Aiden Blackwood was avoiding me.It had been three days since I arrived, and I had barely seen him.Oliver and Lily had welcomed me with open arms. Aunt Linda treated me like her own daughter. Even the household staff were warm and kind.But Aiden?He was a ghost.I would catch glimpses of him—coming down the stairs in the early morning, dressed in a sleek black suit, his presence commanding. Or arriving late at night, his tie loosened, his sharp features unreadable.Yet, not once had he acknowledged me.Not once had he looked at me for more than a fleeting second.It was almost like he was deliberately avoiding me.And that only made me more curious.
The First Real Interaction
On the fourth morning, I woke up early and decided to explore the house.It was still quiet, the sun barely rising, casting golden light through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I was heading to the kitchen when I froze.Aiden was there.Standing by the massive coffee machine, dressed in navy blue dress pants and a crisp white button-down, the top few buttons undone. He was stirring his coffee lazily, his sleeves rolled up, exposing those strong forearms.He hadn't noticed me yet.I took a step forward, hesitating. "Good morning."He stilled.For a brief moment, he didn't turn around. Just stood there, as if debating whether to respond.Then, slowly, he faced me.His eyes flickered over me—just for a second—before he looked away. "Morning."That was it.No small talk. No polite smile.Just a single word, spoken in that deep, commanding voice.I crossed my arms. "You've been avoiding me."His grip on his coffee mug tightened. "I've been busy."I arched a brow. "Too busy to say hello?"He exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Look, Jessica—""You can just call me Jess," I interrupted, forcing a smile.He didn't smile back. Didn't even acknowledge my attempt to lighten the tension.Instead, he studied me, his sharp gaze unreadable. "I don't do small talk."I blinked. "Excuse me?""I don't do unnecessary conversations. I'm not interested in getting to know you."Ouch.My smile vanished. "Wow. You're really not big on social skills, are you?"His expression didn't change. "I don't need them."With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, staring after him.What the hell was his problem?Tension at Dinner
By the time dinner rolled around, I was still annoyed.Aunt Linda had prepared an elaborate meal, and the entire family was gathered at the massive dining table.Except Aiden.Of course."Does Aiden always eat alone?" I asked, unable to hide my irritation.Oliver chuckled. "Pretty much. He's either at the office or locked up in his study.""He works a lot," Aunt Linda added, her voice full of motherly concern. "Too much."I tapped my fork against my plate. "So, he just avoids people?"Oliver smirked. "He avoids everyone, not just you."That was supposed to make me feel better, but it didn't.Why did it bother me that Aiden Blackwood was acting like I didn't exist?Maybe it was because I had spent years being invisible to someone I loved.And I refused to feel like that again.The Unexpected Midnight Encounter
That night, I couldn't sleep.I got up, deciding to grab some water from the kitchen. As I made my way downstairs, the dim glow of a desk lamp caught my attention.The study door was slightly open.And inside, Aiden was there.He sat behind a massive desk, his laptop open, stacks of paperwork spread out. His dress shirt was slightly wrinkled, the sleeves still rolled up.He looked… tired.Vulnerable.Something about it made me hesitate.Before I could turn away, he looked up—and our eyes met.For the first time, he didn't immediately look away.For the first time, he actually held my gaze.His sharp blue eyes darkened, something unreadable flashing through them.My heart pounded.Seconds stretched between us.Then, just as suddenly, he shifted his attention back to his laptop, as if the moment had never happened.I swallowed.I should walk away.I should let him be.But instead, I stepped forward."Aiden."He sighed, rubbing his temple. "It's late.""So?"He exhaled. "What do you want?"I hesitated, suddenly unsure why I was even pushing this. "I don't get you."He finally looked at me again, his gaze steady. "Good.""That's not an answer."He leaned back in his chair, studying me like I was a puzzle he didn't want to solve. "You want an answer?"I nodded.His lips curved—just slightly. It wasn't quite a smirk, but there was something dangerously close to amusement in his expression."I avoid you," he said, voice slow, deliberate, "because you are a distraction."My breath caught.A distraction?I opened my mouth to question him, but he was already turning back to his work."Go to bed, Jess," he murmured, his voice quieter. "Before you make things worse."Something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.And as I left, one thought consumed me.Aiden Blackwood wasn't just avoiding me.He was fighting something.And I had a feeling it had everything to do with me.