Chapter 078

Aiden's point of view As I stormed out of my office, heading to the parking lot, Jude was still there waiting for me, his expression a mask of concern. I got into the car, my anger and frustration still simmering just below the surface, and ordered him to drive. The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavily on my chest as I struggled to process Ava's sudden change in behavior. My mind kept drifting back to our last encounter, my thoughts replaying the scene like a broken record. I thought I had put her in her place, made it clear that she was pushing the boundaries of our professional relationship. But apparently, I had misjudged her. She was more resilient than I gave her credit for. A mix of emotions swirled inside me - anger, frustration, and a hint of disappointment. I wondered why it took me so long to fire her. Her absence was going to affect my company, no doubt about it. She was one of my best employees, but at this point, I didn't care. She had threatened my peace, and she had to be removed. Jude's voice cut through the silence, jolting me out of my thoughts. "Young master, is everything alright?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. I felt a surge of irritation at the term "young master," but I knew it wasn't Jude's fault. He was just trying to be respectful. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "I'm fine, just keep driving," I ordered, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. The silence that followed was deafening, and for some reason, I felt guilty for lashing out at Jude like that. He was only trying to be caring, and I had snapped at him. I glanced over at him, seeing the hint of hurt in his eyes. "Hey, I didn't mean for my voice to come out like that, alright?" I said, my voice softening. "Plus, you know how I don't like being referred to as 'young master'." I added, trying to lighten the mood. Jude's expression changed, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm sorry, sir. I forgot." He said, his voice neutral once again. I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. The tension in the car seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm. I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes as I let the silence wash over me. I placed my hands softly on the chair. That's when I noticed the bouquet of flowers lying there, my eyes widened in awe as I couldn't recall buying any flowers. My eyes darted back to Jude with a questioning look on my face. 'What are these flowers doing here Jude?" I asked, for a moment there was silence before he finally spoke. 'I'm so sorry sir, I planned on going home to my family after dropping you at the mansion so I got them for my wife, " He explained , making an 'oh" escape my lips in understanding. As I stepped out of the car, my eyes met Hailey's, and my heart skipped a beat. She stood at the gate, talking to Evans, her expression calm but firm. Evans, on the other hand, looked like he was trying to persuade her, his body language invasive. A pang of jealousy washed over me, and I felt my anger simmering just below the surface. I kept watching them in silence, my eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before me. But when Evans tried to move closer to Hailey, something snapped inside me. Without thinking, I picked up the bouquet of flowers from the car and approached them, my eyes blazing with anger. "She said you should leave!" I fired, my voice low and menacing, as I stood beside Hailey. Evans shot me deadly glares, our eyes locked in a silent challenge. I handed the flowers to Hailey, my fingers brushing against hers, sending a spark of electricity through me. I took her hand, my grip firm, and led her inside, leaving Evans standing alone at the gate, his eyes seething with resentment. Hailey yanked her hand out of mine the moment we stepped inside, her eyes blazing with anger. "What are you doing, Aiden?" she demanded, her voice firm but laced with a hint of vulnerability. I knew exactly what she meant. I had been cold and distant towards her, and now I was suddenly playing the protective boyfriend. I didn't know how to explain myself, so I decided to play dumb. "What are you talking about, Hailey?" I asked, feigning ignorance. But Hailey wasn't having it. Her next words were laced with venom. "Don't play dumb with me, Aiden. You know exactly what I'm talking about." I sighed, frustration evident in my voice. "Can we please not do this now?" But Hailey was determined to have this conversation here and now. "We're going to do this now, Aiden," she said, her eyes flashing with anger. I tried to reassure her, my voice calm and soothing. "Hailey, I'm equally as confused as you. But trust me when I say we're going to get all the answers we need." But Hailey was beyond consolation. "When?!" she fired, her voice rising. I tried to placate her, but she was having none of it. "Hailey, you need to trust me on this." Hailey's laughter was bitter. "Trust you? Did you just say 'trust you?' You're the son of the man who's behind all this, while my father rots in jail." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "What are you talking about, Hailey?" I asked, my voice shaking with shock. But Hailey just kept going, her words spilling out like venom. "It's true, Aiden. I paid my dad a visit, and he told me everything." I felt like my world was crashing down around me. I had no idea what Hailey was talking about, but I knew I had to calm her down. Just then, my mom's voice echoed from upstairs. "If she doesn't want to stay, you don't have to force it on her, son." I called out to her, trying to pacify her. "Mom?" But she wasn't having it. "Don't 'mom' me, Aiden," she fired back. "If she truly sees us as bad people, despite everything, then let her go. After all, everyone in this family is tired of the constant back and forth all the time." I felt a pang of desperation. I didn't want Hailey to leave, but I didn't know how to stop her. "If she wants to leave, she can, but my grandson stays with me," my mom added, her voice stern and unyielding. Hailey's eyes darted to mine, her expression a mix of shock, anger, and desperation. She seemed to be expecting me to say something, to defend her or our relationship, but I was at a loss for words. All that could come out of my mouth was a weak, "Mom, please, stop." But my words fell flat, and Hailey just kept staring at my mom in disbelief. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she turned to make her way upstairs, her footsteps echoing through the hallway. I could feel my heart heavy with emotion, weighed down by the knowledge that I had failed to protect Hailey from my mom's harsh words. I took a step forward, intending to follow Hailey, but my mom's voice stopped me. "Aiden, let her go, she has to face the reality of things sooner or later" she said, her tone firm but laced with a hint of sadness. I hesitated, torn between my loyalty to my mom and my love for Hailey. But as I stood there, frozen in indecision, Hailey disappeared from view, leaving me feeling helpless and unsure of what to do next.