Chapter 019

Hailey's POV I stood in front of my closet, packing a few clothes into my bag for the weekend getaway with Aiden's mom. As I went back and forth between the closet and my bag, my mind began to wander to the events of the previous night. Aiden's words echoed in my head, sending a shiver down my spine. "Then let me be the father of your child, Hailey." I remembered the shock that had coursed through my veins, my heart racing like a jackrabbit. "What?!" I replied weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. As I recalled the conversation, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Gratitude, guilt, and a hint of fear all battled for dominance. I leaned weakly against my bag, feeling overwhelmed by Aiden's kindness. I thought back to my response to Aiden's offer. "No, Aiden, I can't let you do that. I only agreed to this contract because I had nowhere to go, and you were the only person in my life at the moment. So, technically, you're not my husband, and I don't have any. Letting you take responsibility for another man's child? I don't think I can do that, Aiden." Aiden's response had been firm, his voice filled with conviction. "I'm not asking you, Hailey, I'm telling you. From the moment I asked you to help me by signing that contract, you became my responsibility, and that includes your child too. I can't let you wander off to some psycho who caused you so much pain in the past when you're not even sure he's the father of your child yet. So, until we both figure this thing out, you're mine." As I remembered Aiden's words, I felt a surge of emotion. I was touched by his kindness, but also intimidated by his possessiveness. I didn't know how to repay him for his generosity, or how to navigate the complex emotions that were developing between us. I was interrupted by a maid who announced that the driver was here to pick me up. I gave her a response and quickly went back to arranging my stuff. Soon I was done, and I came out of the room, walking down the stairs. But I met a cold sight on my way down. It was Aiden and some other woman, standing intimately close. Their lips were almost touching, and I could feel a surge of jealousy rising up inside me. I stood there in shock, my heart racing with emotions. A voice echoed in my head, trying to rationalize my feelings. "You're not his wife, right? So how could you get jealous?" I tried to compose myself, taking a deep breath as I continued walking down the stairs. "Aiden, I'm ready," I said with a smile, interrupting whatever they had going on. Aiden flinched, looking taken aback. "Uh... Uhm... okay..." he stuttered. Aiden's companion turned to me, her eyes narrowing into a deadly glare. "Aiden, who's this?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "His wife," I shot back, returning her glare. The woman's eyebrows widened in surprise. "Oh... You didn't tell me you were married?" she asked, her voice laced with accusation. Aiden stepped in, trying to intervene. "She's my secretary, just my secretary, Hailey." But I wasn't having it. "And who are you that he should tell you before getting married, huh?" I fired back, letting my jealousy take over. The woman's eyes flashed with anger, but Aiden stepped in again. "Ava, I think you should leave." Ava's face twisted in a scowl. "Actually..." she began, but Aiden cut her off. "Ava!" he yelled, his voice firm. "Leave! And by the way, it's boss to you, don't make me remind you again." Ava's face fell, her eyes flashing with anger and disappointment. She shot me a look of disdain, her eyes lingering on my baby bump before storming out of the room. Aiden turned to me, his eyes filled with apology. "Hailey... I'm so..." he began, but I cut him off. "My ride's here, I don't want to be late," I said, my voice cool and detached. I turned to leave, but Aiden called out to me. "Hailey, wait!" he said, but I just kept walking, not looking back. I settled into the car, closing the door firmly behind me. "Drive," I instructed the driver, my eyes fixed on Aiden as he rushed towards me. I watched as he reached the car, his eyes locked onto mine through the window. He mouthed something, but I couldn't make out the words. What was he trying to explain? I wondered. But I pushed the thought aside, reminding myself that this was all just an act. Our marriage was fake, and I had no right to feel jealous or possessive. "There's no need for an apology, right?" I thought to myself. But the voice in my head wouldn't let up. "You should have thought about that before acting like that towards him," it echoed. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "No... I'm not jealous. I just had to put on that act so our fake marriage would look real, even before his secretary. That's all," I tried to convince myself. But as I gazed out the window, watching Aiden's figure recede into the distance, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was lying to myself.