17

B I L L I O N A I R E I N M I S E R Y

"IT'S DANIEL," THEO said and I could feel Auden tense immediately underneath me as he stood up, placing me down on the swing gently. His anger vanished. He looked petrified and I started panicking looking at his state. I stood up, looking at Auden and Theo exchange glances between each other. Theo handed the phone to Auden. Shira came to stand beside me, looking equally confused.

Auden clutched the phone in his hand, talking to whoever it was and then hung up after a few seconds. He looked at me, and I tensed, not knowing what is going on.

Auden told Theo something before gesturing for me to come over. Shira went over to Theo and soon all of us were out of the party. Auden and Theo had stripped off all their makeup and I didn't have to do anything except take away my glasses. Shira had removed the whole costume, dumping it in the back of the car. She was wearing normal clothes underneath. I knew something was wrong with the deadly silence and the permanent frown that was etched on Auden's face as he drove, glaring at the road.

I was sitting beside Auden. Shira and Theo were sitting in the back. Theo was constantly attending to multiple phone calls.

"When did this happen?" Auden asked all of a sudden, breaking the silent atmosphere. Theo said nothing.

"WHEN did this happen, Theo?" Auden asked again, his voice was louder and strained. His jaw was rigid and his eyes narrow. I was so used to seeing Auden in a happy state that watching him like this unnerved me.

"Yesterday," Theo answered quietly.

Auden cursed profusely under his breath, honking the car as he hit the steering wheel with anger. My heart was beating wildly with fear for him as I looked at him in this state. He turned around and looked over at me and I looked at him, thinking of a way to calm him down. Suddenly, his hand intertwined with mine and he placed our connected hands on his lap. He breathed out a loud sigh, resting the back of his head on the seat, looking much calmer now.

"Don't let go of my hand," Auden said, softly just for me to hear and I nodded, happy that he is much calmer now. The car came to a halt and all of us were soon getting down. Immediately after we got down, Auden pulled me towards his side, connecting our hands once again before walking inside the hospital.

Why are we in a hospital?

I looked over at him, and his eyebrows were furrowed, his jaw rigid, making him look tough. But, I could see plain fear in his eyes. They shone brightly as we walked along the corridors.

"Mr Mi—"

"Auden. Mr Auden." Auden said and the lady pointed to a door far behind. Soon, we were walking towards the door. Auden was walking so fast as he rushed to the door and opened it. A lady was laid down on the white hospital bed. She had brown hair, smooth skin. There were creases near her eyes. There were many lines connected to her body and I felt bad for her even if I didn't know her. She was not awake. And the constant beep of the monitor was filling the whitish-blue hospital room. I recognised her as his mother immediately.

I looked over at Auden who looked so vulnerable, his eyes fixated on his mother. Suddenly, his eyes filled with tears but they never fell. My heart broke into two seeing him this way and he let go of my hand, walking out the room quickly. I didn't follow him. He needs some time alone. I saw Theo and Shira looking at the woman on the bed and I walked over to them. I looked on either side of the corridor to see Auden completely missing. My heart sank and I worried for him.

"His mother had a heart attack yesterday," Theo said and I nodded silently, looking at the woman who gave birth to a wonderful man.

"Where is Auden?" Theo asked and I shrugged, remaining silent. Shira squeezed my shoulder, giving me a tight smile.

"He probably needs some time alone," Shira said and I nodded, before sitting down on one of the seats outside the room. It's then I realised that there were so many people standing outside, all men, standing like bodyguards along the entire corridor. She must be someone important to have so many bodyguards standing here like this.

It had been a few hours, almost 2 am now and Auden was still not back. I needed to sleep, but I couldn't bring myself to. I needed Auden to come back, even though I felt like I would pass out any minute. Shira was dozing on the chair and Theo was sitting beside her, opposite me. I began to worry about Auden. Where is he? Is he ok?

I wanted him to come back.

"Auden was never obsessed with anyone as much as he is with you." Theo broke the silence and I looked up at him, giving him a tight smile.

"There was this one girl he met at a masquerade though..." Theo paused, thinking hard. "But that was it. He never saw her after the masquerade. After that, it's you."

I smiled, feeling a little distracted. I know Theo was trying to distract me from worrying too much and I was glad he was doing that.

"Are you guys..." I pointed between Theo and Shira and he nodded, a genuinely glad smile stretching his lips as he looked at a napping Shira. I smiled, feeling extremely happy for both of them. They were back together again.

"Thank you," Theo said and I raised my eyebrows, asking why.

"She told me that you told her to give me a chance," Theo said, a genuine thanking tone in his voice and I smiled back.

"You are welcome," I said.

Suddenly, footsteps broke our conversation and both of us turned to look at the end of the empty corridor. Auden was walking towards us. He neared us, nodding at Theo and Theo raised his eyebrows. They were both talking with their eyes, like a secret language. I perked up, waiting for him to say something. Theo laid back on his chair and looked at Shira. I looked over at Auden to see him standing beside me, looking at me.

"Hey." He said softly and I smiled. I reached for his hand, holding it and he held it back tighter, a smile reaching his lips. I wanted to ask him where he went but I didn't want to remind him about it. I wanted to distract him.

"Do you want to go home?" He asked, and I stood up, shaking my head 'no'. His eyes narrowed at me before he pulled me, dragging me away from the hospital. We were shortly outside. The cold night air met my skin and I shuddered. He turned to a corner and sat on top of a staircase, leaning against the white wall of the hospital behind him and patted the place beside him. The lights were dimmer here, making me feel drowsier. I sat down beside him, holding his hand again and rested my head on his shoulder, trying desperately to make him happy.

"Sleep." He ordered softly.

"No," I answered back, holding his hand with both of my hands now.

"I'm sorry." He said and I lifted my head from his shoulder to look at him. "For leaving like that. I was just—I should h-have told you before I left but—I wanted to—Please just don't be angry with m—"

"I'm not," I answered back immediately. "I understand Auden."

I could never be angry with him.

He smiled at me before his lips reached my forehead giving me a long kiss as if that was enough for him to go without rest for the whole night. He moved back, before looking at me. "Are you hungry?" He asked and I shook my head 'no'.

"I will never leave like that again," Auden whispered into my ear and I nodded, trusting him completely and laid my head back on his shoulder.

"Auden?" I called.

"Yes, love?"

Butterflies filled my stomach at that term and I held on to his hand tighter. "Can I sit on your lap? I'm cold."

"My lap belongs to you," Auden whispered happily and I smiled before moving over to sit on his lap. I laid my head on his chest, breathing in his scent and he held me close. The steady thrum of his heartbeat calmed me down as I laid my ears on his chest. I felt like a warm cloak had been flung over me and snuggled into his chest, never letting go of his hand. He kissed my forehead, cuddled me closer and whispered, "Go to sleep, love."

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Hey!

Poor Auden. 😢😭

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