Desired by All and He Threw Away 23

Chapter 23 

Claria nods, gathering her things. 

“Good luck, make sure to make dylan pay” she mutters. Then, toe, softer: “You’re braver than you look.” I smile faintly.” You too.” 

When shes gone, i reach into my bag and pull out my phone. “Theres something else i never showed you,” i tell Aiden. “Its not much but it might help.” 

– 

He watches as I open my gallery and scroll to a screenshot a friend of mine send me a video of Dylan and friends a week ago. It shows him standing by while one of his teammates made a cruel oke about an older woman at a charity gala. 

Dylan hadn’t said a word to stop it. 

“Its not explosive, “i admit, handing him the phone “but it shows the kind of person he is.” 

Aiden studies the image for a long moment then nods. “It’s enough for now. My team will dig deeper.” 

we leave the cafe just as the rain thickens.fat droplet splatter against the windshield as we pull onto the road and Within minutes its coming down so hard the wipers cant keep up and the city skyline blurs into silver and gray. 

on the radio a low female reportoe voice cuts through static. Emergency broadcast: heavy rainfall warning the storm is expected to last for at least five hours. Flooding possible on all major routes 

Aiden curses softly. “We cant get back to the city in this.” 

“yeah,” i say glancing at the sheets of rain hammering the road. “There is nowhere safe to pull over either..” 

i hesitate then add, “i’m from around here. My family’s place isn’t far. You can stay there until the storm passes.” 

His eyes flick toward me, skeptical. “Your place, your from Mayfield?” 

“yeah, It’s not fancy,” I warn. “Definitely not your style. But it’s day.” 

he leans back against the seat his expression unreadable. “So in your eyes im just someone who looks down on people who arent rich?” 

i glance at him sideways. “Isn’t that true?” 

The corner of his mouth tightens. he doesnt answer. but for a second something flickers behind his eyes – irritation maybe even hurt —before he looks away. I face forward, hiding my small, bitter smile. 

Maybe the truth stings after all. the rain grows heavier as we turn onto a narrow road leading toward my neighborhood the streetlights reflect off the puddles and the smell of wet asphalt fills the car. 

my chest begins to tightens as the familiar houses come into view can see the small paint chipped but it still give me a warm feeling.. 

Home. 

when we pull up outside the front porch light glows against the storm, he pull out an umbrella from the side of the car and we rush ahead shielding us both as we run for the door. The rain is coming down hard now the sound of it on the tin roof is deafening 

taking a key from my bag, twist i take it and push the door open.the familiar creak follows a sound that always makes my chest tighten for reasons i dont want to name the air inside smells taint of cinnamon rolls and detergent like someone was trying to scrub chaos into order. 

the living room hums with the low drone of the tv and then here comes an uneven thump of footsteps from somewhere down the narrow hall. looking around i notice the wallpaper near the door is peeling there is a stain on the ceiling that looks bigger every time i come home. 

still this is the only place that ever felt like mine. 

1/2 

Chapter 23 

+25 Bonus 

Before i can even say anything Aiden steps in behind me shaking the rain from his jacket. The contrast between him and this space is almost comical–polished suit expensive watch,standing a hallway framed by old family photos and drawings my siblings made with cheap crayons. 

I turn to him, about to explain. “Just so you know,” I start, “my silings are loud. Really loud.” 

he arches an eyebrow. “I’ll survive.” 

Thats when the front door to the living room flies open and a blur of motion barrels toward us. My youngest brother Alex,skids to a stop his eyes going wide as he looks up at Aiden. 

“Wait-“Alex gasps, pointing. 

“You’re Aiden Kincaid!” 

the name echoes down the hallway like a shout in a stadium. Within seconds footsteps thunder from every direction. my siblings appear wide eyed clutching notebooks and phones. The living room erupts in chaos -excited scream, laughter the buzz of disbelief. 

“oh my God, its really him!” 

“Can I get an autograph?” 

“Alex, get the camera!” 

Aiden stands frozen in the middle of it expression somewhere between stunned and mildly horrified.I bite back a laugh, watching the billionaire football star surrounded by a mob of kids waving pens. 

“i told you they were noisy,” i say unable to hide my grin. 

he shoots me a look somewhere between pleading and exasperated and i cant help it – i start to laugh. Really laugh. The sound fills the small space, blending with the chaos and the storm outside. 

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