CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: SHE LEARNS THAT AIDEN FORDHAM ONLY HAS 13 DAYS LEFT

Aiden Fordham, without even having breakfast, started beating eggs to make a cake.

Keegan Lindsey went to help, casually mentioning,

"My family was poor, and my sister-in-law sold egg waffles to support my college education."

"At first, when she set up a stall, she would blush when people asked her, but gradually she dared to shout, and eventually, she even pulled in customers, and the business flourished."

"I asked her the secret to success, and she said, first, persistence; second, shamelessness; third, persist in being shameless, and success will follow!"

Upon hearing this, Aiden Fordham was clearly stunned. Was this guy giving him business advice?

Keegan sneaked a glance at him and continued, "Later, I looked up some information. It turns out, shamelessness, in philosophy, is called selflessness, a very high realm, an attitude of being fearless."

"President Fordham, have you ever thought about why your wife gave the six cancer formulas to The Fordham Group? They are priceless treasures."

Aiden Fordham paused, as if deep in thought.

Keegan added, "I’ve always wondered, why did your wife dress up as a waiter and go to Mandoria that day?"

Aiden Fordham experienced a jolt, a realization awakening him from a dream.

Just as one wonders, why did Magnate Fordham personally start making a cake...

A little after ten, the cake was made. When Aiden Fordham brought it to the room, she was lying on her side on the bed, completely still.

"Stella, are you hungry? I made you a cake."

He spoke gently, reaching out to nudge her a couple of times.

She suddenly sprang up like a startled cat, "Aiden Fordham, get out of here right now. I don’t want to see you."

She pointed to the door, where Keegan stood like a block of wood.

He was just a tool now; pay him no mind, no one could see him.

Aiden Fordham ignored her temper, gently coaxing, "I made your favorite cake. Come, try it and see how it tastes."

"I won’t eat it, get out." Stella Grant, still upset over yesterday’s events, refused angrily.

He picked up a piece of cake and gently extended it to her, "Try it, hmm?"

Stella Grant forcefully pushed his hand away, causing the cake to fall to the ground and smash.

Aiden Fordham put down the fork, a hint of anger on his face, "Stella Grant, don’t make me mad. The consequences could be serious."

Stella Grant looked at him fearlessly, "Aiden Fordham, do you still want to..."

Before finishing her sentence, Aiden Fordham’s large hands clamped around her body, and he leaned down for a kiss, sealing her lips.

Stella Grant’s eyes widened, "Aiden Fordham, you..."

His kiss descended once more, laced with possessiveness, with punishment, yet not lacking in tenderness.

She stared at his magnified handsome face, her chest rising and falling, "Aiden, what are you trying to do?"

"I’m apologizing, and I’ll keep kissing until you forgive me," Aiden Fordham whispered in her ear, his warm breath cascading over her.

Stella Grant: "..."

He tilted his head slightly, adding, "Assistant Lindsey is still watching. If you don’t calm down, he won’t dare leave."

This was... forcing her to submit.

Just as these words left his mouth, he leaned in once more to kiss her.

He held her body tightly with one hand, giving her no opportunity to escape.

His other large hand gripped the back of her head, with irresistible force.

His strength was immense; she couldn’t shake free.

Stella Grant had never seen this shameless side of Aiden Fordham—was this the same dignified, aloof Magnate Fordham?

"Aiden... mmm..."

His kisses fell dominantly on her lips, her eyes, her small nose, her cheeks...

Invading like a marauding army.

Keegan Lindsey, at the doorway, had eyes wide as saucers.

What a spectacle!

The boss was taking the spirit of "shamelessness" to another level!

Suddenly, he felt a desire to fall in love.

He thought he’d definitely avoid the pitfalls, but later, when he fell in love, his intelligence was less than a fool’s.

The girl nearly drove him to the verge of a mental breakdown...

"Let go of me, Aiden Fordham."

Stella Grant continued to resist, her hands pressed against his firm chest, yet they could not move him an inch.

But it was no use.

The more she yelled, the more intensely and passionately he kissed.

His fresh breath wafted over her face, mingling with his unique faint scent.

Each teasing kiss made her itchy, tingling her heart.

"Aiden Fordham, go away." Her voice was laced with a sob, a mix of shame and anger.

"Aiden Fordham, stop it. There are others around. Don’t you have any shame?" She turned her head, trying to evade him, but he held her firmly.

"Aiden Fordham... I’m not angry anymore! I’m not angry anymore!"

