"Zia, we need to talk for a moment," Aidan grabbed Zia's arm as she walked past him, and pulled her toward a quiet corner that the guests weren't walking very often.
Seeing Aidan, Zia widened her eyes in protest, but the man's grip on her arm was so tight it didn't allow her to break free without causing a fuss.
And causing a scene in a place like this, where it would raise questions about the relationship that existed between her and Aidan, was the last thing she wanted to happen today.
Therefore, just with a little coercion, Zia followed Aidan to the balcony and let the man corner herself there.
"I miss you." And without warning, Aidan pressed his lips against Zia's, kissing her with emotion, until she knew how much he missed her.
However, Zia didn't reply with the same passion, instead she struggled to break free from his hold and gave Aidan an angry gaze when the man bit her lip.
"What else do you want?" Zia asked fiercely, pushing the man away from her with all her might as it was clear that this man did not intend to budge at all.
"What else I want?" Aidan distanced himself and stared with wounded eyes at the woman in front of him. "Didn't I tell you that I miss you?"
Zia stared angrily at Aidan. "Stop acting like this!" Zia looked angrily at him and tried to keep her voice from getting too loud when she scolded Aidan.
"Zia, you didn't mean what you said before, did you?" Aidan narrowed his eyes and tried to touch her hand, but Zia swiftly warded off his effort by folding her arms across her chest.
A defensive gesture that made Aidan pocket his hands in his trousers.
"Of course I mean it. I want to put an end to all this madness." Zia took her eyes off Aidan because she felt uncomfortable staring at him.
"You didn't mean what you are saying," Aidan said with a frown in displeasure. He didn't even want to imagine himself having to part with the woman in front of him. The woman he had been in a romantic relationship for years.
Aidan knew that he was selfish and this action of his couldn't be justified. It's just that letting Zia go was something he didn't even want to think about at all.
"How could you think I didn't mean it?" Zia narrowed her eyes. She didn't like the confidence that flashed in Aidan's words when he said his conclusion earlier, because Zia felt her resolve weakening once again and wanted to give up on being stubborn. "You think I am here to see you?"
Aidan sighed heavily. If it were not for this wedding, it was certain that they would not have met.
"Zia, stop your stubbornness." Aidan shook his head. "We can talk about this."
It had been several days since Aidan had been feeling irritated that Zia had rejected all of his calls and messages, not to mention the fact that she had even changed her number the other day, cutting off all possibilities for them to communicate.
There was nothing Aidan wanted more than to improve their relationship.
Is there something wrong? Or was it the last time they met Aidan did something Zia didn't like that made the girl angry and avoid him?
But, what is certain now is; Zia was not sulking, she was dead serious now. This problem is much more complicated than her impulsive decision.
"Didn't I tell you that our relationship was over?" Zia gripped her arms tighter. Even though she said it casually like she didn't care at all, this kind of choice was also hard for her to live with.
"I don't want this to end," Aidan said the line very firmly. Ignoring the sharp gaze Zia gave him.
"Then, you can go through this relationship alone, because I don't want to do anything with you." Zia then avoided Aidan's gaze and started walking away, but the man gripped her arm tightly again, stopping her in her tracks.
"Zia, please ..." Aidan looked at her with pleading eyes and made Zia's heart flutter again with a familiar beat.
Zia bit her lip as the feeling his lips on them returned while being stared at like that, bringing her resolve into question again.
D*mn! She really wanted to stop her indecisiveness!
Should she go through it all again? Even though she knew that what she was doing was a mistake?
Truth be told, Zia realized that she had wasted her golden years as a woman by being in a relationship that wouldn't take her anywhere.
A relationship that would only give them bad status and misgivings every time they were together.
Not to mention questions like; what if they get caught? What if her father finds out? To what extent her father's anger would go when he found out about this? Then what about him? What about Aidan's marriage and status too?
All those questions would keep jumping in her head every time they spend sometime together.
It is just that, Zia chose to stay stubborn and tried not to pay attention to this, preferring to enjoy her moments with Aidan.
But, how long will they be like this? No. Until when will Zia be like this?
