Chapter 991

Did he look like an Ace family member now? She called him Uncle Aaron—even if he didn’t like her, he still shouldn’t just abandon her like this.

The two of them stood there in a silent standoff. After a few seconds, it was Aaron who gave in: Her small face was already red from the cold. If she stayed out any longer, she’d freeze.

Without another word, he picked her up again, stepping through the wind and snow to place her into the car. This time, he set her in the back seat. She had always sat in the passenger seat before. Now, she wasn’t even worthy of that anymore?

Maybe it was the lingering effects of the alcohol, or maybe she was just feeling too hurt, but Lena curled into herself, burying her face against her knees. Aaron saw everything. He even knew exactly what she was thinking. His heart clenched with pain, but he had to be ruthless. Only by forcing her into a corner would she find the courage to move forward—truly move forward.

By the time they arrived at his place, Lena had already fallen asleep. Aaron carried her inside, and as he looked down, he noticed the faint traces of moisture on her lashes. He lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to her eyes. “Little quail.”

Lena slept deeply that night—so deeply that she didn’t even dream. By the time she opened her eyes, the sky outside was bright and the snowfall had stopped. She looked around, recognizing where she was. Then she remembered everything from the night before. Her heart, so early in the morning, was already chilled. Aaron… truly is a heartless man.

She got up from bed and walked to the window. The snow outside had piled up thickly, and on a whim, she snapped a photo and posted it to her social feed—without any caption.

Moments later, Keira messaged her privately: [Why do I sense loneliness, emptiness, and a chill from this post?]

Lena replied instantly: [A well-fed person never understands the hunger of the starving.]

Keira decided to tease her and sent a picture of her and Hayden—him standing beside the snowman he had made for her that morning, both of them smiling in the cold. [We’re done! Friendship over!] Lena replied, adding a despair emoji.

[You could always go find your Uncle Aaron,] Keira suggested.

She didn’t reply this time. She already knew Aaron wasn’t home. In the yard, the fresh tire tracks made it clear that he had left earlier.

Still groggy from sleep—and slightly nauseous from the lingering effects of alcohol—she decided to take a shower.

But when she opened the wardrobe, she froze. It was empty. Only then did she remember—she had packed up all her things before leaving last time, swearing to herself that she would never set foot in this place again. But now? Now she was stranded here, unable to leave without showering first. She smelled of stale alcohol and sleep, and if she got in a cab like this, she’d probably make the driver pass out.

Was I supposed to deliver clothes to her now? As she pondered her dilemma, she walked out of the bedroom to confirm that Aaron really wasn’t home. Good. That spared her some awkwardness. She could just order new clothes online and have them delivered.

Just as she was about to place an order, her eyes landed on the laundry drying rack on the balcony. Hanging there was one of Aaron’s dress shirts. Perfect. That would do. She could wear it for now, throw her clothes into the wash, and once they were dry, she’d change and leave.

She rummaged through his wardrobe and picked out a white dress shirt, holding it up against herself. It was oversized—long enough to be worn as a makeshift sleep shirt. Though she was still fuming at him, she had to admit that once she sank into the warmth of the bath, all her tension melted away. As the heat soaked into her skin, she reflected on everything that had happened. She had tested him last night—and she had failed. Even if the alcohol had given her a little extra courage, in the end, it didn’t matter. Aaron didn’t care.

Chapter 991

So she should stop being foolish. She should put this nonsense behind her. She should treat him like nothing more than a regular Uncle Aaron. There were no three-legged frogs in the world, but there were plenty of two-legged men. She, Lena, would not be the kind of woman who clung to a man who didn’t want her.

The bath not only warmed her body—it cleared her mind. Stepping out of the tub, she made sure not to put on any lotion or perfume, not wanting to leave any scent on his shirt. Slipping into the oversized white dress shirt, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The hem barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, leaving her long, slender legs exposed. The sight was… Only two words came to mind: dangerously seductive. She quickly averted her gaze, unwilling to dwell on it.

Leaving the bathroom, she walked to the kitchen, intending to make herself a cup of coffee. That was when she heard the sound of a car engine approaching. She glanced outside—and saw Aaron had returned.