Chapter 70 No Longer Necessary
"Aidan, I was just in the shower. What's up?"
Aidan let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest. "Alison, you scared the crap out of me. I thought..."
"Mr. Winston, since Miss Fairchild is fine, we'll be on our way." The security guards, who had been knocking on the door for a while, probably thought to themselves: either this guy has issues, or the woman in the room does.
"Thanks, sorry for the trouble." Aidan apologized, not expecting to alarm so many people.
After the guards left, Aidan wheeled himself into my room. "Alison, from now on, can you answer the phone even when you're in the shower?" His heart was still racing; he had been genuinely afraid she might have done something drastic, especially since this was her first time...
"Okay," she agreed obediently, but her mind was a mess, unable to think clearly.
"Alison, I'm giving you the day off. Aimée wants to take Jack to the Arc de Triomphe. Why don't you go with them? A change of scenery might do you good. As for my leg..." Aidan mentioned last night's wildness, which had left his leg in worse shape, completely immobile.
"No, I don't feel like watching them flaunt their love. I'd rather stay in the room and watch TV." She really didn't want to see Jack and Aimée being all lovey-dovey. She preferred to be alone in her room.
But coming to Paris just to watch TV seemed like a waste.
"Alison, please go. Don't make me worry." Aidan pleaded, still afraid she might do something foolish. He felt more at ease with Aimée around.
"Aidan, I really don't want to go." She refused directly, losing patience with Aidan's insistence.
"Hey sis, why don't you want to go? Are you feeling unwell?" Aimée's cheerful voice came from outside the door.
Alison's heart tightened. Her response made it seem like she really was unwell. She was about to speak but didn't know how to refuse.
Just then, the door swung open, and Jack walked in casually. He had once lain in her bed, and now he spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Alison, get dressed. Aimée and I will be back in twenty minutes, and we'll head out together."
Jack didn't care whether Alison agreed or not; he made the decision for her.
"No..." Alison started to refuse.
Jack laughed. "Don't tell me you get car sick too?"
"No," Alison replied.
"Good, as long as you don't throw up on me. See you in twenty minutes." Jack said, then left the room hand in hand with Aimée.
"Wait!" Alison called out coldly. "Mr. Winston, I don't see why I should agree to this. And I can make my own plans." She had originally agreed to be Aidan's translator, but now it was unnecessary since Aidan had handed over all the work to Jack. Jack's English and German were excellent, making him perfectly capable of navigating Europe without her.
Jack stopped in his tracks. "Alison, what do you mean by this? Why are you acting so strange all of a sudden? Second brother, did you bully her?"
Aidan felt awkward under the accusatory tone. "No... I didn't."
Jack turned to Alison. "Since he says he didn't bully you, and I certainly didn't, I don't understand what we did to offend you. You look like the whole world owes you something. It's annoying."
The charming playboy lost his temper, slamming the door behind him, his demeanor gone. Alison's face made him sick.
He didn't like it.
Jack's harsh words made Alison's heart tremble.
Yes, from the outside, Jack hadn't done anything wrong to her. They were barely connected.
He didn't know her past identity, nor that she had given birth to his children.
He knew nothing and treated her like a stranger.
Was her reaction too much?
If this continued, she would soon arouse suspicion.
She didn't want anyone to find out, especially not that she had once pretended to be Emily.
"Sorry, I still feel a bit dizzy from the flight. My head hurts." She tried to soften her voice, speaking to Jack's retreating figure.
"Staying in the room will only make your head hurt more. Get out, breathe some fresh air. Alison, go, don't stay cooped up in the room." Aidan looked at her pale face, more worried than ever, urging her to go out.
Alison nodded lightly, unable to find a reason to refuse. "Alright, see you in twenty minutes."
Actually, ten minutes would be enough. Her makeup was light, not requiring much time. She just needed to change clothes and she could leave.
The Arc de Triomphe, a place she had dreamed of visiting since childhood.
But today, she almost refused to go and admire its European charm.
She dressed in casual clothes, but once she was ready, the red mark on her neck stood out in the mirror.
No, she didn't want that mark exposed for everyone to see.
She recalled that she hadn't packed a scarf. It was summer, and wearing a scarf would look odd.
She needed a scarf now, not wanting anyone to speculate about the mark on her neck.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered the courage to call Jack.
"Miss Fairchild, what now?" Jack's impatient voice made her frown. Did he really dislike her that much?
Yet he insisted she go to the Arc de Triomphe with them.
She steadied herself and spoke softly. "I need to talk to Aimée."
Jack handed the phone to Aimée with a huff. "Aimée, it's for you."
Aimée took the phone, asking casually, "Who is it?"
"Aimée, it's me, Alison."
"Miss Fairchild, what's up?"
Alison bit her lip, taking a moment before speaking. "Do you have a scarf with you?"
"No, it's summer. Why do you need a scarf?" Aimée asked, then suddenly thought of something.
No one had noticed Alison earlier, but Aimée recalled seeing marks on Alison's neck, likely left by Jack last night.
Thinking of the red marks on Alison's neck, Aimée blushed. If only those marks were on her instead.
But their situations were reversed, and luckily, no one had discovered her secret this morning.
"Never mind, it's okay." Alison said gloomily, feeling suffocated even speaking.
"Wait, let me ask Jack." Aimée called out loudly to Jack, "Jack, I saw a handkerchief in your luggage. Can Alison borrow it?"
"Whatever."
Aimée smiled slightly, then turned back to the phone. "Miss Fairchild, Jack has a large handkerchief. I'll bring it to you. You can use it for now. If we see a scarf for sale, you can buy one."
Aimée actually hoped Jack would notice the marks, but now wasn't the right time. She planned to let Jack see the kiss marks on Alison's neck naturally, making him think they were from Aidan.
This would work in her favor. She couldn't regret it now.
"Thank you, Aimée." This was the best solution for now.
As long as no one saw the marks on her neck.
Alison waited at the door. When Aimée brought the handkerchief, she took it and Aimée left with a smile.
Aimée's smile was so bright; she must be very happy.
She and Jack were a perfect match, and she was even...
Thinking of the bloodstains she saw while tidying the bed, Alison felt she should bless them.
She shouldn't be jealous of them.
She had always wanted Jack to be happy, hadn't she?