"Well, you have cleaning gnos who maintain your house, but there’s no one to stock up on food. If only you would agree to return ho, I would whip up sothing delicious just for you..."
Serena paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air as she shook her head, the familiar reminder of that morning when Sidney had tried to lure her in with the sa tempting tactic flooding her thoughts. It was almost amusing how food had beco the go-to thod for both n in her life, as if a plate of well-cooked pasta or a rich dessert could sohow erase everything.
"I think a friend has been looking after this place. I’m sure she will co here and I’ll et her soon enough. But, tell , do I look like a glutton or sothing? Why do you think you can win over with food?"
"Because you just rejected my stunning good looks?" Aiden shot back, a playful grin spreading across his face, as he made her smile. Well, he did try to use the beauty trap on her... She never would have thought that she would find a friend in him. Serena shook her head in disbelief, still chuckling. "No, really. But seriously, why food? I an, not flowers or anything?"
Aiden leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as if pondering the universe’s secrets. "I think you might already have an answer to that question. You eat well, and it’s clear you genuinely enjoy your food. I’ve noticed how your eyes sparkle when you’re savoring a delicious al; it’s like a window into your soul, revealing pure happiness. There’s sothing captivating about it."
Serena paused at his description. Okay... She wasn’t expecting such ’poetic’ words.
Unaware of her surprise, he continued, "So, I think it’s pretty clear that there’s a way to seduce you... I could ask you which you prefer—sex or food—but I suspect the answer to that question might be sothing I’m not quite ready to hear."
Serena giggled at the sudden bold comparison but then she shook her head, her expression shifting to one of sincerity. "I do enjoy my food. And in the past... well, there was a ti when I went hungry for days on end. It’s probably why I decided to savor each al like it was my last. But I never expected that to turn out to be a weakness, you know?"
"Who said it is a weakness?" Aiden asked, his brow furrowing in concern, though he already suspected the answer. Must have been Sidney... His grip tightened on the fork, and he lowered his gaze, unwilling to drag that na into their midst.
"Since when have you known about Sid?" Serena asked suddenly, surprising him. How did she know he was thinking of Sidney?
Aiden looked up at her, frowning. "What do you an?"
"I’ve been thinking," she continued, her voice steady as she laid out her thoughts, carefully choosing her words as if navigating a minefield. "Ella sohow found a way to take to Sid. So, why did she do that? But even after that, you didn’t look for too long and found last night easily... Throughout this entire ordeal, you didn’t seem too surprised to learn that he and I were connected. Then this morning, you even offered to be my shield to keep him away. Why would you do that if you were not sure of the relationship? Now, you’re not in love with , Aiden Hawk, so the only reason I can think of for you going to such lengths is your half-brother."
She watched as Aiden frowned in distaste at the ntion of Sidney as his half brother, raising an eyebrow at his reaction. "Maybe I am in love with you..." He tried to deflect, but Serena simply shook her head, giving him a knowing look as she pressed, "So, since when do you know that I was acquainted with him?"
Her piercing gaze held his, and Aiden felt a mixture of unease and admiration. She was perceptive as always, and he realized he would have to tread carefully.
He contemplated whether he should lie. It would be easy enough to claim that he had discovered everything last night, but sothing told him she wouldn’t believe that. So, he decided to answer with the truth, observing her reaction closely. "Since the beginning."
Serena looked at him in surprise, her eyes widening. She had expected him to have known for so ti; after all, he had been investigating things even when she told him she wasn’t interested. But this revelation was not what she had anticipated. How could he have known from the start? It made her head spin. So, she tried to clarify, "What do you an since the beginning? You an, when I woke up and was desperately looking for answers, you knew all along that I could find them with Sidney?"
"Not in so many words, but yes. You see, Sidney has been searching for soone for the past year. He’s been looking desperately but quietly. As his rival, I naturally knew of this, though I hadn’t known who it was he was looking for. When I ca across you in the hospital, the biggest reason I married you was actually because I realized you were connected to Sidney and that the person he was searching for might be you."
Serena’s brow furrowed, and her mind raced as she processed his words. "How did you know that?" she asked.
"He has a picture of you in his wallet. I happened to see that once," Aiden confessed, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of tension.
"Holly shi*! Aiden Hawk! You are even more cunning than I thought..." Serena muttered, looking at him with newfound appreciation. He had seen a picture of her in Sidney’s wallet and arrived at the correct conclusion, but after that, he had married her just to torture his half-brother? Sacrificing himself out of pettiness... It was both amusing and infuriating. Serena could only shake her head in disbelief. At least he had been truthful with her, and that ant they could be partners without any lingering worries.
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