Gentle Forest

Chapter 72

The comfortable asphalt road was far away. Due to the disliked wind, Aiden naturally slowed down. As he delved deeper, faint moisture appeared among the trees, hinting at greater possibilities.

My heart began to travel.

Aiden glanced sideways at me from time to time, his eyes shining brightly. The gleam revealed the triumph brewing on his face.

This place was where our family would live.

Family. Unbeknownst to me, fate might have wielded a hefty influence.

The sturdy vehicle approached with weighty thoughts. Amidst the chilly breeze, I savored the crisp air of the forest. As the door opened automatically, Aiden gazed at another peculiar car, seemingly unfamiliar. In contrast to modern security systems, there was a carved emblem sign that showed it's proudly owned lineage for ages.

The villa's roof reached skyward with a point, while the outer walls stood as a sturdy structure. Gazing from the car, a delicate mix of browns and subtle hues hinted at its renowned charm.

Finally, venturing down an unfamiliar path among the dense trees. Aiden, captivated, swiftly unbuckled the seatbelt upon catching sight of me.

"Is that... the spot you told me?"

Aiden nodded, intertwining his fingers with mine, and we strolled leisurely toward the lakeside. As our pace slowed, the scenery gradually distanced itself. The closer we got, the more evident the tranquility of the waters became.

Aiden, a comforting presence, remained silent, shielding me from the biting wind.

Wrapped in warmth, my padded hat resisted the gusts, exposing only my face to the circular breeze.

Sensing the chill, Aiden mirrored my action, placing his hand deep within his pocket. Aligning his height to mine, he adjusted his legs and stood, holding my hand while absorbing the scenery with happiness.

I noticed that there were people around us, yet from their end, they remain oblivious to our existence.

We simply coexist, indulging in abundant beauty.

"This is really... too similar...." I murmured, but Aiden remained oblivious to my quiet remarks.

The unfamiliar sense of ease was faint. The start of a second life brought a slightly tense feeling, but the choice to embrace the less uncomfortable America and end the bad decisions wasn't regrettable.

Aiden, like a gentle unraveling of my rest, shared his life completely.

Nestled among the comforting branches of a consolation tree, the protection it offered seemed perfectly positioned. Even on feeling moody days, spending time on the serene lake seemed good.
Aiden's efforts, though he couldn't prepare nature for me, felt just as satisfying as if he had.

"Shall we go in?" Aiden asked. I, masked and unaffected, noticed the red on his cheeks affected by cold.

"Yes"

From a distance, a loud cough echoed, catching Aiden's attention. Aiden quickly turned his head. In the close-up shot, three figures stood, and one of them was was Cole, who accompanied me on the airplane.

"We've been waiting."

The delightful figure, wearing an apron, gestured towards where Aiden was standing, resembling a housekeeper. Her name was Shannon. Greeting her with a bow, she responded with a warm smile.

"I've heard a lot about you from Aiden. Come on in."

According to what I heard, she had been with Aiden since he was a little kid. Primarily managing the penthouse in Manhattan, i have been told that she will be looking after housekeeping here in the future.