In the restaurant section, Ryan held Aliya's hand with both hands. You can tell me Aliya, were you cornered and who was the kidnapper, only then can I be able to help out. You said we were not just business partners, we are friends too and friends don't hide things from each other.
Aliya looked at his worried face. She really couldn't tell Ryan now until she understood Aiden's identity, she wouldn't want him to be caught up in her family's mess.
I will tell you everything soon, Aliya said covering his hand with hers, I need to understand the whole situation so you don't get involved in this, I just hope you will stop being mad about the annulment of the alliance.
This scene greeted Aiden when he walked into the restaurant. This sent a surge of primal rage through him looking at their hands clasped together, a picture of intimacy that twisted Aiden's gut with a sickening jealousy. Ryan's concerned expression, the gentle way he held Aliya's hand, fueled the inferno of possessiveness burning within him.
A cold calculation replaced the raw fury. He turned, his back ramrod straight, and left the restaurant, his departure as silent and controlled as his arrival had been explosive. The simmering rage remained, a dangerous undercurrent beneath a deceptively calm exterior. He would deal with this later.
Aiden came back to the store and carried Matilda out.
Aiden, where's Aliya?
She has her own things to do, let's go.
They left the mall leaving Aliya behind.
Aliya had finished her conversation with Ryan and went back to the store but she couldn't find Matilda or Tessy and she didn't have either of their contact number.
She asked the store keeper. Excuse me , Did you see the woman wearing a white dress with her assistant?
Oh, the woman you came with?
Yes, yes.
A man took her away, she had a little accident.
"Accident?"
Yea, the storekeeper went on with her business.
Aliya called Aiden immediately, she needed to inform him, Matilda might have been taken to the hospital by Gary.
In the car to Capital City hospital, Aiden's phone rang repeatedly but he didn't answer.
Why aren't you picking up your call, it might be important.
It's nothing important, we're here now, I'll help you out. Aiden got out of the car and carried Matilda inside the hospital.
The doctor tended to her and assured them that it was nothing serious, it was just a slight bone dislocation not a fracture. With some rest and proper exercise, she would be able to walk in three days.
Thank you doctor. Aiden you can stop worrying now, I told you it was nothing serious.
You should have been careful, how could you fall from the escalator? He said in a gentle voice.
Are you scolding me now?
I'm not , I just hope you don't get hurt again.
I won't, "I promise" let's go home now since there's nothing serious going on.
Mmm, Aiden nodded.
Aliya already went home she was panicking that something big might have happened to Matilda. She couldn't get through to Aiden and the butler also tried calling the others but couldn't reach them. She could only wait for them at home.
They arrived later on with Aiden carrying Matilda in his arms.
What happened? Why did you leave suddenly? Aliya asked ignoring the scene before her.
The young Miss had a fall and hurt her knee, Tessy replied.
"A fall", sorry about..... Her phone ringing interrupted her. She stepped aside to take the call while Aiden carried Matilda to her room.
Yes dad.
The investors who were agreeable suddenly called backing out of the deal even though they had signed the contract.
What! Why?
I don't know, I tried to find out but they simply said that the risk was too much and they couldn't take it on.
Aliya was silent for a while with different thoughts running through her mind.
Aliya, "Does Aiden have something to do with this" her father asked.
No dad, Aiden didn't do this, it might just be that the investors were offered better.
I hope so, you have to be at the company tomorrow, we need to tackle this issue before those old foxes start talking again.
I understand dad, Aliya ended the call. She held her phone tightly before storming upstairs to Aiden's room.
Aiden sat in the rocking chair, the rhythmic creak a counterpoint to the stillness in his eyes. His handsome features, strong jaw, high cheekbones, dark hair were a mask, concealing the glacial coldness that radiated from him. He held cigarette between his fingers, blowing out a shroud of smoke as he smoked.
Aliya burst into the room, her face a mask of fury. "Was it you? Her voice trembled with barely controlled rage.
Aiden turned, his cold, piercing gaze meeting hers. The casual cruelty in his tone was a stark contrast to the intensity of his stare. "Coming into my room without permission is becoming a habit, Aliya, and it's a bad one." His voice was low, laced with a chilling calm that only amplified the threat.
"I just want to know if you sabotaged the deal!" she yelled, Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. Those investors were crucial!
The instructions were clear, he said, his voice as cold as glacial ice. "Take her to town, take care of her. You failed."
Why should I take care of her? Aliya screamed, her voice raw with frustration and betrayal. "She's not a child! She's a grown woman!"
Aiden ignored her outburst, his expression unchanging. "For every act of disobedience, Aliya," he said slowly, each word dripping with icy menace, "there will be consequences. For your company... or your beloved family. The threat hung heavy in the air, unspoken but palpable.
"Aiden," she whispered, her voice breaking. You're going to put me in a corner for her? Who's she? The injustice of it all threatened to overwhelm her. Hot tears streamed down her face.
He chuckled, a cold, brittle sound that sent shivers down her spine. "In this world," he said, his gaze locking onto hers, a cold gleam in his eyes, "she is the most important person to me." The chilling certainty in his words left Aliya feeling utterly helpless.