Chapter 4

 Leah

I heard the door open and I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that it was Aiden, his strong cologne always had a way of announcing him.

“You look good,” he said.

I forced a smile. “Thanks,” I murmured, closing the door behind him.

He moved toward the armchair.

“So... how did the meeting go, with my brother?” he asked, as he sat down.

“Horrible,” I said while gulping a bottle of water, hoping he wouldn't ask further.

“Seriously?, I want details, Leah.”

I hesitated, then walked to him and stood close. “He saw Liam.”

His whole posture shifted. “He what?”

“He saw Liam at the airport.” My voice trembled. “I didn’t think—”

“Leah…” Aiden ran a hand through his hair. “ You see why I insisted Liam should have just stayed in Tokyo.”

I sighed, as I moved closer to him and placed my hand gently on his knee. “Aiden.”

I looked up at him, hoping he would see the pain in my eyes. “Can we forget about everything and live quietly? Just you, me and Liam.”

He stared at me for a long moment before pushing my hand off — not violently, just enough to send a message.

“You want to leave quietly? Now?”

“I—”

“Why! Why do you always have to make me look like a fool!! PlWe spent five years planning for this and now you want to throw it all away!.” 

“ Aiden…” I said with tears choking my voice.

“I am grateful for everything you did for me but…”

“ But, nothing, Leah, if you are truly grateful then you would go along with the plan, you begged for.”

“I am, but that was before Liam.”

“No,” he said quickly, turning to face me. “That was because of Liam. You said Cassian didn't deserve both of you.”

“And I still believe that—”

“Then why are you hesitating now?” His voice stayed even. “Are you scared Cassian will find out Liam is his son? You are scared he’ll take him away.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“Leah, I understand that fear. But if you’re truly scared of losing Liam, then walking away now is the worst thing you can do. He’s Cassian Wolfe. If he finds out the truth, you think he won't take Liam?”

I took a deep breath, fighting back the tears. “You don't get it, Aiden.” My voice was muffled with tears.

“ I saw the way he looked at Liam. Like something inside him came alive. And for a moment, it felt as if he knew it was his son.”

He stared at me. “And you think that’s enough reason to be scared?”

“No,” I said quickly. “But Liam’s mine. He’s all I have. And I can’t let anyone take him away from me.”

“ And you think. I would let anyone take Liam away from you?”

He exhaled deeply, pulled something from his coat, and tossed it on the table. It was a document.

“What’s in there?” I asked.

“Something that’ll make him pay,” he said. “If he signs it, he unknowingly hands over his shares to us, and all you need to do is to make him sign it. That’s all and you can leave.”

I looked down at the folder. 

He walked to the door, pausing before he left.

“Get him to sign it tomorrow,” he said, his voice low. “Then you are free to do whatever you want.”

---

I held my coat tightly, unable to handle the breeze .I sat on the bench, looking around for Cassain. He had asked us to meet and he was nowhere in sight.

He arrived ten minutes late, which was quite unusual.

“ Sorry, something came up.” He said as he took a seat.

I looked at him, he looked different or maybe stressed, I shook my head trying to get that thought off my head, this wasn't why I was here.

“You know... “ He said as he paused.

“There’s something familiar about you.”

My heart stopped, but I didn’t flinch. “I get that a lot, but can we get straight to business, I have an appointment in the next thirty minute”

He sighed, as he looked at me.

“I’ve been thinking about someone lately,” he said. “My wife. They said she passed away five years ago.”

“ Mr Wolfe, can we please focus on why we are here?” I asked. I dropped the folder on the table. “This needs your signature. So I can start working on the project.”

He barely looked at the document before pulling a pen from his pocket.

I looked at him shocked.

“You’re not even going to read it?” I asked trying to sound calm 

“ I don't want to waste further of your time.” he said as he just glanced through the first page and he signed.

Just like that.

My heart dropped. 

He stood up, brushing invisible dust from his coat.

“Call me when you’re ready to talk. Really talk.” He glanced down at the folder. “And tell your son… he’s lucky to have you and I would love to see him again.”

He turned and walked away.

I looked at the document in my hand and all I felt was fulfilment. The company he spent years building he handed it over to me. Who said revenge wasn't satisfying.

I thought about Aiden—about everything he had done for me. Five years. My new life. My son’s safety. Maybe I was an ingrate yesterday.

I decided to pick up a bottle of his favorite red wine. A small gesture, but one I hadn’t made in a long time.

He deserved something for staying by my side.

I took a shortcut through the lobby.

That’s when I saw Aiden.

Outside, near the valet stand. Talking to someone.

Talia.

“You said she would be gone by now,” Talia asked, her arms folded.

“She will,” Aiden said calmly. “She already got the signature.”

“And she?”

“ Once she gives me the document she can disappear for all I care.”

Talia scoffed. “You better hold your end. I want that company to be mine—clean. No traces.”

I couldn’t breathe, as the  pieces started falling into place, memories of previous events started making sense. The way he insisted I return to this city, even when it had never been part of my plan. The days he has vanish without reason. The mysterious "T" who kept calling him — always at odd hours.

" So I was just a plan." I muttered as the wine fell from my hand

Aiden turned and froze. “Rave..."

My voice cracked. “So that was the plan all along? Use me. Use my son?”

He stepped forward. “Wait—let me explain—”

I stepped back. “Don’t.”

My hands were shaking. 

Then, suddenly—someone hand wrapped around my waist.

Cassian.