Iris Ling got out of her sleek red Mercedes Benz and stood in front of the luxury apartments. The evening breeze made her shiver a little, but she endured it. She felt a very strong sense of foreboding, making her very reluctant to enter. But she had to. This was a matter of great importance, and she had to make sure that he listened to her.
She couldn't not relent on this, no matter what he said.
She took off her large sunglasses and strode gracefully into the building. Heads turned towards her. It boosted her confidence a little, and she held her head up high, giving her a noble air.
Inwardly however, the small seed of dread was growing steadily. She dug her long, manicured nails into her palm, so she could focus. No matter what, she could not cower today, she could not look weak.
Even though she was sure of the outcome, she could not accept it. She did not know what she would do if she did.
Her fists clenched. That bastard…..he claimed he never liked Leah and only took her seriously because she was connected to the Songs, but the first place he ran to after her death was the apartment they prepared together before their marriage.
She couldn't understand his actions and what exactly he wanted here. They never even lived here in the end, so why was he still clinging to this place?
Why was he clinging to Leah? The reason was surfacing in her mind, but she pushed it back forcefully.
Aiden had been ignoring her ever since Leah's death. She could not allow him to treat her like this. She had given up everything she had, because she loved him. She did not want to accept that everything he told her were lies. She did not know what she would do if that were the case.
She steadied her breaths and changed the expression on her face. She put on a charming smile and walked in.
Her arm was however held firmly by the receptionist. Iris snapped her head back and glared at her. Who did she think she was to touch her? If not for the fact that she had an image to keep, she would have put her in her place.
The receptionist looked startled but smiled politely at her.
Excuse me miss, but you are supposed to come to the reception desk first so we can verify your identification.
'Was this idiot serious? Did she not know who she was talking to?'
Iris smiled sadly.
"I am so sorry for the misunderstanding and inconvenience. You see, someone very close to me just passed away, and we are all distraught. He has hidden away from everyone, and I just need to check if he is okay, everyone in the family is worried about him right now."
"I understand, but please just fill in the form. I would also need to call to let them know of your arrival."
Usually, Iris would have been irritated by this receptionist, but this perfectly worked in her favor. She, along with his assistant had tried to reach him on different numbers, but his phone was off. If her guess was right, the call would not go through.
As expected, he was not answering his phone. Iris acted her part well. She began fidgeting nervously, and when the lady attempted to call the third time, she began to sob.
"Please, let me go and see him, what if something happened to him!"
The receptionist was startled as well and nodded with a pale face. If she refused and something had really happened, she would not be able to bear the brunt of it.
"Can you also give me the keycard to his room?"
The receptionist shook her head in a daze.
"Th-the apartments only use passwords. C-can you give me his room number so I can help you unlock the door?"
Iris smirked inwardly but kept her semi-hysterical act on.
"Yes, yes, he lives in the penthouse. It is a new place, but I know it is the entire floor."
The receptionist nodded quickly then looked on her computer. She was shaking as well.
"The password is 1906."
Perfect. This had even gone better than she expected. She was however confused and irritated as to why this woman was following her into the elevator.
"You don't need to come along; I can handle this." Iris said, trying to get rid of her.
"I'm sorry miss, I need to come with you just in case there is a real emergency."
What an idiot. She seemed to believe her completely. Was this girl new here?
They both rode the elevator silently, and Iris laughed inwardly at the poor shaken receptionist.
When they arrived at the highest floor, she strode quickly to the door and entered the passcode. It was Leah's birthday. Her hand paused for a few moments, and her expression grew complicated.
"Miss? Are you okay?"
Iris nodded quickly, then pushed the door open.
The apartment was dark; the only source of light was from the large floor to ceiling windows in the living area. It was evening, and the myriad of lights was breathtaking. She was now certain that he was there. The room had the pungent smell of stale cigarettes. There were white cloths on most of the furniture in the room, except for a large leather sofa and the barstools.
She stepped in and switched on the lights. That was when she spotted him instantly. Before, he was completely hidden behind the sofa but now she saw his long legs extending towards the windows. Moments later, he moved and stood up slowly.
Iris tried to hide her surprise. It had only been a few days, but Aiden Ji looked completely different. His hair and clothes were disheveled, and stubble had begun to grow on his face. But he was still somehow like a demon, devastatingly attractive.
Iris felt her heart tighten. She had to be honest with herself. He did care about Leah after all.
Aiden's expression was dark as he stared at the two women who had entered his apartment.
His voice was chilling.
"Who gave you the audacity to barge into this place?"