Chapter 068

~~~Hailey~~~ I stood frozen, my eyes narrowing as Evans' voice cut through the air. "Hey Hailey," he called out, his tone devoid of emotions, like a cold winter breeze. My brows etched with rage, my mind reeling with questions. What was he doing here? He was the last person I expected to see at my doorstep. With irritation simmering in my voice, I fired back at him, "What are you doing here, Evans?" My words were laced with venom, my anger and frustration boiling over. Evans' expression remained impassive, his eyes fixed on mine. "I see you've almost figured everything out, Hailey," he said, his voice dripping with an air of superiority. My brows furrowed in confusion, my mind racing with the implications of his words. The last thing I needed right now was the complexity of my life turning into a tangled web. I just wanted to rest, to escape the chaos that had engulfed me. It had been a long, exhausting day, and I was drained. "Get out, Evans," I spat, trying to shut the door in his face. But his next words halted me, freezing my hand on the door handle. "Do you really want to know what happened between Charlotte and me?" he asked, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. He wanted to be heard, to unburden himself of the secrets he'd kept hidden for so long. But I just stared at him, disgust etched on my face. How dare he show up at my doorstep, bringing back old memories, old pain? His presence in my life brought me nothing but complexity, nothing but heartache. "No thanks, I'm not interested," I spat, each word laced with venom. I shut the door in his face, the sound echoing through the hallway like a slamming prison cell. I turned and walked upstairs, my emotions in turmoil. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control, like a tornado tearing through my life. As I entered my room, I saw the maid trying to soothe Damien, who was wailing, craving his mother's touch. I immediately dismissed the maid and wrapped Damien in my arms, holding him close as I fed him and prepared him for his bath. As I undressed him, I couldn't help but notice the birthmark on his skin, similar to Aiden's. My mind drifted back to Aiden's last words, his voice echoing in my mind like a haunting melody. "I'll prepare for the contract termination, so you'll be free. You can take Alvaro with you." The memory of his words sent a pang through my heart, a mixture of sadness and longing. As I gazed at Damien, I couldn't help but smile at the name Aiden had chosen for our son - Alvaro, the Spanish word for Guardian. It was a beautiful name, and I wondered what had inspired Aiden's choice. But that was a question for another time, a question I might never get to ask. I sighed, feeling the weight of our complicated situation bearing down on me. All I wanted was for things to go back to the way they were, to rebuild our relationship and move forward. But life had other plans. My mind kept drifting back to Aiden's father and the mysterious events unfolding around us. I was convinced Aiden was innocent, but his father's involvement seemed increasingly likely. The way he kept appearing at pivotal moments, his secrets and lies - it all added up to a disturbing picture. Damien's soft whimper brought me back to the present. I tended to his needs, and soon he was fast asleep in his crib. I gazed down at his peaceful face, feeling a pang of envy. He was blissfully unaware of the chaos surrounding us. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the turmoil. I needed to focus on myself, so I changed into fresh clothes and tried to rest. But sleep eluded me, and I found myself pacing back and forth across my bed. Without thinking, I got up and stepped out of my room. Minutes later, I was standing in front of Aiden's door, my hand raised to knock. I hesitated, unsure what I was doing there. But something inside me urged me to resolve the conflict between us. Aiden's last words echoed in my mind - "You can take Alvaro with you." It was then that I realized I didn't want to leave after all. As I raised my hand to knock, the door creaked open, revealing Aiden's imposing figure. His hazel eyes pierced mine, sending shivers down my spine. "Aiden?" I called out softly, but he just stared, his face a mask of indifference. "What do you want this time, Hailey?" he asked gruffly, stepping back into his room as if frustrated by my presence. I bowed my head, my voice calm. "I just want to talk." Aiden's expression didn't change. "Weren't you the one who said you had nothing more to say?" He turned his back on me, as if trying to conceal his emotions. I took a deep breath. "Aid—" He cut me off, his voice firm. "I've granted your wish, Hailey. We're getting the contract terminated, and you can leave with our son. We'll figure out the rest later." I sensed a hint of sadness in his voice, a heaviness that made my heart ache. "What if I don't want you to go through with it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Aiden turned, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?" I gathered my courage. "Aiden, I'm so sorry for the way I reacted. It was all out of impulse and a mother's rage. I didn't mean anything I said." Aiden's expression softened, and he took a step closer. His hands instinctively reached for my face, his eyes burning with intensity. I felt my heart flutter as he drew near. For a moment, I thought he would kiss me. Instead, he whispered against my ear, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. "I'm sorry, Hailey, but I've already called my lawyer," Aiden said, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "He'll be here in a few days, after all this is over." He paused, his eyes filled with a deep regret. "I'm sorry for getting you into this seamless bond." The weight of my words hit me again, like a ton of bricks crushing my heart. This was the second time Aiden had apologized for our marriage, for binding me to him. It was a stark realization - this was the last straw for him. He was done, and I was losing him. Aiden pulled away, creating a distance between us. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep sadness. "Thanks for wanting to help this stranger in the first place, and I'm sorry for getting you entangled in all this." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me shattered. My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the ground, my eyes glassy as I watched him disappear into the darkness.