Chapter 91 TO YOU

Chapter 91 TO YOU
Aiden

Yeah. My son hates me, and he's trying way too damn hard to come between me and my woman.

It started subtle with him always holding both her hands and, at times, wrapping his arms around her neck and pressing his face into hers like he was trying to hoard every scrap of her attention for himself. And the worst part was that it was actually working. 

Leah barely looked at me whenever he was awake, sparing me only briefly glances enough to remind me she knew I still existed before she went back to being only his. He even went as far as tiring her out enough that she fell asleep almost immediately after he did. So that even in his sleep, he was still winning.

Every time I tried to start a conversation with her, he cut in with something stupid.
"Mummy, look."
"Mummy, listen."

Like a broken record with perfect timing.

And when she didn't look at him immediately, he'd grab her face, turning it forcefully toward his, making a face that made Leah soften as she asked him what was wrong.

Fucking manipulative.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to drag him off that bed and give him a good spanking but Leah was fiercely overprotective of him and I knew that would end with me being the villain. And judging by the smug little glances he shot me afterward that was the plan all along.

He might be five, but he was a calculating little brat. And for the second time in my life, I met someone I couldn't win against by force. 

Leah complained about being tired of hospitals and since the doctor had cleared her to leave I agreed although it didn't seem like she was asking for my permission. 

She didn't want to go back to her place either because her family might show up and she didn't want them worried and asking questions.

So I suggested to take her somewhere, quiet and far from the city. 

She called her family and lied about going on a vacation with Roman. I watched her pace the room, fingers tugging at her hair as she reassured them over and over that she was fine. At a point they demanded a video call, but Roman came to her rescue when he was given the phone. 

"Mummy come sit at the back," Roman said the moment I opened the front door for Leah, gripping her fingers like he was claiming territory.

Of course he would. And of course she would want to give in.

Unfortunately for him, I was petty enough to play his games. 

I grabbed her arm just as she started to turn. "She can't. If she sits with you, her side will hurt," I said. "You don't want mummy hurting because you're being stubborn now, do you?"

"B-but..." His lips trembled.

His eyes glossed over wet with tears we both knew were fake as he looked at leah for backup. 

"Stop it," she warned me.

Stop what? Can't you see this brat is faking it? 

But I did't say it out loud. 

"Front," I said firmly, pulling her torward the passenger set. 

She gave me an annoyed look before turning to Roman her voice soft as she asked him nicely to get in. Then she allowed me to help her into the seat with a frown on her face. 

I shut the door and turned to Roman who was still standing there stunned that he didn't win this time. 

I smirked. "Are you getting in or should we leave you behind?"

He bit his lip, glaring at me before he climbed in and slammed the door. 

I chuckled as I walked around the hood and slid into the driver's seat. 

Roman folded his arm in the back, face twisted in anger and his mouth pouted. When I met his eyes in the rear view mirror he was still glaring at me. 

I almost laughed. 

I wonder who he got that from. Definitely not me. Maybe Leah in stubborness.

Halfway down the road, I reached for Leah's fingers, but she pulled away and turned her face toward the window. 

My chest felt heavier than it should. 

I hated it when she just withdrew when I angered her. I'll rather she argued with me than ignored me.

Running a hand through my hair, I forced my eyes back to the road. 

I was trying my best to take it slow with her, not to ruin this little thing we had.

I know I should be grateful she allowed me this close. But fuck! Going slow with her was torture. 

"You know you would have been uncomfortable if you sat in the back with him?" I said, trying to reason with her.

She didn't respond nor did she glance at me.

Fuck.

I heard Roman scoff behind me. Gripping the steering wheel too tightly, I kept reminding myself he was just a kid. My kid.

The rest of the drive stretched long and quiet.

An hour later, Leah shifted and glanced over her shoulder. I followed her gaze in the rearview mirror and saw Roman already asleep.

Good riddance.

"I don't like it," she said softly, turning back.

"Don't like what?"

"The way you make him feel like he has to compete with you for my attention."

So you knew what he was doing.

"And I don't like seeing him cry," she added quietly.

"You know he's pretending, right?"

She remained silent for a beat before she continued. "He doesn't hate you—"

He does hate me.

"— he just doesn't like it when men approach me."

A dry laugh left me. "I guess that pussy you were fucking was an exemption?"

I would be lying if I said that that scene and imagination of what I didn't see that must have happened multiple times didn't torment me everyday. If I set my eyes on him again, I'll fucking ruin him.

She turned sharply at me and the look in her eyes made me regret ever opening my mouth.

Fuck.

I rubbed my jaw. "That's not..."

"Have you been fucking Freya?"

I swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the road as the sudden question made the air shift.

Her scoff was like a slap on my cheek.

"So you get to sleep around," she started, voice no longer soft. "And when I sleep with one person, you try to kill him?"

"It's different, Leah."

"Different how?" 

I could almost taste the anger in her voice.

"I didn't remember you then, but you..."

You were fucking him with all our memories. And as if that wasn't bad enough, even after we met again, you still let him touch you.

"I saw you die, Aiden. Did you really expect me to wait for a dead man?"

Yes.

Her voice cracked just slightly. "And our last meeting wasn't exactly..." she trailed off.

"Leah—"

"No. Don't say you're sorry and sweep this under the rug."

"Okay," I said immediately. "Let's talk about it."

"I don't want to."

I exhaled slowly.

"Yeah," she muttered, turning toward the window again. "I must be such a nuisance."

I made a sharp turn, gravel crunching beneath the tires as I pulled off the road and brought the car to a hard stop.

"Now he is trying to kill me," she said.

"Look at me."

Her jaw stayed set, eyes fixed stubbornly ahead.

"Look at me, Leah."

The low growl in my voice made her turn. 

"I hate it when you're angry with me," I admitted. 

Even though you look fucking beautiful angry.

"I thought you enjoyed annoying me?" She raised a brow.

I leaned closer, grazing her cheek with the tip of my fingers. 

"About Freya," I said quietly, "I stopped fucking her after I found you."

Her expression didn't soften. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"No. But let's call it even since we both made a mistake."

"Do you think you can forget it?"

I held her eyes. "No. But I'd rather we don't keep fighting because of insignificant people."

She pouted for a moment, her lips pushing forward in that stubborn way that made me want to drag her across my lap and kiss the anger out of her. 

"Okay," she finally said.

I took her hand and settled for a kiss to the back of her palm.

"We are almost there," I said and continued driving down the path.

Minutes later, the cabin came into view tucked between tall trees.

"Is this the 'quiet place' you mentioned?" She asked, disbelief evident in her tone.

"You don't like it?"

A dangerous smile slowly crept her lips as she turned to me, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

"No," she said in the sweetest yet scariest voice I've ever heard. "I love it."

"I'm sure we made lots of happy memories here five years ago," She continued, unbuckling her seatbelt. "I'd really, really love to revist them."

"Hey. Leah," I called as I realised what she meant. 

But she was already climbing down.

Shit.