Chapter 11
It ended in absolute disaster.
Her plan backfired!
Amanda's plan to humiliate Katherine came back to bite her in the ass as she ran after Aaron, who angrily walked out of the dinner room.
"Darling, slow down," she called breathlessly, jogging after him. Aaron didn't even bat a lash of recognition at her hopelessness or slow down his pace. "Wait for me," she heaved, picking up her red gown. She could feel her ankle ache from walking fast in heels—she was very sure it would be bruised and swollen.
Amanda wanted to cry. She didn't want it to end like this! She just wanted to threaten the lady a little and show Katherine that she had the upper hand because Aaron was hers. But who knew Aaron would be angry at her actions?
She didn't overdo it, but why was Aaron so pissed at her? This wasn't the first time Amanda put people below her in their place, and Aaron never cared about it—but why that pale-looking girl?
What was so special about her?
As soon as they entered their private suite, Aaron tugged his tie, loosened it a little as he ran his hand through his hair frustratedly. He shrugged off his jacket and flung it onto the nearest chair.
"Fuck!" he cursed. The tight clench in his jaw hadn't left since he saw Katherine's soaked uniform.
"Darling, I'm sorry about tonight. It's my fault," Amanda apologized, waiting for Aaron to say something. His dark expression was scaring her.
Aaron scoffed indifferently, "Telling me sorry? Am I the one you are to apologize to—or the woman you drenched with wine?!"
Amanda's eyes widened at Aaron's words. "E-even now, you are still defending her," she said in shock, a trail of tears rolling down her cheek.
"Who am I to defend?" he asked. "You?" He raised his brow, clicking his tongue.
"Is that why you humiliated me—in front of her?"
Aaron's hand stilled as he reached for the door to his room. His voice was low and cold. "You humiliated yourself."
Amanda shook her head in denial. All she did was stake her claim on her man. "I'm your wife!" she screamed, her eyes blazing with anger as her body shook.
Aaron turned and stared at her, his russet eyes boring into her. "No, Amanda. It's all on paper, and it'll soon end."
Amanda flinched, blinking as her mouth parted, yet no words came out. It was a slap on her face. A reality check. After years, he never considered her as something.
Her stance faltered, shoulders sagged, shrinking in her place, making her look small and weak. "But I love you," she whispered, her voice cracked. "And I always do."
Aaron's eyes flickered. "I never had a single thing for you, nor will I in the future. I only tolerate you because of my mother. But if you keep pushing—" he walked closer to her, caging her onto the side of the couch— "and hurt Katherine again," he lowered his head to her eye level— his face inches away from hers, "I'll make you regret it." He glowered at her and left for his room.
Amanda, holding her breath, felt all the energy drain from her body. She fell on the couch and started crying.
Aaron rested against the balcony railing of his room, the city lights glimmering like stars as the cold breeze whooshed and the untouched wine glass on the table shimmered under the night sky, cold.
The wine wasn't doing the job he wanted—to knock him out. He couldn't get Katherine's face out of his mind. She looked so broken yet composed, not to show weakness. The way the corner of her eyes trembled, her hands clutched the end of her shirt, the way the wet shirt clung to her skin, and her voice shook—seemed to haunt him as he gulped another glass of wine.
Katherine…
Then her refusal hit him harder, nearly knocking him off his feet, as it seemed that her voice echoed louder in his head. "I don't need saving."
Fuck!
Aaron clenched the railing. The more he tried to get close to her, the farther she seemed to be. And yet, he couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop until he had her again.
Then his thoughts shifted to the brown file on the table. He had called an agent a day before and requested every piece of information they could get on the twins.
"Get me everything you can on those kids—Jasmine and Hanith Prescott. I want details. Family. Guardian. Everything. Quietly," his voice was low. He couldn't shake his gut feeling that something was amiss—from the twins to Katherine.
They looked so much like her. And the way they acted around Katherine—and Katherine being protective of them. The kids could go as her children, but—
Why?
Now his answers were in the brown folder. His hands trembled—what if he had been wrong? No. He shook his head, then flipped the folder open.
Names: Jasmine and Hanith Prescott.
Age: Five.
Enrolled at a private school under the name: Katherine Prescott.
Relationship to children: Guardian/Aunt.
No parental names listed. No father. No mother. No emergency contact besides Katherine.
No extended family. No birth certificates filed under a hospital.
Just her.
Aaron's heart pounded; he could hear it in his head. His fingers trembled as he flipped the page. A photo slipped out—the twins at school, holding hands.
Aaron held his head as a memory flashed in his mind.
The pregnancy. Katherine crying and denying the accusation in the rain while cradling her stomach. Him throwing the promise ring and running away.
Aaron's brows knitted in thought. He knew Katherine had no one except her adoptive parents, and they had died years ago. Her grandparents had died six years ago also. But how did she get the twins?
From any unmentioned extended family? Or from adoption?
But that was impossible with Hanith's mismatched eyes and Jasmine—But what if…?
What if she didn't give birth to the twins… then did she abort that pregnancy?
What if she gave birth to that pregnancy and it resulted in the twins— that means they were his, right? But why did they have to call her aunty? Why the lie?
His blood. His children.
He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. His heart beat loud in his ears.
The calculation wasn't working in his head. He was thinking too much, and it was making his head throb.
Aaron needed to know everything that happened years ago. His mother must be hiding something from him. Because according to what his mother said, Katherine had gotten married to another man.
And to his surprise, Katherine was single, from the intel he got.
But what if she really married, and the husband divorced or died?
Then why was it not stated in the folder?
But what if… all his mother had fed him were lies?
Aaron groaned, face-palming himself from the conclusion he was drowning in. He needed to do something.
Aaron stood, tossing the file onto the table as he ran a hand through his hair frustratedly.
"This is complicated."
"Katherine," he whispered. "I need to visit the past."