Chapter 33: Learning to trust

The next day after Aiden left her room early in the morning, Evie gently went about her morning routine, softly humming Ariana Grande's song ‘Positions’ as a small comfort.

Evie stepped out of her bedroom dressed in a white floral gown that was above her knee, paired with nude knee-length boots. Her backpack was hanging over one shoulder. She had barely taken two steps down the stairs when the door opposite hers opened. She stopped immediately because she already knew who it was; she waited for him to be in step with her.

Aiden looked sideways to check if someone was coming or if someone was watching; she pulled Evie and gave her a heartwarming hug, kissing her forehead as if they had not cuddled all through the night. “You look gorgeous, baby,” Aiden whispered in her ear, sending shivers down Evie's body.

“Stop, you are making me blush.”

As Aiden wanted to give her a reply, Evie pushed him away because she heard faint footsteps coming towards them.

It was Maria and another maid named Grace. Maria, noticing the exchange, decided to give instructions to her in order to distract her, “Madam Vivian was asking for fresh flowers in the sitting room.”

The maid hurried away. The hallway became quiet once more.

Maria pretended to adjust the flowers in a nearby vase as she passed Aiden. "You have exactly thirty seconds."

She continued walking before either of them could respond.

Evie couldn't help smiling. "She planned that."

Aiden chuckled softly. "I think she's becoming our accomplice."

"Or our bodyguard."

Before either of them could say another word, Maria's voice floated back down the corridor. "Twenty seconds."

Both of them laughed quietly.

Aiden reached out, gently brushing an invisible strand of hair away from Evie's face.

"You look beautiful." Telling her again.

Her cheeks warmed instantly. "So do you."

He raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that's how compliments work."

"It is today."

Footsteps echoed again. This time they didn't wait.

They walked downstairs separately.

Breakfast unfolded with its usual routine.

Richard looked through financial reports while discussing the company's latest expansion.

Vivian occasionally added comments without looking up from her tea.

Isabella sat elegantly beside Aiden, making herself look like the perfect trophy wife.

Only Maria noticed the tiny things.

Aiden pushing the basket of croissants a little closer to Evie without saying a word.

Evie quietly taking the last strawberry because she knew Aiden disliked them.

Little habits. Little acts of care. Invisible to everyone else.

Maria smiled to herself as she poured coffee into Richard's cup. Love, she thought, always found a way to reveal itself. Even when it tried to hide.

University felt far less hostile than it had a week earlier.

The whispers hadn't completely disappeared, but they had lost their bite. Students had already found new gossip to chase. Evie welcomed the normality.

She attended lectures with Lila, answered questions in class and even laughed during one of the professors' terrible jokes.

After their afternoon lecture, Damien caught up with her outside the business faculty. "There you are."

Evie turned.

"You disappeared after class."

"I was trying to escape another surprise quiz."

He laughed. "I need your help."

She tilted her head. "Our presentation."

He held up several research files. "I've booked one of the discussion rooms in the library. We still have quite a bit to finish."

Evie glanced at the time. She had promised herself she wouldn't stay late again.

Then she remembered how much work remained.

"Alright." "Just for a little while."

Damien smiled gratefully. "I owe you one."

They spent the next two hours discussing statistics, correcting slides and reorganising their presentation until neither of them noticed how quickly evening approached.

Evie's phone remained tucked away inside her bag. On silent.

Meanwhile at the Scott Mansion, afternoon had already started to turn to evening.

Aiden returned home earlier than usual.

He told himself it was because he had completed his meetings ahead of schedule.

Maria wasn't convinced. She watched him glance towards the front gate every few minutes.

"You'll wear a hole in that window."

He looked over his shoulder. "I wasn't waiting."

"No?" She dusted a nearby table. "Then the poor gate must be very interesting today."

Aiden sighed. "I thought she'd be home by now."

Maria checked the grandfather clock. "University projects don't always end on time."

He nodded. Still, his attention drifted back to the driveway.

Five minutes later, he looked again. Another ten minutes passed. Again. Maria pretended not to notice. But inside, she understood.

Love had made one of the most composed men she had ever known completely restless.

The sun had already begun to disappear beyond the skyline when the front gate finally opened.

Evie stepped out of the car with Damien beside her.

He handed her a folder. She thanked him warmly before waving goodbye.

Aiden saw everything from the sitting room. Relief washed over him first.

Then came something else. Something darker.

He wasn't angry that Damien had helped her.

He was angry that another man had been there when he couldn't. By the time Evie entered the house, she immediately sensed something was wrong. The usual warmth in Aiden's expression had vanished.

He simply greeted her before walking towards the staircase. Confused, she followed him upstairs.

His bedroom door clicked shut behind them. Neither spoke immediately.

Aiden stood near the window, hands tucked into his pockets. Evie remained by the door.

Finally, he broke the silence. “Where the fuck were you?” He shouted. I was worried, only to find out you were with Demon.”

“His name is Damien, not Demon.”

“That's the only thing you could hear from all the things I said?”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, if you speak to me like your girlfriend, not like a child, then I would hear what you said.”

“Don't act like a child then if you want me to treat you like an adult.”

Evie tried walking out on him, but Aiden pulled her back, hugging her from behind. “I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to yell at you. “I was just jealous seeing you walk out of his car. I was supposed to be the one picking you up from school and opening the car door for you. And I called you several times.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't see your calls; my phone was on silent, but I don’t like the way you talked to me.” Evie pouted.

“I'm sorry, angel, it won't happen again.”

“It's fine.”

“On a serious note, what were you doing with Damien?”

She turned to face him. “Working on our project.”

“I don’t like that boy, the way he looks at you like you are his north star.

“He's just my friend.”

“But he doesn't see it that way.” I thought he was trying to steal you away.”

The confession hung awkwardly between them.

For a second, Evie simply stared at him.

Then...She laughed. Not mockingly.

"You really are jealous."

"He's not someone you should associate with."

"You don't even know him."

"I know he makes you smile."

"So do you."

"That's different."

"Why?"

"Because..."He searched for an answer. "...I want to be the reason you smile."

Evie's heart melted. She stepped close enough to slip her hand into his. "Aiden." "You don't have to compete with anyone."

His gaze met hers.

"I chose you." "No one else."

The tension slowly left his shoulders.

He let out a quiet breath he hadn't realised he was holding. "I'll try."

"Try what?"

"To trust you."

She squeezed his hand. "And I'll remember to tell you if I'm staying late."

A small smile returned to his face. "Deal?"

"Deal."

A soft knock interrupted the moment. Maria's voice came through the door. "Dinner will be served in five minutes."

The couple exchanged amused glances. "She always has perfect timing," Evie whispered.

Aiden laughed quietly. "I think she knows exactly what she's doing."

Outside the room, Maria walked away with the faintest smile.

Young love, she thought, needed guidance every now and then.

But trust...Trust was something they would have to learn for themselves.

As she disappeared down the corridor, she failed to notice Isabella watching from the opposite end of the hall.

Isabella had seen Evie enter Aiden's room.

She hadn't heard a single word.

Yet the image lingered in her mind long after she turned away. She needs to up her game.