Chapter 278: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
“Really? Alison, keep your word. Don’t regret it, or I’ll drag you back myself,” Aidan said, half-joking, half-threatening.
“Haha, okay. I really miss the kids,” Alison murmured.
Yet her mind drifted instinctively to Pierre’s face—so familiar it unsettled her.
“Alison, I’ve been digging into Jack’s death for a while. Something doesn’t add up. It wasn’t a simple car accident.” He changed the subject.
His words snapped her back to reality.
“It was a trap. I know. Unfortunately, Jack…” She paused. “Aidan, do you know someone named Pierre?”
A voice interrupted before Aidan could answer.
“Whether he knows me or not, I certainly know him. Your husband was the president of YD Group, wasn’t he?”
Pierre appeared suddenly, sliding into the seat beside Alison.
Aidan’s expression darkened. He sprang to his feet, pulling Alison behind him.
“Aidan, why so tense? Afraid I’ll eat her?” Pierre chuckled.
Just then, a waiter approached.
“Sir, would you like some coffee?”
“Yes.”
“With sugar?”
“Same as theirs.”
“Certainly,” the waiter nodded and walked off.
Pierre sat across from Alison, eyes gleaming.
He casually reached for the coffee cup she had just finished and lifted it to his lips.
“Stop!” Alison blurted out.
But it was too late. Pierre had already taken a sip. He smacked his lips and said, “So sweet. Alison, is this your husband?”
Aidan stayed silent—he hadn’t even processed how Pierre had appeared, but the tension told him something had already happened between them.
Alison’s pulse raced. She hadn’t expected Pierre to come all the way to the airport to test her lie.
“Yes,” she said softly, steadying her voice. “This is my husband—Aidan Winston.”
Pierre clapped slowly, the sound echoing through the café.
“Perfect match. But neither of you is wearing a ring. Alison, do you really love him?”
Aidan froze. He secretly savored the sound of Alison calling him her husband.
Alison reached for her cup—her old one—and set it gently on the table to keep her hands from trembling.
Hold it together, Alison. Don’t lose your temper.
“Who said I’m not wearing a ring? I have one,” she replied.
“Where?” Pierre asked.
“Why do people wear wedding rings on the left hand?” Alison countered.
“Because it’s closest to the heart,” he said.
“You’re clever, Mr. Bruce. But wearing it around the neck is even closer.”
With that, Alison tugged lightly on the chain around her neck, revealing a delicate ring dangling from it.
“See? This is my wedding ring with Aidan. He lost his a few days ago—we were just about to have another made.”
She said it calmly, deflecting with ease.
Pierre fell silent. Alison seized the moment, tugging Aidan down to sit beside her.
“Honey, why don’t we have one custom-made? Exactly like mine.”
Aidan understood her act immediately and played along.
“Sure. You already know my size.”
Watching their subtle affection, Pierre’s temper flared.
“Alison, I won’t let this go. If I find out you’re connected to him in any way, I won’t spare his family.”
With that, he stormed out.
Alison had won—for now.
As Pierre’s silhouette vanished, Aidan asked quietly,
“Alison, do you know who he really is?”
“Who?” she asked, uneasy at his tone.
“He’s Pierre—Matthew Bruce’s only son. The head of the Polar Bear Alliance.”
Her blood ran cold.
“The Polar Bear Alliance? Are you serious?”
Memories of the Arctic Bear Alliance flashed through her mind—
the group that had intervened when Aimée threatened her.
If Emily was truly Matthew’s adopted daughter, then everything—every move—was connected to that same Alliance.
God… could the tragedy years ago have been orchestrated by them?
But why? Just to force Jack out of YD Group?
Alison didn’t know how long she could keep up her act with Aidan.
With Pierre’s resources, it was only a matter of time before he uncovered the truth.
“Aidan, I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“As long as you’re happy, Alison.”
Aidan smiled faintly. He would do anything for her happiness.
Now that Jack was gone, he still believed—perhaps someday—he could earn her heart.
But his words only deepened Alison’s guilt. She lowered her gaze to her coffee.
The ripples in the dark liquid mirrored the chaos inside her.
“Aidan, go find your own happiness,” she whispered.
He ignored her, quietly taking a sip of his coffee.
Only he knew the bitterness in his chest was stronger than anything in that cup.