Page 68 of Thanking Her Brother's Best Friends

He regarded me from the rims of his glasses, his gaze sharp and piercing. "I'm on your side. Always have been, always will be."

I stepped outside Turner's office and headed toward my car. Biscuit flanked me, his big frame oddly comforting.

A few reporters emerged. I was caught unawares, partly because my mind was still reeling from the discussion with Turner. I stopped to greet a few fans who came up to me.

"Selene, can you share any hints about the upcoming season of Kitchen Goddess?" a reporter called out.

"Selene, how do you feel about the rumors of a cookbook in the works?" another voice chimed in.

As I tried to maintain composure, my heart skipped a beat when I caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd.

Dave, my ex, stood there, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and desperation.

Panic surged through me as I realized the potential for a public scene unfolding before my eyes.

"How long will you keep my son from me, Selene? Come on!" Dave's voice boomed, cutting through the chaotic noise of the paparazzi and onlookers.

The reporters wasted no time in clicking pictures and bombarding me with the cannon fire of invasive questions.

My bodyguards immediately closed ranks around me, creating a protective shield.

Their stern expressions and firm stance reassured me, but the emotional turmoil roiled within.

"I'm sorry, but I won't be answering any personal questions at this time," I managed to respond.

The camera flashes intensified, freezing the moment in a flurry of blinding light. My instincts took over, and I withdrew, seeking solace in the safety of my bodyguards' presence.

As we made our way toward my waiting car, I could still hear Dave's voice piercing through the chaos.

Finally, the car door closed behind me, muffling the external noise. Leaning back against the comfort of the dark interiors, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

I just wanted to not think. For a little while, or the rest of tonight.

I checked my phone to see if there was a message from Franny. She'd sent one minutes ago, confirming that Oliver had been the best boy tonight.

Choking back tears, I called home and spoke with my son for a few minutes. After he hung up, I told the driver to take a Uey and take me to Harvest and Hearth.

Once I reached the boys' restaurant, I took the elevator to Aiden's office. The door was open, and he was standing inside, his eyes glued to something on his phone.

Both Dom and Niall were there with him.

"Selene?" He looked up and saw me, and his face reflected the turmoil I felt. "We just saw the shitstorm on some asshole's Instagram Live. The nerve of that fucking man to accost you like that and bring Ollie into the mix. We—"

Before he could say anything more, I crossed the room and walked into his arms, only stopping once my lips met his. He stiffened for a brief second before responding to the kiss.

"Make me forget," I demanded. "All of you. We can talk about this later. But right now, I just want to forget."

Aiden's arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me closer to him. I tasted red wine on his lips.

In the background, my mind registered a faintclickas one of the other boys closed and locked the door.

22

AIDEN

Icould not get enough of her.

If the end of the world were ten seconds away, this was how I'd like to go, with Selene in my arms and our lips wrapped together.

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