The Creep

Not again...

Aden's POV

For months, I've been coming to my in-laws' house, practically begging them to move in with us. I see now where my wife gets her stubbornness—her mother is just as relentless.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I love your daughter and my sons. I just think Nina would be happier if you were closer," I said, trying to keep my patience in check.

Her mother crossed her arms, unmoved. "I don't care how often you come over or how much you try to buy your way in. My husband and I do not agree. Just let her stay here with us—"

I cut her off before she could finish that tired, predictable line. "Don't give me that cliché nonsense. I love Nina, and I will never let her go. I've spent six months trying to reason with you. I'm done begging. Either you come with us, or you'll never see any of us again. What's it going to be?" I asked, already turning to leave.

Her face hardened, but there was fear in her eyes. "Fine. We'll come," she muttered. "But don't threaten us like that. First, you take our daughter, and now you're trying to take our grandsons."

"Pack what you need. I'll send movers for the rest," I ordered.

They had no other choice. We left that night, the long drive home filled with tense silence. I didn't care anymore. I was starting to resent them. Six months of wasted time. Six months of missing my sons' first moments, all because they wanted to keep Nina tied to them.

When we finally arrived home, I called the movers to collect the rest of their things. Before they stepped inside, I turned to them one last time.

"One more thing," I said, voice firm. "You need to make Nina believe this was your choice."

They exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in unison. "Okay."

I watched them closely. If they stepped out of line, I wouldn't hesitate to remind them who really had control.
________________________

Nina's POV

I called Aden, my hands shaking as I held the phone to my ear. My emotions had been all over the place lately, and with the boys turning seven months old tomorrow, I was tired—tired of feeling alone, tired of him disappearing every weekend without a word. He'd leave Friday night, and I wouldn't hear from him again until Monday morning.

I was done.

Call connected.

Aden: "Hello?"

Nina: "I'm sick of this, Aden. You leave every weekend, and you don't even bother telling me where you are or what you're doing. I'm not putting up with it anymore. Me and my boys are leaving. Go be with your new girl, you—"

I couldn't even finish. My voice broke with anger, frustration—heartache. I hung up before he could respond.

End call.

⸻

Aden's POV

I exhaled slowly, gripping the steering wheel as I pulled into the driveway. Nina's parents sat stiffly in the backseat, unaware of the shift in my mood. They thought they were moving in tonight.

They thought wrong.

"Change of plans," I said, keeping my voice smooth. "You'll be staying in a luxury hotel—just for tonight."

Nina's mom narrowed her eyes. "What? Why?"

I plastered on a smile. "Nina just called. She wants some alone time. I'll go get my boys and bring them to you."

Her father glanced at his wife before nodding. "Alright."

"Good. Wait here." I stepped out of the car and shut the door behind me, adjusting my expression before heading inside.