One day she will have to get married and have a family of her own, something Aidan can't give her.
Yes, Aidan can give everything to Zia. Except for certainty and status in society as a woman who accompanies him.
What an irony in their life and relationship, right? While most people are jealous of their extravagant life and abundant wealth and high status, they cannot get what they want the most.
A simple thing like choosing their own life partner regardless of their status or family background as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the marriage, is almost impossible for them.
Especially for Aidan. That kind of privilege was not someone like him.
Aidan didn't even think that he would find someone like Zia, a woman who could finally touch his heart and made him feel really happy.
Aidan always thought that he would live a boring life, just like his parents. Spend his life in a marriage based solely on business convenience for both parties.
Therefore, when Zia appeared in his life, Aidan really didn't want to let this woman go. He would give his all just to keep this woman by his side.
It's just that, even himself could see his limitations. Because he can't give Zia what she deserves.
A status and certainty.
Isn't it ironic?
"It's all over Aidan, you can't expect me to continue in this relationship right?" Zia grimaced as she looked at Aidan with a look full of sorrow.
Aidan knew that he was selfish to hope for this. However, he didn't think he could let Zia go. And he didn't want to imagine that he had to lose this woman.
"What should I do to keep you by my side?" Aidan asked, he still didn't let go of Zia's wrist. "What should I do so we can get back to how we used to be?" he asked desperately, almost begging her to stay.
Zia did not answer immediately when Aidan asked the question. The woman looked at him with an expression that was difficult to describe.
"Divorce Giana and bring our relationship to the public," Zia said the sentence straightforwardly.
The line she had wanted to convey to Aidan for years, but she had been unable to express so clearly.
Zia didn't care about Aidan's status as the current head of the Smith family, she only saw him as a man she loved and only wanted him.
However, in reality it was not that easy and Zia knew what Aidan would choose.
Even so, Zia couldn't help hoping that Aidan would come up with a different answer for once, one she wanted to hear.
However, when Aidan slowly let go of her hand, Zia could feel the pain coming back again. The feeling of being cut raw as if thousands of daggers had hit her heart, only she couldn't show it on her face.
Zia tried to keep the expression on her face neutral, pretending as if what Aidan was doing now didn't hurt her, otherwise she was very sure that she would give in to him again and that was the last thing she wanted.
"You know that's impossible," Aidan said, releasing his grip on Zia's hand and staring at her with a look that felt awkwardly wrong.
Aidan could not possibly divorce Giana. There will be many things that will happen and the consequences will be enormous and too complex to deal with.
Just divorcing Giana is almost impossible for him to do, especially by saying that he is divorcing his current wife because of another woman?
Once the news of his and Giana's marriage is in trouble and is nearing such a final stage is out, then the news hunters will start digging deeper and things won't be this calm for a long time.
"I know that will be your answer," Zia said, trying her best to suppress the disappointed tone in her voice. "Goodbye Aidan."
"Zia." Aidan held her back when the woman was about to turn around and leave. "Giana already knows about us."
Zia narrowed her eyes. "She knew about me?"
Zia has confirmed many times that she doesn't want her identity to be exposed. Her father would have killed her if he found out that his only daughter had been in an embarrassing relationship like this for years.
"No, but she knows that I have another woman." Aidan admitted it honestly.
"So, what do you want to say?" Zia narrowed her eyes and looked at Aidan who was looking even more agitated.
"Giana will not mind if we continue this relationship." Aidan finally came up with an idea.
"What do you mean?" Zia gritted her teeth, as if she knew what Aidan had in mind and what he wanted to say.
"If you want a wedding, I can give it to you." Aidan's eyes became gentler when he mentioned marriage. "I can give you everything and a decent life and a family you want. I will discuss this with Giana and make her agree."
Aidan just needs to find out Giana's weaknesses and the secrets she always tries to hide in order to balance the scale between them, which is not a new, considering that people like them always have dark secrets they are desperately trying to hide.
Hearing Aidan's suggestion, Zia laughed grimly. "Give me a decent life?" Zia glared at the man. "Do you think that my life before meeting you wasn't worthy? I don't really have an equal status like you, but I'm still a Tatum."
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