The Enemy I Couldn't Resist

CHAPTER SEVEN : Back To Ice

The screen flickered again.

"He's lying to you, Elena. I have proof."

I stared at the message until it went back to black—the battery finally died.

Aiden noticed my silence. "What was that?"

"Nothing," I said too quickly, laying the phone face-down on the bed.

He didn’t push. Instead, he stood and grabbed his blanket. “You should sleep. We’ll head to Abuja in the morning if the storm clears.”

Just like that, the warmth between us vanished.

No more confessions. No more paintings. No more soft looks.

Cold Aiden was back.

I lay in bed, wide awake, listening to the wind and wondering if I’d been foolish to believe anything had changed. That message from Seyi—it had cracked something open. What proof could he have?

And why now?

Morning came quietly. The storm had passed, but something heavier stayed between us.

Aiden barely spoke a word as we traveled to Abuja in a hired car. His eyes remained fixed on the road, his fingers tapping against his knee. I glanced at him sideways.

"Back to ignoring me?" I finally spoke.

He did not look at me. "You needed space. I'm giving it."

I hated that it hurt so much.

When we reached the hotel, I got out of the car without saying a word. He didn't attempt to stop me.

At the reception desk, the receptionist smiled. "Welcome, Mr. Cole. Your assistant's room is ready."

"Good," he said, before he looked at me. "Stay out of the way today. You'll only slow me down."

My throat tightened. "What about answering questions?"

He looked me straight in the eye.

"You stopped asking the right ones.".

And then he simply walked away—into the arms of a woman I did not recognize… but who was clearly waiting for him.