Chapter 315

In Dreicean, Amelia set her phone down and gazed out the window. Dark clouds gathered, and the wind howled outside. In the distance, the so-called “door” building looked even more mysterious under the stormy sky.

“You were just smiling a moment ago. Why the long face now?” Night Owl drawled lazily, opening her eyes. Ever since they’d switched hotels to one right across from the “Gate” building, she’d loved curling up to sleep on the swing beneath the floor-to-ceiling windows. Every time she opened her eyes, she could see the world outside. It reminded her that the nightmares were over, and that she was truly safe now.

“Daniel and Edith have made up. They’re getting married on the sixth of next month and invited me to celebrate with them,” Amelia said, setting her phone down, her face full of longing. She really wanted to go back for her brother’s wedding, but she thought to herself, ‘It just isn’t possible right now.’

Night Owl grinned. “If I remember right, you and Landon never had a proper wedding either.”

“Yeah,” Amelia replied.

“Then just send them a wedding gift now. When you and Landon finally have your own wedding, they’ll have to double it for you!” Night Owl teased.

“Pfft, then you’d better get ready too,” Amelia shot back with a laugh.

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh at that. ‘Was it really about the wedding gift? Not at all. I just missed Landon.’ That thought lingered in Amelia’s mind. ‘I miss him. I really, really do…’ Amelia thought, her heart aching with longing.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely give you guys a generous wedding gift,” Night Owl said as she shifted around and flopped back down, making herself comfortable again. She could lie around all day like she had no bones in her body and never seemed to mind it one bit.

Amelia thought about the apple pie Aiden had sent over earlier and dished out a bowl for Night Owl.

“Is this from Aiden again?” Night Owl said, wrinkling her nose in distaste as she pushed it away. ‘That guy is such a pain, always sending stuff over,’ Night Owl grumbled to herself. ‘I don’t even like this stuff!’ she thought, rolling her eyes.

“We’ve got a tough fight ahead, so you need to keep your strength up,” Amelia coaxed gently. “Come on, drink up!”

Night Owl muttered complaints under her breath as she took the bowl and downed it in one gulp, like she was crossing something off a list.

Amelia sat cross-legged beside the swing, quietly slipping into an emo mood as silence settled around her. Night Owl glanced down at her, racking her brain for something to say to lighten the mood, but just couldn’t figure out where to even begin. The rain drummed frantically against the glass, like a wild, impatient symphony of nature.

Ding

The doorbell suddenly rang, drowning out the rain. Night Owl was already striding toward the door. Her flimsy nightgown swayed with every step, outlining her figure and making her look even more slender and fragile.

“It’s you?”

“Night Owl,” Aiden replied gently, his eyes full of affection as he looked at her.

Night Owl felt instantly annoyed the moment she saw Aiden and reflexively moved to shut the door in his face.

“I found something,” Aiden blurted out before she could close it.

Night Owl shot him a glare. “Come in.”

He managed to slip into the room, secretly thrilled at his success. When a guy’s in love, he only has eyes for his girl. As for Amelia, who was sitting cross-legged by the window, he didn’t even spare her a glance…

“Night Owl, it’s raining and getting chilly. You should put on something warmer,” Aiden said as he started to shrug off his own jacket.

But before he could even get two buttons undone, Night Owl had already slipped into her own coat.

Aiden awkwardly buttoned his jacket back up, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“What did you find?” Night Owl asked.

Amelia perked up, her eyes fixed on Aiden, eager to hear what he had to say.

‘Man, am I blind or what? Amelia’s been sitting right there by the window this whole time, and I just now noticed her!’

But he decided there was no need to embarrass himself by saying it out loud.

He cleared his throat and said, “That building’s been there for twenty years. It belongs to a medical device company called ‘Sinchi.’ They make and sell all kinds of standard medical equipment. The legal reps, the employees–everything’s on the books, totally legit.”

“Really…” Amelia said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

‘If only that place really was their headquarters… then Landon wouldn’t have to keep hiding out with the Montgomery family,’ she thought, her heart heavy.

“But…” Aiden started, but before he could finish, Night Owl smacked him on the head. “Ow!”

