Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Look Ahead
Aiden was indeed at Serafield. But Matteo and Amelia could never have guessed that for all their worry, Aiden was apparently sitting nicely in a bar, trying to chat up a lady bartender.

Matteo’s eyebrow twitched. Thankfully, Amelia had stayed home, or else Aiden might find himself with another injury. The police officer wanted to call for him, but Matteo waved him away. He would drag his brother back on his own. As he walked closer, he could hear the sound of Aiden’s voice as he gestured with his hands.

“So I went and punched him straight in the face. You would not believe the crack that echoed, it was sickening―”

“Uh uh,” the bartender said, sounding remarkably unimpressed by his brother’s words. Her hands were busy cleaning the glasses. “And I’m sure the other guy cried like a baby? You told me that yesterday when you were cleaning the floor.”

“He was cleaning the floor?” Matteo interrupted, puzzled.

Aiden’s head whirled around immediately when he heard the familiar voice, nearly falling out of the bar stool he was neatly perched on right before.

“What the fuck―”

Matteo placed a couple of hundred dollar bills on the bar counter before reaching for Aiden’s collar. He didn’t look at his half-brother for even a moment, keeping his eyes trained on the bartender.

“Payment for his drinks,” he said. “And tip for entertaining his bullshit.”

The bartender nodded, taking the cash. She counted it quickly, placing one half in her pocket and the other in a jar away from the counter.

“Thanks,” she said, “I need it. His stories are awful.”

She raised an eyebrow and stared boredly at Aiden, offering him a half-hearted smile that bordered the line of sarcasm.

“Have fun back home, Prince Charming,” she said.

Before Aiden could reply, Matteo had already dragged him out of the bar. Aiden yipped and yelled the entire way, stumbling as Matteo manhandled him the entire way out. Once they were on the street where Matteo had parked his car, Aiden finally shrugged out of Matteo’s hold.

He had to worm out of his jacket to do so, and when he did, the splotch of red near his waist could be clearly seen. After all, he was wearing just a white shirt. The scuff marks, dirt streaks, and blood splotches were still on his clothing.

Matteo frowned when he saw the splash of red, and Aiden’s eyes trailed after his actions. Then, he scoffed and waved his hand.

“It looks worse than it really is―”

Matteo didn’t wait for Aiden to explain. He marched straight over and yanked his shirt up, revealing the nasty stitch that covered the side of his abdomen.

“Have you gone to the hospital?” Matteo asked, causing Aiden to roll his eyes.

“How else would I have gotten the stitches?” Aiden countered.

“You tell me,” Matteo said coolly, dropping Aiden’s shirt and taking a step back. “I’m not the one who stole the maid’s sewing kit just to fix a wound in the bedroom so that Dad and Catherine wouldn’t find out about the injury.”

Aiden pursed his lips tightly together.

“I was seventeen back then,” he said with a pout.

Matteo said nothing. Instead, he reached for his car keys, unlocked the doors, and swiftly stepped into the driver’s seat. Aiden hurried into the passenger’s seat after him, closing the door while keeping silent the entire time.

He said nothing even as Matteo started the car and drove down the highway that led back to Sol City. It was only when they returned to the familiar roads of the capital did Aiden suddenly broke the silence.

“That bartender,” Aiden said.

“What?” Matteo asked. “Have you not learned your lesson with Emmeline?”

At the mention of Emmeline’s name, Aiden choked. “Listen, I’m pretty sure she’s not another long-lost sister.”

“How would you prove it though?” Matteo asked, arching an eyebrow. “We wouldn’t want a repeat of the previous disaster now.”

“At this rate, I won’t be able to sleep with anyone!” Aiden cried out.

“Hallelujah,” Matteo muttered under his breath.

Aiden huffed, folding his arms across his chest. “I was just going to say,” he said, “that bartender looks awfully like Amelia, don’t you think?”

Matteo remained silent, not bothering to offer Aiden a second glance. However, even though his eyes were trained on the road, Aiden knew that he had caught his brother’s attention.

“Do you think,” Aiden continued, observing Matteo’s expressions carefully, “she could be Annalise’s real daughter? Maybe the infant didn’t die?”

After a few moments, Matteo finally said, “It’s not impossible. But it’s also none of our business.”

“Cold.”

“Emmeline and Annalise’s relationship is none of my concern,” Matteo said. “Unless Amelia is the one who wants to find the missing Hawthorne heiress, I do not care.”

He finally spared Aiden a fleeting glance.

“You shouldn’t too. X’el should be your main priority.”

“About that…” Aiden trailed off with a nervous chuckle. “I’m not too cut out for X’el. And after how Mom and Dad sort of fell out, I doubt Dad would want me to be the leader of X’el at this current point.”

There was a pregnant pause before Aiden said again, “How about you return to X’el? The company was yours― it should’ve remained yours. You know I’ve never wanted it.”

Matteo remained quiet, and his silence caused Aiden to squirm in his seat.

“Come on, you know I’m not interested in fighting with you for that dusty old company―”

“How are you going to earn a living for yourself then?” Matteo suddenly asked, causing Aiden to still.

“Huh?” he dumbly said.

“It’s as you said,” Matteo said, “Catherine is currently at odds with our father. Your pocket money will eventually run dry. Without X’el, how are you going to maintain your current lifestyle?”

He then glanced at Aiden and raised an eyebrow.

“You’re not expecting me to feed and clothe you, are you?”

“Pfft,” Aiden said, waving the matter off. “Of course not. I have my own ways. You needn’t worry about me.”

“Good,” Matteo said. He then turned the steering wheel, leading the car back into the hospital’s carpark. “Because Amelia and I have a child to raise soon. If you want a chance to visit, you need to first be able to care for yourself.”

“You and Amelia…” Aiden repeated before trailing off. He turned uncharacteristically quiet before slumping back into his seat. He chewed on his bottom lip, seemingly deep in thought.

It took a while, but after Matteo switched off the engine and got out of the car, Aiden followed suit. He said nothing― none of the men did. Not until they were in the elevator and headed for the receptionist so that Aiden could get himself some medical attention for his bullet wound.

Before they reached the desk, Aiden finally broke the silence. He said, “You’ll allow me to visit you and Amelia’s child?”

Matteo looked at Aiden, studying his expression. Finally, he replied, “Of course. You’re the kid’s uncle, aren’t you?”

For some reason, Aiden’s footsteps when he followed the doctor to the examination room seemed to have a little skip. Everything about him felt lighter and more carefree, and Matteo watched until Aiden eventually disappeared past a set of doors.

Only then did he shake his head and chuckle under his breath. With his hands tucked into his pockets, he turned and headed back to Amelia’s ward.