Xante was the only person in the living room by the time Corinne got back.
She sat next to her and asked, “Where’s Aaron?”
Xante pointed with her chin to outside, where it was viewable through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Corinne looked to where she pointed and saw Aaron and Annie playing with Joey on the lawn.
“I thought Aaron doesn’t like kids,” said Corinne with narrowed eyes.
Xante pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses. “He doesn’t. He’s just putting up an act.”
“Why would he do that?”
At that moment, Corinne saw Aaron reaching out to help Annie swipe off some leaves that had fallen on her hair.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAnnie instinctively stepped back, though she did thank him. After that, she focused her attention on Joey only.
“Aaron is still chasing after Annie?” Corinne asked with a frown.
“My guess is he can’t help but chase after her. He’s in way too deep than we thought,” replied Xante wisely.
“What do you mean?”
“We watched him grow up, so we know just how much of a player he is. He’s never been before. Similarly, no girl
has ever been serious about him since they all heard of his reputation.
“The saying ‘like attracts like’ is very apt to him. I mean, no decent girl would touch him with a three-meter pole. No
decent girl except for Annie. She’s kind, honest, and naive. I think he started falling for her after she kept bringing
home-cooked meals for him every day. After all, no girl has ever treated him with respect or chased him like she
did. In fact, I think he would’ve asked Annie to be his girlfriend if you hadn’t stopped him.”
“As if! So what if he asked Annie to be his girlfriend? Does he have any intention to marry her?” asked Corinne with
somewhat conflicted feelings.
“Of course not,” Xante said without hesitation. “You know very well he’s a non-marriage advocate.”
“Well then, it’s good that I stopped him because Annie has plans of getting married one day,” said Corinne. After
what happened, she started to hold more negative views toward relationship matters. “Annie was deeply hurt by
her dirtbag ex-fiance, and she’s the type to want to get married after dating. She can’t afford to get hurt the
second time anymore. That’s why I stopped Aaron from getting close to her.”
Xante nodded thoughtfully. “The kind of breakups that hurt the most is when you’re left at the altar without any
explanation. In fact, it would forever color all the relationships after it.”
‘She’s right. No matter how strong a woman is, there’s still no guarantee she won’t get hurt in matters of love,’
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthought Corinne.
…
At the Holdens’ mansion compound, Aaron was holding Joey high up in the air. At first, Joey was frightened as it was
his first time meeting Aaron, but after a while, he relaxed and found the whole thing fun.
Annie looked at Aaron, who looked so gentle and happy playing with Joey under the bright sunlight. A sense of warm
and fuzzy feelings rushed over her.
“I didn’t know you like kids so much, Mister Aaron,” said Annie.
“What makes you think I like kids?” Aaron asked while pulling Joey back into his arms.