Finally, Stella Grant couldn’t hold back any longer, shouting with a sense of resignation.

By then, her face was flushed red, her neck tinted pink as well.

Her breathing was slightly erratic, her eyes moist and shimmering.

This man... when did he become so shameless?

Can apologies be made with "kisses"?

Keegan Lindsey, listening with ears perked up at the doorway, felt a rush of delight.

Did it work?

The boss’s move of "compelling love" was extraordinarily effective!

Aiden Fordham finally loosened his hold on her a little but still kept her in his arms.

His gaze scanned past Keegan.

Receiving the command, Keegan tactfully and silently retreated, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

His affectionate gaze locked onto her, observing her rosy face and those glistening eyes.

His deep, magnetic voice sounded above her, laced with an enticingly compelling tone, "Really not mad anymore?"

Stella Grant, feeling uneasy under his gaze, nodded with mild irritation.

All she wanted now was for him to leave; every additional second he stayed, she felt the air thinning.

Seeing her nod, he smiled with satisfaction, picking up another piece of cake and gently bringing it to her lips.

She obediently opened her mouth, savoring the sweetness.

"Is it good?"

She nodded; it was indeed delicious.

"Let me try too."

He leaned down again, capturing the sweetness from her mouth...

In the afternoon, Aiden Fordham received a call from an unknown number, urgently telling Keegan, "The elderly gentleman arrived a day early. Let’s head to the airport."

Keegan’s eyes lit up, promptly accompanying him to the airport.

However, in the end, Aiden Fordham did not pick up the elderly gentleman, as events took an unexpected turn!

The elderly gentleman was taken away, and the desperately awaited antidote was lost.

On the return trip, it suddenly began to pour rain heavily.

The rain was so intense that even the wipers couldn’t clear a view of the road more than ten meters ahead.

This downpour seemed intent on flooding all of Mardale...

Back at the villa, Aiden Fordham shut himself in the study room.

He smoked cigarette after cigarette.

Outside was the torrential rain, as the gray sky descended into complete darkness.

His heart sank with it, weighing down bit by bit.

Aside from the data breach from D, he had never felt such overwhelming fear and despair.

The elderly gentleman was taken away.

The antidote was gone, and his life was now reduced to ten days or so.

He knew that a tough battle lay ahead, perhaps his final battle in life.

Yet, he didn’t want to involve her anymore.

He had missed her for twelve years, only to fall in love with her again, and he could no longer bear to see her hurt.

The pain slowly and deeply spread through his heart.

Finally, he made an incredibly difficult decision.

During dinner, Aiden Fordham slowly put food into Stella Grant’s bowl.

She bowed her head, eating obediently, not saying a word.

There was an inexplicable oppression in the air.

Suddenly, he spoke, "Tomorrow, I’ll have someone send you back to Meritopia."

Stella Grant paused in her action of picking up food, her chopsticks almost fell.

She raised her head, looking at him, eyes full of questions, "Aren’t you leaving?"

"What, can’t bear to leave me? Want me to go back with you?" Aiden Fordham looked at her seriously, tugged at the corner of his mouth,

He paused, then added with a bit of teasing, "Then beg me."

Stella Grant glared at him fiercely and retorted, "You’d better stay here forever, so I can be at ease!"

She didn’t see Aiden Fordham’s smile stiffen for a moment.

Yes, he couldn’t go back.

Maybe, he really was going to stay here forever.

Her words, like a needle, unintentionally pricked his heart.

He took a deep breath, pushed down the emotions surging in his heart, and asked again.

"Stella Grant, is there anything else you want?"

She snorted with laughter, carrying the mischievousness of a young girl.

"I want a lot, how about you pick the stars from the sky for me?"

These words were clearly teasing him.

Yet he remained exceptionally calm, answering seriously.

"I can, if there’s a chance in the future."

The smile on Stella Grant’s face restrained a bit, she tilted her head to scrutinize him.

"Aiden Fordham, I found, you’re very off today, you’re hiding something from me."

He silently thought for a moment, then earnestly nodded, "Yes."

She became more curious, leaning forward slightly, "What is it?"

He looked at her deeply, his gaze complex making her a bit puzzled.

"I feel... I’ve fallen in love with you." He added, with a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "So, I must hurry to send you far away to avoid falling too deep."

Stella Grant suddenly tightened her grip on the chopsticks.

Her heart inexplicably tightened, but she retorted stubbornly, "Who cares."

