108. Heartbroken
BROOKS MANSION — DINNER TIME
The entire mansion felt unusually quiet.
Maximilian and Kyron dragged themselves inside after a brutally long day at SolarVex
Both were exhausted to the bone — shirts slightly undone, ties gone, sleeves rolled up.
Aunt Liana greeted them with a warm smile,
"You both look drained. Freshen up first, dinner is almost ready."
They nodded gratefully and disappeared upstairs.
---
DINNER TABLE — BUT ONE SEAT IS EMPTY
By the time everyone gathered, the long polished dining table was full…
Except for one very obvious missing presence.
Aiden's chair.
Empty.
Silent.
Cold.
Aunt Liana's eyebrows knitted. "He didn't even come out of his room. He came back from college looking… terrible."
Uncle Adrian sighed.
"That boy didn't even attend football practice. Coach called."
Kyron looked up sharply.
"Wait, WHAT? Aiden skipping practice? Unbelievable."
Maximilian's eyes narrowed. "And no one knows why?"
Aunt Liana shook her head helplessly. "He just stormed inside, didn't speak to anyone. He looked… heartbroken."
Max and Kyron exchanged a look.
Aiden never came home heartbroken.
Unless—
Max frowned. "…Did something happen at college?"
Everyone turned toward Chloe.
Chloe froze mid-bite.
---
CHLOE IS INTERROGATED --
Kyron leaned forward.
"Chloe. You came home with Aiden. Spill."
Chloe swallowed. "Umm… I shouldn't—"
Max's voice was calm but sharp. "Chloe."
Chloe: I'm too young to die.
"Okay okay OKAY— I'll tell!"
She placed her fork down dramatically.
"So… it all started with this guy named Ian."
Kyron blinked. "Ian?"
Chloe nodded. "Yeah, Aiden's FRIEND."
Max muttered, "Then why does it sound like trouble already?"
Chloe continued, "He was walking with girl Aiden likes after class, explaining robotics stuff… and Aiden kinda got… jealous."
Aunt Liana smiled faintly. "Oh poor boy."
Uncle Adrian chuckled. "First crush problems."
Chloe shook her head vigorously. "No no no — THAT was only phase one."
Max and Kyron exchanged another confused look.
Kyron:
"There were phases?"
Chloe: "Yes.."
"So… the girl Aiden likes… her name is… um…"
Everyone leaned forward.
Aunt Liana smiled softly.
"Oh, he definitely like a girl?"
Chloe nods hard.
"Yes. He does. LIKE-LIKE. And her name is—"
She inhaled.
"Marcelline."
Silence.
Then Aunt Liana clapped her hands excitedly.
"Oh what a beautiful name!"
Uncle Adrian chuckled.
"So that's the girl he keeps dreaming about ?"
Kyron smirked.
"Knew it."
Maximilian remained still, expression unreadable—but he was listening very closely.
---
AND THEN… SHE MENTIONS HIM
Chloe continued:
"But that's not all—there was also this guy."
Maximilian's brow raised a fraction.
"A guy?"
Chloe nodded, cheeks instantly turning pink.
"Yes. A guy. An… unknown guy."
Kyron leaned forward.
"Unknown?"
Chloe nodded faster.
"I have no idea who he is! I've never seen him before at campus! And when he arrived…"
She covered her face in embarrassment.
Uncle Adrian chuckled.
"Was he handsome?"
Chloe's voice hitched.
"Handsome? HANDSOME?? No—NO—he was… he was… DIVINE!"
The entire table blinked.
Chloe continued, blushing red like a tomato.
"He was insanely tall… with this perfect jawline… sharp eyes… perfect hair… and his whole aura?? Like—like—an angel descended with a sports car."
Kyron coughed, choking on air.
Aunt Liana giggled.
"Oh my! Chloe, sweetheart, breathe!"
Chloe pressed both hands on her cheeks.
"I'm serious! He looked like someone who wasn't even from Earth—too perfect! Even the girls in the courtyard literally whispered: 'who is this divine man?'"
Kyron burst out laughing.
Maximilian didn't. He stared at Chloe with slowly rising suspicion.
"So," Max said quietly,
"This… unknown divine man… is connected to Marcelline?"
Chloe nodded, eyes wide.
"Yes! He came to pick her up after class! She ran to him looking happy, and he… he shielded her from the sun like she was delicate royalty. They looked like a perfect couple."
Aunt Liana's eyes widened.
"Oh dear…"
Kyron whispered,
"That must've destroyed Aiden's soul…"
Uncle Adrian laughed loudly.
"Poor kid. He didn't stand a chance."
---
AIDEN'S REACTION — CHLOE DESCRIBES IT--
Chloe pointed toward the stairs dramatically.
"And then Aiden… HOOO!"
She made an explosion gesture.
"He turned around without talking, without breathing, without existing—just left like a ghost. He looked like someone stole his heart, stomped on it, and then burned it."
Kyron covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Aunt Liana frowned, deeply worried now.
"My poor boy…"
Uncle Adrian shook his head.
"Aiden must be devastated."
Max was quiet.
Too quiet.
His expression remained calm, but the name Marcelline… and an unknown perfect man tied to her…
Something in his mind clicked.
But he didn't show it.
Instead, he slowly stood up.
Kyron stood too.
"We're going to talk to him," Max said.
Aunt Liana nodded gratefully. "Please do. He needs comfort."
Chloe whispered, "And maybe… someone needs to stop him from switching departments for her."
Kyron froze.
"He WHAT?!"
Chloe nodded.
Max rubbed his forehead. "Of course he would… idiot."
They headed for Aiden's room.
---