Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 224

"You mean Ashley?" Aaron forced a smile.

Ines nodded.

Unexpectedly, Aaron spoke up, "Izzy, Ashley's just a kid. She can't tell what real love is, we can't be together."

"Aaron, I know it might not be the right time to say this, but Ashley told me she's fallen for you. When she found out you loved Leila, she felt she was too young to even express her love. Maybe it was just a crush back then, but she's held onto it for almost ten years now. She's twenty, she's not the little girl you remember. You can try to accept her as more than a sister, and understand your own feelings." Ines said.

Aaron was taken aback. The little girl had developed feelings for him so early on and acted as though nothing happened. None of their friends had any clue about it.

"Izzy, I've never thought about it that way." Aaron said.

"Then start now. You missed out on Leila, you missed out on me, but don't miss out on Ashley. You and I both know Ashley. If she decides to let go, there would be no second chance. She's young and has many good people around her." Ines said.

Aaron was silent for a while, and Ines didn't speak either. They just walked in silence.

After a while, Aaron said, "I'll give it some thought."

"That's good." Ines smiled, then asked, "How's the business going?"

"It's up and running. Got a few contracts, but we're short-handed for now. Even with all my connections, I can only take on small companies' annual audits. Mainly doing management

consulting for now, will expand as we get more staff." Aaron said.

"I believe you'll make it." Ines said.

"I don't really like the feeling of being the boss, too many things to worry about. I prefer crunching numbers, just focusing on my own work." Aaron said.

"You'll get used to it. Being your own boss gives you freedom, you can choose what business to take on, and stick to your principles. By the way, how's Jaime doing? Did the Huner Corporation mess affect him?" Ines asked. "He's the director, couldn't dodge the responsibility. Even though it wasn't all on him, he knew about it and got three years in prison. I visited him a few days ago, and he looked a lot better. The bald spots are growing hair again. Seems life in jail isn't so bad." Aaron said.

Ines chuckled lightly, "Then just imagine it as a three-year long vacation. It might be long, but time flies. He can start over when he gets out. Even if he doesn't continue auditing, his experience can land him a job in finance." They chatted as they walked, and before they knew it, they arrived at the shooting range at the Base. Several kids were lying on mats, focusing on their targets. The oldest one was about ten, many were only seven or eight, but they all shot with great accuracy, hitting the nine ring, some even hit the bullseye.

Ines saw them aiming and was ready to cover her ears, but the expected gunshots never came.

"Why is there no sound?" she asked.

"These kids are using modified silencers. This is a residential area, so we do it this way to avoid causing disturbances." Aaron said.

Ines looked over and saw a kid reloading, his arm was just a tad thicker than the gun barrel. Watching him, she felt a pang of worry, "They're so little. Won't their arms get hurt?"

"No, they won't. These kids are all from military families, and they've been training their arm strength from a young age. They're expected to join the forces in the future. We went through the same thing when we were kids. Ethan and the Beasley brothers were all sharpshooters in our group of kids." Aaron looked back on those days with a happy smile.

"Ethan can shoot?" she asked.

"Of course, all kids who grow up at the Military Base can. He just prefers the business side, so only Beasley ended up enlisting. If Ethan had, he'd be just as good." Aaron said.

Ines looked at the kids in the distance, imagining a young Ethan with a furrowed brow, shooting with precision. Without a doubt, he must have been charming.

Seeing her smile, Aaron felt a pang of bitterness.

Just as Ines was about to say something, Ethan's voice came from behind, "Izzy, Aaron."

She turned around to see Ethan standing behind them. Aaron gave a light smile, "Ethan, you off work?"

Ethan nodded, stepped forward, and wrapped his arm around Ines' waist, "Why aren't you wearing a coat? It's still a bit chilly."

"I'm not cold, if anything, I'm a bit hot." Ines said.

Ignoring her protest, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Ines glared at him, but with Aaron there, she didn't say anything more.

Aaron glanced at them, "Ethan, now that you're here, I'll leave Izzy with you. I'll head back first."

Ethan nodded, and Aaron turned and left.

Ines playfully hit him a few times, "Ethan, you did that on purpose, didn't you? I don't need a coat in this weather."

Ethan's eyes twinkled with amusement as he simply said, "Kill two birds with one stone."

"Why do you always cause trouble for Aaron?" Ines asked.

"Stop bringing him up, or I'll get mad." Ethan said.

Ines ignored him and walked on. Ethan laughed and wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Izzy, I know you don't want to hurt his feelings, but if he can't let go completely, he won't be able to move on. I'm sure you don't want to see him like that either."

"I don't want to talk to you. I can't win against you." Ines said.

Ethan didn't mind, he just tightened his grip around her waist, "Camela told me you ate two plates tonight, feeling better?" Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I still feel a bit unwell, but much better than a few days ago. I feel a bit stuffy in the chest, but no vomiting." Ines said.

"Seems like it's doing some good then. I'll have Camela prep some more melons for you in the next few days." Ethan said. Ines nodded, leaning half into him. She was watching kids play in the distance and feeling pretty chipper. She asked, "Ethan, you got any photo albums back at the house?"