Looking at her slightly flushed cheeks, Aiden Fordham suddenly smiled.

It was the first time he felt, having her by his side was truly wonderful.

Even this dull human world gained some lively atmosphere.

The next morning, Stella Grant walked out of the villa, the car to take her to the airport was already waiting at the door.

The sunlight was a bit dazzling.

The bodyguard respectfully opened the car door for her, she was ready to bend down and get in.

"Stella." Aiden Fordham’s voice came from behind, carrying a slight hoarseness.

Stella Grant turned around.

He was holding a necklace, precisely the one blessed by that elderly woman under the Divine Tree.

The pink diamond refracted sparkling light in the morning sun.

She remembered this necklace had been snapped, she casually tossed it into a drawer when she returned.

Aiden Fordham walked up to her, his tall figure blocking a patch of sunlight.

He picked up the necklace, once again, personally placing it around her neck.

He lowered his head, advising softly, his voice tender beyond words.

"Don’t lose it again, there’s only this one in the world, the old lady said it can keep you safe."

"Okay." She gently nodded, fingers unconsciously pinching the cold pink diamond on her chest.

There was an inexplicable anxiety, lodged in her chest, neither coming up nor going down.

She didn’t know, he had repaired it by hand last night, and specially added a tiny locator on the back of the clasp.

All to ensure that the people he sent could protect her secretly at all times, shielding her for a lifetime.

He suddenly reached out, tightly enfolding her in his arms, forcefully, as if wanting to merge her into his bones and flesh.

He lowered his head, lightly kissed her hair, carrying endless attachment.

"Stella, take good care of yourself in the future."

She was a bit flustered by this sudden sentimentality, her nose felt a little sour.

She sniffed, suddenly said.

"Aiden Fordham, return to Meritopia on your birthday. I’ll celebrate for you then."

This was her promise.

She thought, when he heard this, he would be happy.

But she didn’t know that he wouldn’t make it to that day.

He couldn’t go back.

Aiden Fordham’s body noticeably stiffened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

He released her, emotions surging in his eyes, but ultimately turning into a calm response.

"Okay."

Keegan Lindsey, standing not far away, quickly turned around upon hearing this "okay."

His eyes stung sharply.

Stella Grant took a deep breath, no longer hesitated, and got into the car.

The car door closed, isolating Aiden Fordham’s gaze.

The car slowly started, gradually heading towards the villa entrance.

Aiden Fordham stood where he was, watching the car drive away, his eyes uncontrollably reddened.

When he didn’t like her before, he just wanted to forcibly keep her by his side, torturing her in every possible way.

Now that he’s fallen in love, he willingly let her go.

The car completely exited the villa gate, disappearing around the corner.

Aiden Fordham could no longer hold on, suddenly covering his chest, veins popping on his forehead, showing extreme pain.

"President Fordham!"

Keegan Lindsey and the nearby bodyguard were shocked, quickly rushing to support his shaky body.

...

The car sped down the wide road.

Finally, she was leaving this city, memories flashing like movie scenes rapidly in her mind.

Aiden Fordham, Aiden Fordham, and still Aiden Fordham.

He saved her from peril, he forcefully kissed her, he stood beside her under the Divine Tree, blessed by the old lady, he fed her that overly sweet cake...

Suddenly, her heart ached for no reason, her right eyelid kept twitching wildly.

"Thump, thump, thump—"

A foreboding seized her instantly.

The phone rang untimely, breaking the silence in the car.

She took a deep breath and took out her phone, it was a call from Vivi Sterling’s caller ID.

"Hello, Vivi?"

"Stella, have you set off?" Vivi Sterling’s voice sounded somewhat gloomy.

"Yes, on the way." Stella Grant replied, rubbing the twitching temples.

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

Then, Vivi Sterling’s voice came again, cautiously, with probing.

"Stella... do you still love Aiden Fordham?"

Stella Grant responded almost immediately, her tone with a bit of mockery, "Ha, do you want me to catch him cheating again?"

There was another, longer silence on the other end, so long that Stella Grant thought the signal was lost.

Finally, Vivi Sterling’s voice rang again, slowly hitting her word by word.

"I accidentally overheard Zane Zimmerman on the phone, learned that Aiden Fordham... he’s been poisoned very severely, he can only live for a little over ten days..."

Vivi Sterling said something else, but Stella Grant could no longer hear it.

Her brain buzzed.

Blank.