Chapter 812

Aaron and Hayden working together? Lena couldn’t wrap her head around it. She tried to figure out how it happened, but no matter how she turned it, the puzzle pieces didn’t fit.

“I met Hayden four years ago,” Aaron said, almost like he could read her mind. His voice was deeper now, smoother, like it had aged with him. Back then, it had been rough around the edges, just like him. They say wine gets better with age. Guess men do, too.

“Back then, I was being blackmailed by some foreigners,” Aaron began. “When I refused to pay, they came after me. Things got ugly, and they nearly killed me. Hayden’s the one who saved my life.”

Lena froze. He’d never mentioned this—not to her, not to her mom, not even to their grandparents. All she’d ever heard about his time abroad were the headlines: success stories, promotions, starting his own company. Nothing about struggles, let alone life-threatening ones. He’d hidden the bad and only shared the good.

“Hayden took me to the hospital,” Aaron continued, “and stayed until I was discharged. That’s how we became friends. I also learned a bit about what he was involved in. Surviving abroad isn’t easy. If you want to succeed, you need power and influence. Everything you see here,” he gestured lightly, “is the result of years of building that.”

It clicked for Lena. He hadn’t built his empire by choice—it was survival.

“When Keira ran into trouble in Houston, Hayden came to me immediately,” Aaron explained, his tone steady. “I stayed under the radar to avoid drawing suspicion.”

Lena frowned. “If Wayne’s got something big planned tomorrow, then shouldn’t you have stayed hidden? Showing up today feels like tipping him off.”

Aaron didn’t reply, but the look he gave her said it all. It hit her—she’d called him. Her panic had blown their cover. Now, Wayne would have to regroup and come back even harder.

A wave of guilt crashed over Lena, and she lowered her head. “I’m sorry. It’s my—”

“Even if you hadn’t called, I still would’ve come,” Aaron cut her off. He’d known the situation all along. There was no way he’d let her stay in danger.

Lena blinked, trying to process his words, but he didn’t explain further. Instead, he reached out and gently patted her head. “Go be with Keira. Don’t worry about anything else. After tomorrow, everything will settle down.”

His voice was calm, steady—the kind of confidence that made her believe him, like she always had. When Aaron said everything would be okay, it always was.

“Uncle Aaron,” Lena said softly as she turned to leave. Thinking about tomorrow, she hesitated, then added, “Be careful. Take care of yourself.”

“Mm. I will.”

She walked a few steps, but her feet dragged, and she kept glancing back. Every time, Aaron was still there, watching her with the same steady presence. It reminded her of first grade, when she’d refused to go to school out of sheer terror of the unfamiliar. Carol had finally called Aaron, who had held her hand all the way to the school gates. “Uncle Aaron will stay right here and watch you,” Carol had told her back then. Lena had gone into school, but she’d kept turning back to look at him, just like now—every few steps, another glance. It was a mix of reluctance, nerves, and the comfort she always felt seeing him there.

Aaron had been her anchor. But looking back now, Lena realized how much she’d overreacted in the past. After a few awkward moments and silly rumors at school, she’d started pulling away. When he left for abroad, the distance between them became absolute. In hindsight, it was so immature. He was her uncle. Whatever awkwardness had happened back then was harmless, and her own sensitivity had turned it into something it wasn’t. Aaron didn’t lower his gaze until Lena was out of sight. He looked down at his hand, the one he’d used to pat her head.