Chapter 31
Chapter 31:
Observing Janice, Nina felt a comforting sense of relief wash over her. It had been a long time since Aiden had shown even the slightest smile.
Yet, as he exchanged playful barbs with Janice, a subtle smile had flashed across his face. Deep down, Nina nurtured the hope that this vibrant girl could become the soothing presence Aiden longed for.
“Enough!!” Alcott finally exploded, unable to contain his frustration any longer. “Despite all this clever talk, it was still Aiden who pushed Bart into the pool…”
A sharp slap resounded through the air.
Nina had struck Alcott across the cheek.
Alcott stood there, stunned, his face a mask of disbelief. The servants were equally taken aback. Nina had unexpectedly lashed out in violence.
“Nina, what the hell are you doing?”
“Janice was absolutely right. You truly are a fool,” Nina retorted sharply, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him. “Can’t you see that both Janice and Aiden were merely being sarcastic?”
Alcott opened his mouth to respond but faltered.
“It’s absurd to claim that Aiden pushed Bart into the pool, considering his condition and circumstances,” Nina went on, her tone icy and unforgiving. “It’s obvious Bart just slipped. Or are you so biased that you blame Aiden whenever Bart faces trouble?”
Nina paused momentarily, a heavy wave of guilt and sorrow washing over her. She had overlooked Aiden’s needs.
She had hoped Bart’s presence might lift Aiden’s mood, yet that hope had been in vain.
If Janice hadn’t defended Aiden earlier, Nina might have rashly accused him of malice towards Bart.
“Please, let’s not fight over this,” Bart interjected, his voice weak. His damp hair clung to his forehead, enhancing his vulnerable look, as he bit his lip in distress.
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Janice recognized the sensation immediately. It was as if she were gazing at a mirror image of Delilah.
Bart insisted, “I’ve already admitted that it was my own clumsiness that led to the fall. Aiden isn’t to blame here.” The words floated in the air, seemingly innocuous. However, Nina detected an underlying tone, a calculated attempt by Bart to cast himself as the hapless victim to elicit sympathy. The location was obscure, seldom visited, and conveniently beyond the reach of any surveillance.
Was it possible that Bart had staged the entire incident, leaving them to suspect Aiden wrongly?
This revelation sent a shiver through Nina.
She came to a stark realization that she had nearly been duped into accusing Aiden.
“If it’s just a misunderstanding, we should probably leave it at that,” Alcott grumbled, discarding the stick he had been holding. “Have someone take them back to their rooms.”
Nina parted her lips, a rebuttal teetering on the tip of her tongue, but the words eluded her.
“Aiden, let’s head back,” Janice offered, taking hold of the wheelchair handles and steering him away.
Once they were alone in his room, Aiden let out a burst of laughter, deep and joyful, a sound that hadn’t echoed through these walls in far too long.
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.
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