AIDEN’S POV

I messed up.

Not because I said too much, but because I allowed her to see something I buried a long time ago. That moment on the stairs, the book in her hands, the softness in her eyes, it cracked something inside me.

And cracks? They are dangerous.

Because when people find the cracks, they start digging.

I have lived most of my life behind stone walls. And I built them for a reason.

The next morning, I didn’t wait for breakfast.

I left early.

Charlotte had this look on her face last night like she thought something had changed between us that we were finally becoming something.

We weren’t.

We couldn’t.

By the third day of me successfully avoiding Charlotte, she finally confronted me.

I was in the study, hunched over reports I brought home from the office. I was deep inside my work when she walked in.

“Aiden.” Her voice was gentle. “Can we talk?”

I didn’t even look up. “I’m busy.”

“You have been busy for days.”

I sighed. “It’s called work, Charlotte. You should try it sometime.”

She flinched, but she kept standing there. “Did I do something wrong?”

I set my pen down slowly. “No.”

“Then why are you acting as if we are strangers living together?”

“I’m not acting, Charlotte.” My voice sounded so cold. “This is who I am.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out of her mouth. I could see the hurt forming but she tried to hide it behind her pride.

“She stepped closer to my desk. “You do not get to pull me in and then shut down without an explanation. I’m not a child.”

“I never pulled you in,” I snapped raising my voice a bit.

“Don’t mistake one act of kindness for something deeper. It is not as deep as you might think.”

“You gave me a book from your childhood,” she said, her voice tight.

“That’s not nothing.”

“It was a moment of weakness. One I will make sure not to repeat ever again.”

She stared at me, her eyes were sparkling like a glass of tears and it made me uncomfortable. Guilt doesn’t suit me.

“I thought there was hope for us,” she whispered.

“Oh, come on Charlotte, don’t tell me you think this is some love fairy tale story that the man and woman fall in love and they live happily ever after. Let me make this clear, There’s no hope for us, so stop trying to find it.” I said flatly.

Charlotte blinked rapidly, trying to prevent the tears from falling. Then she turned and walked out without saying another word to me. Not that I was expecting one.

I left the house like I was a thief because deep down I couldn't face Charlotte after the encounter we had in my office. Why did I even decide to work from home?

I need a distraction.

I need a fix. I picked up my phone and called my friend at the club I usually visit.

“Hey man, how’s it going?”

“Aiden, my boss, I’m good, it’s been a while. Congratulations on your wedding. Too bad I wasn’t invited.”

“Sorry bro.” I didn’t know what to say to him because I wanted to brush him off.

“I need you to send a girl over to the usual spot.”

“Okay, boss.” He knew better than to question me and I’m certain he wanted to ask questions.

At the bar, I didn’t drink much. I just had a few glasses and I left the bar with my distraction. I got home in the evening.

Honestly, I didn’t want her. I just needed to prove something to myself, and maybe to Charlotte, too.

The second we walked in, I saw Charlotte curled up on the couch in the living room with a blanket. She was reading a book peacefully. Until she saw us.

She looked at the girl holding my arm, then back at me.

She stood slowly. “I see,” she said softly. “So this is how it’s going to be.”

I didn’t answer. She turned to the maid, Elsie, who I didn’t notice was standing in the hallway.

“Please make sure she gets whatever she needs,” Charlotte said calmly. “She’s a guest after all.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed her book and the blanket and walked up the stairs.

Later that night, the girl passed out drunk in the guest room. I didn’t even touch her. I wanted to but I just couldn’t do it.

All I could think of was Charlotte’s silence.

I stepped out of my room and I met Petra, the chef, trying to lock the side doors.

She glanced at me. “Having a long night, sir?”

I raised my eyebrow. “Any problem?”

“No, sir.” She paused. “Just wondering if you are planning to keep hurting her, or if this is a one-time thing.”

I stared at her. “Excuse me?”

“She ate dinner alone, again and she barely touched her food.”

“I don’t care, and by the way, I am not paying you to put your mouth into matters that don’t concern you.” She nodded and left.

The next morning, I ran into Charlotte. She was coming out of her room, holding sets of dirty bed sheets.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“I live here, so I might as well clean up too,” she replied calmly.

I winced. “She’s just…..”

“You don’t have to explain,” she cut in, her eyes were free of any emotion. “I’ve gotten the message loud and care, I won’t expect anything from you.”

“Charlotte……”

She looked at me. “You know the worst part? It’s not the fling, it’s the fact that I let myself believe you were different.”

“I told you not to,” I said with my voice low and deep.

“You gave me hope, that’s crueler than ten flings, Aiden,” she said, pressing the sheets to her chest.

She walked past me, brushing my shoulder, and it lingered.

I decided not to go to the office. I stayed in my study from morning till night. The book I gave her was still on her nightstand. I saw it earlier when she left the door slightly open.

She still keeps it till now. Even after everything.

Elsie knocked lightly and peeked in.

“Would you like tea, sir?”

I shook my head.”No.”

“Miss Charlotte asked for something calming. I thought maybe…”

“She’s not sleeping?”

She shook her head. “She hasn’t been eating much either.”

I rubbed my face. “Thanks.”

She looked happy that day, sir. The day you gave her the book.”

I stayed silent.

“She thought you were opening up.”

I looked away. “That was a mistake.”

“Then why does it look like you are the one hurting now?”

Before I could answer, she turned and left me alone.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to be.