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Chapter 812
Chapter 812
Aaron and Hayden working together? Lena couldn't wrap her head around it.
She tried to figure out how it happened, but no matter how she turned it, the puzzle pieces didn't fit.
"I met Hayden four years ago," Aaron said, almost like he could read her mind.
His voice was deeper now, smoother, like it had aged with him. Back then, it had been rough around the edges,
just like him.
They say wine gets better with age. Guess men do, too.
"Back then, | was being blackmailed by sforeigners," Aaron started. "When | refused to pay, they cafter
me. Things got ugly, and they nearly killed me. Hayden's the one who saved my life."
Lena froze. He'd never mentioned this-not to her, not to her mom, not even to their grandparents. All she'd ever
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtheard about his tabroad were the headlines: success stories, promotions, starting his own company. Nothing
about struggles, let alone life-threatening
ones.
He'd hidden the bad and only shared the good.
"Hayden tookto the hospital," Aaron continued, "and stayed until | was discharged. That's how we became
friends. | also learned a bit about what he was involved in. Surviving abroad isn't easy. If you want to succeed,
you need power and influence. Everything you see here," he gestured lightly, "is the result of years of building
that."
It clicked for Lena. He hadn't built his empire by choice-it was survival.
"When Keira ran into trouble in Houston, Hayden ctoimmediately," Aaron explained, his tone steady. "I
stayed under the radar to avoid drawing suspicion."
Lena frowned. "If Wayne's got something big planned tomorrow, then shouldn't you have stayed hidden?
Showing up today feels like tipping him off."
Aaron didn't reply, but the look he gave her said it all.
It hit her-she'd called him. Her panic had blown their cover. Now, Wayne would have to regroup and cback
even harder.
A wave of guilt crashed over Lena, and she lowered her head. "I'm sorry. It's my-"
"Even if you hadn't called, | still would've come" Aaron cut her off.
He'd known the situation all along. There was no way he'd let her stay in danger.
Lena blinked, trying to process his words, but he didn't explain further. Instead, he
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Chapter 812
reached out and gently patted her head. "Go be with Keira. Don't worry about anything else. After tomorrow,
everything will settle down."
His voice was calm, steady-the kind of confidence that made her believe him, like she always had.
When Aaron said everything would be okay, it always was.
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"Uncle Aaron," Lena said softly as she turned to leave. Thinking about tomorrow, she hesitated, then added, "Be
careful. Take care of yourself." "Mm. | will.
She walked a few steps, but her feet dragged, and she kept glancing back. Every time, Aaron was still there,
watching her with the ssteady presence.
It reminded her of first grade, when she'd refused to go to school out of sheer terror of the unfamiliar. Carol had
finally called Aaron, who had held her hand all the way to the school gates.
"Uncle Aaron will stay right here and watch you" Carol had told her back then.
Lena had gone into school, but she'd kept turning back to look at him, just like now-every few steps, another
glance.
It was a mix of reluctance, nerves, and the comfort she always felt seeing him there.
Aaron had been her anchor. But looking back now, Lena realized how much she'd overreacted in the past. After a
few awkward moments and silly rumors at school, she'd started pulling away. When he left for abroad, the
distance between them becabsolute. In hindsight, it was so immature. He was her uncle. Whatever
awkwardness had happened back then was harmless, and her own sensitivity had turned it into something it
wasn't. Aaron didn't lower his gaze until Lena was out of sight. He looked down at his hand, the one he'd used to
pat her head.
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