MTLNOVEL Chapter 576: Keep Arwen safe and always with you.
Meanwhile, in East Serenity Residence —
Brenda had just woken up from a nap when she heard cautious yet heavy steps approaching from the corridor. Her brows tugged in a frown, and she waited for the door to be pushed open.
And it didn't take long.
The door was soon pushed, revealing Margaret.
"What happened?" she asked, noting the serious expression on Margaret's face.
Margaret hesitated for a second, but reported soon after. "Madam, Mr. Winslow is here."
"Aiden?" The furrow only deepened between her aged brows in slight confusion. But seeing Margaret nod back confirmed it all. "Why is he here?"
Although she asked that, she knew Margaret would have no idea about it. If she wanted to know, she would have to go down and ask him herself.
Extending her hand out for Margaret to hold, she silently asked her to help her up, which Margaret obliged immediately.
"Madam, shall I get you the shawl?" she asked, concerned. Her eyes glanced at the old figure of the lady, that was visibly becoming more sickly.
Brenda read Margaret's gaze and nodded. "Get it."
Margaret quickly moved to grab it from the wardrobe on the side before walking over to drape it around the lady, helping it adjust around her shoulders and arms accordingly.
Once done, Brenda gave her a short nod of approval. "Let's go."
Margaret helped her out of the room and then down the stairs. As they descended, Brenda's gaze fixed on the man, who sat in the living hall, looking calm, composed and … dangerous.
His demeanour like that didn't make Brenda feel uncomfortable. It just made her pause for a second to read him.
However, she couldn't.
There seemed to be something different in him today —unlike the last time when he was here with his eyes red with pure dark fury.
Knowing that she was approaching, Aiden finally glanced up, setting the cup down at the table.
Brenda let go of Margaret's hand and came over to sit down comfortably across from him. Her gaze checked the ceramic cup kept on the table, and she said, "I don't think the tea served at East Serenity Residence has any speciality in its flavour that attracted the mighty CEO of Winlsow Globals here." Although her words held hints of humor, all she wanted to know was the reason for his sudden presence.
Aiden's gaze darted to look back to the empty cup he had left on the table, and his lips lifted in a slow smirk. "Granna indeed knows unique ways to conceal what she wants to conceal." He said, and not just his words, but even his tone held an air of intricacy that made Brenda halt for a moment to comprehend what he meant.
But when she couldn't find the answer on her own, she decided against beating around the bush. "What are you here to ask about?"
"Just the truth," Aiden replied, not playing any games.
Even though his words were vague and hard to comprehend, Brenda was still able to tell what he was asking about.
"I thought the last time when you came, you came with the truth. Was it not?"
"Whether it was or not —you know it better. Isn't it, Granna?" His voice came smooth and gentle, yet laced with a quiet edge. "I don't feel guilty about being rude to you because you held all the responsibility for it. I just want to know who you are trying to hide by taking the blame."
Brenda stared into his eyes, which though looked at her harmlessly, but didn't hide the darkness that hid beneath.
"You don't have to know." She denied him straightforwardly. She didn't ask what he found and how he found —she just told him what she would not offer to him.
Aiden's jaws ticked, and his fingers clenched tightly. "So you have always known who did that inhumane act to her?" he asked, though he no longer needed the confirmation to prove anything. "Yet you tried to hide the person away, saving him from the punishment he deserved."
Brenda looked away.
"Brenda Davies," Aiden almost roared, "You know what this kind of kindness could lead to, don't you?"
"Arwen had completed her treatment already. She is safe and sound. Although she had forgotten a part of her childhood, it's no longer life-threatening."
"But it could be," Aiden countered. There is no way he would just believe Brenda's words to ease up against the enemy he was yet to know about. He could put his everything at stake, but not Arwen.
Brenda shook her head. "I have taken care of it, Aiden. Believe me. Arwen —"
Before she could complete, Aiden stood up. His aura, although controlled, was still threatening. "When it comes to her, I don't even dare to believe myself. Believing you —one knew but did nothing to safeguard her, is still off the charts."
He tucked his hands inside his pockets. "Thank you for finding the cure for the drug. But remember, you did what you might have owed her." He paused and then added again, "Today, you might not have given me the answers, but trust me, I hold all the capability with which I can find it on my own."
"You just pray that until I find him, nothing wrong happens to her. Or else, I won't spare anyone—not even you. Because to me, nothing stands above her."
The threat in his words was real, and Brenda could tell it by looking into his eyes.
Aiden gave a last glance and then turned to leave, but just as he took a step, Brenda's voice stopped him.
"Aiden," she called, and only continued when she saw him halt. "I am sorry."
Aiden didn't turn over to look at her, but he remained there to hear what she had to say.
"I might not know what was there between you and Arwen in the past. But I surely know there was definitely something beautiful that she had forgotten, but you didn't. And given that I had a hand in what it turned out to be, I owe you this apology. Keep Arwen safe and always with you. With you around, she wouldn't miss anyone."
"She is with me and will always stay," Aiden affirmed. "Not because you said, but because that's how it has always been meant to be."
After that, he didn't stay. He walked off, leaving the place the house in long strides.