"Stop overthinking it, dude! Being with the Melendez family isn't so bad, you know. Emmett, he'll treat you well! He's really trying to change his ways."
Even though he didn't become all fluffy and nice overnight, Aiden could feel a shift in him.
Emmett would never have shared a bed with him or called him in private before.
"Yeah." Alex nodded, "I got it; I'll follow your lead from now on."
He stepped forward, grabbing Aiden's hand, "Stop being mad at me, okay? I know I messed up. I shouldn't have changed our plans last minute!"
"Jeez!" Aiden sighed, "Any decisions you make, just let me know! We can discuss it, I won't force you to do what I say, but it's always better than you making decisions alone!"
Alex nodded repeatedly, grinning, "Gotcha! I'll tell you everything from now on!"
"Alright then, let's not bring up the past. It's bedtime; you should get some sleep. I'll head out." Aiden was about to leave when Alex suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Bro!"
"Hmm? What's up?"
"I... I'm scared..." Alex pouted, with tears welling in his eyes, "I'm afraid to sleep alone. What if monsters come and eat me?"
Aiden was taken aback but quickly tried to wipe away his tears, "Hey, hey, don't cry! There are no monsters here!"
"There are! Mom said monsters will come in through the window if I don't go to bed by ten! It's almost ten!"
Alex clung to Aiden's shirt, "Don't leave. Or I could go to your room! I can sleep on the floor! If a monster comes, you can chase it away!"
After his video meeting, Emmett walked in to see her engrossed in the paperwork; her brow furrowed in concentration.
"I thought I told you Ricardo is handling these things for now. You don't have to rush back to work."
"Am I supposed never to work again?"
"As a CEO's wife, you can do as you please." Emmett sat on the bed, removing his shirt to reveal his muscular chest.
At the sight, Clara blushed and quickly turned away, "Can you change in the bathroom?"
"It's too hot; I wasn't planning on wearing a shirt." Emmett smirked, "It's just you and me here. Should I take off my pants too?"
Hearing this, Clara immediately stood up from the chair, "No! I... I'm not ready for that!"

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