Chapter 32 CHEER YOU UP! LITTLE BEE
“As how?” I asked.
“Do they have dragon tattoos on their neck, hands, or chest?” Aaron asked, facing Ruby.
She paused, thinking… then nodded.
“Yes.”
“Tsk. That bastard,” Aaron muttered, and a sigh escaped my lips.
“So he trafficked kids just to piss you off?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“Wow… apparently devils and animals really exist in human form,” I laughed, though nothing was funny.
I stood up instantly. Aaron raised a brow.
“To where?” he asked, leaning against the door.
“To catch that psycho you call a brother,” I snapped. He grinned—too widely.
“What?” I asked, my eyes dimming.
“You can’t kill Kalton that easily. Trust me.”
“You lost to him? He beat you many times, didn’t he?” I said.
Aaron’s eyes darkened. I could practically hear his nerves tighten. His grip on his gun hardened. I swallowed hard.
I should really watch my mouth before he snaps one day and chops my head off.
“No one can defeat me,” he said coldly, sharply, like a warning.
I looked away quickly.
“Then let’s bait him out,” I said. “What do you think?”
“Why aren’t you asking?” Aaron replied.
I froze.
“It’s your family matter,” I said quickly. “No outsider should know. Besides, I don’t want to be dragged into family drama. And don’t worry. I know you didn’t start the feud between you and your brother.”
“Stepbrother,” Aaron corrected. I nodded.
I glanced at Ruby, who was eating again, slower this time. She must feel worse after remembering everything. I gently patted her hair. Those big, sad eyes stared at me… I couldn’t resist them.
How could Kalton dare harm kids? Was his obsession with angering Aaron really this deep?
I wanted to know the feud between them. Back then, as Celina, I thought Aaron had the perfect life. He was quiet, distant—introverted. He never fought back even when he should have.
I never realized he had such a hellish life and still chose to be soft to me and others
Although after my death… he changed.
I suddenly wanted to hug him. Tell him he was doing alright. Tell him I was here.
But I had no right. Getting close was dangerous. He knew Celina too well—one slip, and he’d know I wasn’t Erica.
“You also have a series of family issues,” Aaron said suddenly.
I froze.
“Me?” I pointed to myself. Did Erica have family issues too? All I knew was that she was shot. No background. Nothing.
“I don’t,” I blurted, looking away quickly before he could read anything deeper.
“Hm.”
He said nothing else. Good. Let him forget it. I needed to dig into Erica’s past… for safety. One wrong detail could ruin my revenge.
Should I ask him about the others?
I remembered when we met, he asked, “Are you among them?” So others were involved in my downfall too.
But Jolie wasn’t here to help me. Her coma weakened me more than anything. I shouldn’t have involved her... or Emily. Their accident felt like part of my sins too.
My eyes grew sad without me realizing it.
Then Aaron’s fingers tapped my nose gently.
My lashes fluttered. I stared at him....shocked he had even done that.
“Don’t blame yourself,” he said quietly. “She was happy to help. They both were.”
Could he read my mind? How did he know?
Even now… he still looks out for me.
Back then, when I jumped…His voice was the last thing I heard. And I regretted everything. It was terrifying—dying and leaving everyone behind.
He saved me with those last words.
“Thank you,” I blurted.
Aaron pulled his hand back.
“For what?” he asked.
I looked away instantly. I couldn’t say anything that could reveal the truth.
“For not killing me so many times. And… for saving me today,” I said, smiling slightly.
He just stared, dark, unreadable.
Come to think of it, Aaron never smiled at me as Erica. He only smirked out of pride. He was annoying like that.
“You guys look good together,” Ruby said suddenly.
I laughed.
“Stop thinking such things.”
“My mum sold me because I look like my dad,” Ruby murmured. “She said my face disgusted her. My dad was never around. She treated me like trash. I always dreamed of parents who would love me. Seeing you two… it makes me think you’d be a great couple.”
I smiled… but her words faded instantly when Aaron spoke.
“Don’t sprout gibberish, kid,” he said flatly, standing up.
My eyes softened. My mum raised me alone too. She warned me about men, but I was stupidly in love with Carter...plus my dad was never there…
I felt connected to Ruby in some way.
As Celina, I searched for him too. And when I met him…
(FLASHBACK: 11 YEARS AGO)
I was fifteen. I tracked my father after finding his picture in my mum’s “stay away from” box.
I searched everywhere...restaurants, workplaces, anywhere his name appeared.
And then I found him.
Laughing, with a new woman and to kids around my age, smiling at him like he was the best dad in the world.
My smile died instantly.
My mum’s tears flashed before me, her suffering.Her loneliness.
I wanted to ruin his perfect picture...walk up to him and say “Dad!”
But I swallowed it down and walked away.
Still… something burned inside me. Was my mum never enough?Was I never enough?
Later, when he was alone, I walked up to him.
“Dad.”
He froze, staring in shock.
“Do I know you?” he said.
He denied me.
Even though I had his eyes, his smile… he denied me.
“Sorry. My mistake,” I whispered and turned away.
Then his words stabbed me deeper than anything.
“Don’t come near me or my family again. I have nothing to do with you or your mother. We ended that long ago. I don’t want anything to do with either of you.”
My world shattered. He didn’t want me.
(Flashback ends)
Tears stung my eyes, threatening to fall, but I held them back.
“I’m sleepy,” I lied, standing up quickly.
I walked away so neither Ruby nor Aaron would see my face.
Inside my room, I closed the door softly.
Why did the past hurt so damn much?
I slid down the door, holding back sob, then failing. The tears slipped quietly.
“For someone who puts on a strong face… you cry a lot,” Aaron said.
I froze.
Turning around, shocked, “How did you get in here?”
He didn’t answer. He just sat on my bed.
A cold breeze made me glance at the window.
“You snuck in… through the window?” I asked, nearly yelling.
Aaron’s smirk widened.
“I came to cheer you up. Is that my thank you, little Bee?”