Aiden

I had no idea how long I remained sitting on the floor. I was running my hands through my hair and repeating everything in my head. I had too much to mull over, but no thought formed in my mind. I could grab nothing solid. It was like all that awaited me was a vast black nothingness. As if a cosmic vacuum was sucking on my soul. I knew in my heart that Sydney wasn't lying. Mike had probably manipulated her.
Never in my life had I ever forced a woman to bed and now not only had I hurt Sydney, but I also had made things worse. She would never trust me again.
I sprang up and hurried over to our bedroom. I half expected the room to be deserted, but there she was, lying on the bed. I approached her and took a seat beside her. Her eyes were closed and her face was concealed beneath her arm. Her respiration was shallow, but her lungs continued to take in air. Her heartbeat thumped against the side of her neck, which I could see.

"Syd," I struggled to find the right words. "I am sorry. I-," I was at a loss for words. How do I rationalise my fury and possessiveness?
"It hurts. It hurts to want you so badly, need you so powerfully, and yet you.....love him....it's killing me." I was stroking her dampened hair from her face. "Please, I don't give a damn about anything. I can forget everything. Just be with me, please." When I felt her stiffen slightly, I sighed in resignation. "We can talk later. I'll give you time. Don't worry, I won't force you again." I waited for a response, but when none came, I left heavy-hearted, screaming internally.

**********************
Sydney

I exhaled deeply as I heard his footsteps fade away. He hadn't bothered to ask me any more questions. He seemed only concerned with controlling my desires while I satisfied his. I suddenly felt warm at the notion of his touch on my flesh, and the intensity from earlier swept over me without warning.
Just as he desired, I had submitted to his touch. Not only had I enjoyed it. If he'd asked, I would have let him steal my soul. I'd been a complete moron. I had put my faith in him, had given in so easily to my body's yearning, and even loved him.

Even now, the pull of my desire for him was overpowering. Despite any logical argument against him I could devise, I knew my longing for him would forever pulse through my veins. And that sickened me. I can't stay here anymore. It was all over. Aiden never loved me, he was incapable of loving anyone except himself.

I waited until the wee hours of the morning. Aiden never went to sleep in our bedroom and I was glad about that. I changed into jeans and a comfortable top. I didn't have much to pack as I was leaving everything which belonged to Aiden. Lastly, I took off his ring and placed it on the dressing table. The only thing I was going to borrow for now was the car. I would return it to him later. I was sure he would come after me but I didn't care. I would deal with it when the time came. I drove out of the huge ornate gates as the sun was rising in the eastern sky before everyone else in the manor woke up from their slumber.

*************

Aiden

The harsh blaring of my phone jolted me awake. I rubbed my neck, which was sore from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. While reviewing the reports, I slept off on the study couch.

I groggily whispered into my phone, "Aiden speaking."

"Mr Rainer, Clifton here, we have a problem."

I was suddenly alert and sat up straight. "What is it?"

"Detective Howard has been trying to reach you, sir. They found a clue in Emily's case. She had been secretly meeting Mr William. He was also seen leaving her apartment a day before her death."

"William," I muttered under my breath. Why didn't I think of this earlier? That woman and her good-for-nothing son were up to something.

"What do we do Sir?" Clifton asked.

"Let me handle it, I will get back to you later."

I kept the phone and walked towards the east wing in search of Fiona and William. I found Fiona near the pool having her coffee. She turned towards me and smiled sardonically. "Look who is here, the golden boy himself."

"Where is William?" I asked, ignoring her smirk.

"Why are you so concerned? Are you now experiencing sudden brotherly feelings for him?" Fiona laughed.

I sat down next to her in the chair with my eyes narrowed. I'd had enough of games.

"Look woman, I know everything. I know how many times you have sneaked behind my back to get your son out of the mess. You think I don't know about the checks grandpa keeps giving you?"
Her face turned white but she quickly composed herself. "Wouldn't you save yourself if you got on the wrong side of the law? You are no saint either. None of you are. The Reiner name which you are so proud of. It has a bloody history." She seethed.

I scoffed.

" Don't change the goal post, Fiona. Where is William?" I repeated a little more harshly.

"I don't know! " she shouted.

"You are lying! " I said calmly. "This time he is in deep shit and when I catch him I will make sure he pays for what he has done," I warned her and stood up to leave.

"William hasn't done anything," Fiona suddenly said, her eyes darted around wildly.

"Oh please! that little monster......."

"My son is not a monster!" Fiona screamed, cutting me off. She was getting hysterical. "You think I like living here? Living with you....stuck up devils? But I have to, I have to tolerate you and your old man....for my son who never got the same respect or love from anyone. Do you want to know who the real monster was? You father.....you father was a child-killing monster!" She spat and suddenly went silent as if she spoke too much.

I stopped and stared at her. " What are you talking about?"

She gave me a nasty gaze before suddenly smiling. "I will destroy you if you try to touch my son."

I rolled my eyes at her empty threat. "Your son is already working towards that. You know what he has done?"
For a little moment, she gazed down, as if considering something. She then returned her gaze to me.

"I've been through worse. I know something that has the potential to smear your reputation. It will harm you as well as the Reiner group. Everything will be destroyed." She proudly stated.

I glanced at her with my arms folded. "I'm not convinced."

"Certainly! Why should you trust me? But you'd believe your grandfather, right?" she shrugged.

I frowned. What was she implying?

"Do you know why your grandfather, who despises William and me, keeps me in this house? When your father died, he could have easily thrown me out? Why does he continue to bail out Will? Do you believe he does it to honour your father's will?" She grinned.

She had a valid point. Grandpa despised both of them but kept them around, putting up with Will and Fiona's misbehaviour. Why?

I said, "Just tell me what you know."

Fiona was a gold-digging liar who loved William and would go to any length to save him. I had a suspicion she knew something about my father and the Munoz incident. Something my grandfather would never tell me, but would do anything about getting exposed to the world.
"You're so impatient! Just like your father. He, too, disliked waiting."

"I don't want to talk about my father..."

"Oh! But you must listen because what I'm about to tell you concerns your father."

I frowned even more.

"However, I require assurance that you will not hurt Will." Fiona was adamant.

"That depends on your great revelation," I replied, exasperated.

"So, Aiden Reiner, prepare yourself. As I previously stated, your father was a monster!" She expressed her displeasure.