Nova felt completely limp, and as Aiden picked her up, she instinctively wrapped her slender arms around his neck. Her small head nestled into the crook of his strong arm, making her look both safe and warm.
"Hey, you should head home early too," Aiden reminded Uma.
Uma quickly nodded, responding, "Okay, I'll head home right away."
Aiden instructed the bodyguards to settle the bill, and Uma grabbed her bag and followed them out. She watched as Nova, drunk like a child, was gently placed into the car. The door closed, and the four black vehicles quickly disappeared into the traffic.
Uma was so excited she could hardly believe it. She had seen Aiden tonight—was she dreaming? He was not only handsome in person but also had a great physique and was incredibly sexy.
In the car, Nova leaned half her body against Aiden's chest. Her silky, thick hair fell softly into his lap, and Aiden's long arm securely held her slender waist, allowing her to rest on his shoulder.
Aiden inhaled the faint scent of gardenias from her hair. His arm encircled her delicate waist, and her gentle, even breaths warmed his ear. He glanced down slightly, seeing her upturned face and those delicate, flower-like pink lips.
Nova! She drank herself into this state for another man?
Suddenly, Nova, who had been sleeping with her eyes closed, slowly opened them, seeming a bit more awake.
"Aiden, I don't wanna go home..." Nova pouted, pleading.
"Then where do you wanna go?" Aiden asked in a deep voice.
"To your place, just to crash on your couch for one night... Is that okay?" Nova didn't want to go home in this drunken state. If her parents found out, they would worry, even from abroad.
Aiden paused for a few seconds before telling the bodyguard, "Take us to my place."
The convoy made a U-turn at the next traffic light and headed in a different direction.
Nova watched the streetlights pass by outside the window, and a wave of intense sadness suddenly welled up inside her. She bit her lip, and tears began to fall as she started to sob quietly.
Aiden looked down at her, his voice hoarse, "What's wrong?"
Nova's emotions were as fragile as a child's at that moment. She didn't care who was around or where she was; she just wanted to vent her inner pain and sadness.
"I liked him for three years, a whole three years, but in the end... I didn't even get a chance to tell him..." Nova's voice grew more and more aggrieved, and tears streamed down her face, falling onto Aiden's expensive suit, quickly soaking a patch. But he didn't mind at all.
Aiden's brows furrowed slightly, his expression complex.
Nova seemed to treat him as a confidant, sobbing as she spoke. After crying, she wiped her tears on Aiden's clothes.
Aiden gently patted her back, calmly advising, "Feelings that aren't cherished aren't worth being sad over."
"You don't understand... You don't understand how painful it is to have a crush on someone..." Nova buried her head, her voice muffled.
Aiden's lips curled into a bitter smile. He understood the pain of unrequited love better than she did.
The person he had a crush on was currently in his arms, talking about how she loved someone else!
As Nova cried, she suddenly pushed against his shoulder, trying to sit up. Just as she stood, a scooter swerved in front of the car, causing the driver to brake sharply.
In an instant, Nova, who was holding onto Aiden's shoulder, was thrown forward by the sudden force. Her lips landed on Aiden's perfect, thin lips in the next second.
Nova's drunken eyes widened in shock. She quickly covered her mouth, only to be pushed back into Aiden's arms, holding onto his neck tightly.
Aiden looked down, and Nova, panicked, looked up. Their eyes met, his gaze deep and unreadable, hers clear and flustered. The close proximity and the earlier intimate moment seemed to break some forbidden spell.
The car fell into a brief silence, making her feel even more suffocated. She felt like a frightened deer, hurriedly breaking free from Aiden's embrace, clutching her chest, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.
Avoiding Aiden's gaze, she stammered, "Aiden, I... I didn't mean to..."
Aiden took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, his voice slightly low, "It's okay, it was just an accident."
But he knew that in that brief moment, a subtle emotion had quietly taken root in his heart.
Nova blushed, burying her face in Aiden's chest, not saying another word, as if doing so could avoid the current awkwardness and panic.
Aiden gently patted her back, as if comforting her, or perhaps hiding his own inner turmoil. The convoy continued smoothly towards his home.
Soon, Nova's already tense nerves were further strained by the car's motion, and a strong wave of nausea hit her.
She quickly covered her mouth with a tissue, but couldn't hold it back, vomiting on the car door, her coat, and sweater.
This made her feel extremely embarrassed, her face turning red as she silently lamented: This is too embarrassing, I actually threw up in his car.
However, Aiden showed no sign of disgust.
He moved swiftly and gracefully, like the most handsome leading man in a movie, pulling out a top-quality cotton towel from a hidden compartment in the car, gently wiping Nova's mouth, his eyes full of concern. He softly asked, "Are you okay?"
Then, he pressed a button inside the car, and the front seatback quickly reclined, transforming into a comfortable temporary bed with a soft blanket.
Aiden carefully helped Nova lie down, gently covering her with the blanket. His actions left Nova wide-eyed and amazed, feeling like a pampered princess.
Fortunately, they soon arrived at Aiden's home.
The car slowly drove into a gated estate, surrounded by high walls and hidden among lush trees. The low-key yet luxurious villa came into view.
Despite the passage of time, the expansive grounds and the villa's mysterious, noble aura were still evident.
A bodyguard opened the car door, and Nova, feeling relieved, quickly got out, crouching by the bushes to release the contents of her stomach.
She rarely drank, and tonight she had too much. Combined with the bumpy ride and the emotional turmoil in the car, her body couldn't take it.
Aiden quietly gave the bodyguard some instructions. The bodyguard nodded, and the black car slowly exited the gate, which then closed, shutting out the outside world.
Nova, dizzy and teary-eyed, was wiping her face when she looked up and met Aiden's concerned gaze.
They were in the garden, with the brightly lit villa behind them.
Nova, trying to hold back her discomfort, looked at the understated yet impressive villa, hesitating for a moment. She suddenly felt a pang of regret, thinking it might be better to go home, even if it meant getting scolded, rather than staying here in her current disheveled state.
But with the bodyguard gone and not wanting to disturb Indigo's rest, she had no choice but to stay.
Nova, her clothes soiled, asked Aiden, "Aiden, my clothes are dirty. Can I take a shower and borrow some clothes?"
Aiden thought for a moment and shook his head, "I don't have any women's clothes here."
Nova was taken aback, realizing she was the first girl to enter his home, feeling a mix of emotions.
As they entered the villa, Nova felt awkward and unsure. Aiden's lips curved into a charming smile, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he quickly stepped into the walk-in closet.