I Failed to Divorce My Husband - Chapter 14
– Chapter 14 –
Aiden got off the carriage and looked up at the bank building as if he never expected to see it.
“A bank?”
“Yes. Follow me.”
Erin led Aiden inside, then she talked to the first staff she saw.
“I’m here to pick up the money under the name of Erin Zahard.”
She’s married and is now Erin Leinster, but she used Zahard, her maiden name, at the bank.
“Please come this way.”
Following the staff’s guidance, Erin and Aiden headed to a room for special guests.
After a long wait, the staff brought a piece of paper.
“This is the document. Would you like to check first?”
Erin didn’t even check the document properly and just handed it out to Aiden.
“This is all for you.”
Erin said in high spirits.
She might not be the beloved daughter of Marquis Zahard, but she acquired wealth from her marriage.
It was not a small sum.
“This is all my money. No one will know where it goes after I withdraw it.”
Well, other than the person who used the money.
Aiden would have understood what she meant at once.
That was why his hand, which was holding the document, was slightly shaking.
“If you have this money, there’s no need for you use dangerous methods to earn money.”
When Aiden explained his plan to Erin a while ago, she deliberately refused to tell him that she was going to fund it.
The way Erin pointed that out felt like a sting, then she said.
“I said I can help you, right?”
Erin said proudly with her chin slightly raised.
“Is it … really alright to give me this?”
It was Erin’s entire wealth, so Aiden couldn’t believe that she gave him all of it.
He hesitated because he felt sorry and burdened for taking all her money.
But Erin answered at the speed of light.
“Of course. This is an investment.”
“Investment?”
“If you succeed in doing business with this money, you’ll repay me a greater sum.”
Erin said as if it was an obvious thing.
The moment Aiden heard it, his eyelids trembled and his body shivered.
Erin… she believes I’ll succeed.
Aiden felt like he had received the biggest investment with Erin’s belief in him.
Then Erin added,
“Aiden, I’ve already told you that I’m on your side.”
Erin smiled brightly.
That one sentence struck him.
Aiden made a promise. He’d give Erin multiple times the amount she gave him.
Contrary to Aiden’s opinion about her, Erin didn’t waste any of her money.
Aiden was a genius in doing business, and Erin knew the original plot of the story.
There was no chance for Aiden’s business to fail.
They didn’t withdraw all the money from the bank.
Aiden decided to take it all and use it when he was ready to start his business. He and Erin came out of the bank.
“Should we go back now?”
It was time for them to return to the mansion since their business at the bank was done.
“We’re just going to return like this?”
Aiden stopped walking and asked her. Erin replied, wondering.
“Do you have any other places to visit?”
Aiden’s eyes and lips drooped down when he heard Erin’s words. There was a look of great disappointment on his face.
“It’s not that… it’s just, this is our first time going out together.”
Aiden murmured with a longing voice.
Erin stared at Aiden.
Come to think of it, this was her first time going out with Aiden. She could see why he didn’t want to return to the mansion right away.
“Then, should we hang out a little longer?”
Aiden’s face brightened at Erin’s words.
He grabbed Erin’s hand naturally before he knew it.
“Yes!”
This time, Aiden was the one who led Erin.
Aiden walked while holding Erin’s hand tightly.
The sight of two ten-year-old children going around while holding each other’s hands caught people’s attention.
“Oh my, so cute.”
“Look at them holding hands.”
“Are they friends?”
“Do you want to try this?”
People spoke to Erin and Aiden as they passed by, and the vendors gave the food they were selling to both of them.
Erin and Aiden were unaware that people thought they were cute because they looked like they were playing around.
Erin looked at Aiden while eating a grilled sausage and vegetables skewer given by one of the vendors.
“Aiden, why don’t you eat?”
“I …”
Aiden hesitated and frowned.
Erin brought the food close to Aiden’s mouth. Once he opened his mouth, she would make him eat it.
Aiden’s lips opened like an automatic door, and he took a bite of the food.
Erin burst into laughter when he saw Aiden’s stuffed cheeks.
It was not a big thing, but it was fun.
After eating all the street food they got, the two walked side by side while holding hands.
“There will be a lot of people from here, so don’t let go of my hand.”
Aiden requested earnestly. Feeling worried that his hand might slip and he would lose her, he strengthened his grip.
It was the moment they were able to enjoy themselves.
