The Shackles of Aileen's Love

Saying a Secret

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...Bostonian...

"What about your job, baby?" Dave approached Aileen and kissed her daughter's forehead fondly.

"Is everything okay?" stroking Aileen's back, the two sat next to each other.

"Everything's fine, Dad, so is my job. It feels very comfortable here. I feel healthier too." Aileen smiled, her eyes looking sparkling and beautiful.

"New atmosphere is fun." Aileen added, then refocused on the book she was reading.

Dave smiled gently as he watched his daughter's face deeply, Aileen looked happier and also started to revert back to her former self.

Aileen who looks comfortable without the burden of excessive work.

"Papa plans to return the day after tomorrow. What about you, baby? when did you and Sarah come back? how about we just go home together.after all, the time we have is not much anymore." said Dave thinking about the wedding date of his daughter who is getting closer.

Aileen silence. There was a moment of silence between the two; but after that Aileen started to turn and face Dave, "Oh my father, I don't think I want to go back." Aileen responded to her papa question.

Hearing that of course made Dave frown, it felt like something was behind the simple rejection of his daughter.

"Isn't your and Cole's wedding going to take place next week, baby? you don't want to go back? how is it." said Dave slightly grimaced.

"Come on, papa Dave. I doubt I'll get married." Aileen breathed a heavy sigh. "What if I live alone? after all I can take care of this child with the help of a nun, right? and I also have papa." said Aileen on the grounds that she thought made sense.

But not for Dave. He still did not understand what his daughter said, what was the reason Aileen suddenly changed her mind like this.

"Aileen, wait." Dave interrupted quickly. "Did something happen between Cole and you? Tell me if there's something going on between you, didn't you insist on marrying the man and reject Alex. So what's up now?" dave asked for more explanation from Aileen.

"Papa Dave's. I just changed my mind. Cole and I still don't know enough to be a couple that will be together for life. And we have no more relationship than we have now. Our relationship exists only because of this child." Aileen let out a long breath.

His face looks angry too. He knew it would not be easy to convince his father of the decision he was making now.

"Can't be so Aileen." Dave said again. "Listen. Papa doesn't know what you're hiding from him, but whatever it is you want to be honest and tell me what's really going on.

What's with all these jokes? why did you suddenly change your mind while your marriage was only a few days away." Dave grunting. His anger was almost provoked.

"You said before that Cole was taking good care of you. The man treated you beyond your expectations as a new person. Even papa thinks you like him. Is papa wrong? And all of a sudden today you're saying that you want to live alone and give birth to that baby without a father and also without a clear bond?" Dave looked at Aileen in disbelief.

"Papa doesn't like to see papa's daughter like this Aileen. If you change your mind, at least say something sensible, not an excuse you can't understand."

"Do you have to ask Sarah all this? because honestly, I think there's something you're hiding from me." Dave commemorated Aileen solemnly.

"No papa Dave. It has nothing to do with Sarah. All of this is purely my own decision. I just changed my mind, really." Aileen threw away her face and slightly moved restlessly beside Dave.

Dave massaged his temple plan, "Have you also told Cole your decision? did that man agree to cancel your marriage?" once again Dave really wanted to hear a truth from his daughter.

But Aileen is back. And Dave knows exactly what Aileen's silence means. His daughter only made one-sided decisions.

Dave grabs Aileen's hand and wraps it warmly, despite not knowing what happened, Dave still wants to trust his daughter.

"Aileen listen," Dave's words made Aileen look him in the eye with a bead that started to glaze over..

"To act like this is not good, baby. Whatever your problem with Cole is, you should at least talk, and if you decide not to get married, then you need to remind me, that you also wouldn't be able to take care of the baby alone without a marriage document."

"Do you want your child to be born without parents and a clear status? that's what you want and you expect for her?"

Aileen shakes. She never thought about giving birth to her baby without the obvious status that papa Dave said.

All Aileen wanted was to give birth to the baby and raise her without any shortage, only, it felt like she would not be able to marry Cole after knowing what the man was doing behind her back.

"Can I just get married?" aileen's voice was shaking. "I really don't want to marry Cole, that guy,-" Aileen kept quiet. He could not continue his words.

How can Aileen say with her own mouth that Cole made love to another woman before the wedding day that only counted days. Aileen could not say all that by herself.

Seeing such obvious doubt on his daughter's face, Dave simply stroked Aileen's head and kissed her forehead.

"Papa knows baby. If it's hard for you, then papa will find the best way for you" said Dave softly.

"Just, please think again about what Papa said. If you've really thought about it and made up your mind, then we should talk to Cole and his family. Either way the man deserves to know your current decision." Dave said giving Aileen a middle ground.

Dave is well aware that his daughter is too young to know what to do and what not to do in a relationship with someone else.

