LIVELY POV

"What was that, Lively?" Sadie rushed, trailing after me out of the kitchen.

"What?" I chewed my inner lip, trying to keep my emotions in check, but it was impossible. Part of me felt a flutter in my stomach, while another part wanted to drop the food trolley and run off with Bubble as fast as I could.

Running would've been the smarter choice, but that small part of me, the one that still clung to the hope of the only man I'd ever admired, had already taken over whatever sense I had left. I didn't want to run. I wanted to stay, for so many reasons.

"Did Aaron Wallace follow you into the kitchen and full-on stare-fuck you?" Sadie blurted without filtering.

Indeed, that was what happened, but hearing her say it out loud made it real.

"That's not what happened," I quickly defended, particularly against my own thoughts.

"Oh, please." Sadie rolled her eyes and stepped ahead of me, walking backward so she could face me. "None of the Wallaces have ever stepped foot in that kitchen. And babysit a kid? Never. This has to be my prayers finally getting answered, because that way he looked at you. I swear he's into you. That's what pretty girls do to these rich families." She laughed.

"Don't overreact. It was nothing."

"I don't think you and I were standing on the same ground back there. Yesterday, you were this close to getting fired, and now look at you. Then there's the first grandson of the Wallaces, who walks around like he belongs in a museum guarded by drones, following you into a kitchen packed with sweaty staff and staring at you like you're the first captivating thing he's ever seen. Maya probably swallowed her soul out of envy."

I laughed at the last part, but I couldn't ignore the part where she mentioned yesterday. If she knew this, then the whole main clubhouse probably did. And now Aaron had followed me in there, making everything worse.

Only God knows what they're saying about me.

"I knew you'd turn heads." She giggled, and I paused with a small smile.

"It was nothing," I repeated, gently twirling her toward the kitchen. "Now get back to work before Maya reports you to Carol for slacking off."

"Savage. I won't put that past her," Sadie laughed harder as she dashed down the corridor.

My smile slowly faded the moment I was alone.

Those deep sets of hazel eyes would dump me into another round of pain. I knew it.

I shook my head and stepped out to the patio to deliver the eclairs to Aaron's cousins.

They were so deep in conversation that they didn't notice me. I was grateful for that.

When I returned to the corridor where I had left the food cart with the orders from the Wallace suite, I took a deep breath, mentally bracing for Aaron's mother and aunties to treat me worse after what he said earlier. I unlocked the door and stepped into the space.

"What are you doing?" Their refined, cultured voices flowed gracefully through the cool air.

"What am I doing?" That familiar, noble tone belonged to Aaron. I knew it too well. And I also knew he was supposed to be in the kitchen with Bubble.

My heart thudded. Did he leave the boy in the kitchen?

What was I thinking, trusting Aaron to babysit?

I hurried around the corner, anxious to check on Bubble before he panicked.

The three women came into my view, legs crossed as they faced Aaron, who stood with his jaw tight in restrained irritation.

In the arcade room behind him, Bubble stood by the slightly open door, watching them with curious eyes.

Relief washed over me, at least for a beat, before my ears heard things for me.

"So now that you're about to take over the aviation company, you suddenly added babysitting to your resume?" Kathleen Wallace mocked and my heart stung.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aaron sounded fed up.

Apparently, I knew this was going to happen, but I focused on my job, placing the women's orders in front of them, aware of their deprecation and Aaron's intense stare.

Obviously, their comments were aimed at me. I needed to get out of there, but I still had two more trips to make to them.

"Your aunt mentioned the girl you're always with. I'd like to meet her while we're all here. It's time we speed things up," his mother said, instilling an obvious reminder in my head as I grabbed two more dishes.

My eyes flicked to Bubble. He had seen me but was contemplating crossing the room to me.

He does that when he is nervous in unfamiliar places.

Perfect. I had to go and put him in this situation.

I needed to get him. It was almost time for his medication.

"What more could you want if not a family of your own? It's your grandfather's only wish right now."

"The family needs a next-generation heir," another of his aunties added, just as I set the plates down and straightened to go get the bottle of their family wine.

My gaze accidentally met Aaron's squinted eyes, but I quickly looked away, given these weren't the kitchen staff. This was his family. Owners of the place. And clearly, they had a problem with me working here.

