Chapter 110 BONUS CHAPTER III

Chapter 110 BONUS CHAPTER III
Aiden

I carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake Leah as my phone kept ringing from the couch in the room.

Laura's name flashed across the screen when I glanced at it.

She was crying the moment I answered.

"What is it?" I asked, irritated.

"Uncle Aiden," her voice trembled. "Roman... he came here, choked and threatened me! He was going to hit me if Dad didn't stop him."

My expression hardened as I realised what was going on.

"Were you the one that posted the video?"

Her fake cries stopped immediately.

"W-what video?" She stammered, and that was all the confirmation I needed.

"Take it down now," I said. 

"I didn't —"

"I'm giving you until tomorrow morning. If I have to speak on this matter again," I let the threat hang in the air.

"Uncle Ai—"

I ended the call.

Exhaling shakily, I run my fingers through my hair before heading for the cellar. 

I grabbed a bottle and then moved to the living room to wait while listening to the clock tick louder than it should have. 

It was 2 a.m. when I heard the front door open.

I didn't turn yet, taking a slow sip and listening as his boots thud against the floor.

"Where were you?" I asked, swirling the drink in my glass when he got closer.

"Somewhere."

I finally turned to see him standing by the entrance, hands shoved into his pockets. 

"Come here," I said.

His eyes met mine briefly. "You planning on choking me again?"

"That depends," I replied, lifting the glass while holding his gaze. "You planning on saying shit to my face?"

His jaw clenched. 

"Come drink with me."

He waited a second before slowly stepping forward.

I poured him a drink in another glass and slid it toward him as he sat down.

He looked at it then at me, one brow lifting. "You trying to poison me now?"

I huffed a quiet breath. "If I wanted you dead, Roman, you wouldn't have made it through the front door."

He scoffed, picked up the glass, and downed it in one go before reaching for the bottle and pouring himself another one.

We sat there in silence for a moment, two people who didn't know how to talk without fighting. 

Like I said... it wasn't always like this.

"I—" we both spoke at the same time, then our eyes met.

"I didn't do it," he said.

"I know," I replied. "Laura called me."

"She told you she did?"

"No," I said calmly. "It didn't take a genius to figure out she was the one."

"Shocking," he muttered, bitterness creeping in. "You usually take her side."

"I don't."

"You do," he hissed. "Every fucking time that sometimes I wonder if she was your kid and not me."

We stared at each other.

"I didn't know I made you feel that way," I said quietly, my chest aching as I noticed his eyes get wet. "I'm sorry."

"Not like I give a fuck," he scoffs, looking away and taking a gulp.

There was silence again.

"Did she cry a lot?" He asked after a moment, chewing on his inner cheek.

"I didn't," came Leah's voice before I could reply. 

She stood in the hallway, arms loosely folded, watching us. "Why are you two drinking without me?" She smiled.

"You hate alcohol," I chuckled.

"Mom," Roman called, standing up. "I didn't mean anything I said."

Leah stopped in front of him, her expression soft but firm. "I'm the wrong person you should be apologising to." 

He hesitated, then turned to me and grumbled, "I'm sorry."

I tilted my head slightly, smirking. "I didn't catch that."

"Fuck. I said I'm sorry, Dad."

"I'll accept your apology if you agree to draw me."I joked.

"Not a chance in hell," he said.

Leah looked between us. "What's this about a drawing?"

"He had a bunch of drawings of you, not that I'm complaining, but I noticed he didn't have any of me."

"Oh, I saw him drawing you one time."

"No, I didn't," he denied quickly, his ears turning red.

"Wait for real? I want to see."

"I am going to bed," he muttered immediately fleeing the scene.

"Roman," I called after him, but he had already disappeared.

Leah watched him go with a big smile before turning back to me.

"Are you two okay now?" She asked as she climbed onto my lap.

I rested my hand at her waist, my thumb brushing lightly against her side.

"I think," I smiled up at her.

"You think?"

"Yes, we are."

"About his homeroom teacher," Leah said.

"I'll take care of it."