2025-07-12 15:44:04
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71: Epilogue
Today is the wedding. Aiden stands awkwardly near the entrance of the hall—though he'd never admit it. The place is packed. Every elite name in town is here. Harper's grandfather made sure of that. The only thing keeping Aiden sane is the fact that none of these people actually know who he is. He made Harper’s grandfather promise not to say a word about his true identity. Not yet. Park is darting across the hall like the world’s most chaotic best man, barking into phones and waving at staff. “Sir—Miss Harper sent a message for you,” Park whispers, rushing to Aiden’s side. Aiden’s head snaps up. “Is she okay?” “She’s fine,” Park assures, handing him a folded note. He reads it. > Meet me in the ladies. Aiden freezes. His heart drops. Not this. Not now. He glances at Park, who looks concerned. “Is everything alright, sir?” “I hope so,” Aiden mutters. “I just need a minute.” “A minute? You’re about to get married. You’ll have all eternity!” Park calls after him, but
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That same evening, Aiden sits in the living room, phone in hand.A message comes in from Harper.“I miss you already.”“Me too,” he replies.“One weeks isn’t a lot of time, right?”“Yeah. It isn’t.”He looks up—and sees his mother-in-law awkwardly standing by the dining table.She’d cooked dinner. Probably because her husband already told her what went down. But Aiden isn’t in the mood for performance.“T-the fo-food is ready,” she stammers.Stammers. The same woman who once treated him like dirt.Aiden rises and walks over. He stares down at the food—then slowly at her.“You call this food?” he says quietly. “Would you eat this if I made it?”Her eyes flick to the chaotic dish. Every ingredient fighting to be the main character.“I’ll be handling the meals for the next one week,” Aiden says flatly. “When Harper returns, we’re moving out. Into our own place.”He turns to leave. Then stops.“If you ever give Harper a reason to suspect you’re not her real mother…” He meets her eyes. “Yo
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The next morning, Aiden is at the airport with Harper.Everything has been arranged. Her flight to London for the business conference is boarding soon.This was the best plan they had to keep her away from Wesley. A week — just one — was more than enough for Aiden to finish what he started.“By the time I come back,” Harper says as she’s about to check in, “I want to see a lot of changes.”“I won’t disappoint you.”She hugs him tightly, heart steady now that her grandfather had given his blessing. Aiden watches her walk off with her assistant dragging her suitcase behind her, unaware that she’s walking into temporary safety.Once he confirms she’s boarded without issue, Aiden heads outside.The cars are already waiting.“Nice to see you again, sir,” Park greets from the passenger seat.“Park, skip the pleasantries. What do you have?”Park chuckles. “Straight to it, as always. We ran the background check on Mrs. Lincoln like you asked.” He pauses, then adds, “I’m afraid she’s not your
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Back in the sitting room, Mrs. Lincoln offers her father-in-law a drink, but he doesn’t touch it. He hasn’t said much—just the cold, half-hearted greeting he always gives her when he walks in.“You must still remember Harper's childhood friend?” she asks lightly, trying to steer the air into something casual.The old man lifts his eyes, calm but laced with venom. “You mean the only friend you left her with? After making her lose her memory?”“If you put it that way, it’ll hurt my feelings,” she says, smiling like she’s still in control.“Oh. So you’ve got a heart? That’s news to me,” he replies smoothly.“I know you loved your former daughter-in-law, but it’s unfair to keep treating me like this just because she’s gone. I wasn’t the one—”“But you were the one who gave her the last drink she ever had.”“I had no idea it was poisoned!” Mrs. Lincoln snaps.The old man leans forward slightly, eyes narrowing. “Just listen to yourself. You handed your best friend a drink, she died the next
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“What’s going on?” she asks, concern creasing her forehead. “If Dad’s pushing you again, we can move out. I mean it.”“Actually…” Aiden exhales, pausing. “I was the one who offended him. I said and did some things I shouldn't have.”Her face tightens. She doesn’t buy it.“I should’ve moved us out right after the wedding,” she says. “Now he treats you like that and walks away with it because you're soft and always take the blame.”“I’m not letting you take the fall this time,” she says, crossing her arms. “Don’t even try to flip it on yourself.”Her voice is sharp now—defensive, protective. And Aiden, for a second, just watches her.It’s one of those moments that reminds him exactly why he fell in love with her.“Listen to me for just a second, babe,” Aiden says. “I can take care of myself.”“Exactly, Aiden. And it starts with standing up for yourself when people treat you like trash.”“Babe…” Aiden exhales. “We can’t fight your father head-on. That’s why I came up with a plan.”Her ey
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Aiden opens his mouth to assure her that he is okay but he closes it. It's too late to assure her now. “What do you plan to do?” He asks instead. “Let's get another house away from here.” She turns to face him. “In another city.” Aiden nods. “That sounds nice.” “I'm sorry for what my father did,” she adds quietly. “You're talking as if you have a control over how he behaves.” “He must be having a time with the company.” “I understand. Now, come to bed. It's too late to be up.” Aiden arranges the pillows. “You will be going to work later today.” She turns of the light and got in the bed. Aiden pulls the duvet of her. “Grandfather will be visiting,” she says quietly into his chest some moment later. “He'd ask me to get married.” “Okay.” “Mom said to go on a blind date. Grandfather won't approve of you.” “Don't go.” “What?” “Don't go on the blind date.” She pulls away from him. He can't see her but he is sure she is staring at his face. “You mean it?” She asks, an edge o
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