Chapter 108 Let Me Hold You Again
Jack had left, and Alison gently pulled away from Aidan's embrace. "Aidan, you should get ready. Don't let the chairman down," she said.
In the brief moment between Jack's arrival and departure, Aidan noticed a change in Alison. He sensed that she had a special emotional reaction to Jack, something he hadn't picked up on before. It seemed there were secrets between them that he wasn't privy to.
"Alison, let me hold you one more time," he said, hugging her tightly and inhaling her scent deeply. Even though she wasn't his first, he was still madly in love with her. His lips brushed against her soft hair, and the urge to possess her completely was almost overwhelming.
He felt a deep ache for her, knowing she had been misunderstood and even framed, yet she faced the accusations with such calmness. Her strength to endure and rise above it all was something he had never seen in any other woman he knew.
"Aidan, go get the car and take me home," she said gently, as if soothing a mischievous little boy. Both brothers seemed like they hadn't grown up.
Reluctantly, Aidan let go of Alison and parked the car at the hospital entrance. When he returned to pick her up, she had already packed everything and was loading it into the car.
"Let me carry you," he offered.
"No need, I'll use the wheelchair," she replied with a smile, though there was a hint of resistance in her expression. While Aidan was fetching the car, she had secretly called Jackson, asking him to meet her at the apartment complex entrance to help with her things and to play a part in a little act.
An act to make Aidan give up on her completely.
This way, she could focus on her work at YD without distractions.
It wasn't just Jack who reminded her of Emily; every time she saw Aidan, she thought of Jack too.
The fresh breeze felt wonderful as they left the hospital.
"Alison, this bag has your medication and the doctor's instructions. You need to take your meds on time and come back in a few days to get the cast removed. Remember, don't get it wet, and don't..." Aidan was meticulously repeating the doctor's orders, clearly having memorized them.
Though a bit nagging, it warmed her heart.
Better to leave sooner rather than later; the deeper the involvement, the harder it would be to pull away.
As the car approached the apartment complex entrance, Alison softly said, "Aidan, thank you."
"Thank me for what? This prince is happy to serve you," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She smiled back, knowing that after today, he might never come to this complex again, and their paths might not cross. "Aidan, you can just drop me off by the curb. Jackson will pick me up."
"Jackson? Who's that?" Aidan immediately picked up on the male name and questioned Alison.
"He's my child's godfather," Alison replied with a smile, deliberately saying it to make Aidan overthink and give up.
Aidan's expression changed for a moment but quickly returned to normal. Just a godfather, not a boyfriend, which meant he still had a chance with Alison.
When they arrived, Aidan parked by the curb, and Jackson was already there. He greeted Alison warmly, helped her out of the car, and gently placed her in the wheelchair. As they were about to leave, he turned to Aidan and said, "Mr. Winston, thank you for bringing Alison home."
Alison, home. Those words together sounded so comforting.
Aidan's face stiffened for a moment before he responded, "Of course, Alison's home. Please take good care of her."
"Don't worry, Mr. Winston," Jackson replied smoothly, closing the distance between him and Alison while creating a sense of separation between Aidan and Alison.
As the wheelchair rolled into the complex, Aidan sat in his car, staring at their retreating figures for a long time before driving away, feeling dejected.
This was Jackson's first time at Alison's small home. As soon as the door opened, two little ones rushed over, about to shout "Mommy," but stopped short, looking up at Jackson and asking in unison, "Mommy, who is this man?"
As expected, they asked right away. Alison smiled and said, "Call him godfather."
"Godfather!" Sophia ran over and hugged Jackson's leg.
Ethan, however, was more cautious, looking at Alison with some suspicion. He noticed she was in a wheelchair and asked, "Mommy, what happened to your leg?"
"It's nothing, just a little scrape. It'll be fine in a few days," Alison reassured them, not wanting them to worry.
"That's good. I won't ask Mommy to carry me today. Godfather, come in and sit," Ethan said, relieved, and began to scrutinize Jackson.
Jackson smiled, pushing Alison into the house and then picking up Sophia and Ethan, one in each arm. "You're both so adorable. Tell godfather your names," he said, feeling a bit dazed when he first saw Ethan but quickly regaining his composure.
Those past events, if Alison didn't bring them up, he wouldn't ask. But these two kids looked so much like Aidan, and Alison had used him to get rid of Aidan. Though he was willing, seeing the kids up close made his confusion grow.
"I'm Sophia!"
"And I'm Ethan! Godfather, we told you our names, so you have to tell us yours too!"
"Jackson," he said with a smile, already growing fond of the two little ones in such a short time.
"Godfather, you're so tall! I like you so much!" Sophia hugged Jackson's neck, having rarely felt a father's love, and in that moment, she saw Jackson as her daddy.
"Sophia..." Ethan wasn't as pleased. This godfather wasn't their real daddy; he still wanted his real daddy.
"Brother, don't you like godfather?" Sophia asked, blinking her big eyes in confusion.
Ethan scratched his head, remembering his teacher's lessons on manners, and smiled, "Of course I like him."
"Godfather, can we go play over there?" Sophia pointed to the playroom, excitedly suggesting.
"Sure," Jackson said, carrying them both to the playroom.
Alison watched them quietly, feeling a bit guilty. She had let Jackson into her life, despite promising to keep him as just a friend.
Friends don't need secrets, just trust.
Jackson spent the entire evening playing with the kids. Even Ethan, who had been a bit wary, was won over by Jackson's patience. "Godfather, can you stay with us tonight?" he asked.
Jackson smiled, glancing at Alison in her wheelchair. She said nothing, just watched them quietly.
"No, godfather has to go home too, or I'll miss my own home," he said. His small apartment held many cherished memories, making it a place he loved deeply.