Chapter 1282
Simona genuinely worried that Aiken wouldn't approve of her relationship with Stephen. He had mentioned his disapproval before. However, Aiken's views could be narrow-minded at times, placing undue importance on background. Stephen, though, was a wonderful man—talented, tolerant of her moods, and fun and spontaneous. This was the first time she'd truly liked someone, and she wasn't ready to give up so easily.
"Let's keep walking," Simona said, quickly regaining her composure. "We just demolished two huge buckets of popcorn at the cinema, and I feel stuffed."
Stephen nodded agreeably but seemed lost in thought, his gaze downcast.
The next morning, Skylar awoke early. The sky was still dark; it was only 4:30 AM. After a quick bathroom trip, she realized she wouldn't fall back asleep. Turning on the lights, she grabbed her phone and saw a message from Aiken, sent the previous night. The message contained a document outlining his speculations regarding Ned's identity. Until then, she'd only heard Paul's descriptions of Ned's background. Aiken's investigation added crucial evidence supporting her suspicions.
She felt a surge of gratitude as she read his message. "Thank you, Aiken," she replied. "I've been considering this too. After Mr. Ziegler returned, he mentioned his experience from three years ago and happened to mention Ned, who was incarcerated with him."
Jeremy later informed her that Paul's successful rescue stemmed not only from the ransom but also from Aiken's involvement. Without Aiken's role as a middleman, facilitating communication, the underground factory's boss would never have released him. The fate of anyone entering that factory was usually death. Regardless of social status, they became mere mules, forced to work under constant threat of organ harvesting. Skylar felt profoundly grateful to Aiken.
Just as she finished replying, Aiken called.
Chapter 1282
"You're still awake?" Skylar was surprised.
Aiken chuckled. "I often stay up late. I just finished working out and showering."
Skylar laughed. "Oh, I see. I thought my message might have woken you."
"Do you need me to accompany you to find him after dawn?" Aiken asked.
With their speculations and evidence, waiting was unnecessary. Skylar decided to confront the person directly. Her smile faded as she prepared herself.
"Yes, I plan to talk to him in person," she replied. "I can handle this myself. You should rest. I'll contact you if anything arises."
Aiken didn't press. "Alright."
After ending the call, Skylar prepared herself and made breakfast. Aiken claimed he was going to sleep, but he hadn't rested at all—he'd been awake all night. Simona, however, had been disobedient. After answering his call, she continued wandering the park with Stephen, even checking into a hotel together as dawn approached. Fortunately, they had separate rooms. This, in part, fueled Aiken's disdain for Stephen; Simona covered all their expenses—hotel, movies, and dining.