<b>Chapter </b><b>327 </b>
There were three dishes and a soup, all light and easy on the stomach–exactly the kind of food Night Owl usually liked. Biden had really put sorther thought into it.
“Here, eat up. If you’re not feeling hungry, just take your time,” Aiden said, handing her a bowl of mushroom soup he’d carefully skimmed of any excess
oil.
Night Owl was momentarily dazed. For a second, Aiden’s figure seemed to ovep with the one in her memories.
She murmured softly, “Dawson…”
“Mm.” Aiden responded.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled, not the slightest hint of displeasure
on his face.
Night Owl snapped back to her senses, her nose tingling as she looked at his smiling face. “Are you stupid or something?”
“No, I’m actually really smart,” Aiden replied with a grin. “I’m the smartest one in the Kyle family.”
“Did you hear what I just called you?” she asked, her voice a little shaky.
“Yeah, I heard,” Aiden said.
“And you still answered?” she stared at him in disbelief.
Night Owl couldn’t understand it at all. She’d just called him by her ex’s name, yet he responded so naturally, even smiling as if it didn’t bother him in the slightest. ‘How could he just ept it so easily? Why does he look so happy about it?‘ she thought, her heart in turmoil.
“Honestly, I’m happy to be his stand–in,” Aiden said as he sat down across from her at the little table, meeting her gaze with genuine sincerity. “<b>If </b>that’s what you want, you can treat me as if I’m him.”
“You must be out of your mind…” Night Owl muttered, shaking her head, her nose tingling even more, on the verge of tears.
‘Who would ever willingly be someone else’s stand–in?‘ she thought,pletely baffled. ‘Especially a guy like him–so handsome, and from such a prominent family.‘
“I’m not crazy,” Aiden said gently. “Night Owl, I like you. I just can’t bear to see you sad or hurting. So, as long as you’re happy, nothing else matters to
me.”
Night Owt’s heart twisted with pain, as if something was squeezing it tight.
She lowered her head, pretending to sip the mushroom soup, but her tears plopped into the bowl one after another.
Worried he’d see, she simply lifted the bowl and tipped it back, drinking straight from it.
“No need to pretend–I saw it all,” Aiden said gently, handing her a tissue. “If you want to cry, then cry. If you want tough, thenugh. With me, you can be yourself–no need <i>to </i>hold anything back.”
“Little boy! You’re just a little boy,” Night Owl said, her voice tight with emotion.
“I know I am younger. Honestly, I kinda like it,” Ajden replied, still smiling gently.
No matter what Night Ow! threw at him, Aiden always took it in stride, answering her with that same calm and warmth.
Night Owl could only sigh in defeat.
She wanted to snap at him, but just couldn’t bring herself to say a word.
All she could do was bury her head in her food.
<b>“</b>Take your time,” Aiden said, his smile growing even wider.
He thought to himself, ‘See? My cooking’s not bad at all–she just can’t seem to stop eating.
With his elbow propped on the little table and his chin resting in his hand, he watched her with a yful grin. “You look so good I could just eat you op
“I still can’t ept dating a younger guy…” Night Owl said, setting down her utensils. She paused, trying to gather her thoughts.
Even though Aiden was willing to be a stand–in for Dawson, and even though she found herself seeing him as Dawson more and more often, she knew deep down that it was impossible for them. It would never happen.
“Take your time, there’s no hurry,” Aiden said, a hint of disappointment shing in his eyes, but he quickly put on a smile and got up to clear the table.
His busy figure was both handsome “g.
Night Owl felt her heart waver before she could stop it.
Outside the window, the night was getting deeper. Landon was probably long gone by now, so she could go back to her room if she wanted.
But she stayed right where she was.
It was like she was rooted to the spot, unable to move, almost as if she was in a trance.
She just watched Aiden bustling around, her vision growing hazy and unfocused.
Then, everything slowly sharpened again, the scene bing clear–and strangely familiar.
It wasn’t until the phone rang that the illusion finally shattered.
Aiden wiped his hands and answered. “Oh… yeah, she’s awake now. We just finished dinner. Have you eaten yet? Alright, I’ll bring her up right now.”
“Is that Amy?” Night Owl asked.
“Yeah, it’s her. Landon has already left, so let me take you back,” Aiden replied.
“No need to walk me back–I can go on my own,” Night Owl said, standing up and getting out of the car.
She headed straight for the hotel lobby, not looking back once.
Aiden stood by the car, watching her until her figure vanishedpletely from sight. Only then did he let out a long sigh and slip back into the car, left alone with his own loneliness.
‘She won’t even let me be a stand–in… Is there really any
other
way
for me to get close to her?‘ he thought bitterly.
When Night Owl got back to the room, Landon was indeed gone, and Amelia was sitting there alone, sipping on some wine.