There were only a few people a while ago, but suddenly more people swarmed the street just like Aiden said.
With many people around, Aiden and Erin were pushed here and there.
Before she knew it, Erin was pushed by the crowd and lost her grip on Aiden’s hand.
“Huh…? Eh, eh…?!”
Erin was pushed away in a flash.
Aiden’s hand slipped through her fingers like grains of sand.
What about Aiden?
Erin looked around immediately but couldn’t spot him.
I think we’ve been too far separated.
Erin moved further from the crowd to avoid getting swept along again.
Until the street became less crowded, Erin planned to wait in the corner before finding Aiden.
Where’s Aiden?
Erin headed to where she saw Aiden a little while ago.
It seemed that Aiden was swept along by the crowd as well since she couldn’t find him.
“Don’t let go of my hand.”
Erin remembered Aiden telling her not to let go of his hand.
Erin was more worried for Aiden, who was possibly worried about her.
Erin waited for a little bit, and the street gradually became less crowded and quieter.
Then she looked around and searched for Aiden through the street.
And the moment she found him, she felt like she was losing her mind.
66
When you were being swept along by the crowd, you’d run into so many people and be pushed here and there.
She can guess the whole situation just by seeing Aiden curled up in the corner.
Erin took a step toward him.
“Aiden.”
Erin called him.
Aiden immediately looked up when he heard her. He gave a mournful look when he saw his savior.
The way he looked at her was similar to someone who was looking at a ray of hope after living in despair.
“Where have you been?!”
Erin gave Aiden a big hug.
Aiden, who was shocked, buried his face on Erin’s shoulder.
Aiden loved holding hands with Erin, so people would think his condition was much better now.
But that was not the case.
Erin’s heart sank.
Trauma was not something that could be easily overcome.
You have to be cautious and treat yourself for a long time.
However …
Aiden’s situation now was not easy.
He was hiding his trauma until now and he couldn’t be treated openly.
It’s all because he was the heir to the Leinster family.
Aiden had to hold it in alone the whole time.
Aiden forced himself to smile, but in the end, the smile slowly crumbled and distorted.
Recently, Aiden had been suffering from nightmares.
Erin opened her mouth and carefully asked Aiden.
“Aiden, are you holding it in for me?”
She guessed that he might be pretending to feel better because he was being considerate of her.
“No, that’s…!”
Aiden shouted loudly. It was not like that at all for him.
“It’s alright if it’s Erin, but other people …”
I still hate it.
Aiden slightly bowed his head. He looked weak.
Erin looked at him with a sad face.
She didn’t want to force him to be okay, but if Aiden’s still like this, Erin’s sure that Whitney wouldn’t miss this chance and would try to influence him.
Whitney could be dealt with at any time, but the most important thing now was for Aiden to get rid of his fear.
Erin reached for Aiden.
Aiden flinched for a moment, but feeling a familiar touch on his body, he gradually calmed down.
The unpleasant feeling he got after being in a crowd was washed away. He felt better afterwards.
Erin didn’t let go of Aiden. Her hand remained on Aiden, patting him on his back.
She opened her mouth and spoke carefully.
“Aiden. I want to ask you a big favor… would you listen to it?”
He looked at Erin with his eyes wide open.
Erin struggled to open her tightened lips.
“Can you try to let other people touch you like this?”
Aiden’s forehead narrowed. Just imagining it already made him hate it.
Erin didn’t feel good to ask him that either.
However, it was a problem that Aiden had to overcome on his own.
Otherwise, no matter how many times they avoided Whitney, Aiden wouldn’t be able to escape her influence completely.
But it’s still too much.
Erin, shaken by Aiden’s slightly distorted face, wanted to take back her words because she realized it wasn’t right.
“I understand what you’re saying.”
Aiden replied. He nodded with a firm face.
“It’s not going to be better right away, but… I’ll try it.”
He sounded like he understood why Erin asked that favor.
In the end, it was all for him.
“But instead …”
Aiden hesitated and continued to speak slowly.
His eyes looked straight to Erin’s.
“Every time I try, I want to get something as a reward.”
“What do you want? Just tell me!”
Erin asked like she was ready to get the moon and stars from the sky for him.
“Are you really going to give me anything?”
“… Of course!”
Erin wanted to do anything for him.
Aiden’s mouth curved in a smile at her words.
– To Be Continued –