Chapter 59
The academy was eerily quiet as Aiden led Andrea through winding pathways she hadn’t known existed. The cold night air wrapped around them, but Aiden’s firm grip on her hand kept her grounded.
“Where are we going?” Andrea whispered, glancing around nervously.
“You’ll see,” Aiden replied, his voice low but calm. “It’s a place no one knows about. Not even my brothers.”
Andrea furrowed her brow but said nothing, trusting him despite the unease gnawing at her.
They reached the base of an old building, its shadow looming against the moonlit sky. Aiden opened a side door and gestured for her to follow him inside.
They climbed a narrow staircase that seemed to go on forever, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the tight space. When they finally reached the top, Aiden stopped in front of a heavy iron door.
“Close your eyes,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Andrea hesitated. “Why?”
“Just trust me,” he said softly.
With a sigh, she complied, letting him guide her forward. She heard the creak of the door opening, felt the rush of cool air, and then his hand gently pulling her forward.
“Okay, you can open them now.”
Andrea blinked, her eyes adjusting to the soft glow of the space before her. Her breath caught in her throat.
They stood in an all-glass atrium, the walls and ceiling revealing the endless expanse of stars above. Inside was a lush, vibrant garden that seemed completely out of place atop the academy. Vines climbed trellises, flowers bloomed in every color imaginable, and the faint scent of lavender filled the air.
“Aiden…” she whispered, turning to him in awe. “This is… beautiful. How did you—”
“I’ve been tending this since my first year here,” Aiden said, his voice unusually soft. “It’s the only place that feels like it’s mine. Away from all the bullshit, the expectations, the Sinclair name.”
Andrea took a step forward, her fingers brushing over the petals of a soft pink rose. “I didn’t think someone like you could care for something so delicate.”
Aiden chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Guess I’m full of surprises.”
He led her to a small clearing in the center of the garden, where a blanket was spread out beneath the stars. They sat down, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable.
For a moment, neither spoke. Andrea gazed at the stars through the glass ceiling, the beauty of the scene momentarily easing the turmoil in her chest.
“You’ve been quiet,” Aiden said, breaking the silence. “What’s on your mind?”
Andrea sighed, pulling her knees to her chest. “Everything, I guess. The bullying, the rumors, your brothers abandoning me…” Her voice faltered. “There were moments I didn’t think I’d survive it.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened, but he stayed silent, letting her continue.
“I felt so alone,” Andrea admitted, her voice trembling. “Even with all of you around me, I felt like no one really saw me. And after… after everything with Claire and Stephen…” She shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears. “I was ready to give up, Aiden. Completely.”
Aiden moved closer, his usual brashness replaced with a rare tenderness. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I should’ve done more.”
Andrea looked at him, surprised. “You saved me. That night in the greenhouse—you saved me.”
“I should’ve saved you before it ever got to that point,” Aiden said, his voice heavy with guilt. “Do you know what it felt like, watching you go through all that and not being able to do a damn thing? Every time I saw you hurt, it killed me.”
Andrea reached for his hand, her touch light. “You were there when it mattered most.”
Aiden met her gaze, his eyes raw with emotion. “I’ve always been there, Andrea. Even when you didn’t notice.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
Aiden hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve loved you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “For as long as I can remember. But I never felt like I was enough for you. So I pushed you away, acted like an ass, because it was easier than risking everything.”
Andrea’s heart ached at the vulnerability in his words. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to see how messed up I am,” Aiden said, his voice breaking. “But when I saw you struggling, I couldn’t stay away. I made you stand up for yourself because I needed to know you could survive, even if I wasn’t there to protect you.”
Tears slipped down Andrea’s cheeks as she listened, his words piercing through the walls she had built around herself.
“Aiden,” she whispered, leaning closer.
He reached for her, his hands cradling her face as their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and desperate, as if all the pain and longing they had both carried was pouring out in that single moment.
When they pulled apart, Aiden rested his forehead against hers, his voice low and trembling. “I’d burn the whole world for you, Andrea. If it meant keeping you safe.”
