It was him "Aiden"
Was ger mind playing a joke on her that she started seeing things, she blinked and he was still there.
Aliya's breath hitched as she registered the shock that it was really Aiden, but a stranger, older, harder.
Eight years had etched lines of experience onto his face, replacing the boyish charm with a chilling intensity. The black three-piece suit only amplified the aura of power and danger that emanated from him. His eyes, dark and fathomless, held a glacial coldness that pierced her. The air crackled with unspoken accusations, years of hurt and betrayal hanging heavy between them.
It dawned on Aliya that he was the boss, she was expecting to see.
"Aiden… how are you here?" she whispered, the question a fragile thing in the face of his imposing presence.
His lips curled into a cruel smile. "What? Don't want me to ruin your wedding?" The words were laced with venom.
No! It's just… I thought…" She choked back the word died, the unspoken fear a raw wound. I thought something had happened to you."
You thought I died? His voice dropped, dangerously low. The air thickened, charged with unspoken threats.
What happened to you?
You don't have the right to know. The coldness in his voice was a physical blow.
Tears welled in Aliya's eyes. He'd left her, disappeared, and now he was here, cold and accusing. The memories ,the agonizing uncertainty, the crushing loneliness threatened to overwhelm her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
I'm glad you're safe, Aiden, but you have no right to hold me captive here. This is kidnapping, and on my wedding day, no less!
His face darkened, his tall frame eclipsing hers as he moved closer, trapping her against the wall. His breath hitched in her ear. "Wedding? You were going to marry someone else to save your family's pathetic company! Using people to solve your problems, it's always been your family's style."
That's not fair! Aliya protested, her voice trembling. I had to do what I had to do. Marrying Ryan was the only way to save the company and I would never let anything happen to my family.
A cruel laugh escaped him. "I should expect nothing less from a daughter raised by them"
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"I have a few… details about you that your fiancé might find… interesting," he hissed, his voice a low growl.
Understanding dawned, chilling her to the bone. "You… you were the one that night? The caller?"
A predatory smile stretched across his lips. "Was I? Miss Finch wouldn't want her fiancé to see the 'slutty side' of her, would she?"
Before she could react, Aliya's hand lashed out, a stinging slap across his face. Both of them were stunned by the sudden violence. Aliya's hand had acted faster than her at the thought that Aiden had set her up with another man.
The silence that followed was thick with tension, broken only by the ragged rhythm of Aliya's breathing.
You shouldn't have done that, Aliya. Aiden growled, his eyes blazing. He leaned in and his gaze burned into hers, a mixture of anger and something else… something that made her breath catch in her throat. He tilted his head, his lips brushing against hers, a tender, almost desperate kiss that was immediately overtaken by a fierce, possessive hunger. The kiss was a battleground, a clash of emotions, anger, hurt, desire, and a desperate need for reconciliation. It was a kiss that stole her breath, a kiss that left her breathless and aching, a kiss that spoke of a love both broken.
Aiden only released her when they were both out of air and they breathed heavily.
Stay here until you realize whom you truly belong to, you can only be mine. Aiden declared before leaving the room.
Hey! Aiden! Let me out of here. You can't keep me against my will, it's illegal. Aiden! Aliya banged at the door but it was locked and there was no response.
"Boss" The helicopter is ready, we should be leaving soon, Miguel reported.
You and Gary will be coming with me, Tessy stay back and handle things here while we are away. Take good care of her too.
What! Me?
Aiden narrowed his eye dangerously, Any objections?
No boss, no objection.
Good, I'll leave it to you, Aiden left while the rest followed behind him.
It's night time already and still no news from the police, Ryan also mobilized the underground network in the Capital City but no one seemed to know where the cars disappeared to.
Dorathy Finch was already wailing while her husband consoled her.
What if something happens to our daughter? I wouldn't know what to do.
It's okay, nothing is gonna happen to her, I will try my best to get our daughter back safely.
Aliya sat on the bed processing what just happened. Aiden was back but he was no longer the Aiden she knew, no longer the Aiden that loved and protected her, he's full of anger and hatred and she didn't seem to understand where it was coming from. She was the one who was supposed to be mad at him for abandoning her and disappearing.
Ryan and her family must be worried about her. The alliance she worked so hard to get was destroyed today. They would probably be looking for her everywhere and she didn't even know if she was still in the Capital City, Aliya's mind raced with different thoughts of escaping and an idea struck her mind, she looked around the room and found what she needed.