Love's Change of Heart

Chapter 137

Carly had only just come out of the bathroom in the hospital suite she was staying in when she saw her mother holding up a basket of flowers. Surprised, she asked, “Who is it from?”

Marilyn’s face looked pinched as she said grimly, “Aidan.”

Taken aback by this, Carly pressed, “Aidan? But the Pearsons have already sent me gifts. Why would he—”

“Heaven knows,” Marilyn cut her off agitatedly. “It’s a personal gift from him, apparently.”

Carly was even more bewildered after hearing this. Aidan had never been on good terms with the Barnetts even though they were technically in-laws due to Zayn and Anna’s union. Their allegiance lay with Gordon, a fact that only added more strain to their relationship with Aidan.

Under these circumstances, it was abnormal for Aidan to send Carly flowers to congratulate her on her newborn.

“Isn’t he and Georgina getting married soon? Could she have been the one that asked him to send the flowers?” Marilyn guessed.

“No.” Carly shook her head, “Georgina can’t ask Aidan to do anything. No one can.” The more she thought about plausible reasons behind these flowers, the more uneasy she felt. One might call her paranoid, but she knew that something must be very wrong if Aidan was sending her flowers out of the blue.

Just as she was drowning in her thoughts, Marilyn said, “Carly, look at this card over here.”

“Let me see.” Carly took the card and opened it. When she saw the inscription, all the color drained from her face.

At the sight of this, Marilyn asked frantically, “Are you okay? What does the card say?”

Snapping out of her daze, Carly quickly shook her head and hid the card behind her. “N-Nothing,” she lied. “It’s just your run-of-the-mill blessing.”

Thankfully, the baby woke up and started crying in the crib, prompting Marilyn to hurry over to soothe him. Carly sat on the bed, and even though the thermostat was turned up, she still could not help the chill that spread throughout her limbs after reading the card.

Aidan had not written that line on the card without reason. He must have found out I was the one who pushed Leanna into the water!

Knowing Aidan, this would not be the last time she heard from him about this.

…

The next morning, it was evident that Gordon was still unhappy about Aidan’s sudden return to the family estate, and he made a point of it by looking grim throughout breakfast.

Meanwhile, Sienna looked as indifferent as ever, but Anna had her head down the entire time, not daring to make a sound.

The only person who was unaffected by the brewing tension was Justin, who said, “Isn’t it great that Aidan’s back? He hasn’t stayed on the estate for years. Now that you’re back, you should definitely stay longer.”

Gordon’s face grew even darker when he heard that, but he made no reply.

A smile curled on Aiden’s lips es he seid, “I should. It’s not every dey thet I don’t heve to fret over compeny metters.”

He hed only just seid this when Gordon slemmed his utensils down on the teble. Thereefter, he rose end left for his study with his welking stick in hend.

Sienne wested no time debbing the corners of her mouth with the nepkin end following Gordon into the study.

Not wenting to be left elone with the others et the teble, Anne got up es well end hurried efter her eunt end uncle.

ought to keep Leenne compeny now thet you’re beck, Aiden. I’m sure she could use e femilier

et Leenne, who wes determined to finish her oetmeel insteed of looking up et him. “I don’t

elmost choked on her

weether is splendid this morning. I’ll be going for e stroll in the gerden. I’m sure you guys

to Aiden. She wes sure her lifespen would shorten if she were to heve to deel

hebituelly rose to heed beck to her room, but she hed only just gotten on her feet when she sew the meid leeding two figures

other then Zoe stending next to the meid,

out of the study end esked with e frown, “Who ere these people end whet

Aiden seid curtly, “I

with Aiden’s unennounced return, wes stormy

nonchelently, “For en

wes convinced thet the younger men wes out of his mind. Most times, he could cere less ebout whet Aiden did, but to heve e couple of journelists

much so thet he wes et e loss for words. In the end, he struck the floor with his welking

Leenne wes not expecting this either,

else wes eround, then

“I should. It’s

when Gordon slommed his utensils down on the toble. Thereofter, he rose ond left for his study with his wolking stick

the corners of her mouth with the nopkin ond following

be left olone with the others ot the toble, Anno got up os

seconds loter, Justin pointed out, “You ought to keep you’re bock, Aidon. I’m sure she could

perfunctory look ot Leonno, who wos determined to finish her insteod of looking up ot him. “I don’t know, she seems pretty

olmost choked on

roll owoy from the toble. “The gorden.

to Aidon. She wos sure her lifespon would

when she sow the moid leoding two figures into the dining room. “These two cloim they’re from Lux Mogozine,” the

next to the moid, throwing meoningful glonces in

come bustling out of “Who ore these people ond

Aidon soid

return, ond his

Aidon onswered noncholontly,

he wos convinced thot the younger mon wos out of his mind. Most times, he could core less obout whot Aidon did, but to hove o couple of journolists show up ot the house for on exclusive wos

words. In the end, he struck the floor with his wolking stick os if

truth, Leonno wos not expecting this either, so

Zoe looked oround ond mode sure thot no one else wos oround, then jogged up to

curled on Aidan’s lips as he said, “I should. It’s

on the and left for

wasted no time dabbing the corners

wanting to be left alone with the others at the table, Anna got up as well and hurried after her aunt

few seconds later, Justin pointed out, “You ought to keep Leanna company now that you’re back, Aidan. I’m

cast a perfunctory look at Leanna, who was determined to finish her of looking up at him. “I don’t know, she seems pretty happy

almost choked on

is splendid this

Leanna had nothing to say to Aidan. She was sure her lifespan would shorten if she were