Chapter 7

"I have something to tell you."

Aylin didn't see this message till 7 in the morning and was surprised. She replied asking what was wrong. In return, Axel called her.

"Hello."

"Hey. How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing?"

"Nothing much. What about you?"

"I was eating breakfast. Anyways, can we meet today?"

"You know I can't really leave the house. Dad doesn't want me to come in contact with the paparazzi and give an interview."

"But I really have to see you."

This makes Aylin blush. Does he miss her this much? How cute. Then a thought crossed her mind. She isn't allowed to leave but he can still visit her, right? However, she really doesn't want to call him over to this house....but it can't be helped. She's curious as to what he wants to say.

"Then how about you come over?"

"To your house?"

"Yeah. Is anything wrong?"

"It's the Abbott's family house."

"I know but they are also going to be your future in-laws."

Her comment was followed by silence.

"Hello? Axel? Are you still there?"

"Ah yes. I am."

"Do you hate coming over?"

".....It's not that."

"Don't worry, my parents aren't at home today. They have been away since yesterday."

"I see. You know what....I'll see my schedule for today and then tell you about it.
I really have to go now. An important call is coming from the office."

"Oh..sure. Talk to you later. Take care!"

"You too."

That day, Axel messages her saying he's going to visit her that night. Aylin for some reason was really excited. She started picking out clothes to wear and even instructed the cooks to make something special for dinner. Luckily for her, most of the staff here adored her which is why they were more loyal to her. Except for Sam.

She was thinking of how to get rid of him. It would be chaos if he was here when Axel would be here. Because of this, she told him that Axel had messaged her about wanting to meet. She said that he should go and check out what's going on in their company to find out more about why he is coming here. While she will also try to make Axel spill what he is planning. At first, he doesn't listen to her but then Aylin claims she will tell him about his parents' death if he does this and makes sure her father doesn't know about this. Knowing that Sam has always been curious about where are his parents and what happened to them, he agrees to her and then leaves.

It was around 10 p.m. but Axel still had not come even though he said he would come at 7 p.m. His phone could also not be reached.

Suddenly, he messaged saying he was here. Axel was led into the main sitting area as he sat across from Aylin.

Aylin smiled, not knowing what to say. Axel on the other hand looked a little flustered and lost in thoughts. Seeing that, Aylin inquired,

"Is everything alright?"

"...Yes."

"Would you like to eat something? Have you had dinner yet?"

"Yes, I had it before coming here so I'm full."

"Oh is that so."

Axel who was playing with his fingers was about to get up to go towards her when suddenly someone walked in.

It was Sam. Aylin was confused as to why he was still here.

"Sam? What are you doing here?"

"I was told there is a guest."

He said, eyeing Axel who instead glared at him.

Sam then sat right next to Aylin, a bit too close than normal. He then whispered in her ear,

"What happened so far?"

"Nothing. He just came. What are you doing here?"

"I sent some other men to deal with that. I was ordered by your father to stay with you so don't worry about me."

Aylin, who felt uncomfortable with him sitting so close to her, moved to the right and was at the edge of the sofa by now. But Sam, still smiling and glaring at Axel, pulled her back close. It seems as if he was trying to read Axel's reaction, who in turn was glaring with such intimidation at Sam that Aylin was sure they had met before. She then asked loudly to break the intense atmosphere,

"Have you two met before?"

"No."

"Never. Why would I meet a bastard like him?"

"Sam."

Aylin warned Sam to watch his language. He rolled his eyes in return and instead inquired Axel,

"Whatever. You. The statue. Do you have something to say? Why are you here?"

"I have something to talk about with Aylin."

"You can say whatever you want here. Just pretend I'm not even here."

"No. I would like to be alone with 'my' fiancé."

"You can be alone with her after you get married."

"Who are you to tell us what to do?"

"Think of me as being her guardian."

Sam shrugged while pulling Aylin's hair which was hurting her.

"Sam. Enough. Leave us alone."

"Why should I?"

"Sam!"

Aylin angrily addressed him. This surprised Axel because he had never seen her like this.

Sam's smile fell off his face. He instead glares at Aylin.

"You."

He then whispers in a menacing tone,

"Aren't you getting too ahead of yourself these days? I know all that crap you say about you being an heir but who is to say that you will even inherit all of this? Don't forget you are nothing but a puppet to your father. A pawn shouldn't get too ahead of itself."

Even though Sam had whispered, he deliberately said some words out loud for Axel to hear.

Axel was surprised at the kind of treatment Aylin gets at her home. Was she really Brendon's daughter? He wanted to speak up in Aylin's defence but since he still doesn't know how she managed to convince her father to agree to this marriage, he didn't want to do anything that would later on hurt Aylin. If only he knew more about her situation.

"I get it, now leave."

Aylin answered back. Sam smiled. He loves showing authority. Sneering while still eyeing Axel he said,

"Fine. But remember the promise you made me or else you know what will happen, dear doll."

"Leave already, Sam."

Sam got up and without taking his eyes off Axel said to Aylin,

"I'll be close. Call me if you need."

He then finally leaves as Aylin takes a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry about that. He is the same age as me and practically grew up in this house so my father tends to spoil him a lot which is why he is like that. I apologize in his stead."

