Warning: This chapter contains cursing and mature themes such as violence and abuse(physical and verbal), which might be triggering. Reader discretion is advised.
" How will you do that? How will you shut everyone's mouth?" Mrs, Hunt questioned.
" I will take care of that," Dylan replied nonchalantly.
" I need to know how?"
" Mom, you are too annoying," Dylan said irritatingly.
" Annoying??!! I am trying to help you out."
" I don't need your help. I am capable of handling it myself, so please just leave me alone."
" Fine!!! I will take care of things my way. I already warned you, so later on, don't blame me for anything," Mrs. Hunt said and turned around to leave.
Dylan knew his mother's ways were truly despicable and didn't want her to harm Aiden, so he suddenly stopped her. " Wait, Mom. What are you planning to do?"
" Why should I tell you if you don't tell me?" Mrs. Hunt asked, raising her brow.
" Don't get involved in my matters, Mom," Dylan said calmly.
" If that's all you have to say, then I am leaving."
" No...No wait. Why can't you believe me when I say I will not let our reputation be at stake."
"I will believe you if you tell me exactly what you plan to do."
I...I..." Dylan was racking his brains, thinking about what to tell his mother.
Mrs. Hunt waited a few seconds and said, " So you have nothing."
" Give me some time; I will think about it."
" We don't have time. The rumors are already spreading, and the only solution I see is to get rid of the person centering around the rumor."
" Mom, Aiden is not a problem because he is under my control."
" Is that what you think?" Mrs. Hunt chuckled. " Did you think I came here without doing my homework? I know everything about that boy. I also know that he has a boyfriend."
" How did you know that?" Dylan asked, surprised.
" I have my ways, son. I am concerned for you because I know that boy is trying to seduce you."
" Didn't you just say he has a boyfriend?" Dylan spat. He didn't like hearing his mother insult Aiden.
" So what?" Mrs. Hunt shrugged. " You are way richer and better than that boyfriend of his. So obviously, he would be going for you now."
" Do you think that's possible?" Dylan asked suddenly without thinking. Should he use his money and charm to get Aiden to accept him willingly? But Aiden was never the one to be phased by money, so will it actually work?
Dylan's thoughts are interrupted by Mrs. Hunt's loud voice. " What do you mean?"
Not again. Dylan had to be too careful in front of his cunning mother, who was staring at him doubtfully.
"I-I mean, it's not possible because he is already in a relationship."
" I don't trust that boy, so either you yourself send him away, or I will do it."
" I am not interested in him, so he working in the Company is purely professional."
" I was not born yesterday, son. I can already see the change in you."
" N-Nothing has changed. A-And even I have a girlfriend," Dylan said out of the blue.
" What?" Mrs. Hunt seemed excited. " That's interesting... Who is she? Is she from a good family that matches our status? "
" She's the only daughter of the Chairman of F-group."
" Now you are talking," Mrs. Hunt said, impressed. " When can I meet her?"
" Why do you want to meet her?" Dylan was getting more and more annoyed by the minute.
Mrs. Hunt was about to reply but paused as her phone rang. She spoke to someone on the phone and said, " I got to rush now. I will call you later."
Dylan heaved a sigh of relief when his Mom left his home. He then turned to go to Aiden's room and saw him standing near the window, peeking down. " What are you doing?"
Aiden was startled by the sudden interruption because he was looking for a way to escape.
" Were you planning to run away?" Dylan was in front of Aiden in a second, holding his arm tightly.
"N-No. I-I was just looking."
" You better. I am already in a bad mood, so don't do anything to anger me, okay? "
Aiden vigorously nodded his head, and Dylan hugged him and seemed to feel much better after doing that. He broke the hug after five minutes and said, " Let's go. We are already late because of Mom."
At the office, Aiden was restless and unable to concentrate on his work. He wanted to speak to Noah but couldn't remember his number. He wanted to escape from the office, but Dylan's earlier reaction scared him too much. What should he do now? He was worried for Noah and was desperate to know about his condition.
While thinking about his options, he heard his team leader ask a team member to go to meet a client to gather information. Aiden, who always avoided meeting people, volunteered for the job so he could go out.
Dylan was in his office and couldn't help but peek into his office camera feed every five minutes just to check on Aiden. So, during one of his con-calls, he found that Aiden was missing from his desk. Dylan waited for a few minutes, thinking Aiden must have gone for a break, but even after 10 minutes, he hadn't returned.
Dylan abruptly got up from his seat and cut the call stating he had some urgent business to take care of. He rushed toward Aiden's seat and asked his team leader, who told him about Aiden's onsite visit.
" Didn't you say Aiden always avoided going on field jobs?"
" Yes. Even I was shocked when he volunteered to go today," the team leader said casually.
" Why did you let him go?" Dylan screamed so loud that every eye on the floor was on him.
Dylan's secretary, who was right behind him, whispered," Please calm down, Sir; everyone's watching."
Dylan realized what he was doing and took deep breaths to calm himself while the team leader looked down in embarrassment. " I-I am sorry, Sir. I-I didn't know I wasn't supposed to send him."
" Call Aiden and ask him to come back now," Dylan said, gritting his teeth.
The team leader gingerly picked up his phone and dialed Aiden's number. " H-His number is not reachable, Sir," he stuttered in fear.
Dylan recalled he had broken Aiden's phone. "F**k," he cursed and asked, " Which client is he meeting?"
Dylan was driving his car towards the client's office while looking for Aiden on the road. He reached the office at record speed and found out that Aiden had not come to meet the client yet. Why had he not arrived yet? Did he get stuck somewhere or...? Dylan clenched his fist when he realized Aiden must have gone to meet Noah. He quickly got back into his car and drove off.
Meanwhile, Aiden had reached Noah's home to meet him. He rang the doorbell a few times, but no one answered. Was he still at the hospital? But his injuries were not that serious. Perhaps his parents must have taken him home. He booked an Uber to go to Noah's parent's house and waited.
Before the cab could arrive, Dylan had reached there in his car. Aiden was scared out of his wits and wished he could just disappear from there, but that would make matters worse.
" Didn't I warn you earlier?" Dylan's eyes were red with rage. " Why? Why did you come here?"
" P-Please, I need to meet him once. He was injured..."
" Get inside the car," Dylan screeched, shaking in anger. " I don't want to create a scene in the middle of the road."
" Allow me to meet him once. I swear I will come back soon."
" Do you want to be locked up forever?" Dylan asked so calmly, his voice almost sinister.
" Y-You can't be s-serious," Aiden said dreadfully.
" Oh, I am. I am seriously considering keeping you locked up. It will help me a great deal."
" P-Please..."
Dylan grabbed Aiden's hand, threw him inside the passenger's seat, and put on his seat belt.
Dylan got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
Aiden was still scared of Dylan's retaliation, but he had to try because once he reached home, he had no hope. " I-I beg you... let me see him once."
Dylan ignored him and continued driving.
" P-please stop the car."
Dylan still didn't respond.
Aiden was frustrated by the past few days' events and finally snapped. " Why do I have to listen to you? Who the hell are you to order me around?"
Dylan abruptly stopped the car at the side of the deserted road and asked. " What did you say?"
Aiden didn't respond and frantically tried to remove the seat belt so that he could get out of the car.
Dylan held his hand tightly, and Aiden screamed at the top of his voice. " Let me go, Dylan."
" No."
" I won't listen to you anymore. I need to go," Aiden said stubbornly. He had had enough of living according to Dylan's whims and fancies.
" Don't force my hand."
" You are already forcing me. I can't even breathe in peace around you."
Dylan lost his cool and slapped Aiden right across his cheek.