"What did you think you were doing?"
The man, who had just been hauled in by the guards and unceremoniously shoved to the ground, looked up from the cold floor. Instead of displaying anger or fear, he responded with a sharp, almost mocking smile. "Is this how you’re supposed to invite your father to meet with you? Rather unorthodox, don’t you think?"
Aiden’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold and controlled as he leaned forward. "I think I’ve been more than lenient, considering the circumstances. After all, I’m dealing with the man who attempted to kidnap my wife, caused no end of trouble for me, and then had the audacity to try and sell information about me to my enemies. Don’t you think I’ve been quite nice to a cruel man. After all, overall you are unharmed."
The man’s smile widened, as if amused by the accusations. "Cruel? You’re being quite harsh, Aiden. What is this nonsense about selling information? And how exactly did I kidnap your wife? All I did was try to prevent her from ruining my carefully laid plans, but she went ahead and did that anyway. If anything, that was a move against you, not her. What is a little fun and games between father and son? And as for selling your information? That was merely a harmless attempt to show off the beautiful woman my son had the good fortune to marry. Besides, your half-brother is not exactly an enemy, is he?"
Aiden’s expression remained unmoved, his lips curling into a sardonic smile as he leaned in even closer. "You’re truly shameless, aren’t you? The only thing you love is money, and everyone knows it."
"That’s where you’re wrong, Aiden," Charles replied, his tone turning almost mockingly affectionate. "It’s not just money I care about. I love you too, in my own way. But let’s not sugarcoat it—your very existence is a threat to my comfortable life, and that’s where our little difference of opinion lies. You see, it’s not personal, really. It’s just business. So, can I get up now? All this kneeling on the floor makes my knees ache..."
Charles Hawk moved to stand up but was immediately pushed back to the floor ruthlessly. He glared at Aiden then," What do you think you are doing? Do you think I am going to take this humiliation lightly? If you..."
"If I tell you to kneel, then you kneel, Charles Hawk. Otherwise forget living a ’comfortable’ life, I will make your life so miserable that you would pray you were a mouse, living quietly in your little hole. Understand?"
"You’ve changed," Charles accused, though he couldn’t hide the fear creeping into his voice. He had always known, deep down, that there would come a day when Aiden would turn against him. He had seen it in the boy’s eyes that first time he’d raised his hand against him. Aiden had simply glared back, his eyes cold and unyielding, refusing to cry or run away like any normal child would. That moment had haunted Charles ever since, a reminder that Aiden was different—stronger, harder. But never before had Aiden reacted this strongly...
"Of course, I’ve changed," Aiden replied steadily. "You’ve crossed your limits for far too long, Charles. And now, there are consequences. Moving forward, Charles Hawk, you have two options before you."
Aiden’s tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of finality in his words that made Charles’s blood run cold. Aiden continued, laying out the choices with the precision of a man who had carefully considered every possible outcome.
"Your first option," Aiden said, in a voice that brooked no argument, "is that you continue to live with the Price family. If you choose this path, I will take it as your formal declaration to sever all ties with this family. You will be an outsider, and we will move accordingly, treating you as such in every sense."
Charles swallowed, shivering. He knew what that meant. In the simplest of terms, if he continued to live with the Price family, the next time these goons ’picked’ him up, he would end up with a few broken bones at the very least.
He opened his mouth to explain that the only reason he’d gone to live with the Price family was because of him! If he had not cut him off so ruthlessly.. But before he could say more...
"Your second option," Aiden went on, his voice as cold as ice, "is to leave them immediately. You will flee this country, and in doing so, you will break off all communication with Nathan, Ella, and their mother—your ex-wife. In return for your cooperation, you will be paid a handsome amount, every month, more than enough to ensure your...comforts. But make no mistake, Charles—if you dare to contact them again, even once, I will cut you off faster than you can say ’sorry.’ There will be no second chances."
"You will have to live with the choices you make. So choose wisely, because whatever decision you make today, there will be no turning back."
"You’re doing all this for a woman? Is that what you’ve been reduced to Aiden? Do you even know who your wife is? Do you know why your so-called enemy is looking for her? If you knew, you wouldn’t be protecting her and caring for her! You wouldn’t be going against me. But you know her connection to him, don’t you? You know and that is why you stopped me from sharing her picture, didn’t you? Is that what you’ve become? Taking over leftovers?"
Before the man could continue, a punch landed squarely on Charles’s face with a sickening thud, the force of it knocking him off balance as he fell onto the floor, while Aiden stood straight, shaking his fist.
"You can insult me all you want, Charles," Aiden said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you will never speak of my wife like that again. Not if you want to leave this room in one piece."