playing, and everyone stared at each other with complicated gazes after hearing the contents of the conversation.

Old Master Hunt and his son, Austin Hunt, looked at each other, and a silent message passed through their eyes.

‘Did Jayden really mean what he said to his brother?’

“Where is Aria?” The old master asked.

“Who knows where she has run off to when her husband is supposedly in an accident?” Madam Hunt said with disdain.

“Have you called her?” The old master pressed. He knew how his daughter-in-law disliked Aria.

“I called her, but she didn't answer,” she lied smoothly. “I always said she was no good.”

Both old Master Hunt and Austin’s gazes were unreadable. They found something amiss, but they ignored it.

Madam Hunt never realized that by keeping the truth from Aria, she had just cooked up a storm and delivered Aria to the eye of the storm.

~~~

Aria sat in the back seat, her heart a bruised, aching thing in her chest.

The receptionist’s words echoed endlessly: “He left around ten this morning.”

Where was he? Why the divorce papers? Why the silence?

Her phone dinged just as they entered the intersection across from Hunt Corporation. She glanced down, hope flickering weakly.

It was a message from Sophie, one of their acquaintances: “I saw Mr. Hunt’s car headed toward the main Hunt family mansion this afternoon. You should check there.”

Aria’s pulse spiked. “Take me to the main Hunt family mansion,” she told the driver, her voice urgent. “Jayden must be there.”

The driver took a sharp turn, following the madam's instructions.

Aria pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the wild beating of her heart.

She had always dreaded visiting the main mansion.

That place had never been a home to her—it was a battlefield.

Her mother-in-law, Madam Audrey Hunt, had never hidden her contempt.

‘Gold digger. Slum girl. Temporary mistake.’

The woman only tolerated her because Jayden had insisted on marrying her.

Her ‘Jayden’ has always been fiercely protective of her; she was the wife he had chosen against everyone’s wishes.

Aria finally understood. If Jayden were there, it might explain why his phone was off.

Madam Hunt had a habit of enforcing “no phone” rules whenever Jayden visited…just to cut their communication.

The woman would go to any lengths just to torture her.

Maybe she had intercepted him. Maybe she was behind the papers somehow.

“Please let Madam Hunt be behind this,” Aria prayed silently, staring out at the passing city lights. “Jayden must still love me.”

The mansion loomed ahead sooner than she wanted, its grand gates imposing and unwelcoming.

As the car approached, Aria smoothed her dress with shaking hands and wiped the last traces of tears from her face. She would not let them see her broken. Not yet.

She stepped out into the cool evening air, steeling herself for whatever confrontation waited inside.

Little did she know, the husband she was desperately seeking was confined to a hospital bed, and the man she was about to meet was someone else.

Someone who wore her husband’s face.