𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑| ✍

Chapter 16 • Scar •

My chest felt heavy as I opened my eyes. I sighed as I got out of bed. My shoulders dragged down while I made my way towards the bathroom.

The crying from last night was evident on my face as I ran a few fingers through my hair And...No, I wasn't crying because he left. I have too much respect for myself to do that.

I was crying because the shit finally dawned on me. This was my life now. Wouldn't you cry?

At the same time, I wanted him to come back. I didn't want an apology or anything. I just wanted him back. How toxic.

After my shower, I wore an oversized tie-dye shirt with some shorts underneath. After crying myself a headache yesterday night, I realized that I had to lay down some ground rules.

I couldn't continue this cycle over and over again.

A few knocks on the door distracted me from daydreaming any further.

I knew it wasn't Aiden. He wouldn't knock. "Must be room service," I mumbled to myself before getting up and opening the door.

I didn't bother checking who it was as I went back to my previous position on the couch, leaving the door open for whoever it was to enter.

"We only arrived yesterday. I don't think we need anything." I spoke as my eyes stayed trained on the television.

I heard a soft chuckle coming from behind. I turned to look at the beautiful elderly woman standing against the door frame.

She seemed to be around 65 or so. Covered in a black fur coat that stopped just above her ankles, her Prada heels clicked against the floor as she made her way into the penthouse.

I got a closer look at her as she stepped into the light. She had long black hair that stopped at the small of her back. Honestly, you wouldn't even notice her age if it weren't for the gray streaks of hair that she wore proudly.

She scoffed. "Room service?" She asked herself in disbelief. I stood up on my feet to face the mysteriously beautiful lady. She shook her head. "I'm looking for my grandson."

My eyes went wide. "Oh, I...I'm....I'm-" I stuttered before she cut me off.

"Hush. Save your breath. I know who you are. Now, where's my grandson?" She finished as she took off her fur coat and placed it on the couch.

"He...He left." I managed out as I took a sit back on the sofa. All the feelings from last night came back running back.

I watched as she took a seat next to me. "Let me guess...It was after you two left the estate?" She asked as I shook my head. "Well, that might be my fault. I heard he felt the estate after he found out I wasn't there." She sighed.

"So, you're Evora," I concluded. "I thought you were another one of his exes." She chuckled.

"Mhmm, so, you ran into, Simona. I heard you made quite the impression." I laughed. She nodded before speaking again. "So, he brought you to another country then disappears. That really is my grandson."

"Why didn't you go?" I asked

"I simply didn't want to see him. That's all." She answered. I believed her. Knowing how Aiden could be, I didn't blame her.

I was surprised when she took her hand in mine. "After meeting you, I can't leave you here. Come to the estate." She smiles. 

"We're having another family dinner, where you'll be properly introduced."

I was shocked but gladly accepted the invitation.

•••

All the maids and guards stepped aside as they saw the look on their Capo's face. The faint laughter and the clinging of the wine glasses just grew his anger as he pushed the doors open.

Everyone stopped and turned their focus onto him. He ignored all the stares he got but focused on one pair of eyes.

Nicole stood up immediately and rushed towards him. Everyone was shocked as she came crashing against him. They were even more shocked when Aiden returned the hug.

After getting to know Aiden's family that evening, she successfully got them hooked on their love story. Everyone except Evora, of course. So, the act she was pulling off was just a little preview.

"We're leaving, now." Aiden hissed out. Nicole stepped away from him, completely ignoring everyone.

"No!" She let out. Aiden could feel grandmother's smirk as the rest of his family shared whispers and as a few of them gasped. They all knew how Aiden could get when anyone disobeyed him. "I'm not leaving with you."

"I didn't ask you, Nicole." He glared down at her.

"I said I'm not fucking going." She glared at him back. Nicole wanted to show him that he couldn't keep dragging her around. Aiden knew just how stubborn Nicole could be, it was something he wanted to fuck out of her. 

They continued their glaring until Evora spoke up. "Nicole isn't going anywhere." They both turned to look at her. "Aiden, my boy..." She teased. "You know it's tradition for the bride to leave with the groom's family until they get married. We've been doing it for generations. You and Simona did it, what's changed?" She finished. Evora glanced at him with a smile on her face as she sipped on her wine while Nicole's face morphed into something nobody could describe. She felt a rage of pure jealousy.

"Stay out of this..." Aiden hissed. Everyone's eyes went wide as they glanced between the two of them. No one in their family had ever disrespected Evora like that, but they Knew Aiden was as just crazy as Evora. Something Nicole was yet to find out.

Evora's lips twitched as her smile fell. She slowly stood up from her chair and ampled towards him. Aiden glanced down at his grandmother as she stood before him.

Everyone went silent as Aiden's head whipped to the side. The slap echoed through the dining hall.

Evora grasped around his jaw forcing him to look at her. "Aiden, do you remember how you got this scar?" She asks as her acrylic nails dug into the scar. Aiden kept a still face, never wincing at the pain once. Nicole looked away. It seemed as though the nail was going to tear and enter his flash at any moment.

Evora grabbed his ear before bringing it near her mouth. She said something inaudible to the rest, but it left Aiden with wide eyes.