Night Owl rolled her eyes. “Spit it out already! Stop beating around the bush!”

Aiden rubbed his head, looking all pitiful now. “Someone from the Montgomery family–either Monroe or Marvel–is always going in and out of that building.”

“So it’s still connected to the Mystic Sect,” Night Owl breathed a sigh of relief, turning to Amelia with a smile. “Your instincts are scarily accurate!”

Amelia’s expression brightened and she smiled. “Aiden, are you done now?”

“Yeah, I’m done,” Aiden replied.

“Thanks,” Amelia said.

She got up, smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes, and immediately sent word of the good news back to Florava. That building had to be the Mystic Sect’s base. But it was right in the middle of the city, and it was a pretty well-known medical company. Isn’t that a little too high profile? Amelia thought.

“That’s useless,” Night Owl said, rolling her eyes, clearly unimpressed with Aiden’s work.

Aiden protested, “I had to be really careful so I wouldn’t tip them off. It was no easy task!”

“Maybe for you it’s hard,” Night Owl snorted.

She thought to herself, ‘If I just get another chance to be around someone from the Montgomery family, getting answers would be a piece of cake.’

“You guys haven’t eaten yet, right? Should I order in, or do you want to hit up the revolving restaurant?” Aiden asked, glancing at the clock. It was dinner time, and with the rain pouring down outside, honestly, there was no better place to chill than the hotel’s revolving restaurant.

Amelia caught on to what he was getting at and said, “Let’s go to the revolving restaurant!”

“Great, I’ll make the reservation,” Aiden said, his face lighting up as he quickly made the call. Too bad it was only a table for three…

Once they were all seated, Amelia quickly came up with an excuse. “I totally forgot my son needs his shots. You guys go ahead and eat. I’ll take care of it and be right back.”

But after she left, Amelia never came back.

Aiden finally got his wish–some alone time with Night Owl–and he was absolutely beaming inside. Honestly, his little crush was written all over his face for anyone to see.

Night Owl was slicing her steak when she quietly called him, “Dummy.”

“Night Owl, try the mashed potatoes…” Aiden said, trying to get her attention.

“And the cheesy sweet potato is really good too…” he added, still hoping to win her over. He could shower her with all the food in the world, but who knew when she’d finally give him her heart?

The elegant violin music in the restaurant gradually blended with the sound of rain outside, setting a truly immersive mood. Night Owl actually ate more than usual, and for once, didn’t curse at anyone. Aiden was grinning so hard his eyes nearly disappeared.

“Mr. Kyle, did you act like this when you were chasing after Amy?” Night Owl suddenly asked.

The perfect mood shattered instantly, and Aiden felt so awkward he started picking at his fingers. “N–no, not really…”

“So, what was it like back then?” Night Owl pressed.

“I basically forced her to be with me,” Aiden muttered, hanging his head, wishing he could just disappear.

Aiden lowered his head, looking like he wanted to crawl into a hole. Thinking back, it was totally insane! How could he have basically held a pregnant woman captive and done everything he could to force her to marry her!

Night Owl curled her lips into a half smile, pointing her knife and fork at him in a not quite joking way. “And what about now?”

“Huh?” Aiden blinked, totally confused.

“Are you planning to pull the same ‘forced love’ thing on me now?” she teased.

“No, no, absolutely not!” Aiden denied in a panic. “I promise, I’d never do that to you! Really!”

Night Owl twirled her wrist gracefully, using her fork to pick up a piece of cantaloupe and pop it into her mouth.

“You’d better keep it that way,” she said with a sly smile. “Or I’ll hypnotize you into a total idiot.”

Aiden shivered.

‘This woman is scary–and I love her even more for it!’ he thought, his heart pounding. ‘Man, what is wrong with me…’ he wondered, both thrilled and bewildered.

“I’ve got an old flame living in my heart, and no one could ever take his place. So don’t bother trying,” Night Owl said with a faint smile.

Aiden felt like he’d just been punched in the gut. He said sadly, “I won’t force you to do anything, but you can’t stop me from feeling the way I do. I just leave each other be.”

Night Owl paused, then just shrugged. “OK, we’ll either way,” she knew she’d never fall for him.