After breakfast, Aiden found himself growing restless. The mansion was quiet—too quiet—and every ticking second made him miss the bustle of his café back home. Wandering aimlessly through the marble halls, he eventually spotted Madam Smith sitting in the garden, enjoying her tea. The soft rustle of leaves and her serene posture drew him closer.
"Would you care to join me?" she asked warmly, her voice calm but commanding.
"Can I?" Aiden asked timidly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Of course, dear. Have a seat. Get him a drink," she ordered one of the maids.
Aiden swallowed hard and sat across from her. The silence at first was gentle, then slowly melted into laughter and conversation. She had a charm that made him feel at ease — grandmotherly yet sharp, like someone who had seen too much of the world to be fooled by anything.
"I could hardly believe it when I heard Damien brought someone home," she said suddenly, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
"And… why is that, ma'am?"
"The Damien I raised," she began, "has been cold and distant since he was a teenager. Ever since the accident that took his parents… he hasn't been the same. He was in a coma for two years, and when he woke up, it was like part of him never did."
Aiden's smile faded. "Oh… I'm so sorry, Grandma."
"It's not your fault, dear," she said softly, placing a hand over his. "But perhaps fate brought you here for a reason."
Before Aiden could respond, Charlie appeared at the garden entrance, hands in his pockets and a playful smirk on his face.
"There you are! I've been looking all over. We're going shopping, so get ready. Twenty minutes."
"Where have you been? You left him alone all morning," Madam Smith scolded lightly.
"I had to run an errand for Charles," Charlie replied sheepishly. "Anyway, get ready, Aiden. We don't have all day."
Aiden turned back to the elderly woman with a pout. "I really hate to leave now."
"It's fine, dear," she said with a warm smile. "We'll continue our talk when you return."
---
The car ride was quiet, the city gliding by in a blur of colors. Aiden kept replaying what Grandma Smith had said. He was in a coma for two years… how lonely that must have been.
He sighed without realizing it.
"Aiden?" Charlie called, snapping him out of thought. "You okay? You've been staring out the window like a sad movie character."
"I'm fine," Aiden muttered. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"Nothing important. Let's just go."
---
At the mall, Aiden immediately noticed the ridiculous prices. Every shirt looked like it could pay his rent for a month. When he reached for a simple T-shirt, Charlie frowned.
"There's no way you're getting that."
"Why not? I like this one."
"Because Damien will have my head for letting you buy anything cheap," he teased. "Just pick what you want, don't worry about the price."
"But—"
"No buts. Have fun for once."
Charlie ended up selecting half the store for him, laughing whenever Aiden tried to help carry the bags.
"Come on, let him do it," he said, nodding to the staff. "It's their job, not yours."
Afterward, they stopped by an upscale Japanese restaurant. The table was soon covered with colorful dishes, all beautifully presented.
"Wow…" Aiden's eyes sparkled.
"You love it, huh?"
"Of course! This looks amazing."
"Then dig in, and please—drop the 'senior' thing. Just call me Charlie. I'm only two years older than you."
"O-okay… Charlie," he said, smiling shyly.
"That's better."
---
As they ate, Aiden finally asked, "So… all your names start with 'C'. Why is Damien's different?"
Charlie chuckled. "Good question. His full name is actually Charlton, but don't ever call him that. He hates it."
"Why?"
"No one really knows. Maybe something tied to the accident."
Aiden nodded, then smiled faintly. "When is he coming back?"
"Probably not today. He's got meetings in another province. Why—missing him already?"
"What? No!" Aiden blushed. "I just… wanted to know."
Charlie smirked. "Thought so."
They finished lunch, and Charlie mentioned he had a party later.
"Can I come with you?" Aiden asked hopefully.
"Uh, no way. Damien would kill me if I took you along. And besides, it's not exactly safe for a newcomer."
"Pleaseee," Aiden pleaded, pouting adorably. "It's not like I'm gonna tell him. And he's not my boyfriend."
"Not your boyfriend? Then what is he?" Charlie teased.
"Someone who abducted me the day I was supposed to get things done," Aiden said with a sarcastic laugh.
Charlie laughed. "But you two did have a thing, didn't you?"
"Yeah… maybe. But it's not worth being kept hostage over," Aiden muttered, standing up.
Charlie chuckled softly. "Now I get it."
"Whatever," Aiden huffed.
"Alright, alright. Let's go," Charlie said, amused.
---