Little fucking tease.

Other times, she’d tell me about the snippets of memories she’s been having lately. Like my tattoo and the nights she spent with me in that basement.

However, she never mentioned her mother or the promise she made me.

A huge chunk of her memory is still missing, and I think I know exactly how to get it back. It’s a drastic method, but it’s all I have. She asked me to tell her everything, and I will. Just not in the traditional way.

Elsa will never be whole unless she remembers what happened that night. She’ll never fully accept me unless she remembers our bloody past.

After all, it was all because of me.

She might have erased her memory due to all the trauma she lived through, but I was the final nail in the coffin. If she hadn’t done what she did, maybe things would’ve been different.

No.

I won’t allow myself to think of that option. Everything is said and done. I just have to find the best way to tell her.

After the 10th meeting of the day ends, Jonathan’s Chinese investors shake hands with him and me. As the door closes behind them, I flop onto the sofa.

Jonathan’s Chinese office is more grandiose than the one in London. It has grey and blue decor, a glass desk, and a large window that overlooks Shanghai’s endless buildings.

I twirl the phone in my hand. “I’m booking a ticket to England.”

Jonathan smiles from behind his glass desk.

Well, fuck.

It’s never good when he’s smiling with triumph as if he scored the deal of the century.

“You know.” He interlaces his fingers at his chin and leans back in his tall leather chair. “As indestructible as you were, I knew you’d self-destruct one day.”

I tilt my head to the side.

He’s been pissed off since the reality check I threw in his face about Alicia’s death. I knew he’d find retribution in some way. I thought the trip to China was it. After all, he kept me away from Elsa — even if temporarily.

I should’ve known better.

Jonathan’s temporary solutions are usually a camouflage to a bigger plan that concocts in the background.

“What have you done?” I rise to my feet. “I swear if you hurt her —”

“I don’t need to hurt her. I only need her away from you.”

My left eye twitches. “What the fuck did you do, Jonathan?”

“You’re right, Aiden. I have other allies beside Sebastian. There’s another member of the Rhodes’ voting committee who promised to be my way into Ethan’s corporation.”

“Do you seriously think Ethan Steel would let anyone close enough to spy on him? He’s more private than you.”

“He’d let his future son-in-law.”

My muscles go rigid as I hiss, “What did you just say?”

“If I can’t keep you away from her; I’ll keep her away from you.” He motions ahead. “Ethan has just accepted to marry his daughter to Earl Edric Astor’s son. You can go back to England now. Congratulate Elsa on my behalf.”

Earl Edric Astor’s son.

Fuck no.

A heavy weight settles on my chest as I slip out of the office without a word.

Elsa is mine.

Fucking mine.

It’s time the world learns that fact.

25

Elsa

Something is wrong.

I sense it in my bones the moment I walk inside our house.

The air is stuffy, suffocating even.

Knox and Teal sit with Agnus and Dad in the lounge area. The chesterfield sofas appear like a battlefield.

Dad and Agnus sip their coffees in silence. Knox appears thoughtful. Teal’s brows are pinched together in… confusion? Anger?

She’s wearing a pullover, with the words, If you see me jogging, kill whatever the hell is chasing me written on it.

Usually, I’d smile at her sarcastic quotes, but the mood is completely off today.

I inch closer, fingering the strap of my backpack.

“Princess,” Dad smiles as soon as his light brown eyes meet mine. “You’re finally here.”

“Sorry, I spent time with Kim and Kir. We promised him to watch a film together.” And I just finished a run in the rain. It’s been too tense lately and only running allows me to relax. Of course, I changed my soaked clothes at Kim’s or Dad would give me grief. Like Aunt, he’s strict about endangering my heart condition.

“It’s okay.” He stands. “Let’s talk in my office.”

He walks ahead of me. I throw one last glance at the other three. Agnus encourages me to follow Dad with a nod.

Knox sighs. “I hate this whole shit.”

“You…” Teal clears her throat, peeking up at me. “You have to think about it.”

Okay. That makes the situation even more ambiguous than when I walked in. Better follow Dad and find out what’s going on.

Dread tightens my muscles as I take the steps two at a time. When I’m at the top, I check my phone.

My stomach falls when I find no texts from Aiden. For some reason, I want to talk to him right now.

I’ve been barely keeping myself sane this entire week. With him gone, RES is empty and fucking depressive. I see him in every corner and every hall. Hell, I even went to the football practice, imagining him scoring a goal in that perfect posture.

I didn’t know how much I needed Aiden in my life until he was gone.

With the time difference, we could only text at odd times of the night. It’s not nearly enough.

The thought that we’ll be permanently separated at the end of this year brings a taste of nausea to my throat.

It steals my breaths, that thought.

To distract myself, I’ve spent nights at Aunt and Uncle’s, doing yoga. I went out with the horsemen, Knox, Teal, and Kim, but nothing and no one can take up Aiden’s place.

He’s been a constant in my life since the beginning of the year, and now that he’s gone, it’s pure torture.

Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I hug my backpack to my chest and follow Dad into his office. We sit side by side on the black leather sofa in the centre of the room.

“How was your day?” he asks.

“Good.”

Dad always asks about my day and if I need anything. While that makes me happy on most days, I’m not the least bit joyful right now.

Bricks of anxiety pile at the bottom of my stomach with every second he remains silent.

“What’s going on, Dad?”

“You know that your opinion matters to me more than anything else, right?”

I nod once, unsure where he’s going with this.

“As you know, the Rhodes have a voting committee in place. Their members will decide whether Jonathan or I get the partnership.”

“I do.”

While I’ve been butting out of Dad and Jonathan’s war, Agnus has been keeping us in the know. Each company has been recruiting members of that committee to vote in their favour.

Sebastian Queens, Silver’s father, is a member, and Jonathan is pissed off at Aiden for breaking off the engagement at a time like this.

Still, I’m sure Sebastian will vote in Jonathan’s favour considering they’ve been long-time allies.