Keeley panicked when she learned Lacy knew their address. She wasn't sure if Graydon Meyer was being truthful about it. He did seem genuinely interested in Aaron's friendship, but she couldn't understand why. What was it about her husband that attracted his attention?
"Do you think he's telling the truth?" she asked Aaron.
He nodded grimly. "He sounded worried, but I don't know how good an actor he is. You can't miss your graduation, so we'll have to trust him this once. He said, and I quote, 'I care about what happens to you and your family,' when I asked him why he was offering to help."
Keeley bit her lip. If Graydon was telling the truth, what caused his change of heart? He used to hate Aaron and wanted him destroyed.
Her theory that Aaron had done something in this life to change Graydon's mind might be correct. Graydon knew Aaron was trying to get rid of Alistair Hale. Perhaps he saw them as comrades with a common enemy.
That still didn't explain Graydon's initial interest in Aaron. People don't investigate others for no reason.
From her limited interactions, she sensed Graydon genuinely liked Aaron and wanted to meet him. If he liked Aaron, he'd likely be sincere about protecting his wife and children from a psychopath.
"I have a feeling he actually cares about you," Keeley admitted. "He talked about you like an old friend that day in the cafรฉ."
Aaron frowned. "But I've never met him before. I don't even know what his connection to my father is."
It all came down to that, didn't it? Graydon Meyer was an alias, and Aaron believed the man's true identity was the missing piece. Whoever he was, he had to have ties to the Hales.
She brushed that aside. They'd figure it out eventually. Aiden was investigating, and Aaron trusted his computer skills.
"For now, let's take advantage of his help. I want to focus on celebrating this weekend. We can worry about Lacy Knighton later, okay?"
Easier said than done. Lacy was evil and had a vendetta against Keeley. If Lacy discovered they were married, they'd be in serious trouble, especially since Graydon said Lacy knew Keeley was pregnant.
One sighting of Keeley in Aaron's building, and the truth would be out. Lacy would know she was pregnant with his child.
Keeley was five months along. Things were stable, but that didn't mean anything. Lacy had been ruthless after discovering the first pregnancy.
The safest option would be to stay inside until the birth, but that wasn't realistic. She had doctor's appointments, and she'd go crazy being locked up for four months.
Aaron eyed her shrewdly. "You don't look like you're going to put off worrying. You're worrying now."
He knew her too well.
"Of course I'm worrying! I might get back on that psychopath's radar!" she yelled, her voice breaking.
This was why she didn't want to get involved with him again! His world was terrifying, and there was no guarantee of her safety. Kindness couldn't compensate for living in fear.
Blaming him wouldn't help. Aaron knew this as well as she did. Bringing it up would only cause tension.
She took a deep breath. Keeley and Aaron versus the problem, not Keeley versus Aaron. Just like her dad had said. They were in this together, as a team.
"I won't let that happen," he said soothingly, putting an arm around her. "Worst case, she finds out, but what can she do? This apartment is safe. I can even put her on a 'no entry' list."
Would that really help? If Lacy found out, she'd tell Alistair Hale, creating more problems. It would disrupt Aaron's takeover plans, and Keeley would be in even more danger.
She couldn't forget that Lacy and Alistair had killed her first child and ensured she couldn't have another. Did Lacy still have blackmail material on that doctor? Could he infiltrate the hospital and hurt her babies?
"What about that doctor? She still has him in her pocket, doesn't she?" Keeley asked, panicking.
Aaron shook his head. "I've been watching. They haven't had contact that Aiden can find. Even if she does, we'll go somewhere outside his sphere of influence. You can give birth in New Jersey if necessary."
She wasn't convinced. He had backup plans, but her scars ran deep. The fear from her first life hadn't completely faded.
All Keeley wanted was peace with her family. She didn't want to hide forever. Aaron had a plan for his father, but what about Lacy? He had nothing solid on her! She'd always be a threat.
Honestly, why hadn't she given up already? Aaron hadn't given her much attention in this life. She must be insane. You can't reason with an insane person.
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