Aiden just stared at Natalie for a few seconds, not knowing what to do. As soon as he saw her tears, he looked down in remorse wishing the earth would swallow him whole. After a few agonizing moments, Natalie herself approached Aiden and whispered in a sad tone, " W-What is going on between you two?"
Aiden was so nervous he couldn't seem to say anything.
" Tell me, what is going on?" Natalie insisted, her tone a bit louder.
Aiden couldn't seem to look Natalie in the eye, but he tried to reason with her. " I-Its n-not what you think..."
"I heard it all," Natalie spat. " You can't deny it now."
Aiden was at a loss again. He was hoping that Natalie must not have heard everything, but her words proved him wrong. What would she think about Aiden now? Her impression of him would be of a relationship wrecker.
" W-Why...? Natalie asked in between her tears. " W-Why did Dylan say that you are his? Does he l-love you?" Natalie had already predicted that Dylan would be in love with someone else, but she could never imagine it was his adoptive brother.
Aiden had never felt so ashamed in his life. How could he face Natalie? Even though he was forced by Dylan, he couldn't deny the fact that he was the cause of her pain.
" P-Please tell me," Natalie pleaded. " I want to know the truth."
Aiden was shocked at Natalie's response. He had expected her to shout and scream at him, demanding to know the truth, but she looked utterly heartbroken. Her reaction caused Aiden to feel even more guilty, as she seemed genuinely hurt by the turn of events. There was no doubt that she truly loved Dylan, but he never considered her feelings.
" I don't love Dylan..." Aiden tried to explain but was interrupted by Natalie. " I am asking about Dylan. Does he love you?"
Aiden was thinking about what to say when suddenly his phone started ringing. Aiden looked at his phone and then glanced at Natalie.
" Is it him?" Natalie asked, wiping her tears.
Aiden nodded, and Natalie looked grim.
Aiden didn't want to pick up the call, but he knew that if he didn't, then Dylan would definitely show up in front of him right away.
" Why are you still not in your seat?" Dylan's aggressive voice sounded on the phone call. Aiden flinched at the tone, and Natalie looked at Aiden and the phone in bewilderment as she could clearly hear Dylan's loud voice.
" I can't see you on any of the cams. Did you leave the building?" Dylan asked accusingly.
" I was heading to m-my seat," Aiden stuttered fearfully.
" Does it take so much time?" Dylan seethed.
" Sorry. I-I am going."
" Don't make me call you again for this," Dylan spat and cut the call.
Natalie stared at the scared look on Aiden's face and facepalmed. This frail-looking boy seemed more pitiful than her. " Is Dylan keeping a watch on you?"
" Yes," Aiden whispered and looked down.
" What the f**k is wrong with Dylan? Why is he behaving like this?" Natalie asked, frustrated.
" I-I have to go now," Aiden said, wanting to escape as soon as possible.
" But I need to talk to you."
" Please... later."
Natalie recalled the conversation she had heard between Aiden and Dylan while in the conference room, and most of the time, Dylan seemed aggressive and controlling. Was he forcing Aiden? Natalie was smart enough not to deny the truth that was shoved in her face. She was good at judging people, and Aiden seemed too innocent to do such a vile thing. She couldn't just jump to conclusions without knowing the whole truth.
" I...I don't understand. Are you not his brother?"
" Dylan never considered me as his brother."
Natalie felt like she had been hit by a truck. Even though she always knew Dylan didn't love her, she thought somewhere in his heart, he had a tad bit of feeling for her, considering he had agreed to marry her.
" I-I am sorry. I-I don't know what else to say," Aiden said regretfully. It seemed like his miserable life only consisted of sorry's and regrets. " But I have to leave now."
Aiden walked forward when Natalie stopped him again. " Here is my Business card. Make sure to call back; I need to know the truth."
Aiden nodded, took the card, and hurried toward his cubicle.
Natalie stood there for a few minutes, thinking about the events. Finally, she decided to confront Dylan and walked toward his office.
As Natalie approached Dylan's office, she saw that his receptionist and secretary were nowhere to be seen. Ignoring it, she was about to open Dylan's office door when she heard him talking to someone on the phone, sounding displeased.
