Chapter 308: Chapter 308: What Kind of Game?
Abandon bites her bottom lip and nods, looking at Aaron with her blue eyes sparkling with emotions. He looked at her and saw the joy and happiness in her face. "Does that mean when I turn twenty, you will marry me?" She couldn’t hold back her excitement and rushed over and gave Aaron a hug. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Aaron had a stunned look on his face. ’Marry me! I never imagined ever getting married,’ he couldn’t help, but wonder what his future held for him. Abandon’s eyes were filled with enthusiasm. Aaron quickly lifted his head and smiled. "Of course! I will marry you." He shook his head in agreement.
Aaron was aware of her illness and what followed. What lay ahead for her were only years of suffering and pain. At any given time, Abandon’s life could be stolen by death. Even a heart transplant couldn’t save her. He had given her a reason to hope because, without hope, there is nothing to live for. Aaron grinned at her, she, in return, was helping him with his sorrow.
"If we are going to get married. I have to give you a better name than Abandon. I think..." he hesitated while putting the finger on his chin. "I will call you Anne."
"After the dog," she said, giggling.
"Yes, it’s perfect. You and she are the same. Strong and determined. Aaron said in the most reassuring voice he could muster.
"I am no longer, Abandon. My name is Anne," she said, and her face brightened with a smile. "Can I ask you a question?" Anne asked.
"Of course! Anything!" Aaron said, sounding intrigued by her enthusiasm.
With the sound of excitement in her voice, Anne asked, "Why are you sitting here looking so sad? What do you like to do?" There was so much that Anne wanted to ask him.
This was a question that no one has asked Aaron since he was a little boy. Almost not sure how to answer. He waited and thought for a moment. Taking him back to when he was a little boy. He looked up, and in the sky, the sun shone glaringly. Aaron narrowed his eyes against the glare of the sun. "I like to paint," he said very softly.
Anne blinked. "You paint? Would you paint a picture of me?" she asked.
Without thinking, Aaron quickly refused. "No, I never paint pictures of people."
The light in Anne’s eyes disappeared. Aaron saw the expression on her face and took pity on her. He replied, "When you turn twenty and marry me. You will be my wife, and I will paint you."
Anne nodded in agreement, "Okay! I can’t wait!"
Aaron’s eyes were heavy with sorrow as he looked at his right hand. It had been disabled when he was a teenager. They had been talking for hours, sitting side by side on the bench. He enjoyed talking to Anne, and it was nothing like when he spoke to the business people and celebrities. He could be himself around her and felt he could tell her anything.
"Child Yates, the Madame, has something for you to do," the man spoke calmly.
It was a familiar yet disturbing voice. Aaron’s smile instantly disappeared, and his eyes went cold. Looking at the man, Anne was a little frightened and grabbed Aaron’s hand. He squeezed her hand. "Black, you may speak freely. This is my future wife. Say what you came here to say."
Aaron’s strange demeanor confused Black, but he did as Aaron asked. "You know the family rules. There will be no fighting amongst the family, or the punishment will be whipping or worse. You knew this, so why do you still insist on trying to hurt Mrs. Yates? Madame is very angry and ordered me to take you back."
"Take me back," Aaron said coldly. The Yates family members were always under surveillance, but Aaron never cared. When he was younger and did something wrong, he would be locked away in a dark room. It didn’t matter how hard he cried, and his mother never took mercy on him. The time he spent in the box would depend on the severity of his mistake. One of his punishments was ten lashes to the back, but the worst one of all was when his mother would not allow him to have his medicine. She was one of the most cold-hearted women in the world, truly evil.
Aaron’s voice was deep and cold. "I would advise you to leave. Now!!" he replied.
Black had an order and didn’t care how Aaron spoke to him. "Madame will be awaiting your arrival," he said calmly and turned around and left.
Aaron never spoke when Black left. He looked into the sky as if deep in thought. As young as Anne was, she knew by the expression on Aaron’s face that something was wrong. She looked at Aaron and thought she saw a tear trickle down his cheek. "Are you crying?" Anne asked.
Aaron looked down at her, and there was no trace of tears. "A powerful man like me, crying! Never!" he joked. "It’s starting to rain. You should go inside before you get cold." He gently pushed her toward the hospital.
But she stood there motionless with no expression on her face. Her eyes fixed on Aaron. She could see the sadness etched upon his face. As he looked at her, his eyebrow lifted. She was smiling at him, and he could not help but smile back at her. "Why are you not going inside?" he asked.
"I don’t want to leave you alone! I...I should stay with you," she said hesitantly. Anne was gentle, and her heart was kind. Her words were so powerful, and Aaron was touched. He could hardly speak. This little girl could see his sadness, but his parents never did.
Aaron was in deep thought or in silent conversation with his demons. He suddenly thought of something. He looked at her watching her enchanting face for a moment. His eyes had a strange glory, which made them shine. Lowering his voice, he leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Do you like games," he asked. "Would you like to play a game with me?"
Anne gave Aaron a confused look. "What kind of game?" Her eyes were full of innocence.
Aaron reached over and touched her head. He put one arm around her neck. ’So slender and fragile,’ he thought. ’How easily, I could snap it off with little effort.’ He chuckled. Aaron looked at Anne with a bloodthirsty grin, and his eyes flashed with insanity.
When Anne looked at him, her huge eyes were soft and full of trust. "Yes, I love games," she replied.
"Let’s go!" Aaron took her by the hand and headed toward the car. "The game will be much more interesting now!" Aaron said in a low voice.