Later, he picked up his keys and left without even feeling the need to change his night clothes. "Mia, Lily is alone and she needs me. We can celebrate my birthday in the morning." Before I could object, he left me and finally went to her.
We didn't even get the chance to cut his cake. But later, Ella posted a photo of them celebrating his birthday.
"It was just a cake. I had to make her feel happy about something. We can cut another!" He said nonchalantly, making me feel small.
I was a fool to believe that she was depressed and Aiden did that to raise her spirits. She clearly tricked him, and I, to separate us. But Aiden allowed her to do that.
He had always defended her, even when she crossed boundaries that should never have been crossed.
I had ignored the red flags for so long, choosing to believe in the mate bond... choosing to trust that he was telling me the truth. But now, I was finally able to see how dumb I was to allow them to break my heart in the worst possible way.
I took a deep breath, shaking off the painful memories. The bond I had shared with Aiden still tugged at me. But I knew it would fade.
I had made my choice.
Even if he wasn't admitting it, I knew he had started loving her a long time ago. He only stayed with me because of our bond.
I would stop chasing after someone who doesn't love me.
And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could finally start healing.
Oaks and Cinnamon...
Days later, a strong, familiar scent hit me again before I even saw him.
Aiden.
My heart tightened as I scanned the crowd gathered around a plush black Rolls-Royce in front of my apartment. Aiden, leaning over his car, kept signing autographs of his fanatics. He seemed too relaxed, too carefree. Like nothing had changed.
I turned to leave, but before I could slip away, his voice stopped me.
"Mia."
I froze, unwilling to look at him in case I would falter. But I could leave... not when he was using his scent to trigger the pull of our mate bond. Slowly, I turned, my heart raced.
He had a soft smile plastered on his face, his broad frame shielding me from the eyes of his fanatics. He seemed like the breakup had never happened and I didn't suffer the last few weeks. As if he hadn’t chosen someone else over me.
"Mia, can we talk?" Earlier, when he used to call my name, my heart would skip a beat. But now it only makes me feel cold.