“Did you two have a fight?” Night Owl asked, surprised.
“No,” Amy replied, raising her ss with a smile, “I’m just in a good mood today, <i>so </i>I thought I’d have a little drink.”
Night Owl rolled her eyes inwardly. “I’m gonna tell Landon not toe back.”
“He’sing back tomorrow?” Amelia’s eyes lit up.
Night Owl was speechless.
Chapter <b>327 </b>
Whatever, Night Owl thought. ‘Let her float in her hopeless romantic bubble a bit longer!
She picked up a ss and joined in. “Come on, let me have some too.”
“No way, you can’t drink–your health isn’t good,” Amy refused tly.
“Oh, so you get to drink but I can’t? That’s a double standard!” Night Owl protested, reaching for the bottle.
Amy nimbly dodged out of the way.
“Shouldn’t you be totally worn out today? What, did Landon go easy on you or something?” Night Owl teased with a mischievous grim,
Amelia’s cheeks turned red and she squirmed a little. “Night Owl, you really know how to tease.”
“Back in the day, I was a real pro at making
ty jo
Night Owlughed. “Seriously, I even made Landon run away just from <b>my </b>words
“Really?”
Amelia looked genuinely surprised.
Night Owl always seemed so cold and distant. When she was angry, she was like a ruthless killer, and when she was calm, she was like a goddess–foo cool and aloof for the mortal world.
‘She actually knows how to make dirty jokes?‘ Amelia thought,pletely taken aback.
“Don’t believe me? Just ask Landonter,” Night Owl said, taking advantage of Amelia’s momentary daze to pour herself a ss.
Only then did Amelia realize she’d been tricked. She put on a mock–angry face. “Night Owl, you’re messing with me again!”
“It’s been ages since I had a drink,” Night Owl said, then downed a big swig, feeling the alcohol burn all the way down to her stomach.
“Amy, I think I’m getting sicker and sicker…” she said softly.
“Where are you feeling unwell?” Amelia asked, her face turning serious.
“My eyes,” Night Owl replied.
Amy was startled and hurried over to check on her.
“Lately, I keep seeing Aiden as if he were Dawson,” Night Owl admitted softly.
Amelia was shocked. She stepped back and listened quietly, not saying a word.
“If I weren’t sick, how could this be happening to me? Dawson… no one could ever take his ce.
“He was taller than Aiden, skinnier, and had a darkerplexion… there’s just no resemnce at all.
“But I really do see him. If my eyes aren’t messed up, then what else could it be?”
Amelia felt a pang in her heart as she listened.
‘How much did she have to love him to still be thinking about him all these years after he died?‘ Amelia wondered.
“Amy, do you think I should go to the hospital for a check–up?” Night Owl asked, her pale cheeks tinged with a <i>rosy </i>flush <b>from </b><b>the </b>alcohol, <b>making </b><b>her </b>look breathtakingly beautiful.
Amelia thought to herself, ‘This is what Night Owl is supposed to look like–so beautiful and alive, just like she would <b>be </b><b>if </b><b>she </b><b>were </b><b>truly </b><b>healthy</b>.
“Night Owl, does Aiden know about this?” Amelia asked softly.
Chapter <b>327 </b>
<b>“</b>Yeah, he does.” Night Owl smiled, her lips curving into a beautiful, bittersweet are. “He’s such a fool called him by bowenty name lo answered–looking genuinely happy about it.”
Amelia closed her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow that knot of pain in her chest. She said softly, “Night Owl, he’s not <b>being </b>lentish 10 pr truly likes you.”
“You really think so?” Night Owl asked..
“Yeah. I’ve never seen him act so gentle before. It’s real love–it’s changed who he is,” Amelia said earnestly. “Night Owl, he’s not a bad guy<b>. </b><b>Why </b><b>not </b>che him a chance? You can’t go on like this forever.”
“Why not?” Night Owl asked, her voice soft but with a stubborn edge.
“Because we all just want you to be happy and truly content,” Amelia said gently.
Night Owl held up her ss, murmuring to herself, ‘Happiness? Joy? What are those even supposed to be….
It had been so long since she’d felt anything like that–so long, she couldn’t even remember what happiness tasted like anymore.
Ever since Dawson left, happiness and joy had vanished from her world.
“Whether it’s for yourself or for Dawson<i>, </i>just try to step out of the past. Let yourself try something new–and give him a chance too.” Amelia urged softly
Night Owl fell silent, gazing out the floor–to–ceiling window<b>, </b>lost in thought.
The night sky outside was so deep and endless, it felt like it went on forever.
It was just <i>like </i>her life these past few years.
Everything had been a blur–drifting, lost in an endless night with no way out.
Looking back now, she suddenly realized just how terrifying that really was.
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