Chapter 42: Chapter 41

Aiden's POV

The image of Amelia with Akira kept gnawing at me. I stood up and started pacing the room, the frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

Who does that guy think he is? My thoughts raced as I clenched my fists, trying to get a grip on my anger.

Enough. I grabbed my phone and called Jason.

As soon as he picked up, I said, “Jason, I need you to do something.”

“What’s up?” Jason’s voice was casual, but I didn’t have time for small talk.

“Find out everything you can about Akira. I want to know who he is, where he’s from, and what his deal is.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before Jason responded. “Okay, but why? Is something going on?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. “Just keep it under wraps. None can know about this.”

Jason agreed, and after a few more words, I ended the call.

I tossed the phone onto the bed and ran a hand through my hair. Was I overreacting? Maybe. But I couldn’t just ignore what I saw. I had to understand what was really going on between Amelia and Akira.

I walked to the window, staring out at the darkening sky. The world outside seemed calm, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. I knew I had to be careful. Amelia’s trust in me was delicate, and if she found out what I was doing, it could all fall apart. I am going to play smart.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to head downstairs for dinner. Maybe talking to my mom would help me clear my head, even if only for a moment. But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this situation with Akira was far from over.

I made my way down the staircase, the aroma of dinner welcoming me into the dining room. The table was beautifully set, as always, with my parents and Rose already seated. My mother smiled warmly as she finished setting the table.

“Aiden, perfect timing,” my father said, motioning to the empty chair beside him.

I took my seat, noticing Rose seemed quieter than usual. She usually filled the room with chatter, but tonight, her gaze stayed on her plate.

We started with casual conversation—our day, updates on the business—but I could tell my father had something more significant on his mind. He kept glancing at Rose until, as the main course was served, he finally addressed her.

“Rose,” he said, his tone calm but serious, “your mother and I have decided that it’s time to start planning your future with Jason.”

Rose’s reaction was immediate—her fork slipped from her hand, and she nearly choked on her food. She reached for her water, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Marriage?” she echoed, looking between our parents and then to me, as if searching for a lifeline. “But I’m still in school! I haven’t finished my degree, and neither has Jason.”

Father responded without hesitation. “Jason is already helping with his father’s business while completing his studies. He’s shown he’s mature enough to handle both responsibilities. And you’re capable too, Rose. Your studies will be done soon, and I see no reason to delay this. We’ll invite Jason’s family over soon, set a date—maybe six months from now, or sooner.”

Rose’s face paled, her anxiety apparent. “Please, Father, don’t do this,” she pleaded softly.

But Father was resolute. “Rose, we’ve discussed this before. There’s no point in reopening the conversation. This decision is final.”

With that, he placed his napkin on the table, leaving his meal unfinished, and excused himself, heading to his study.

The room felt heavy with silence. Rose stared down at her plate, clearly shaken.

Our mother reached out, gently squeezing Rose’s hand. “It’s going to be alright, sweetheart,” she assured her softly. “I know this seems overwhelming, but you’ll see—it’s for the best.”

Rose didn’t respond, her eyes still downcast. Mother leaned over to kiss her forehead before following Father, leaving just Rose and me at the table.

I gave Rose a small nudge, trying to lighten the mood. “You could always make a run for it,” I joked.

She managed a faint, sad smile. “If only it were that easy, Aiden.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. Rose had always been determined, but when it came to our father, she knew when not to push back. The decision was made; now, it was just a matter of acceptance.

We sat there in silence for a few more moments before I finally spoke. “Whatever happens, you’re not alone in this. We’ll get through it together.”

She looked at me, a hint of her usual spirit returning. “Thanks, Aiden.”

We both stood, leaving the rest of the dinner untouched. Tonight had marked a significant change, and we both knew things wouldn’t be the same going forward.

I stepped into the shower turning it cold.

Rose never wanted to marry Jason. She can't even bear being in the same room with him for long. But Jason is relentless—his obsession with Rose is something I’ve noticed all too well. It’s clear she doesn’t want this marriage, but Jason is the type who won’t take no for an answer. Rose knows that, just as much as I do.

She tried everything she could to stop the engagement, but Jason made sure she understood the consequences. Over time, she learned not to push too hard, convincing herself not to cross lines she knew would only bring more trouble. Our father is just as stubborn, a man who stands by his word. With both our parents, Jason’s parents, and Jason himself, there’s no escaping this for Rose. She can’t accept this reality, but she’s trapped.

I’m certain she’ll adjust—she’ll have to, even if it’s unwillingly. I can’t fulfill her wish to escape this, but I’ll make sure she’s always safe.

Pushing the towel aside, I stepped out of the shower, rubbing my damp hair with another towel. The phone rang just as I was drying off. It had to be Jason. I answered, and immediately, he started spilling the details I had asked for about Akira.

"Akira's father was a foreign exchange minister who lived here until he got transferred back to Japan. Now, after several years, he's returned because his father was reassigned here," Jason began, his voice steady. "And guess what? Amelia and Akira have known each other since childhood—they attended the same school until he left for Japan."

I could almost hear the smirk in Jason's voice as he continued, "I figured you'd be interested in Akira's past, especially given your obsession with Amelia."

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was right. Jason always had a way of reading me too well even when I'm unreadable. We were more alike than I cared to admit, which is probably why we got along so well.

"Don't worry," Jason added, his tone more serious. "I've done my homework. There's nothing between them—never was. But they were childhood best friends. And with best friends, there's always the chance of a one-sided crush."

With that, Jason hung up, leaving me with more to think about—and perhaps more fuel to the fire.

Honestly, I want nothing more than to crush Akira's confidence until he has no choice but to leave the university. I could ensure that he never sees Amelia again or even stays in contact with her. But this time, I'm not going to use brute force. I need Amelia to trust me, to love me. It's no longer just a desire—it's a necessity. To achieve that, I need to become the person Amelia wants.

But here's the thing: no one changes me. I can mask my emotions so well that you’d think I’m laughing while I’m burning with rage inside. You can hear my silence as clearly as my words. This is the game I'm going to play—making sure she falls for me, making sure she likes me—while still being the bad guy I've always been.

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We all as humans need motivation even for the sake of discipline right?

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