Chapter 65
Chapter 65:
The soft thud of the door shutting behind Leonino rippled through the quiet living room.
Alden tensed, his body going rigid for a moment. He turned around, the words ready to tumble out in an explanation to Helena—only to see her silhouette disappearing down the hallway.
Her footsteps were rapid, a clear signal of her rush to the bedroom. With a sense of urgency, he followed, his pace quick, nearly slamming his face against the bedroom door that she had hastily shut behind her. He knocked gently, his voice carrying a mix of concern and hesitation.
“Helena, can we talk?” he asked, hoping for a response.
Inside, Helena retreated to the sanctuary of the bed, burying herself under the blanket as if it could shield her from the world.
Leonino’s words earlier had stirred up memories about the document Valeria had handed her, which she had dismissed until now.
But Alden had seen it, and even delved into its secrets.
No wonder he had mentioned her fear of intimacy at the bar the other night.
Now, under his scrutiny, she felt as transparent as glass.
“I’ll be by your side at every therapy session from now on,” he said gently.
The silence stretched between them. The knocking ceased, but his presence remained.
Normally so distant, his voice took on a rare softness, and even without looking, Helena could sense the quiet kindness hidden in it.
Finally, she slid off the bed and leaned against the door, her voice barely above a whisper, her words cautious.
“Valeria’s treatment plan was never serious to me. I never believed in it p>
“And what if I took it seriously?” Alden said, a hint of something sharp in his voice.
He could see the light beneath the door diminish into a delicate shadow. Helena was there, just inches and a thin barrier away. Alden could almost visualize the conflicted, embarrassed expression etched across her face, her brows furrowed in contemplation.
He let out a slow breath and said gently, “If you want… you can use me to work through your fear of intimacy p>
𝑻𝑹𝑼𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑳𝑬: 𝒈⋅𝒂𝒍⋅𝒏⋅𝒐𝒗⋅𝒆𝒍⋅𝒔⋅𝒄𝒐⋅𝒎
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence from the other side. Helena stood motionless, struggling to wrap her head around what she had just heard. Why? Why would Alden agree to something like this?
If only things were that simple.
It seemed that if both people agreed, everything would be fine. And she had never been the type to believe that intimacy always left women at a disadvantage.
But with Alden, it was different; her emotions were inextricably tangled in the very thought of him.
Though she was loath to admit it, signs of her falling for him had begun to surface—unsettling yet undeniable.
“Think about it,” Alden said, his voice cutting through the thick, aching silence. “I’ll wait for your answer p>
Frustration bubbled up inside Helena. His voice had been so maddeningly calm, like he was just ticking off items on a checklist. She opened her mouth to argue, but his footsteps were already retreating down the hallway.
Alden, too, internally winced at his choice of words. “Use” was so harsh, so transactional, yet no better term had sprung to mind. His usual eloquence deserted him at the worst possible time, especially in front of someone for whom his feelings ran deep.
Without a second glance, Alden turned on his heel, dumping all the chaos squarely on Helena’s shoulders.
With a heavy sigh escaping her lips, regret immediately clouded her thoughts as she considered the file she had brought home.
Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and dialed Valeria’s number.
At that moment, Valeria was the epitome of poise and deliberate allure, lounging in the bustling cafe of the Sehao Maison. Her posture was relaxed, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, her hair cascading in soft waves that complemented her bold, punk-inspired makeup. Draped over her shoulders was a fur coat, stylishly paired with black micro-shorts that caught the admiring glances of waiters and guests alike. Yet, amidst the subtle attention, Valeria’s composure remained unshaken, as it was precisely the effect she aimed to achieve.
She examined her reflection in her compact mirror, deciding the black lipstick needed a touch more drama, and expertly applied another layer as she picked up Helena’s call.
“Helena, fleeing from your problems won’t solve them. If Alden’s open to it, see it as an opportunity. You’re married now—use this time to grow comfortable around him,” Valeria said sharply, her words slicing through the air with precision.
For a moment, Helena could only blink in disbelief. “Is it… really that easy p>
“Sweetheart, it’s high time you navigated the waters of intimacy firsthand,” Valeria replied, her tone softening as she set down her lipstick and let out a resigned sigh. “Reflect on the precious years you lost with Terry. Perhaps this is the universe offering you a second chance p>
It was clear to Valeria, even from a distance—marriage had given Helena a new edge, a quiet confidence that hadn’t been there before. And each challenge she faced was met with the unwavering support of a steadfast ally at her side.
“I’d really like to see both of you together for the next therapy session,” Valeria suggested with a professional yet warm tone, before ending the call. No sooner had she hung up than a cool, teasing voice caught her off guard.
“Is this your usual trick for earning more money p>
Startled, Valeria turned around to see Leonino casually strolling toward her, a smirk playing on his lips. He pulled out the chair across from her and dropped into it with an easy, almost lazy grace.
Valeria’s gaze lifted—and for a split second, she forgot how to breathe. He was annoyingly handsome. For a moment, she found herself wondering why anyone would pay her to stand in for them on a blind date.
Snapping back to reality, Valeria gave her head a slight toss, sending her loose curls bouncing and revealing the silver skull earrings glinting in her ears.
“Hello, Dr. Prescott. I’m Ronnie Frazier—your date for today p>
This wasn’t her first time slipping into a fake persona for a blind date—she had plenty of practice.
Her strategy was simple: turn the charm off so forcefully that the guy couldn’t stand her within the first minute.
Sure enough, Leonino pushed his chair back and stood up, barely ten seconds after he had sat down.