Chapter 10
When the alarm woke Aaron in the morning, his head throbbed with a hangover. He instinctively patted the person in his arms.
“Ashley, any hangover meds left at home?”
No response.
Aaron opened his eyes-first spotting a pale shoulder, then the sofa back-realizing he’d slept in the living room.
His gaze shifted left. Seeing Nicole’s face, his expression froze as he jerked upright.
Nicole nearly tumbled off the couch before he caught her.
Sunlight exposed every hickey on her skin.
Aaron went rigid.
His hand trembled, almost dropping her.
Just then, Nicole stirred awake.
They silently locked eyes for a moment, and she saw regret on Aaron’s face.
Nicole bit her lip and said softly, “Yesterday you were in a bad mood and drank too much…”
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced a relieved smile.
“No, it wasn’t that. I drank too much, I was the one clinging to you. You know I’ve always had ulterior motives to- ward you. So don’t worry about it, just forget it…”
As she spoke, she propped herself up and pretended to be casual as she picked up the women’s shirt on the floor, the one she wore last night.
The buttons were all torn off, clearly ripped open violently by someone.
Who else could it be but him?
Aaron rubbed his temples forcefully, his mind tangled in turmoil and guilt.
“Nicole…”
“Good morning, sir, Miss Nicole?” The door suddenly swung open, revealing the housekeeper frozen in the doorway, arriving to prepare breakfast.
Startled, Nicole clutched her clothes against herself, tears that had pooled in her eyes finally spilling over.
“Out!” Aaron barked.
“Sorry… so sorry…” The housekeeper immediately turned and shut the door.
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288 Vouchers
Nicole frantically dressed, her eyes rimmed red. “I know you only have eyes for your sister-in-law,” she said, voice thick. “Let’s just forget last night happened.”
With that, she wiped her eyes and dashed upstairs.
Aaron watched her retreating figure, knuckles pressed hard against his temple, wishing he could punch himself.
What had he done…
Amidst the most chaotic moment, how could this accident have happened?
After showering, he went to Nicole’s room. Standing at her door for ages, his raised hand never knocked.
Pivoting on his heel, he ultimately chose to head to the office.
For the next three days, he never crossed paths with Nicole at home.
That evening, he approached her door again. Several knocks brought no response, no opening.
Aaron turned the knob and entered, finding the room nearly cleared out.
On the nightstand lay a note left for him:
“Bro, I can’t pretend nothing happened around you anymore. I’m leaving. Take good care of yourself. Hope you and
sister-in-law reunite soon.”
Aaron crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it hard on the floor.
For the first time, Nicole’s disappearance didn’t bring him anxiety or worry, but anger.
She put immense invisible pressure on him.
Ashley would never do something like that.
The thought suddenly popped into his head, and Aaron froze.
His face reflected in the window. He looked at himself, mulling over the name “Ashley,” feeling a bit lost.
After a long while, Aaron collapsed onto the bed, unwilling to think about anything.
His phone suddenly rang. It was Nicole.
Aaron stared at it for a long moment, then answered.
“Nicole?”
But a strange voice came from the other end, choked with tears.
“Are you Nicole’s brother? She’s being bullied outside. She told me not to contact you, but I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
“Where?!”
Aaron spun around and strode downstairs.
He rushed to the bar to find Nicole half-drenched.
“What happened?”
Nicole’s friend wore a pained expression. “Someone accused her… of wrecking your marriage, called her vile names, and dumped alcohol all over her.”
Aaron stepped forward, blocking Nicole’s attempt to retreat. He firmly grabbed her wrists and forced her hands away from her face, revealing angry red finger marks.
In that instant, fury, heartache, and frustration over Ashley’s cold departure churned inside him.
He snapped.
“I’ve been divorced for years. Nicole isn’t my biological sister. Even if something happened between us, nobody has the right to judge!”
His sharp gaze swept across the room, the intensity alone forcing people to avert their eyes.
Nicole pulled her hand free, ducking her head as she stepped back to avoid suspicion.
“Aaron, don’t say things like that—”
He scooped her up in front of everyone and steadily carried her through the noisy crowd.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
He made the promise.
