Sophieâs pov âWhat are you two doing here?â Aiden asked as he struts over until he was beside me and Ashton.
His motherâs eyes left mine and Ashtonâs to peer at her son. They glisten:
âWhy didnât you tell me we have a grandson Aiden?â She whispered brokenly, making my heart ache.
âMom I-
Aidenâs voice is shaky with surprise and pain.
âLove,â Aidenâs dad called out to his wife and enveloped her in a warm hug. He sends Aiden a disapproving stare.
She sniffles. âIâm fine Grant.â She reassured him even though the sound of her voice said otherwise.
âAiden,â His father starts, his voice tight with disapproval. âYou better explain this mess!â
Aiden looks completely lost, his eyes sweeping from my mortified expression to his fatherâs tight and disapproving stare.
âI-
âItâs my fault.â I butted in quickly before Aiden could tell them anything. I knew heâd take the fault for my stupid decision so I had to do something.
I couldnât stand there and act innocent.
His mother pulls away from her husband to peer at me in confusion.
âSophie-
Aiden warned, looking at me fixedly and telling me silently to keep my mouth sealed.
I tear my eyes away from his and focus them on his parents.
âIâm the reason he hadnât told anyone about Ashton. He also hadnât known about him until a couple of days ago.â I rip my gaze from Mrs. Xavier and set them on the floor in shame as I continued.
âI kept the knowledge of his son away from him. If thereâs anyone to be blamed, it should be me.â
Itâs so quiet after my words that you would be able to hear the sound of a pin dropping to the floor.
Itâs silent and awkward for a few, making me shift on my feet, praying for someone to break the uncomfortable silence. My prayers are answered a few seconds after.
âWell then,â Mrs. Xavier breathed out. âNow that we got this out of the way. Iâm sure you already know me Sophie, Iâm Meredith but you can just call me Mere.â
An outstretched hand comes into my vision. Iâm stunned not only by her passiveness but by the fact she hadnât asked why I kept Ashton from Aiden.
âI had an inkling the mother of my grandchild would have been you Sophie. I just knew it in my bones.â Her voice wasnât shaky like it was minutes ago. Now it was lighter, more airy and filled with a bit of happiness.
I canât seem to fathom the fact that she even has a bit of happiness to see me. The last time we saw each other, I was on the stand and she was in the crowd with tears in her eyes.
I thought she would hate me. Loathe me and not want to be in the same room with me, but she was proving me wrong.
Aiden nudged me a little with his elbow and I let out a light giggle and took her outstretched hand.
âOh come here you,â She voiced when her hands clutched mine. She tugged me into a hug, Ash in the middle of us.
He squeals and Meredith pulls away. âAnd whatâs this little handsome boyâs name? Please donât let it be Grant junior.â She asked while playing with Ashtonâs finger.
I couldnât help but smile at hearing her elated tone. âItâs Ashton.â
âOh thank God. Such a handsome name for a handsome boy.â She cooed and pinched Ashtonâs cheeks. âThank God you werenât named Grant huh?â
She joked, blowing him strawberries.
âHey! I thought you loved my name!?â Mr. Xavier whined, playfully glaring at his wifeâs back as she cooed at Ashton.
âYou have it all wrong my handsome. I love you, not your name.â She corrected him without sparing him a glance.
Mr. Xavier rolled his eyes and settled his irritated glare on Aiden and me. âYou two still need to explain why you decided not to tell us sooner about Ashton. â
âOh leave them be Grant. Theyâre young, God alone knows the drama and trials we went through to be what we are today. We wouldnât be Xavierâs if we didnât have a bit of drama in our lives.â Meredith winked at me.
âBesides your son is a pain in the butt just like you. Poor Sophie mustâve gone through so much.â Meredith sighed.
âThanks a lot mom for thinking the worst about me and not being on my side.â Aiden uttered sarcastically as he looped his arm around my waist.
âYouâre welcome.â Meredith grinned widely making me giggle.
âDad a little help here?â Aiden looked at his father for some help. Mr Xavier walks over to Aiden and taps him on the shoulder.
âAt least you got the girl son.â
Aiden beamed, his shoulders straightening and his chest puffing out. âShe was a bit difficult to catch but I managed to get her.â He said while winking down at me.
âMen and their ego.â Meredith uttered with a roll of her eyes.
âCome on Sophie letâs talk about wedding plans.â Meredith winked, clutching my hand and practically dragging me away from Aiden and his father.
âPoor Sophie,â I heard Mr. Xavier uttered behind me softly while his wife guided me to the sofa.
We spoke about wedding plans for a few hours, and though. Meredith had not taken a single breather, I kind of weirdly enjoyed talking to her about it.
She was eager to see me wed her son, I could tell by her voice and the way she looked at me.
âSon by this rate your mother will have you bankrupt.â Mr. Xavier joked as he took a sip of the beer Aiden gave him.
âOh hush Grant! Our baby will only be married once to the love of his life. Everything must be grand!â Meredith argued, sending a sharp scowl at her husband who looked at her amused.
âGrand isnât always good. The kids may want a small wedding love.â Mr. Xavier voiced.
âI forbid!â Meredith argued.
I looked at Aiden who shrugged, a smile playing on his lips.
âYouâre going to have a grand wedding Sophie. I promise.â Meredith reaches over to squeeze my hand. Ashtonâs on her lap, looking at everyone like we were some kind of aliens from out of space.
The Girl He Craves novel (Sophie and Aiden)
From his point of view, perhaps I cannot blame him. We looked like a crazy family.
âThank you,â I whispered, moving my eyes off her hand to peer into her eyes. âFor not hating me.â
She tilts her head, looking confused. âFor what sweetie? Why would I hate you?â
I looked down at Ashton.â For what happened in the past with Aiden and-
I stopped, not able to say it. I swallowed.
âOh that. You wasnât the cause of anything Sophie. It was an accident. You canât blame yourself for something that was an accident.â She squeezed my hand again.
âHow can I ever hate the girl who my son had been in love with for years? The girl who manages to make him smile. You know, he hadnât smiled in a while.â
I flick my gaze back to hers.
âThank you for coming back into his life and giving me back my son.â She whispered, a grateful one that made me feel warm.
Iâm about to respond, emotions bubbled in my throat. But before I could, the buzzer goes off.
âIâll get it.â Mr. Xavier declared and stalks over to the door.
I looked over at Aiden. We both were not expecting anyone.
Who else is here to surprise us?
Sergio perhaps?
The door pries open and I brought my gaze back to the door.
The air gets snagged in my lungs.
âAiden Xavier?â The police officer steps into the room, the other four following after him.
ï¤Chapter 160 The Billionaires Mistress ï¤Epilogue The Alpha and The Fool ï¤Chapter 30 The Billionaires Mistress The Alpha and The Fool