Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 909 Extra Story 47 Of Aaron Danger

Perched on the gravestone was a photo of a woman who was wearing a bright grin, yet she wasn't able to smile like that anymore. "Jenna," Aldrich wiped off beads of raindrops on the photo with his handkerchief. In a serious tone, he said, "I'm sorry for being late."

All of the complex feelings in his mind were contained in such few words. Such a short remark yet contained his sorrow, regrets, and guilt for the woman. With the soliloquy of the moments, he quietly stared at the photo, and his eyes gradually became wet.

All this time, he owed her a lot of grief because of his youthful arrogance. He was so careless, not thinking about the consequences of his acts after all these years. Although he wanted to make up with her for his mistakes, he never had the opportunity to do that especially now, when everything was too late.

With bitter tears in his eyes, he gently touched the cold gravestone with hands full of age spots. Staring forward, he let out a deep sigh. "Aaron is full of promise. I'm old enough to step down, and I'm relieved to have him take over for me. Jenna, you bore me a good son." With emotions of mixed thankfulness and regret, he smiled as he looked down at the photo. "He's exactly as arrogant as me when I was young, and he always manages to get anything he wants. He was so very me." Together with the cold gush of the steamy air, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Now that he's able to handle everything by himself, there's nothing for me to worry about anymore. I'm planning to settle down in the Netherlands. I will build a garden there and enjoy a life without disputes. Jenna, see you in my next life. If we can come across each other again, I will definitely love you with all my heart and be together with you just as what you wanted. I am so sorry for everything."

The raindrops that thinned earlier suddenly fell down heavily from the edges of his umbrella and on his body. The cold and the chill reminded him of the sadness in his heart and the woeful fact that would never change.

"Sir, we need to get back now," the driver said as he took one step forward towards him. "It seems that the rain is growing heavier."

Wiping his tears dry, Aldrich sighed with resignation and nodded. For one last time, he stared at the smiling face on the photo before turning around to leave. He took his walking stick from the driver and slowly walked away from the grave.

Aldrich left all his regrets and misery on the gravestone. He felt a little relieved and light-hearted as he sincerely asked for an apology in Jenna's grave. With the heavy downpour of the rain, he wished that all the miseries he had left would be drowned together with the rain and be forgotten with the rising of the sun the next day.

Meanwhile, Ximena snapped out of her trance and looked towards Aaron. She fluttered her eyelids which were wet with raindrops, and her vision blurred.

All of a sudden, she felt confused and felt her head was a little heavy. She didn't know whether it was because of the man in her blurry vision or because of her own complicated mind. Trying to free her mind from all the thoughts that troubled her, she felt that her defenses were starting to collapse under his own tenderness. She was uneasy about it because she was afraid that Aaron was just pretending to treat her softly and with all considerations.

Standing just in front of her, Aaron looked deep into her eyes. During the past half year they had spent together, he had never seen her be so perplexed and hesitant. Her eyes were even filled with obvious fears.

When they first met at that alley, even though she was faced with great danger back then, she still kept her composure and was as aloof as a queen while asking for Aaron's help.

With such rawness, Aaron put the daisy aside to stroke Ximena's cheek. He stared at her as he said, "Ximena, there are always many things that you need to learn about at the first attempt. Sometimes you might be a self-taught genius at a new field, but at other times things might not go very smoothly..." He paused, sighing, "Nonetheless, if you try it harder, you will eventually make it. Don't you think so?"

There was a hint of expectation in his tempting words. The drizzling rain blurred their visions, creating a hazy film around them as they climbed up the stairs. Falling into silence, they seemed to be separated from the rest of the world and into an everlasting standstill. Walking steadily while being absent-minded, Ximena paid a glance at Aaron as she tried hard to resist her habit of patting on her slightly bulging belly. She noticed the soft glint in Aaron's usually cold eyes, so she made up her mind and told herself, 'Ximena, you must tell him about the baby after you leave the graveyard. Even though his reaction will let you down and break your illusion of a great future, there's still time for you to get your heart back.' Thinking about it, she wasn't afraid of her own distress anymore, all she was after was her baby's welfare. She didn't want her baby to be born into a miserable life.

"Aaron," Xinema said in a soft tone which contained no usual arrogance but only wishes, "I agree with you."

Aaron's lips curled up into a warm smile. He withdrew his hand from her cheek and took her hand to his sharing the warmth that was not new to the both of them. For a moment, they enjoyed the passion they shared and it gave them a hope that everything would be alright. Then giving her a reassuring smile, he turned forward and led her up the stairs in front of them.

He thought to himself, 'I don't want you to feel troubled anymore. I will take you to the manor that I have prepared exclusively for you. We will build our new home and live our new lives there, without disputes, sadness, and separation.'

Raindrops formed a curtain of water in front of them. Gradually, they approached that stair step which was shining strangely and was shedding every drop of water falling upon it. Aaron and Ximena were both so deep in their thoughts that neither of them noticed the difference on that stair. They slowly moved upstairs, hand in hand, step by step.

'Aaron, what will you say or do when you know about the baby? Will you be delighted at this new member of our family? I know you're implying that I should brace myself up and be brave enough to acknowledge my love for you. However, will there be a good result for me if I do so?' she thought.

'Ximena, I brought you here today because I want to tell Mom that I will live a new life with you. I want a real home with you, and with our child,' he thought.

They were silent yet they exchanged thoughts all within their selves. Two souls united yet so distant that they could not tell each other the abundance of their hearts. They stepped on that strange stair at the same time and then lifted their foot to take the first step. All of a sudden, Ximena's foot supporting her bodies slip, and when she stumbled, they both snapped out of their trances. O☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