Axel who was quiet this whole time finally spoke up,

"Why are you the one apologizing in his stead? He should be the one to do it."

"I know but he won't so..."

"So, you are responsible for him?"

"That's not it."

"Then don't apologize for him."

"Okay. Oh right...you had something to tell me. What is it?"

"About that...."

Axel took a pause. He was observing Aylin and still deep in thoughts. He then adds,

"I forgot."

"What?"

"I forgot what I had to tell you."

He finally smiled. His response made Aylin nearly laugh but knowing how Sam must be eavesdropping, she restrained her words.

"I see. Then is there anything else?"

"No."

"Then..."

"I'll take my leave now."

Axel interrupted Aylin and quickly stood up. Startled, Aylin also reflexively stood up.

"I have some work to do so I must leave. Goodbye."

"Oh, I see...goodbye."

As soon as Axel opens the door, Sam, who had his ear next to the door, gets surprised.

"Leaving so soon, Duncan?"

He called out to him.

"Why do you care? Will you miss me?"

Axel sarcastically remarked.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Sam got infuriated.

"You're the one who started it. Anyhow, Aylin, I'll see you at the wedding."

"Ah yes..."

As soon as he left, Sam angrily shouted,

"That *sshole! What did he even come here for?"

"...I honestly don't know..."

Aylin was also confused. Did he really just come here to see her face? He could have just video called her. It's true she called him over. But it was because everyone would have a good opinion regarding this marriage when they find out that he came over. But it looks like he came hiding from the press.

She ignored Sam who was blabbering next to her and instead went to her room to message Axel,

"Is anything wrong? I couldn't ask before because of Sam but you didn't look too good."

After a few minutes, a reply came back,

"Everything's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, don't worry. I just wanted to see your face ❤️ "

His message made Aylin smile. Well if he says it's alright then it must be. I can't do anything other than to believe him.

She was about to reply when Sam rushed into her room,

"Hey, puppet! You forgot to give me what I asked for. We had a deal, remember? I'll make sure Sir doesn't find out about this and you will tell me what happened to my parents."

"Oh right."

Aylin goes to her table and brings out a file and hands it to him.

"What's this?"

"A missing people report was registered 24 years ago."

"Someone was looking for my parents."

"Yes. Similar reports were registered in other cities as well but someone has removed that data."

"What? Who? Where are my parents now?"

"Look at the next page."

"This....it's death certificates. They are dead?"

"You were brought to this house as a baby who was barely 3 months old. Anyone you ask will tell you that one day you were brought here after dad found you abandoned at one of his construction sites."

"Yeah so?"

"So......nothing."

Aylin deliberately took a suspicious pause.

"How did my parents die?"

"You asked me to tell you what happened to them. This wasn't part of the deal."

Angrily Sam tightly clutches Aylin's wrist,

"Don't joke with me! Tell me now!"

"No."

Aylin roughly pulls her hand back and firmly states.

"I'll tell Brendon that Axel came to visit."

"Go ahead. He already knows."

"What? Then why make this deal with me?"

"I knew you couldn't be trusted so this was just my backup plan."

"At least give me a clue to start with."

"Oh, are you really that desperate? Then will you beg me?"

Anger flickered in Sam's eyes as he knew Aylin was using his words against him.

"You damn b*tch."

He cursed under his breath as Aylin shrugged.

"If you don't have anything else to say then get out."

".....please."

Sam whispered while averting his gaze.

"What? I couldn't hear you."

"...please tell me..."

"A little louder. I don't think I can hear anything."

"I SAID PLEASE TELL ME!"

Sam shouted desperately as he felt embarrassed.

"Well it's not begging but still I'll do you a favor because seeing you like this is annoying for me."

She shrugged and added,

"Murdered. Your parents were actually murdered. It says over there that they both died of heart failure. But if you have a brain, which I'm sure you don't, how could two healthy people mysteriously have heart failure at the same time? Think about it."

"What....who did this?"

"I don't know. Now get lost. I don't want to see you anymore. Shoo. And remember you owe me one."

She pushed him outside and locked her room with a sigh of relief.

A week later came the said fateful day which everyone was waiting for. Aylin happily smiled at Axel who smiled back at her. It was the grandest wedding ever. This marriage was one that will be talked about for years. But one thing everyone was curious about was why did this marriage even occur?

Aylin looked at the table full of members of the business association. They all think this wedding is a form of a peace treaty. But is it really? Axel did threaten them to agree but from the outside, all they know is that it's to combine both the biggest leaders of the business world.

She then looks at her father, who was standing next to Sam and they were talking. He seemed happy today. Not because it was his daughter's wedding but more likely he was eager to uncover the dirty secrets of the Duncan's business. He thinks he is sending off his daughter as a spy. But is she really?

She then looked at her dear husband. Apparently, they both know they got married because they like each other. But Aylin knows deep down he is hiding something from her. She just acts oblivious because she also desires something. For all Axel knows, she married him because she likes him? But does she really?

Thanks a lot for reading! Hope you liked this chapter. If so please do comment to let me know what you think about the story so far! Don't forget to vote and share! ❤️❤️