As well as all that his daughter did, Dave even hesitated if Aileen knew the consequences. That's why, Dave doesn't want his daughter to be reckless.

"Think about everything slowly, dear. You still have until the day after." said Dave.

Aileen did not comment. He is not broken, but does not intend to change his mind. Although she did not want to give birth to her baby without status, Aileen also did not want to marry Cole.

For Aileen, even though they did not love each other, but betrayal was not something that could be justified in their current situation.

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Sarah shook. Let alone to think, to see the look in Dave's eyes only Sarah did not dare.

Merely, he already had a slight premonition of what that master was going to talk about. "No sir" said Sarah again.

"It's about Aileen. The boy said he wanted to cancel his marriage to Cole. Tell me, what's really going on?" Dave put down his pen while staring intently at Sarah.

"From the beginning I've been suspicious about Aileen's arrival in Boston. How could my daughter who doesn't like to go away from Vegas come to this place and stay here longer. I hope you're not hiding anything from me Sarah." asked Dave.

His voice was low but demanding. Sarah really didn't dwell under the pressure that Dave was under.

The man did say softly, but the meaning behind the tenderness was terrifying. "I'm sorry, sir. It's all my fault." said Sarah, looking down. Dave frowning. "Tell me..!"

After hearing all the confessions and a more complete story from Sarah, Dave was in a dilemma.

On the one hand he would be as angry as his daughter, Aileen, but on the other, he could think a bit by positioning himself as Cole.

Although he did not justify what his future son-in-law did, it was only possible that the two could still find a better middle ground than not getting married at all.

"Alright Sarah. Thank you for telling me all this. Don't tell me if I ask you. I don't want my daughter to be overburdened in her current situation." Sarah nodded, obediently.

"The next day we'll be back in Vegas. Just prepare all the needs of Aileen, and if there's anything else related to Cole again, tell me first."

"Good sir. I will do as you command." After saying that Sarah came out of Dave's room with a pounding heart.

Sarah hopes that, by telling her all about it, she will not make any more mistakes. Sarah just wants to protect Aileen, and also see the woman happy for her life. That'sthat's all.

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...Vegas...

Geck..Geck..

"You're still just moody." Steve sauntered with the map in his hand. He sat down in front of Cole and stayed silent for a moment to look at the situation.

"You still haven't found your future wife?" ask Steve again. Cole flinching. His eyes are still out the window.

One week ago, when Steve found Cole drunk alone at the bar, Cole accidentally told Steve everything.

That's why Steve knows what his best friend is currently experiencing.

Cole sighed heavily, "There's no clue." he said, "Even a hint?" steve Sela. "Hem. Even a little." repeated Cole.

Steve was silent. According to him, for a distinguished family like Marsden, he said, of course it makes no sense if they let the only daughter in the family known to the public get pregnant out of wedlock and also cancel a marriage that has been planned suddenly like this.

Moreover, the news of the marriage of the two began to be widely reported a few days ago, where Cole took the initiative to spread the news that is private to the media to attract the attention of the Marsden family.

If Aileen was hiding, then she was sure that wherever she was would be easy to find with the help of news seekers.

"What if all this is just a misunderstanding. Maybe you're overreacting when you think that Aileen left you and your marriage."

"It's possible that the woman didn't run away, and was actually finishing her work out there. You know how many companies and hotels they have" Steve said.

"Look easy, man. Don't think too much about it, you really look pathetic right now. Shave, your marriage is only a few days away." Steve's advice as Cole's only friend who knows Cole's secrets.

"If everything you say is true. I hope this is just my concern." Cole still looks riled up.

"I'm sure everything's gonna be okay, man. Don't worry." added Steve. The only thing he can do right now is to give Cole his support.

The man who successfully launched his name in a short time because of his achievements and also his ability to do business, now looks so chaotic because of a woman.

...The Ring... Ring.(.Cole's phone rings)...

"You didn't pick it up?" ask Steve. Cole flinching. Seeing Cole like that, Steve was the one who took the initiative to answer the call.

"It's from an unknown number" Steve said as he looked at the screen. "Leave it." Cole said, not interested. But soon the same call was repeated.

"You sure you don't want to lift it?" steve asked, pointing the phone at Cole, but the man threw his face away, Steve could only shake his head.

"Hallo?"

"Master, we've got the latest news, Mr. Dave Marsden and his daughter just arrived at the international airport this afternoon. They're back." reports a man behind the connection.

"Alright." replies Steve in place of Cole. A big smile appeared on the man's face. "I think you should go now, man" Steve told Cole. The man nodded.

"The woman you're looking for is back." hearing that Cole stood up straight from his chair. "Someone just said it. They just arrived this afternoon." explained Steve.

Without waiting for long, Cole immediately picked up his suit and ran away from his study..

"Cole..your phone!" call Steve but the man is out of sight...

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