I lowered my eyes, moved my sight away from Isaiah and walked out with Rocco.
Aiden had arranged a fancy hospital room for Aurelia.
Aurelia lay on the bed and Aiden slept beside her.
He only woke up in a dazed state when Rocco walked over, rubbing his eyes.
“Dad? Why are you here?”
“Do you know what day it is today?” Rocco’s voice turned hard. “Did you completely forget what I told you before?”
He started yelling at Aiden without giving him a chance to answer.
“Uncle Rocco, Aiden was just doing this to look after me…” Aurelia spoke softly, trying to calm things down.
Rocco shot her a cold look. “Be quiet.”
“Dad, why are you yelling at her?” Aiden stood in front of her right away. “This has nothing to do with her. I was the one who said we should come here. If Lyra hadn’t thrown hot water at her and burned her, would I have stayed up all night?”
The moment he finished, everyone’s eyes landed on me.
I shook my head, my voice light. “I didn’t do it.”
Aiden smirked, his tone sounding rude. “Still trying to deny it. I don’t care enough to argue with you.”
Rocco kept one hand behind his back and pointed at Aiden with the other, continuing to blame him for a while.
Only after Aiden lowered his head to apologize and kept saying it wouldn't happen again did Rocco turn around and leave.
Aiden and I walked him down together, watching the car drive off.
Then only the two of us were left.
Aiden yawned, looking worn out.
I had barely gotten any sleep last night and now I felt drained and tired, wanting nothing more than to go back and rest.
But before I could finish letting out my frustration, he stopped walking and stood in front of me, his tone cold.
“Congrats, you’ve gotten your plan to scheme again.”
“You hurt Aurelia and got me harshly yelled at by my father, Lyra. Are you feeling proud now?”
He stared straight at me, his look clearly warning me.
“I might overlook it this time, but there will not be another time. If I find out you’re plotting again, you’re leaving.”
He said this while wearing only a short-sleeved cardigan.
On his thin, pale wrist, he still wore the watch I had given him many years ago.
That watch was the only thing my father, whom I had never met, had left for me.
I had always kept it close as a sign of our love and also as a wedding gift, giving it to Aiden with a serious heart.
A thought crossed my mind. I didn’t answer his blame, but calmly asked, “Can you give me back this watch?”
Aiden froze for a moment, a quick mix of surprise and awkwardness passing over his face before anger rushed in.
“What? Is this cheap watch yours?”
His tone held clear anger, then he laughed coldly.
“You should’ve said it sooner! If I’d known it was from you, I would never have worn it.”
While saying this, he reached for the clasp.
I knew he honestly didn’t remember where the watch came from.
Aiden owned far too many watches; he even had a whole room just for storing them and the straps. This watch had been left in a drawer, collecting dust for a long time. Today, he likely just grabbed it because the style went with what he was wearing.
Since I had chosen to cut ties, I wanted it clean.
I wanted what belonged to me.
Whether it was a relationship or an item.
To him, it wasn’t worth anything and he had never cared about it.
But for me, it held deep meaning.
