Chapter 059

Hailey I rose from the floor, steeling myself to confront Aiden. Clutching the notes tightly in my hand, I marched to his room, deliberately omitting the courtesy of a knock. With a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my heart pounding in anticipation. I stepped into the room, my eyes locked on Aiden. He sat on his bed, hands clasped behind his head, lost in thought. As I approached, he looked up, confusion etched on his face. 'When were you going to tell me?" I asked, my voice firm. Aiden's expression shifted to caution. 'Tell you what?" I held up the notes, my gaze unwavering. 'Don't play dumb, Aiden. What were you really doing on the day of the accident? You weren't the one who hit me, were you?" Aiden's face paled, and he looked like he'd been caught red-handed. 'Hailey, it doesn't matter," he said, attempting to brush it off. But I wouldn't let it go. 'Oh, it matters, Aiden. It matters because I'm struggling to trust anyone right now. Tell me the truth." Aiden's eyes searched mine, and when he saw I wasn't backing down, his defenses crumbled. 'That day...I went to my parents' house, and I overheard my dad talking about killing someone. I felt guilty because I couldn't save my sister when she was killed. So, I followed the person my dad sent, and it led me to you." His words dropped like bombs, each one shaking me to my core. 'You mean...there were two people trying to kill me that day?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Aiden nodded, his eyes filled with regret. 'I'm so sorry, Hailey. I had no idea it was you until it was too late." My mind reeled as the truth sank in. Aiden's father was involved in the attempt on my life. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. 'Your dad...he's behind all this, isn't he?" I asked, my voice laced with accusation. Aiden's nod was almost imperceptible, but it spoke volumes. "But that's why I need you by my side, Hailey," Aiden said, his eyes pleading. "If we're going to bring my father down, we need to figure this out together." "Figure this out?" I repeated, my voice shaking with anger and tears. "You put my life in danger, Aiden, and now you want us to be some kind of team?" Aiden took a step closer, his expression contrite. "I'm really sorry, Hailey. I know I hurt you, but I had my reasons. And aside from wanting to protect myself, there was another reason I asked you to sign that contract." I raised an eyebrow, wary. "What reason?" Aiden hesitated before speaking. "I wanted to keep you close, Hailey. I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a connection with you that night at the hotel. And when I saw you again, I knew I couldn't let you go." I laughed, a bitter sound. "You call abandoning me and leaving me a bundle of cash after we had sex 'keeping me close'? You made me feel like a whore, Aiden." Aiden's face paled, and he looked away, shamefaced. "I was in a bad place, Hailey. Sandra had just...but that's no excuse. I was wrong to treat you that way." I shook my head, my anger still simmering. "You don't get it, Aiden. I have a baby now. I'm not some reckless girl who can afford to take risks. I need to think about my child's safety." Aiden's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze intense. "I know, Hailey. And I swear, I'll do everything in my power to keep you and our baby safe. But please, just listen to me. Let's work together to bring my father down." "Our baby?" I repeated, my voice laced with a mix of surprise and longing. I stood firm, my gaze locked on his. "There is no 'our' baby, Aiden. When this is all over, I'm leaving. And I mean it," I said, my tone stern and resolute. Aiden's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. His face paled, and his lips parted as if he was about to speak, but no words came out. He looked...broken. I held his gaze, refusing to back down. I couldn't let him think that I was going to stick around and play happy family with him. I had to make it clear that I was only staying to protect my baby and myself, not because I had any feelings for him. The silence between us was oppressive, heavy with unspoken emotions. Aiden's eyes searched mine, as if looking for any sign of weakness or hesitation. But I stood firm, my resolve unwavering. Finally, Aiden spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "You can't mean that, Hailey." I let out a deep sigh, my eyes never leaving Aiden's. "Trust me, Aiden, I've never been more serious in my entire life." Aiden's gaze lingered on mine, as if searching for any crack in my resolve. But I stood firm, my expression unyielding. Finally, he nodded, seeming to accept my words. "Alright, Hailey. What's next is that we need to gather evidence against my father. We have to prove his involvement in the accident and the other crimes he's committed." I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "And what makes you think we can succeed where others have failed?" Aiden's smile was fierce. "Because we have each other, Hailey. And together, I know we can do anything." He said, making me scoff. Aiden's words were laced with determination. "This charade will end soon, Hailey. But first, we need to get the baby to a safe location. I'll have my mom fly to Miami with him. They'll both be safe, away from all this drama." The plan sounded logical, but the thought of being separated from my newborn baby, even for a short time, was terrifying. I knew it was necessary, but that didn't make it any easier. I locked eyes with Aiden, my gaze piercing. "Whatever you're planning, it better be worth it," I warned, my voice low and even. With that, I turned and stormed out of his room, leaving him to his plans and his promises.