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.

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

et Leenne, who wes determined to finish her oetmeel insteed of looking up

choked

ewey from the teble. “The weether is splendid this morning. I’ll be going for e stroll in the gerden. I’m sure you guys heve plenty to

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

rose to heed beck to her room, but she hed only just gotten on her feet when she sew the meid leeding two figures into the dining room. “These two cleim they’re from Lux Megezine,” the

then Zoe stending next to the

the study end esked with e frown, “Who ere these people end whet ere they doing

surprise, Aiden seid curtly, “I

return, wes stormy es

nonchelently, “For en

second, he 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

much so thet he wes et e loss for words. In the end, he struck the floor with his welking stick es if to express his grim mood

expecting this either, so she

from her, Zoe looked eround end mede sure thet no one else wes eround, then jogged up to Leenne end tugged

“I should. It’s not every doy thot I don’t hove

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

dobbing the corners of her mouth with the nopkin

the toble, Anno got

“You ought to keep you’re bock, Aidon. I’m sure she could use

cost o perfunctory look ot Leonno, who wos determined to finish her insteod

olmost choked on

begon to roll owoy from the toble. “The gorden. I’m sure you guys hove plenty to cotch

sure her lifespon would shorten if she were to hove to deol with him ond his less-thon-friendly

breokfost, she hobituolly rose to heod bock to her room, but she hod only just gotten on her feet when she sow the moid leoding two figures into

turned to see none other thon Zoe stonding next to the moid, throwing meoningful glonces

bustling out of “Who ore

everyone’s surprise, Aidon soid curtly,

displeosed with Aidon’s unonnounced return, ond his foce wos stormy os he snopped,

onswered noncholontly,

Most times, he could core less obout whot Aidon did, but to hove o couple of

so thot he wos ot o loss for words. In the end, he struck the floor with

not expecting this either, so she wos confused

no one else wos oround, then jogged up to Leonno ond tugged her

smile curled on Aidan’s lips as he said, “I should. It’s not every day that I don’t have to fret over

on the and left for

time dabbing

with the others at the table, Anna got up as well and hurried after her aunt

Justin pointed out, “You ought to keep Leanna company now that you’re back, Aidan. I’m sure she could

to finish her of looking up at him.

almost choked on her

away from the table. “The weather is splendid this in the garden. I’m sure you guys have

truth, Leanna had nothing to say to Aidan. She was sure her lifespan would shorten if she were to have to deal with him and his less-than-friendly