Chapter 5

Beads of sweat formed against Aaron's forehead as he lay in bed.

A woman with raven black hair, beautiful grey eyes, and flawless pale skin stood beside Aaron. She looked aggrieved, dialling a number again and again, but it didn't go through.

“Mom.. Do you think he can see us from here?” Younger Aaron asked, his gaze fixed on her. They stood at the entrance of a dark alley. He wouldn't be surprised if his father couldn't catch a glimpse of them.

The woman smiled at him, brushing his hair with her fingers. “Just wait a bit. I'll be back.” She said and immediately walked towards the adjacent corner of the alley.

Younger Aaron's gaze stood fixed on her, a small smile spread across his lips. His mother has always been by his side even when his father neglected him and spun his attention towards anyone else, but him.

Just then, a car ran past a red light charging towards them, towards his mother. Younger Aaron's eyes widened with shock. “Mom!” He yelled and ran after her. But it all happened so fast.

The car screeched, its wheels coming to an abrupt stop, and crashing into his mother, completely knocking her over.

“..Mom?”

Aaron ran hysterically to her side. Sound of screeching tires filled the air as cars abruptly stopped because of the accident. Younger Aaron stared down at his mother. Her legs were almost crushed, and no doubt her bones were fractured.

Her forehead was bleeding profusely as the red blood stained her outfit. She held his face, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I'm.. I.. I'm.. fine. You don't.. don't need to cry.” She spoke, her voice trembling.

He held her to his chest, shouting for help. Tears pouring down profusely, just a while ago, he was with her, they were waiting for his dad.. but everything had happened so fast. She just.. she just went to look out for him. Why would someone choose now to run a red light?!

Everyone stood there watching him cry, watching him ask for help. They were too scared to help.. no, too busy recording with their phones.

His gaze fell on the car that just hit his mom. It was parked near a tre. It seemed they'd collided into it, too. It was a woman, she looked plump, her skin was fair under the street light which penetrated her car glass window. His eyes reddened. She was entangled with a man in her car. A man..

She hit her mom while making out with a man?

Aaron snapped his eyes open, sweat streaming down his forehead. He sat up, dragging his dead leg up as he succeeded in relaxing on the bed board.

His pupils contracted, a look of desperation laced on his face. He picked up his phone, a message laid-in waiting for him.

“Hey bud! Why don't you hang out with us this weekend?”

He threw the phone away. His gaze fixed outside the floor to the ceiling window. Charles was the CEO of one the highest tech based industry in New York. He was also one of the only people from his past who knew he was still alive.

His head throbbed from the pain. It was already morning, and he felt sleep deprived. He’d just spent his entire night dreaming of the same incident from years back. Again. His jaw clenched.

A maid knocked on his door soon after, but with urgency. Come in, he muttered and the lady immediately rushed in.

“Sir, the.. the press are here. A lot of them.”

Aaron's expression darkened, his brow slightly raised. But as quickly, a smile found its way to his lips. “As expected.”

He outstretched his hands, pulling the wheelchair closer. He pushed his upper body before steadying himself onto the wheelchair. He had done this for years, so it wasn't really difficult sliding into the wheel chair alone.

~

Meanwhile, Leilani, looking dishevelled, stood in front of the media, cameras flashing. The clicking and flashing sounds made her lower her lashes, her eyes already hurting from the blinding lights. She let the fake tears roll freely down her cheeks, hoping and praying that they would pressure the monster she lived with to let her go.

“Miss , are you okay? Are you being illegally kept here?”

Leilani fell to the ground, feigning both weakness and fear. “Please..”

Cameras flashed, capturing her dishevelled look and painful expression. She mocked herself inwardly. This was not the first time she'd appear on the internet. She had appeared for several reasons, several plotted scandals. She was bullied, hurt, and shamed. So, letting these people take pictures of her was not a big deal. She’d dealt with worse shame than this.

“Mrs. Verren. You seem to have forgotten, again, that you are married?” James' voice rang out behind her, a few bodyguards strolling beside him.

James’ gaze briefly fell on the press before they shifted to the document in his hand. The reporters ran towards him like a swan of bees, asking multiple questions at the same time.

“Sir tell us why would you keep a woman against her wish ?”

“Yes, tell us, why would you hurt her?”

James smiled. He placed his hands into his pocket, slowly reaching out for his phone, then he swiped through and turned it to the reporters.

A few seconds later, their entire narrative changed.

“Miss Leilani is a little bit stressed. Please don't take it out on her. We’ll ensure this never happens again.” James dropped, his gaze falling back to Lei.

The latter's face turned red .

“No, I didn't sign anything, I was forced!” Lei voiced out.

James smirk deepened, and Lei's face turned red with embarrassment. What's making him so amused?

“Miss, you clearly look happy in the photo.”

Lei's eyes widened. Which photo? She didn't take any photos with anyone! Even Lucas refused to take pre-wedding pictures.

James turned the phone to her, showing a picture of she and Aaron. He was in a royal plush chair with her standing beside him. That picture.. It was her single! The single she took when she went out with her friend. She.. her friend took the picture. How did he get it? How did they get their hands on that photo?

That trash couple picture was obviously edited. Were they blind?!

Lei's eyes widened, and realization struck her hard. He forged a document! They had all those documents already forged. It was like they knew she would make this move!

They forged a hospital statement saying she had amnesia and schizophrenia and sometimes forgot she was married. She clenched her hands. It was like she'd been punched hard in the guts.

Her gaze met James’ gaze, and he gave her a knowing look. He was evidently passing a message with those eyes, and just by the mere thought of it, she shivered.

She just made a fool out of herself. She played right into this man’s court!

Just then, a hoarse orphic voice rang loudly from the living room, startling everyone, including her.

“Wife, why did you run out? You know I don't fancy sex left undone. We've been married for a year now, you should know better.”