All Chapters of His hidden heir : Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

Aiden's POVI'd imagined meeting Emily's parents about a hundred different ways.None of those versions included a golden retriever knocking me into a flower pot.The dog hit me before I even made it through the front door."Apollo!"Emily burst into laughter.The enormous golden retriever wagged his tail so hard his entire body moved with it."Sorry!""Is he always like this?"Emily scratched behind Apollo's ears."He only attacks people he likes."I looked down at the dog."So... this is a good sign?"Apollo barked once.Emily smiled."I'd say yes.""Apollo!"A woman stepped into the hallway, drying her hands on a kitchen towel.She couldn't have been more than fifty.Warm smile.Kind eyes.She looked exactly like Emily."Oh!"She smiled even wider."You must be Aiden."I straightened immediately."Yes, ma'am.""Oh, don't call me ma'am."She hugged me before I could react."I'm Olivia."Well...That was easier than expected."You brought chocolates?"She noticed the gift bag."Just

Aiden's POVI wasn't looking for trouble.Trouble found me.It usually did.Only this time...Trouble wore a tailored suit."Mr. George?"I turned around just as I was leaving my final lecture.A man I'd never seen before stood a few feet away.Mid-forties.Clean-cut.Professional.The kind of person who looked like he belonged in a boardroom."Yeah?"He smiled politely."My name is Charles Bennett."I waited."I'm on the board of Dickson Global."Oh.Now I understood."I've known your mother for years.""I'm sure you have."He nodded."I was hoping we could have a quick conversation."Ten minutes later we were sitting in a coffee shop across from campus.I still wasn't sure why I'd agreed.Charles stirred his coffee before speaking."How close are you to graduation?""Three months.""Congratulations.""Thanks."He smiled."So..."Here we go."...have you thought about your future?"I almost laughed."Everybody keeps asking me that.""I imagine they do."He slid a folder across the ta

Aiden's POVI stared at Nathan Cole's business card for three days.Three.Whole.Days.Not because I was scared to call.Okay...Maybe I was a little scared.Calling meant something.It meant stepping outside the life I'd always known.It meant finding out whether I was actually good enough.And there was no hiding behind my family's name.By the fourth day, Emily had had enough."You still haven't called him?"We were sitting on the library steps between classes.I looked at the card in my wallet."...No."She sighed dramatically."Aiden.""I know.""No, I don't think you do."She took the card from my hand."You've spent three days imagining every possible outcome.""I like being prepared.""You like overthinking.""...Also true."She smiled."Call him.""What if he says no?"She shrugged."Then he says no.""What if he doesn't remember my mom?""Then he doesn't remember.""What if—"Emily gently pressed a finger against my lips."No more what-ifs."I blinked.She smiled."Just cal

Alicia's POVThere was something strangely unsettling about a quiet morning.Not because the house was silent.Because it wasn't.The coffee machine hummed in the kitchen.The television downstairs played the morning news.Alex was somewhere in the garage, probably pretending he wasn't reorganizing his toolbox for the third time this month.Everything sounded normal.Yet the house still felt different.I stood outside Aiden's bedroom with my hand resting lightly on the doorknob.The room was exactly as he'd left it two days ago before flying to Chicago.His backpack wasn't hanging behind the door.His headphones weren't tossed carelessly across his desk.His favorite hoodie wasn't draped over the chair like I always complained about.For the first time in years...His room actually looked tidy.I smiled to myself."I can't believe I'm saying this..."I stepped inside."...I miss the mess."A laugh came from behind me."I knew I'd find you in here."I turned to see Alex leaning against

Zara's POVRyan was exactly three minutes late.Not five.Not ten.Three.Which meant something was wrong.I checked my phone.No message.No missed call.No apology.I folded my arms and leaned against the railing outside the restaurant."You're overreacting," I muttered to myself.It was only three minutes.Then again...Ryan wasn't usually late.A familiar black SUV finally pulled to the curb.The driver's door opened, and Ryan climbed out looking more flustered than I'd ever seen him."I'm sorry."I stared at him."You ran a red light?""No.""You forgot?""No.""You got kidnapped?"He laughed."No."I raised an eyebrow."Then why are you apologizing like you've committed a crime?"Ryan rubbed the back of his neck."I stopped to buy you flowers."My eyes drifted to the passenger seat.A bouquet of white lilies rested there.I blinked."You... bought me flowers?"He looked almost embarrassed."I wasn't sure if you'd like them."For a moment, I couldn't find the right words.Nobody