Chapter 061

~~~Aiden~~~ As we embarked on the two-hour drive, the darkness of the road seemed to mirror the turmoil brewing within me. My eyes scanned the desolate landscape, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine. Hailey's voice cut through the silence, laced with a mix of concern and trepidation. "Aiden, are you sure about this?" she asked, her brow furrowed in worry. Her eyes, usually bright and radiant, now seemed dull and troubled. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my jaw clenched in determination. "No, but I have to give it a shot, Hailey. It's my son we're talking about here, my heir." My voice was firm, but a hint of desperation seeped through. Hailey's gaze pierced through me, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and sadness. "He's not going to be your heir in a few more days," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the engine's hum. I felt a surge of frustration at her words. "Okay, Hailey, how about we talk about this?" I retorted, my tone sharp with irritation. Hailey's expression turned glacial, her voice dripping with venom. "There's nothing to talk about, Aiden. I've said all I wanted to say." She turned away, her eyes staring blankly into the darkness. I slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt on the deserted road. I turned to Hailey, my anger boiling over. "But I haven't said anything, Hailey! That's the problem – you're always the one talking, never listening!" My voice echoed through the night air, my words hanging like a challenge. Hailey's eyes flashed with anger, her voice low and deadly. "Yes, Aiden, and whose fault is that? Huh?" The air seemed to vibrate with tension as we locked gazes, the darkness between us crackling with unspoken words. "Oh, really?" I shot back, my voice laced with defensiveness. "Now it's all on me? Really, Hailey?" I glared at her, my eyes blazing with frustration. Hailey's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising to a shout. "Oh, is that so? Then tell me what I did wrong, Aiden? Was agreeing to your contract to save your dying ass my mistake? Or was it the fact that I trusted you, not knowing I was in a vulnerable place with no one to trust?" Tears streamed down her face, her voice cracking with emotion. "I trusted you, Aiden," Hailey's voice cracked, her eyes welling up with tears. "But right now, I just can't. Who knows if I can even trust your mom on this one?" Her gaze faltered, and she wiped away a stray tear. "Maybe this was all just one of your family's little schemes," she whispered, her words laced with hurt and betrayal. Her eyes searched mine, pleading for answers, but I had none to give. I felt a pang of guilt, but my pride refused to let me back down. "Hailey, don't do that," I warned, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Do what?" she retorted, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Drag my mom into this," I said, feeling a surge of protectiveness towards my mother. Hailey's grin was laced with bitterness. "We don't know that for sure, Aiden." Her voice dripped with skepticism. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing between us. "Fine, Hailey. Maybe I kept secrets, maybe things weren't as they seemed. But I did it all to protect you." I spoke from the heart, hoping to reach her. Hailey's laughter was cold and mirthless. "You call subjecting me to danger protection? You call risking my baby's life protection, Aiden?" Her voice shook with rage and fear. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "Hailey, I—" But she cut me off, her words slicing through me like a knife. "You know what I really wish for right now? I wish I never had that night with you, and we never crossed paths." Her eyes spat venom, her voice dripping with malice. I stared at her, my mind reeling in shock. "What?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. Hailey's gaze was unyielding. "You heard me right, Aiden. Now drive. I need to find my baby. He's not even old enough for all this drama, and it's all your fault. Maybe you should have just left me to die that day, then maybe, just maybe I would be resting in peace by now" Her words were a slap in the face, leaving me stunned and reeling. As I put the car in gear and began driving, my heart sank. The woman I loved didn't want anything to do with me anymore. I felt like I was drowning, drowning in my own mistakes. The weight of my errors threatened to crush me, and I didn't know how to escape. As we arrived at the location, the tension between us was palpable. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, and every passing moment felt like an eternity. We stepped out of the car and approached the incomplete four-story building, its skeletal structure looming before us like a monolith. My heart sank as I gazed up at the building, my mind racing with the thought of my mom and son trapped inside. A chill ran down my spine, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. Hailey's eyes met mine, and I could see the concern etched on her face. We exchanged a silent understanding, and then we moved stealthily into the building, our footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. As we ventured deeper into the building, Hailey pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the keypad. "I'm calling the police," she whispered. I grasped her arm, my grip firm but gentle. "No, Hailey, please don't. It'll only complicate things." I could see the hesitation in her eyes, but eventually, she nodded, tucking her phone back into her pocket. We continued on, our senses on high alert, every creak of the building making us jump. The silence between us was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I knew I was taking a reckless risk by embarking on this rescue mission without a weapon or a backup plan. But I had a secret ace up my sleeve – a knife hidden in my shoe, a last resort in case things went horribly wrong. As I stepped into the unknown, I silently prayed that this was just a straightforward kidnapping case, one that could be resolved with a hefty ransom payment. I was willing to pay any price to bring my family home safely. As we entered the building, our footsteps echoed off the walls. We climbed the stairs, our senses on high alert, and emerged into a wide, circular room. My heart sank as I saw my mom tied to a chair, her lips bound with duct tape. "Mom!" I called out, rushing towards her, but she frantically shook her head, her eyes pleading with me to stay back. I ignored her warning and approached her, Hailey by my side. But as we drew closer, Hailey's voice cut through the air, "Where's the baby, Aiden? The baby isn't with her." I spun around, my eyes scanning the room, and my heart sank as I realized Hailey was right – my baby was nowhere to be seen. I gently removed the tape from my mom's mouth, and she burst into tears, her body shaking with sobs. "No, Aiden, please leave... it's a trap..." she warned, but before she could finish, a blunt force struck me from behind, sending me crashing to the ground.