Alyssa, what a way to greet an old friend."
Robert laughed under his breath as he gently pulled himself out of my grip and brushed his shoulders like I had wrinkled his shirt.
"Answer me, Robert," I snapped.
My voice rose louder than I intended. A few people turned their heads. I forced a quick smile and waved at them. "It's fine," I muttered, before leaning closer to him.
"What do you want this time?" I whispered sharply. "I already gave you what you wanted. That was the agreement. You said you'd stay away."
His smile faded.
"Yeah, Alyssa. That was the deal."
"Then why are you here?"
He leaned back in his chair, studying me like I was the one acting strange.
"Because I'm broke," he said flatly. "Victor fired me."
The words hit me hard.
"Fired you?" I repeated. "When?"
"After we fucked." His jaw tightened. "You really didn't know?"
I shook my head slowly.
I truly didn't.
He leaned forward then, lowering his voice. "You don't understand how dangerous that man is."
"Don't," I warned.
But before he could continue—
"Alyssa?"
I stiffened.
Aaron's voice.
I hadn't even noticed him come inside.
He stood a few feet away, calm but alert, scanning Robert from head to toe.
"Are you okay here?" he asked.
I wanted to scream.
"I told you to wait outside," I muttered.
"A lady near the entrance said you looked uncomfortable," he replied quietly. "I didn't want to take chances."
Robert was staring at Aaron now.
Not blinking.
Just staring.
There was something in his eyes. Something dark. Something calculating.
Or maybe it was just my imagination again.
"And you are?" Aaron asked politely, extending his hand.
Robert didn't move.
Didn't shake it.
Didn't even acknowledge it.
The silence stretched awkwardly.
Aaron slowly lowered his hand.
Robert's lips curved slightly, but it wasn't a smile.
He leaned closer to me, his breath brushing my ear.
"Be careful, Alyssa."
Then he stood up abruptly and walked out.
Just like that.
No rush. No explanation.
Gone.
I sat frozen for a moment, trying to understand what just happened.
Aaron stepped closer. "Do you know him?"
"Yes," I said slowly. "I mean… I did."
"Who is he?"
I looked at the empty doorway Robert had just disappeared through.
"It's complicated."
Aaron frowned. "Complicated usually means trouble."
"I don't even know why he ran," I muttered.
"Maybe because he didn't expect you to have company," Aaron replied lightly.
I looked at him sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged. "Nothing. Just an observation."
We walked back to the car in silence.
Once inside, he glanced at me.
"You need to be careful," he said. "That guy isn't normal."
I let out a weak laugh. "You don't even know him."
"I don't need to. I saw the way he looked at you."
I didn't respond.
He started the engine.
"We still need to get Lily a gift, right?" he asked, almost like he was trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes," I said quickly. "Yes, we should."
The drive to the supermarket was quiet.
Too quiet.
My mind kept replaying Robert's words.
Victor fired me.
You don't know how dangerous he is.
Be careful.
The automatic doors of the supermarket slid open, and the bright lights pulled me back to reality.
I exhaled.
Focus.
Lily.
Aaron grabbed a shopping cart and gestured for me to lead.
The toy section was colorful and loud, filled with plastic laughter and flashing lights.
For the first time that day, I felt something softer settle inside me.
"She'll love anything," I murmured.
Aaron picked up a Barbie doll and held it up. "What about this?"
I laughed. "She has like twenty of those."
"Twenty?" he raised a brow.
"Victor spoils her," I said quietly.
Aaron placed the doll back.
"I like this version of you," he said casually.
"What version?"
"The one that smiles."
I looked away.
He didn't press further.
We walked slowly down the aisle.
I picked up a puzzle. Put it down.
A pink bicycle helmet. Too big.
A music box. Too boring.
"She has everything," I sighed. "What do you even buy a child who has everything?"
"Something from the heart," Aaron said simply.
I gave him a look. "That's not helpful."
He chuckled and moved ahead.
A few seconds later, he returned holding the ugliest teddy bear I had ever seen.
It had uneven eyes and an oversized head.
I burst out laughing.
"That thing looks traumatized."
"Exactly," he grinned. "It needs a home."
I took it from him, hugging it against my chest.
"You know what? This might actually work."
Aaron stood there smiling, still holding that ridiculous teddy bear like he had just won a prize at a carnival.
"Maybe this one," he said. "It looks like it needs rescuing."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small laugh escaping my lips. The bear was lopsided, its stitching slightly crooked, one eye bigger than the other.
"She'll either love it," I said, "or throw it at my head."
"I'm willing to take that risk."
For a moment, things felt light. Almost normal. The bright supermarket lights, the soft music playing overhead, the sound of carts rolling across tiles—it grounded me. It felt far from Robert. Far from Victor. Far from the mansion and Elena's perfect smile.
Maybe this was what peace looked like.
Maybe this was what I needed.
Aaron stepped closer, holding the teddy out to me properly this time.
"You're smiling," he said quietly.
"Don't ruin it," I replied.
He chuckled.
I reached for the bear, my fingers brushing his as I grabbed it from his hands.
That was when it happened.
Something slipped.
A phone fell from his pocket.
It hit the tiled floor with a sharp crack.
Both of us looked down instinctively.
For a second, I didn't process what I was seeing.
Then I did.
It wasn't the phone I had seen him using all day.
It wasn't the sleek black one he had been texting on outside the mansion.
This one was different.
Smaller. Slightly older model. Dark blue case.
It lay face-down between us.
Silence stretched.
Aaron didn't move immediately.
That was what made my chest tighten.
If it were nothing, he would've laughed. Picked it up casually. Made a joke about clumsiness.
But he didn't.
He froze.