" What is it, Mom?" Dylan asked, thoroughly pissed off by his Mom's constant interference. "
" Who are you with now?" Dylan's mother asked.
" Why do you want to know?"
" Natalie told me she would visit you today, so stay away from that wretched boy."
" What has Aiden got to do with this?" Dylan asked, gritting his teeth.
" Don't try to act smart with me, Dylan. I know about your relationship with that boy," his Mom sneered. " Have you been taking the boy on outings and dinners?"
" How the f**k do you know? Are you spying on me?" Dylan was furious.
" Your actions forced me to do so. You are getting married, Dylan, so why are you behaving like this now?"
" Stop interfering in my life, Mom. I am not a child anymore."
" I am doing this for you, son; I am worried about you."
" Are you worried about me or your reputation?"
" Aren't you worried about it too? Do you want to ruin everything?"
" I know what I am doing. You stay out of it."
" I think I have to do something about that boy," Dylan's Mom said viciously.
" Don't you dare, Mom." Dylan almost screamed on the phone.
" Is this the way you talk to your Mom? I told you that boy was a bad influence."
" Do something to him, then see what I'll do. Don't say I didn't warn you."
" Are you threatening your mother?"
" You can think whatever you want," Dylan spat and hung up. He then dialed his security team head's number and said, "Someone has been tailing me for the past few days."
" What?" the team head asked in a shocked tone.
" Find out who it is. Get hold of them as soon as possible."
"Y-Yes, Sir. I am on it."
Natalie stood outside the office, devastated and contemplating what to do now. Dylan's feelings for Aiden seemed even more intense than she had thought, and above all, his mother also knew about it. Were Dylan and Aiden in a relationship for a long time? But Aiden's reaction seemed like he was scared of Dylan and was forced by him. Natalie had also seen Dylan hooking up with many girls in England, and despite numerous mentions of Aiden, he never talked to him on the phone. So, what the heck was going on?
Natalie's train of thought was interrupted when Dylan's secretary asked, " Ma'am, are you alright? Why didn't you go inside?"
"I-I am fine," Natalie said, trying to sound normal, though she felt her heart breaking.
The secretary then approached Dylan's office door and opened it slightly. " Sir, I have got the file you requested."
Dylan nodded at her, and she entered inside. " Ms. Natalie is here," she said and handed the file to Dylan.
Natalie was not in the mood to face Dylan, but she still stepped into the office reluctantly after the secretary left.
" What are you doing here?" Dylan asked in a monotone voice without looking at Nat and checking the file in his hand.
Natalie was used to Dylan's indifferent attitude, but now that she knew the truth, she was even more hurt. Was she a fool to wait for so many years expecting Dylan to return her feelings someday? She stared at Dylan's handsome face wanting to ask him several questions but now that he was in front of her, she couldn't seem to utter a single word.
" Nat?" Dylan asked.
" Huh?" Natalie said in confusion.
" Where are you lost?"
"I-It's nothing. What were you saying?"
" Why are you here?"
" Can't I come to meet you?" Natalie asked, feeling offended.
" You usually call before you come to meet me," Dylan said.
" Weren't you supposed to come after two days from your business trip?"
" I had some work here, so I wrapped it up early," Dylan said, thinking about Aiden. He got up from his seat, holding the file in his hand, and approached Natalie.
Natalie felt her heartbeat racing. Even after knowing Dylan didn't love her, she couldn't seem to let go of him. Whenever he was near her, she wanted to cling to the hope that she could be with him. She didn't want to accept that her years of love for him were all in vain.
" I need to leave now. I got some urgent work," Dylan said, looking at his phone. " I will see you tomorrow."
Dylan was typing a message on his phone, and Natalie caught a glimpse of Aiden's name. As Dylan opened the office door to leave, Natalie called for him suddenly.
" Dylan...?"
" What is it, Nat?" Dylan asked in a slightly irritated tone.
Natalie wanted to ask Dylan whether he was going to meet Aiden, but she could only ask, " Where are you going?"
" Business related," Dylan said and got out of his office.
Natalie followed him, wishing to talk to him, but could only stare at him, watching the elevator doors close.