"Cookie for you." Natalie smiled awkwardly and hugged her friend tightly.
While Justin walked towards Albert, blocking his view of the two women.
Just as in sync with Justin’s action, Natalie whispered to Mia, "Say another word and I will choke your throat," and released her friend from her grasp. who had her mouth stuffed, her senses shocked.
"That’s such a great surprise, Mia. How I missed you," Natalie offered her sweetest smile, but Mia could see it was a fake one.
Cough! Cough!
Mia finally could not take it and coughed a cookie. Natalie held her hand and dragged her to the kitchen, "I will get you water."
By that time Justin had already taken seat next to Albert, feeling relieved that Natalie’s friend didn’t spill the beans. He had seen Mia with Natalie during the Masquerade party and could see these two were as tight as two peas in pods.
Albert chuckled as he watched the two heading to the kitchen, "She is Natalie’s best friend, more like a sister."
Justin simply hummed while he thought, ’A friend who knows the password of her home lock while I don’t despite staying here for a few days now.’
In the kitchen, Natalie dragged Mia into a corner and handed her a glass of water, giving her a look that clearly said, keep quiet.
Mia, still recovering from her near-choking experience, glared at Natalie. "Are you trying to kill me with your cookies?"
Natalie gave her an apologetic smile and whispered, "I’m sorry, okay? But I had to stop you. You were about to call him by his real name!"
Mia’s eyes widened in disbelief, piecing things together. "Wait... so he really is Just—mmph!" she began, only to be cut off as Natalie quickly clapped her hand over Mia’s mouth.
"Saying that name is forbidden. Call him Aiden only," Natalie instructed firmly.
Mia nodded lightly, and only then did Natalie remove her hand from her friend’s mouth.
"But how... and what’s going on?" Mia whispered, still confused.
"I’ll explain everything later, I promise," Natalie whispered back, her tone pleading. "For now, just treat him as my husband, Aiden Handrix, alright? We can’t let Grandpa know that I don’t know where my real husband is. He’s not well, and I don’t want to stress him."
Mia gave her a reluctant nod. "Alright."
"Let’s go have breakfast. And please, don’t say or ask anything unnecessary."
Mia straightened up dramatically, like an obedient employee. "Yes, ma’am. Anything else?"
Natalie rolled her eyes and smiled as they left the kitchen. "Let’s have breakfast," she called out to Albert and Justin.
The two men joined them at the table, and Natalie introduced, "Mia, this is my husband, Aiden. Aiden, this is my best friend, Mia."
Mia’s conflicted gaze lingered on Justin for a moment, her thoughts racing at how awkward it felt to address him with a fake name. But Justin, as always, remained unfazed.
"Nice to meet you, Aiden," Mia said, trying to hide the cringey feeling bubbling inside her.
Justin gave her a light nod and then helped Albert settle into his seat at the head of the table before sitting down himself.
Natalie and Mia sat across from Justin, with Mia still processing the entire situation.
As they began breakfast, Mia turned to Albert. "How are you feeling now, Grandpa?"
"Fit enough to last until I see great-grandkids from you two girls," Albert replied with a playful twinkle in his eye.
Mia laughed nervously. "Grandpa, I’m not even married yet."
"It won’t be long," Albert teased. "Until then, I’ll satisfy myself with Natalie’s kids."
"Natalie’s kids?" Mia shot a glance at her friend, then at Justin. "I’m looking forward to it, too. I can’t wait to be an aunt—and, of course, I’ll be their godmother."
"Good idea," Albert chimed in.
Natalie lightly kicked Mia under the table, silently begging her to stop, but Mia only winked in response. "I’m sure with a beautiful mother and a handsome father, they’ll be the prettiest kids around."
"True," Albert agreed cheerfully.
Mia turned to Justin. "What do you think, Aiden?"
Justin glanced between Natalie and Mia, before responding with a nonchalant "hmm" and focusing on his food, expertly dodging the subject.
Without missing a beat, Natalie quickly picked up a piece of spinach and stuffed it into Mia’s mouth. "Your favorite. Don’t miss out."
Mia’s face scrunched up in disgust. She hated spinach with every fiber of her being, and Natalie knew it. Despite the urge to smack her friend, she begrudgingly swallowed it.
Natalie smirked triumphantly. "There’s more if you enjoyed it that much."
Mia quickly gulped down some water to wash away the taste and, wisely, kept her teasing to herself for the moment.
After a brief lull in conversation, Natalie spoke up. "The perfume I made for you—check it out after breakfast."
Mia circled her free hand around Natalie, and said sweetly, "My love, I am sure it must be unique and the best as you are the creator," and asked, "You are going to be with me today. Don’t tell me you have any important work. I have to make up for how much I have missed you these past few days."
"I have work, but I can put anything aside just to be with you," Natalie replied, unaware that her words had just displeased one quiet man at the table.
Justin glanced at Natalie and Mia, his mood darkening. He didn’t like the closeness between them, but he stayed silent, not wanting to disrupt the cheerful atmosphere in front of Albert, who seemed used to the girls’ close bond.
After breakfast, Mia chatted with Albert while Natalie and Justin went to their room to get ready for work. Natalie was pulling out clothes from her wardrobe when Justin walked in.
"I’m still changing. You can wait outside..." she began, but Justin ignored her, opening his side of the wardrobe with a quiet intensity that told her he was in a bad mood. He grabbed his clothes and headed toward the bathroom, his voice clipped. "Make it fast."
"What’s wrong with him now?" Natalie muttered to herself as she quickly changed, hoping to be dressed before he returned.