Real Heiress: Flash Marriage With Boyfriend's Uncle
Chapter 405: At the tender sight

Chapter 405: At the tender sight

Aiden cracked open the cold beer can he’d picked up from the corner store, taking a few long sips as he strolled down the quiet street toward the residential complex. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the pavement.

Just as he rounded the corner, his steps slowed. Ahead, he spotted Sylvia making her way toward the entrance, her arms weighed down with several shopping bags.

Finishing the last of his drink, Aiden tossed the empty can into a nearby bin and picked up his pace. As he reached the building, he noticed her struggling to press the elevator button with her hands full.

Without a word, he stepped in and tapped the button for her.

"Thank you," Sylvia said softly, glancing up at him. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she quickly looked away.

"Need a hand with those?" Aiden asked, gesturing toward the bags.

"No, it’s okay. I’ve got them," she replied, though the strain in her voice suggested other wise.

"Come on, neighbors can help each other out," he said with a faint smile, already taking a few bags from her grip.

Sylvia hesitated, then let him take them.

"You’ve been busy," he added, eyeing the number of bags. "Or are you just a shopaholic in disguise?"

"I love shopping," Sylvia said with a soft grin.

"How’s work going?" Aiden asked, his tone casual as he glanced at her.

"Going good," she replied simply.

An awkward silence settled between them, only broken when the elevator chimed and the doors slid open to their floor. They stepped out, the quiet continuing as they walked side by side toward Sylvia’s apartment.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside to let him in. Aiden nodded a quiet thanks and removed his shoes, slipping into the house slippers neatly placed by the entrance.

"Coco," Sylvia called gently.

A soft, familiar sound responded from across the room. Her fur cat, Coco, was curled up comfortably in her little basket, lifting her head lazily.

Sylvia placed the shopping bags on the couch, then walked over and knelt beside Coco, gently rubbing the kitten’s forehead with affection. The warmth in her touch didn’t go unnoticed by Aiden, who found himself smiling at the tender sight—until he quickly caught himself.

"I’m leaving," he said, a little too suddenly.

Sylvia turned her head slightly, her eyes following him. "Hmm," she murmured, watching him go.

As the door closed behind him, she whispered to herself, "He’s not like the others."

With that thought lingering in her mind, she turned back to the couch and began unpacking the bags.

~~~~

Orabela scrolled idly through the screen on her tablet, occasionally sipping the warm latte she had ordered.

After a while, she set the device down on the table and let her gaze wander around the cafe. Most of the tables were occupied by couple, who had hands held across tabletops, soft laughter shared between sips of coffee.

If there was one thing Orabela truly missed in her life, it was the feeling of being in love. A kind of love that made the world slow down. She had made her share of mistakes, regrets that haunted her even in calm moments like this, but deep down, she knew they all stemmed from one person.

Roderick.

"How easy it was for him to move on," she murmured under her breath, a bitter edge in her voice.

"Is that you, Orabela?"

The familiar softness of Ivy’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Orabela looked up, surprised, and raised her hand slightly in acknowledgment.

"Ivy!" she said.

As Ivy approached, Orabela couldn’t help but wonder, was she here out of coincidence... or to mock her, like others had before?

"What a surprise to meet you here!" Ivy remarked with a pleasant smile, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of latte. She glanced toward the empty chair across from Orabela. "No one’s joining you, right?"

"No," Orabela replied. "The chair’s empty."

She offered a polite smile, though deep down, she wasn’t happy about sharing the table, especially with the woman who would soon be marrying Roderick.

As Ivy took the seat, Orabela thought, ’Did Layla feel the same way... when we both betrayed her?’

"We only met a few times back in college," Ivy said.

"Yes," Orabela nodded. "You were my senior."

"Yeah," Ivy chuckled softly. "How have you been?"

"Good," Orabela answered briefly.

There was a brief pause before Ivy leaned back in her chair, slowly sipping her latte. "You must be wondering why I stopped by to talk to you."

Orabela didn’t respond.

"Roderick..." Ivy began. "He was full of regret after what he did with Layla. For a long time, he wouldn’t let anyone in. Our families set us up, but honestly? I wasn’t ready either. I knew his past, and I was cautious. I had my doubts."

She paused for a moment, looking into her cup before continuing. "But slowly, I began to see him for who he really is, beyond the mistakes, the baggage. And I realized... he’s not the same man he used to be."

Orabela curled her fingers slightly on the edge of the table. "So, you two are doing well together," she said.

"Yeah," Ivy nodded, a small playing smile on her lips.

"That’s good," Orabela replied with a faint exhale. "I made mistakes too. Big ones. And I know I’ll have to carry the weight of those sins for a long time."

Her gaze dropped for a moment, the smile she wore fading briefly before she lifted her eyes again, meeting Ivy’s. A gentle smile returned to her lips.

"By the way... Merry Christmas." She said it sincerely.

"Merry Christmas, Orabela," Ivy wished the same to her. "I hope we see often each other. I mean... As relatives since you are Layla’s sister," she asserted.

"Hmm. I think you will," Orabela replied.

"So, have you shifted back? The last I knew was you left Italy for a while," Ivy said.

"Mom and Dad wants me back. I’m still making a decision," Orabela answered.

"That’s good to know. I wish you success in whatever you do," Ivy replied with a warm smile. Just then, her phone buzzed and she checked her purse. It was Roderick. She didn’t answer the call in front of Orabela and finished the latte first before taking her leave.