"Mom. Aunty," Aaron warned firmly.

Thank God the wine was already open. I couldn't risk fumbling.

As I stooped to pour it into their glasses, his mother spoke with calm control. "Set up a family meeting with the girl, Aaron."

"Ruby and I aren't serious. Matter of fact, you won't be seeing her anymore because we are over," he sharply replied.

Luckily, I was done serving, and I could leave them to carry on.

"Well then, your aunties, and I will start searching for a girl worthy of your dignity."

I signaled for Bubble to come over. He ran over, now that I was closer.

Taking his hand, I pushed the trolley with the other and headed out while I distinctly heard Aaron's response. "Mom. Aunties, stay in your lane."

And this was why the Wallace family didn't deserve glorification. Those people had no empathy unless it served their pride.

Blowing away the sting behind my eyes so Bubble wouldn't notice, I crouched in the hallway and kissed his soft cheeks.

"I love you." He means so much to me.

He smiled.

"Ma midi sea," he reminded me of his medicine.

"I know. How can I forget?" I lifted him onto my back before rising to my feet and continuing with the cart.

There was a click of a door behind us.

"Lively?" that familiar voice called.

My eyes shut.

I almost sped up, desperate to avoid looking back at him, but my legs stopped in their tracks. Maybe because he was my boss, or maybe because I couldn't walk away–didn't want to.

His footsteps drew closer. I was terrified inside, but I masked it when I turned.

He stopped in front of me, his scent perceptible in my mind. His eyes softened, but there was confusion in them.

"Why did you take him?" he said like he hadn't just heard his family belittle him for it.

"It was a mistake..." I began, but he stepped closer, cutting me off.

He glanced at Bubble clinging to my neck, then looked back at me. His throat shifted.

"I'm sorry for what you heard. You didn't deserve that. None of it was about you," he said, faking a convincing smile. But I knew what it sounded like when you're told to stay in your lane.

"They were right. A child shouldn't be brought to work," my voice almost gone from his nearness.

Why?

"You can bring him anytime you want." He shook his head. "I dare anyone to stop you," he said firmly.

Why was he angry now?

"Mister Wallace," I paused, swallowing as I looked down at his spotless shoes, "what are you doing?"

"Telling you that I'm here."

He said that, rendering me momentarily speechless.

"Exactly." my eyes swung up at him, confusion swirling in my chest. "You're suddenly doing everything for me. Carol gave me five thousand this morning and said it was from you. You sent a chauffeur to my door. Now you're defending me, watching over my brother, ignoring rules like they don't exist. So I am aware that you're here. But what are you doing?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he closed the last inches between us, ignoring what I said and taking Bubble from my arms into his.

"Have you ever regretted something?" he then finally asked.

"I don't see the relevance of what I had just said." I locked eyes with him, seeing our history in there, and it only hurt.

"Please." His eyes seemed to plead, his voice even sounded like it. "Just answer this one."

Breathing out, I nodded, "Yes. I have."

"Do you know how it feels?"

"A constant sting with endless questions, and imagining different outcomes. An urge to rewind time. But you can't. What's done is done. You're just stupid."

Do not cry in front of him.

He studied me in silence before saying something I could hardly believe. "I feel all of that right now."

Aaron Wallace? Impossible.

"You?" I scoffed, trying not to sound rude and lose the only shield I had at this job. Even though a part of me wanted to. Because while my body was still trying to understand him, my mind already knew him. And hated him.

He didn't react to the mockery. His face only showed pain. That look confused me so much that I lost track of where we were. Then he gave my body an ease. He touched my face.

The first skin-on-skin contact and it woke something buried in me six years ago.

My heart didn't just drop. It fell into a dangerous place where I feared it might be lost again.

I hate this. Why him? All I ever wanted was to steer clear of him, but look at me now.

"If I could go back in time," he said, holding my gaze, "I wouldn't have said a word."

His face moved closer. And I froze. I couldn't speak. I could barely breathe.

"I would have done things differently. I would have done this," he whispered. His breath was warm on my face. Then I felt a slick surface press onto my lips.

