"What the fuck are you doing here?" Aiden growled the mont he stepped into his office, his eyes landing on the woman sitting at his desk.
At first, through the frosted windows of his office, he thought that it was Alia. It was easy to mistake one for the other. After all, both of them had long pale blonde hair, and they were of similar physique. This ti, Emline was even dressed like Alia― no more pastel skirts and feminine accessories. Just a smart business attire that Alia always donned.
"Can’t I visit?" Emline asked. "Last I checked, your mother is my godmother. I am basically a Montgory."
If Matteo were here, he might’ve even reminded Emline that Catherine Laine was in fact not the first Montgory mistress, but just a mistress, period. But that was Aiden’s own mother, and he wasn’t going to say such a thing just to get a jab at Emline, tempting as it was.
"Just because the Hawthornes have kicked you out doesn’t an you can run around and claim family mbers left, right, and center," Aiden said with a roll of his eyes. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Get out of my chair. In fact, get out of this office building."
"There’s no rush," Emline said, her voice sweet. "You were the one who decided not to answer my calls and ssages. Even my letters were ignored. What? Did you burn it as soon as you received it?"
Aiden said nothing, but the thinning of his lips gave away his every thought. Emline chuckled.
"Thought so."
"I read it," Aiden said.
The human body had seven trillion nerves and sohow, this woman managed to get on every single last one of them. Gone were the good old days when Aiden held the upper hand― now, it seed like Emline Hawthorne was always in control, and Aiden hated it.
"My offer was just that," Aiden continued. "I am not doing anything else. In fact, I’ve already helped you more than our initial agreent. I’ve already had my fun, and quite frankly, you were no fun. It would probably be more exciting to dance with the devil, naked, on burning hot coal."
At his words, Emline’s face turned sour. She tried her best to suppress the rage that was growing in her. In the end, she had to take a deep breath and count to ten. All this anger was not good for the growing baby, according to her doctor. She needed to be calm.
Emline closed her eyes and paused for a second. After, when she opened her eyes again, she regained the sugary sweet smile and innocent doe eyes.
"It’s your loss, not mine," Emline said. "But you didn’t tell that Alia is also pregnant."
Aiden’s eyes widened into the size of saucers. "How did you―"
"Know?" Emline completed his sentence for him. "Does it really matter? What matters more is that now that she has a baby with Matteo, how are you going to be the knight in shining armor in her ti of need? I doubt rescuing her from the grubby hands of Caleb Walton was enough to change her mind."
"It was you!"
"I did nothing," Emline said, imdiately raising her hands in surrender to show her innocence. "I have no reason to contact Caleb. But your mother is friends with his mother."
That information quickly deepened the furrow of Aiden’s eyebrows. He knew that his mother had sunk her roots deep into the dirt of high society, and she had contacts everywhere. However, to think that she was the one behind Caleb’s actions was...
"She wouldn’t do such a criminal thing," Aiden said through gritted teeth.
"Are you sure?" Emline countered. "She’s also an advocate of and Matteo’s marriage. If Matteo is difficult to sway, then the next choice would be to get rid of Alia."
Aiden sharply turned his head to the door, earning a scoff from Emline. He let out a sigh of relief once he confird that the door was closed.
Sharply turning to face Emline again, he crossed the room within seconds. Aiden all but ripped Emline off his chair, ignoring her cries of pain.
"Watch what you say while you’re here," Aiden lowly growled, keeping his voice as soft as possible. "My mother wouldn’t do such a thing."
"Let go of !" Emline exclaid, shrugging out of Aiden’s hold.
She managed to do so, and stumbled a little before uprighting herself again. She glared hard at Aiden while the other kept a cool expression.
"Believe what you will," Emline said. "But that doesn’t change the fact that I heard her talking to Johanna Walton about this. The woman was arrested, wasn’t she? She did give Caleb the idea― it’s just that the police didn’t know that idea actually ca from soone else!"
Veins started to pop out against his skin on the back of Aiden’s hands. He gripped them so tightly that it looked as though his blood vessels were going to burst at any ti. When he raised a hand, Emline straightened up and looked into his eyes without fear.
"Do it, I dare you," Emline challenged. "I never thought you would hit a woman, Aiden Montgory."
"I can assure you that I am a strong advocate of gender equality," Aiden said with a sneer. "Especially if it ans I get to dish back what you’ve tried to serve."
"Do it," Emline said without flinching. "Lay a hand on and I will let everyone know who the real father of my child is."
Her eyes flitted over to look at the door. A small smile curved the corner of her lips before she t Aiden’s gaze again.
"You have just as much at stake as I do," Emline said. "What will your sweet Alia think when she finds out that you’ve betrayed her? That you knew who the father of my child actually is this entire ti, and have worked against her to hide his identity?"
"Shut the fuck up―"
"I wonder how she’ll react when she finds out all of this is just your idea," Emline continued, her grin growing. "All because you want what your brother has― her. You see her as so prize to be won, and you want her all for yourself. But you can’t have that when your brother is in the way."
"I said―"
Emline raised her voice. "So who do you co to? ! So that we each can get who we want!"
A crashing sound ca from outside, forcing Aiden to turn around. Emline’s smirk rely stagnated at its broadest form.
Aiden’s face paled when his gaze fell on the slightly open door. It was just a small crack but it was enough to see Alia on the floor, on her knees, her files scattered around her as she t Aiden’s eyes, shock written all over her face.
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