Page 84 of All That She Needs

"Okay," he said with a nod. But then, almost casually, he added, "How about dinner?"

"Umm..."I stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "David..."

Sensing my hesitation, he sighed, though his gaze softened. "Still too soon after your divorce?" he asked gently. I had mentioned the divorce when he'd asked about Aiden—yes, he knew him too.

"It's not about that..." I trailed off, struggling to find the right words. Honestly, my hesitation had little to do with the divorce. It was not because of his lack of attractiveness either.It was the dimpled, turquoise-eyed man who kept invading my thoughts, and I couldn't shake him off. "I just... can't."

"Okay, okay, I get it." His dark eyes showed understanding. "I always liked you, Asha. I remember thinking several times when he had our meetings, how great it would be if you weren't married. And then I found out you're not anymore. But I guess it's just not my luck. You're an incredible woman, Asha. Any man would be lucky to be with you." His smile was faint, but he accepted the rejection gracefully, and I appreciated that. He held my gaze for a moment, before he said, "Take care, Asha. Safe flight home."

I watched him walk away, realizing that any woman would be lucky to be with him, too.

It just wasn't going to be me.

When Sandy approached me, her expression was one of disappointment. She must have sensed what had just happened, even without hearing our conversation. "Asha, why?" she whined, as if she was the one who had lost out. "That man is so fine!"

I chuckled and linked my arm through hers. "Come on, let's shop and eat until we can't walk anymore."

That day was perfect. Sandy and I wandered from shop to shop, buying a lot of silly things that I was certain we were going to regret buying when we got home. We laughed and moved from one quaint cafe to another, indulging ourselves in chocolate, pastries and rich coffee instead of a proper lunch, savoring each bite.

By the time we finished our shopping spree, our bags were full, and our spirits were high. We arrived back at the cabin just a few minutes before the kids.

Kayden burst through the door, with Chloe trailing behind him, both looking distressed as if something terrible had just happened.

"Mom!" Kayden practically screamed. "We have to go back home now, Mom. Please!"

"What happened?" I screeched, a million dreadful thoughts racing through my mind. "Are you both okay? Where are your uncles? Are they alright?"

Kayden shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide with panic. "It's about Dad, Mom!"

I was just about to ask what had happened to him when Kayden blurted out, "Dad is in the hospital. He's been hit by a car! That Vanessa motherfucking whore ran him over with her car!"

Part 39: Asha

"Are you alright?" I asked Kayden, who walked beside me, looking strained and distraught. His eyes were red, as if he had been crying. We had just landed yesterday, and now we were making our way down the hospital corridor to see Aiden. Kayden had insisted on coming last night, but Roy told him the hospital wouldn't let him in since it was past visiting hours and Aiden needed to rest.

Kayden only nodded in response.

"Your dad is okay, Kayden. He's going to be okay." I spoke softly to reassure him. According to Roy, Aiden had a severe concussion, bruised ribs, and a partial tear in the ligament of his left knee. Roy said the doctors assured him that while these injuries were serious, they could be managed with proper care. If Aiden wanted to regain his strength and walk normally again, he would need to stick to a strict physical therapy program. He was kept in the hospital mainly to monitor his concussion, especially since he was at a higher risk for complications because of his loss of consciousness.

Chloe, already ahead of us, practically sprinted down the corridor, shouting over her shoulder and forgetting to keep quiet in the hospital. "Come on! Hurry up!"

"Stop running so fast, Chloe! And keep your voice down!" Max was trying to be a good doctor/hospital police, but he didn't realize that he was yelling at himself. "There are people recovering here!"

"Oh, shut it, Uncle Max!" my girl exclaimed, as she continued sprinting down the hospital hallway. I heard Max grumble behind me, but he didn't say anything anymore.

When we reached Aiden's room, I saw Roy standing outside, absorbed in his phone. Chloe immediately dashed inside, but I paused when I noticed Kayden standing stiffly, his eyes locked on the door.

"What's wrong?" I asked, studying his expression. I knew he was processing the news about his dad's accident, but the tension in his stance suggested he was bracing for something worse.

It took a moment, but eventually, Kayden seemed to shake off whatever was weighing on him and followed his sister inside. I lingered outside, hoping to talk with Roy. Max stood beside me, looking like he wanted to do the same.

"Asha," he greeted me with a nod, before he greeted Max by shaking his hand.

"What happened, Roy?" I asked.

Roy let out a heavy sigh. "An obsessed woman went completely off the rails—that's what happened. Vanessa tried to reach out to Aiden, but he had blocked her number. So, one night, she showed up at his apartment, waiting outside the lobby. They had a conversation that escalated into a disagreement, and Aiden walked away from her. After that night, he realized she had been stalking him; he saw her car parked near his apartment and sometimes caught glimpses of her hiding in the shadows."

Roy paused, glancing back at the door before continuing. "That fateful night, despite having avoided going out, Aiden decided to go for a jog. He didn't want to feel trapped because of her. He hadn't seen her lurking around for a few days, so hethought she had finally given up. It was a quiet night, with the road completely empty—no other people or cars around. Then he noticed a car following him. At first, he didn't think much of it; it wasn't her usual car."

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