Chapter 10%
The assistant looked uncomfortable. “She won’t be coming, sir. Didn’t you say this morning that she wouldn’t be coming anymore?”
Only then did Nick remember–Aria was gone. Again, he’d forgotten.
He raked a hand through his hair, annoyed.
God, how quickly he had gotten used to her being around. And how impossible it was to get used to her being gone.
He opened their old chat thread. Over the past five years, Aria had sent him more than five thousand messages–checking on him, reminding him to eat, to rest. And he.. he’d only replied five times. Each response no more than two words.
Since she’d left the Ambrose Family, there hadn’t been a single new message.
Just then, his phone rang. It was the housekeeper.
“Mr. Ambrose, something happened. It’s your son-”
Nick’s heart sank. He bolted upright. “What happened to him?“}
“He’s been vomiting and has severe diarrhea. It might be something he ate. We’ve already taken him to the hospital.”
Nick quickly got the hospital address and rushed over!!
When he arrived, Jayden was lying on the bed with an IV in his arm, his face as pale as a sheet. The sight of him was heartbreaking!
Nick turned to the housekeeper “He hasn’t had an episode in so long–what the hell happened?”
The housekeeper lowered his head. “It wasn’t Madam who cooked today. Miss Valentina prepared lunch. She used a lot of seasoning and it probably triggered Jayden’s stomach.
Nick’s temples pulsed with fury “Bring Valentina here. Now
Valentina, already aware of the disaster she’d caused, came in red–eyed and trembling. She fell to her knees.!!
“Tm sony, Mr. Ambrose! I didn’t mean to hurt him. Please, please give me another chance. I promise I’ll do better.”
Nick’s anger was bubbling just beneath the surface, but the moment he looked at her face–her familiar, beautiful face–his fury faltered. He let out a heavy breath and said stiffly, “I know you didn’t mean it. I won’t blame you this time. But from now on, let the professionals handle the meals. Just give the chefs the recipe book and make sure they follow it.”
Relieved, Valentina let out a shaky breath–but the moment she heard the word recipe, her expression stiffened. She forced a smile and said, “I’m sure professional chefs have dozens of recipes memorized. And even if they don’t, they’re great at improvising. The food will still taste good either way. So, I don’t think there’s any need to give them the recipe book.“E
Nick’s eyes narrowed. He hated it when people disobeyed his instructions–and he hated excuses even more.
“If I say give them the recipe,” he said coldly, raising his hand, “then you give it to them. And if you can’t–then hand it to me and I’ll give it to them myself.”
That recipe wasn’t just some random cookbook–it was Aria’s personal note. She’d spent nearly a year perfecting every meal inside it, every portion meticulously crafted to fit Jayden’s unique dietary needs. No chef, no matter how skilled, would know Jayden’s body the way Ania did. If something like today happened again, Jayden’s body might not be able to handle it!
Frustrated by her silence, Nick, now barely holding onto his patience, snapped, “Valentina, where is the recipe book?”
Valentina froze. Her lips trembled and after a long pause, she finally whispered, “… I burned it.”
Time seemed to stop.
Nick stood there, rigid, like the air had been knocked out of him. Then the rage came crashing in.
“You what?” he snapped, voice like thunder. “Are you out of your damn mind? I told you that was Jayden’s custom meal plan! Why would you destroy it?TI
“I’m sorry! I just thought Ana’s gone and keeping her things around might give her the idea that she’s still welcome. What if she got the wrong idea and came back? I didn’t want that to happen, so I burned it.”
Nick’s whole body was trembling with fury. His jaw clenched, his fists tight at his sides.
But in the end, he said nothing. He just told someone to take her away.!!
Standing by Jayden’s hospital bed, watching his son’s frail little face, Nick finally understood–8
Not Everyone could care for Jayden like Aria did.!!!
And not everyone could love him like she had–like he was truly her own.
And for the first time, a tiny seed of regret took root in Nick’s heart
He had let Ana go
And maybe that had been his biggest mistake
