NINETEEN_THE VISITOR
Morning sunlight crept slowly through the tall curtains of Alexander’s room.
Aiden stirred in the large bed, his eyes slowly opening. For a moment, he forgot where he was. The soft sheets, the quiet room, the faint scent of Alexander’s cologne lingering in the air.
Then he remembered.
The marriage.
The mansion.
Alexander DeLuca.
Aiden sat up slowly.
Alexander wasn’t in the room.
His side of the bed was already cold.
Aiden wrapped the blanket around himself and climbed out of bed, walking quietly toward the door. The mansion was huge, and sometimes it felt like he could get lost inside it.
As he walked down the hallway, he could hear voices coming from downstairs.
One of them was familiar.
Alexander.
The other voice… sounded nervous.
Aiden paused near the staircase, carefully looking down.
In the living room stood a young man in a neat suit. He looked uncomfortable, constantly adjusting his tie as two of Alexander’s guards stood nearby.
Alexander sat on the sofa, looking calm but intimidating as always.
His eyes were cold.
“So,” Alexander said slowly, his voice deep and controlled, “you traveled all the way here just to see him?”
The man swallowed nervously.
“Yes… Mr. DeLuca.”
Aiden frowned slightly.
See who?
The man continued,
“I heard he was here and I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”
Alexander leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
“You ‘heard’?”
The man nodded quickly.
“Yes. People in the city have been talking about your marriage.”
Alexander’s eyes darkened.
Of course they were.
Aiden felt uneasy listening from the stairs.
The man hesitated before saying quietly,
“Aiden… is my friend.”
Alexander’s expression changed instantly.
Silence filled the room.
Upstairs, Aiden’s heart skipped a beat.
Alexander spoke again, his voice lower now.
“Friend?”
The man nodded.
“Yes. We've known each other since we were teenagers.”
Alexander slowly stood up.
The room suddenly felt much colder.
“And what exactly do you want with my husband?”
Husband.
Hearing that word made Aiden freeze.
The man raised his hands quickly.
“Nothing bad, I swear. I just wanted to see if he was alright.”
Alexander stared at him for a long moment.
Then he said something that made the man pale.
“Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?”
Before the man could answer—
“ALEX!”
Aiden rushed down the stairs.
Alexander immediately turned.
His expression softened slightly when he saw him.
“Kitten.”
The guards stepped aside as Aiden approached.
He looked at the visitor… and his eyes widened.
“Daniel?”
The man sighed in relief.
“Aiden! You're okay!”
Aiden looked confused.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel looked nervous again as he glanced at Alexander.
“I heard about the marriage and… I got worried.”
Alexander’s gaze moved slowly between them.
“So you do know him.”
Aiden nodded.
“He’s my friend. He used to help me at school.”
Alexander studied Daniel carefully.
Daniel looked like he might faint under that stare.
Then Alexander spoke calmly.
“Leave.”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
“You saw him,” Alexander said coldly. “Now leave.”
Daniel looked at Aiden one last time.
“Take care of yourself, okay?”
Aiden nodded softly.
Daniel quickly walked out of the mansion like someone escaping a lion’s den.
The door closed.
Silence filled the room again.
Aiden slowly turned toward Alexander.
Alexander was staring at him.
His expression was unreadable.
“You never told me about him.”
Aiden looked nervous.
“You never asked.”
Alexander walked closer.
Too close.
His voice dropped slightly.
“Does he like you?”
Aiden blinked.
“What?”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“Answer the question.”
Aiden shook his head quickly.
“No! Daniel is just my friend.”
Alexander stared at him for another long moment.
Then suddenly—
He flicked Aiden’s forehead lightly.
“Ow!”
Alexander smirked faintly.
“You worry too much.”
Aiden rubbed his forehead, pouting.
“You scared him.”
Alexander shrugged.
“He came into a mafia boss’s house uninvited. What did he expect?”
Aiden sighed.
Then Alexander suddenly leaned closer.
“So…”
Aiden froze.
Alexander’s voice was low and teasing.
“Kitten has friends.”
Aiden’s face turned slightly red.
Alexander chuckled softly.
For some reason…
Seeing Aiden with someone else made something unfamiliar stir inside his chest.
Something that looked suspiciously like jealousy.