The formidable Aiden Romanov

Chapter Eleven

Walking through the exquisite halls of the mall, Aiden trailed behind the attendant, who led him to the private room where he would be selecting a jade bracelet for Zia. His heart pounded with a mix of pride and defiance. Amelia and her aunt had humiliated him just moments ago, their eyes gleaming with the cruel certainty that he couldn’t afford anything from these high-end stores.

They weren't wrong, of course. Aiden couldn't actually afford anything there; in fact, he was still in awe of everything himself. He replayed the scene in his mind. Amelia's condescending smirk and her aunt’s derisive laughter vanished the moment he held out the platinum gold card. For once, he felt a surge of pride. It wasn't just about the money; it was about proving them wrong, about showing them that he wasn't as worthless as they had believed.

He could almost hear the echo of Amelia's gasp, see the disbelief etched into her face. She hadn’t expected this. She never did. But now, at least this once, Aiden had the upper hand.

As he walked past them, heading toward the private area, a group of ladies standing nearby caught his attention, but he pretended not to hear them.

“Look at him,” one of them said, nudging her friend. “He’s gorgeous! That hair, those eyes… and did you see his muscles?”

“Too bad he’s married,” another lady chimed in, a hint of regret in her voice.

“Come on now, he is very single," the third lady countered. "I heard he was forced to sign divorce papers and thrown out of the house with their little daughter. Can you believe it?”

“How heartless of a mother,” the first admirer added.

Their voices were loud enough that Aiden knew Amelia and her aunt heard every word. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Amelia’s expression shift, a mix of embarrassment and jealousy flashing across her face. He couldn’t help but smile to himself and kept walking towards the private room.

“Sir, this way please,” the attendant said, ushering him inside. The door closed softly behind him, leaving the security standing outside.

"Please give me a moment to fetch the manager," the attendant requested. Aiden nodded and watched her exit the room through a door fixed within the room.

He stood there, awed by the room's ambiance. The private room was nothing short of luxurious. Plush carpets, elegant lighting, and a selection of exquisite jewelry displayed with impeccable taste. But his eyes were only on one thing—the jade bracelet for Zia.

Not long after, the same door was flung open and the attendant emerged with a man in his late twenties who followed her closely in hurried steps.

"Welcome, sir," he greeted in a high pitch, excitement evident in his voice. "I am the manager here. I hear you would love to see our finest jade bracelets. This way, please."

"Thank you," Aiden nodded as the manager led him to a section of the display table.

“May I present our finest jade bracelets,” the attendant said, displaying a collection that shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow.

“Thank you,” Aiden replied, his voice steady. He reached out and picked up a delicate piece, its green hues reminding him of Zia’s bright, inquisitive eyes. She deserved something beautiful, something that showed her how much she meant to him.

Just then, the door opened slightly, and Amelia’s voice drifted in. “What is taking him so long? I need to get some items too,” she snapped, clearly still irritated.

Aiden turned back to the attendant. “I’ll take this one,” he said, indicating the bracelet in his hand.

“Excellent choice, sir,” the attendant replied, smiling. “I’ll wrap it up for you.”

As the attendant busied himself, Aiden couldn’t resist glancing towards the door where Amelia stood with her aunt, their expressions still a mix of shock and discomfort. He felt a rare sense of satisfaction knowing that, at least for this moment, they couldn’t look down on him.

The attendant returned with the bracelet, now beautifully wrapped. “Here you go, Sir.”

“Thank you,” Aiden said, taking the package and slipping it into his pocket. He walked back out, head held high, and met Amelia’s gaze head-on.

Amelia huffed as she walked past him without a word, an attempt to hide her surprise at the events that had transpired. Her aunt followed suit, trailing behind her. Aiden felt the weight of the bracelet in his pocket—a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

As Aiden walked out, heading toward the exit of the mall, he was greeted by Patriarch Lorenzo, who was already striding towards him with purpose. The guards who had accompanied Aiden bowed their heads in greeting to him.

“Aiden,” Patriarch Lorenzo’s voice was stern, “I heard some uncomfortable gossip from where I was. What happened in there?”

Aiden felt a surge of panic but forced himself to remain calm. “It was nothing, really,” he lied, hoping to defuse the situation.

Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed, and without warning, he grabbed one of the guards by the shoulders. “Tell me what happened. Now.”

The guard, clearly intimidated, stammered, “W-We were confronted by a mean lady. She was insulting Master Aiden, calling him a low-life and mocking his inability to afford anything here, sh...”

Lorenzo’s face darkened with rage before the guard could finish his explanation. “Show me the brat who dares humiliate my grandson in my presence!” he bellowed.

He scooped Zia into his arms, holding her protectively. With a swift motion, he began walking briskly, following the terrified guard who led the way.

As they marched through the mall, the shoppers around them gasped in awe. Their whispers reached Aiden's ears, each one more incredulous than the last.

“So all this while, Aiden was from a wealthy background?” one person murmured.

Another chimed in, “I guess he himself probably had no idea.”

Someone else added, “He has some really mean man for a grandfather.”