Desired by All and He Threw Away 35

he keeps his gaze on the road. “you cant control what people believe. You cant make them see you and once they decide you are the villain…“he trails off exhaling a humorless laugh. “you start to wonder if maybe they are right.” 

My heart twists. “Dont say that.” 

“Its the truth,” he says voice softer now. “Part of me keeps thinking maybe I should just stop trying. Let Dylan spin his story and disappear somewhere quiet and let him get the chance to become the next Aiden kincaid. and Start over.” 

the thought hits me like a physical ache. “you cant just give him that,” i whisper. “You’d be letting him win.” 

he glances at me then eyes dark but steady. “and what if its already too late?” 

“Its not,” i say firmly holding his gaze until he looks away first. “you’ve spent your whole building your life and career- your a billionaire and one of the world’s top footballers. Dont tell me you don’t deserve the same.” 

the car falls silent again,but this time it feels different–less like avoid more like a pause that lets the words sink in. 

outside the city begins to rise in the distance glass towers catching the dying light like shards of gold.The closer we get the thicker the air feels- the noise the movement the pulse of it all pressing in. 

Aiden’s fingers drum once against the steering wheel before he speaks again,. “okay” he says quietly. “We dig We collect everything–texts, emails financial records any old associates of Dylans we can find.” 

i nod opening my tablet again my fingers flying across the screen. we will need a timeline. A pattern of behavior. If he’s pulled this before, we can prove it.” 

“Start with the old PR firms he used,” Aiden adds. “Hes changed teams three times in two years.thats not normal.” 

I jot it down. “And maybe the people he’s silenced. NDAs, settlements- if there is a trail we will find it.” 

Aiden exhales slowly a thread of relief slipping into his voice. “you really think we can outplay him?” 

i glance at him a small smile tugging at my lips. “you once told me everyone has a weakness. Maybe it’s time we find his.” 

for the first time since we left the house a real spark flickers behind his eyes- small but there.hope it’s fragile and sharp. 

As the car merges into the outskirts of the city the skyline looms closer each light flickering to life against the darkening sky. i can feel the shift between us- 

8- the exhaustion still there but layered now with purpose. 

the vibration of my phone cuts through the quiet.i glance down at the screen and blink. The workplace group chat. I’ve been 

added back. 

My pulse jumps as I open it. A new message from the head therapist flashes across the top: 

Welcome back, Taylor. You’re officially reinstated. See you Monda 

for a heartbeat,i just stare.the words blur slightly as a strange mix of relief and disbelief washes over me. “I got reinstated,” I breathe. 

Aiden looks over his brow lifting. “Seriously?” 

i nod a small laugh escaping before i can stop it. “they added me back to the group chat. I’m… I’m going back. Did you do something” 

he smiles faintly and the sight of it makes something warm flicker u my chest. “you deserve that.” 

But even as i return the smile a flicker of unease settles beneath th relief. I can already imagine the whispers when i walk in- the sideways glances the hushed gossip about me and Aiden.being back means stepping into the same storm we have been trying to escape. 

Still the thought doesnt scare me like it used to. Not completely. 

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Chop 35 

+25 Bonus 

i turn to the window watching the city blur past in streaks of gold and gray. the hum of traffic fills the air mingling with the low rhythm of my heartbeat. Some where deep inside determination roots itself quiet but immovable. 

Rebuilding Aiden’s image will be one battle. Reclaiming my own footing will be another. 

and yet as the car glides deeper into the city’s pulse i feel something else rising too- something unspoken but steady.between frustration and resolve between strategy and silence a new understanding blooms. 

Whatever comes next we will face it head on. 

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