e looks like a beggar you picked off of the street!" She spat her voice drippin

ithout thinking, he stepped forward, putting himself between he

He growled. "The only "street beggar

icking sound of heels echoed through the hall. Aaron stiffened, annoyance boiling over

rls, her usual straight, unimpressed demeanor accentuati

ning to the butler he asked, "Is anyone el

ived unannounced, and I thought it best not to distu

," Aaron cut him off, his ey

d to bite the poor man's head off. I thought I'd check on you, but it seems I've

rs. Kingston, it's so good to see y

e, scanning her as she scrutinized her sharply. "Jessica. How unexpect

awkwardly, quic

"And who might this be?" she asked, her

ina Weston, my girlfriend." His voice was ,fi

practiced smile. "Girlfriend? Well, this is news," she said smoothly, h

ite the wave of nerves fluttering

ned back to his mother. "Wh

ther check up on her son without an ulterior motive. You bar

e, perhaps you can take this conversation somewhere else." Tu

are in her direction, her defiance faltered. She quickly r

e to speak with you in private." she said, her voice firm a

ooked at Aaron. "Girlfriend?" she

th one glance at the butler, he knew what to do. He nodded pr

ure, his irritation still evident. With a final g

wrong with you, Aaron?! Is this what you've been up to-bringing some girl to this hou

e. You're here to lecture me about responsibilities again, a

he position you're in?! Your grandfather is watching your every move like a hawk. While you pl

ink I don't know that?" He stepped closer, his tone firm. "But f

n's. "Oh? Then who is she, Aaron? Some distra

ered the bombshell. "She's th

idening in surprise.

..Raina is carrying my

herself, pressing her hands to her temples as though to collect her thoughts. "You're

meone who thinks every choice in life should be pre

you have any idea how this will look? How much harder this will make everything for

r of guilt passed through his eyes. But he masked it q

ze sharpened.

sn't matter," he quietly said. "What matters is that I'm

Aaron. And if you think you can keep secrets in this family, you'

nt. And If you don't show him that you're ready to take on the respon

him. I'll prove myself in my ow

ng to do?" She asked, her lips cu

a genius, Mother!" He kissed her forehead, then hurriedly

en in the house for an hour, but everything about them already felt suffocating.

d to herself. "What am I even doi

Before she could answer, the door opened, and Aa

chest. "What now? Another family member you need me

for a moment, studying her, asif finding the right words to say. Fin

?" Her brows arched in annoyance. "

er. "Yes. It's the only way to ke

f. "Under control? You mean your family

child, Raina..." His voice dropped lower and husky as he took another ste

his presence overwhelming. She opened her mouth to resp

e tension. And then, as though a sudden realization hit him, he took a

fists clenched as her heart raced. "W