Chapter 080

Hailey's POV Without warning, Aiden's lips crashed against mine, sending shivers down my spine. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the depths of our love. I pulled out of the kiss lightly, our eyes locking in a gaze that spoke volumes. The sound of our heavy breathing echoed through the room, a testament to the passion that still simmered between us. Aiden's eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned sheepishly. "How about we make more babies?" he asked, his voice low and husky. "The only difference would be that it's going to be a forever nightstand." His words sent a flutter through my chest, and my cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and embarrassment. But as I gazed into his eyes, a thought crossed my mind, and my expression faltered. I pulled myself from his grip and moved to the balcony, staring out at the city's skyline as I struggled to process my emotions. Aiden's confused expression followed me, his eyes etched with concern. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle. I remained silent for a moment, collecting my thoughts before I took a deep breath and let my emotions wash over me. "You're doing this again, Aiden," I said, my voice laced with exhaustion and a hint of desperation. "I know better right now than to fall for your tricks." Aiden's expression turned puzzled. "Doing what, Hailey? I don't understand what you're saying." I turned to face him, my eyes welling up with tears. "This..." I waved my hands in the air, frustration and sadness mingling in my chest. "One minute you're all loving and caring, the most loving man in the world, and then the next, you're a cold and mean, arrogant boss. I don't know if I can continue in this anymore, Aiden. I'm sorry." My voice barely rose above a whisper, but the weight of my emotions hung in the air like a challenge. Aiden's expression faltered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of confusion and concern. "Hailey, what's going on?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle, but I could sense the underlying tension. "Why are you saying these things?" I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. "You really don't understand, do you?" I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. "You have no idea how hard it is to be with you, to love you, when you can't even be consistent in your feelings for me." The city skyline blurred as tears streamed down my face, and I felt Aiden's arms wrap around me, pulling me close. But I pushed him away, my heart heavy with sorrow. "Just leave me alone, Aiden. Please." The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Aiden's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of confusion, concern, and a hint of desperation. But I turned away, unable to bear the weight of his gaze, and the uncertainty that hung between us like a challenge. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. "Until you're ready to be a father, please don't begin what you can't finish," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. Aiden's eyes locked onto mine, but I couldn't bear to look at him. "My heart is getting heavy with the recent happenings, and your frequent mood swings and swing in feelings is the last thing I need right now." Tears flowed down my cheeks as I spoke, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted us, and the voice of a maid echoed from the other side. "Madam, dinner is ready." I wiped my tears, trying to compose myself. "Bring it upstairs," I replied, hoping to avoid any further confrontation. But the maid's response caught me off guard. "Ma'am, Mrs. Alora asked that I call you both so you could all eat in the dining room." I turned my gaze back to Aiden, puzzled. We hadn't eaten together as a family in a long time. Why now? Aiden's expression was equally surprised, but he quickly recovered. "Okay, we'll be down in a jiffy," he said, his voice a little too cheerful. As the sound of the maid's footsteps faded, Aiden's gaze turned to meet mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, he spoke, his voice low and sincere. "Look, Hailey, I know I haven't been at my best self these past few days, but I'm ready to prove to you that I can be better." He paused, his eyes searching mine. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right between us." With that, he turned and left the room, leaving me to wonder if he was truly committed to change or if this was just another of his schemes. I stayed in my room for a few minutes, collecting my thoughts before taking a bath and getting dressed for dinner. As I made my way downstairs, I could hear the sound of laughter and chatter coming from the dining room. When I entered, I was greeted by the sight of Mrs. Alora and Aiden seated at the head of the mahogany table, with Damien sitting in his high chair next to Mrs. Alora. I quickly scanned the table, looking for an empty seat, but my eyes widened in frustration as I realized that all the other chairs were filled with dolls, except for one that was conveniently placed next to Aiden. I knew exactly who was responsible for this prank, and I shot a glance at Mrs. Alora, who was trying to stifle a smile as she fed Damien. Aiden, on the other hand, was trying to suppress his laughter, but his eyes sparkled with amusement as he caught my gaze. I rolled my eyes in exasperation as I tried to move one of the dolls, but to my surprise, they were all glued to the chairs. With no other choice left, I dragged myself to the chair next to Aiden, trying to ignore the smirk on his face as I sat down. I buried my face in my food, trying to avoid eye contact with him, but minutes later, I felt his hand brush against mine. I quickly yanked my hand away, knowing exactly what he was trying to do. "Don't even think about it," I muttered under my breath, trying to keep my cool. Aiden's eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, he smiled and turned back to his food, leaving me to wonder what he was planning next. Soon we were done with dinner, Mre. Alora took Damien with her as they both retired to her room, leaving me with Aiden. As soon as Mrs. Alora disappeared from sight, I hastily stood up from the table and headed straight for my room, eager to escape the tension that lingered between Aiden and me. But as I pushed open the door, my eyes widened in surprise at the breathtaking scene before me. My room was transformed into a romantic sanctuary, filled with velvety red roses and soft, golden candlelight that danced across the walls. The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of blooming flowers, and I felt my heart skip a beat as I took in the beauty of it all. I stood frozen for a moment, wondering who could have pulled off such a stunning surprise. That's when I heard Aiden's voice behind me, his tone low and husky. "Do you like it?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with hope as he smiled at me. I turned to face him, my expression a mix of surprise and wariness. "What is the meaning of this, Aiden? And how did you manage to pull this off?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. Aiden chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I had a little help from the maids," he admitted, his smile growing wider. "Look, Hailey, I know our circumstances aren't ideal, but fate has brought us this far, and I couldn't help myself anymore." He took a step closer to me, his eyes burning with intensity. "Hailey, you were just a stranger I saved and asked to help me navigate my messy life. But then I discovered you were carrying my child, an unexpected heir to the Brooklyn fortune. And despite my best efforts, I couldn't stop myself from falling for you." Aiden's voice dropped to a whisper, his words sending shivers down my spine. "Hailey, I want to be the father to our son and an amazing husband to you. I want to make this work, for real this time." As he spoke, Aiden dropped to one knee, his eyes never leaving mine. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him in shock, his words hanging in the air like a promise. "What are you doing, Aiden?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Aiden's gaze remained locked on mine, his expression sincere. "I'm asking you to be my wife, Hailey. For real this time. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy, and being the best father and husband I can be. Will you give me one last chance?"