Everything went blank. Silence roared in my ears. My heart raced.

His hand was gentle against my skin. Mint clung to his breath and slid down my throat as I swallowed.

Warm blood rushed through my veins as his lips slid from my upper lip and closed around my button lip.

A strange, delicious spice of his cologne filled my nose. All of that lasted for a long period. I didn't stop it.

A part of me didn't even want it to end. "You remember me," I let out against his mouth.

He kissed me again with hungry eagerness. Then I heard him smile. His thumb brushed my bottom lip slowly when our lips parted slightly.

"It just so happens you have a nature that's impossible to replicate anywhere in the world. I do remember you, Lively Kelby. How could I not? You cursed me to endless agony the last time we saw each other," he smirked, then kissed me deeply again.

My hands were weak, and so was the rest of me.

"Mister Aa..." I murmured, but he silenced it by shaking his head against mine.

"We are done with formalities," he breathed. "Call me by my name."

I pulled back a little, and he looked at me as if I had committed something wrong.

His hand was still cradling my face. I tried not to lean into his touch. But I failed. My eyes closed.

"You should know nothing has changed about me. I am still that underprivileged girl."

I was never meant for his world. He was born of blue blood. Mine was barely even red.

"And I'm asking you to give me a fair second chance."

"Aaron, I'm telling you I am not from your world. I'm no one. I don't even have a high school diploma." His family would never accept this.

"It doesn't change how highly I regard you right now. If a certificate is what measures you up to my standards, then I'll tell you my mind has printed thousands of copies while watching you. I made a mistake before," his hunter-like gaze searching mine.

"I am supposed to avoid you, Aaron. This isn't going as it should." He would leave me again at the end of summer.

"Or maybe it is going exactly as it should."

"How do I convince you I'm scared of your hues?" I breathed.

"Test me. I'll prove to you that time has a way of changing us."

"Livy, midi sea."

"Oh, God," I groaned and shut my eyes, mortified.

Bubble had seen and heard everything. Great!

"I'm owning to that, but I need you so I can make it right," he added, unfazed by how inappropriate this conversation was for Bubble's ears.

In the lawbook of a strong girl's self-worth, I'd be far beyond redemption if I gave in to him. But sometimes we have to make sacrifices that aren't about us because some things are simply bigger than we are.

"Aaron–" I started, but he cut me off with his thumb caressing the contour of my cheek, as he rushed out, "Think about it. Maybe you will see me as you did the first time."

"That is not the wisest way to get yourself points here, Aaron."

He scoffed, small as he remembered.

I didn't really see him for who he was the first time. I just wanted him. If I had, my life might have turned out differently. Not that I regret it. But some bitter pieces still cling to my heart and make it hard to trust anyone.

I gave a small smile at the awkwardness, but luckily his phone buzzed in his pocket, saving us.

He dropped his hand from my face and checked the screen and I busied myself by taking Bubble back from him.

"I didn't forget," I whispered into his tiny ear as he leaned into my shoulder.

When I looked back, Aaron was staring at his phone with creases on his forehead. He sighed.

His eyes snapped back to me as he shoved the phone away. "I have to go. I'll tell Carol to get someone to watch Bubble while you work. When you're done, Keenan will take you home." He checked his wristwatch. "And we are not done. I want more of those kisses," he added with a flirt, making my cheeks burn.

This shouldn't have been happening in front of Bubble or again overall.

Chewing my lip with my head down, and nodded. "Okay,"

He brushed my hair back, revealing more of my face as he leaned in to kiss me again.

This time, it was delicate. I felt something I couldn't quite place a finger on, but it tightened my lungs.

"See you, little man!" He held out his knuckle to Bubble, who cautiously bumped it with his own, and then I watched the man that plagued six years of my life walk down the corridor and disappear for now.

The rest of the day went on with the help of Sammie, who was looking after Bubble.

The Wallaces didn't stay at the country club for long, but while they were there, they behaved no more rudely than expected.

Aaron's aunties, the second to last to leave, probably to make a statement, asked their escort to tip me a thousand, which meant everything to me.

The last two cousins on the patio were Dane Wallace and Emersyn Wallace, whom I'd often come across in my Wikipedia searches about the Wallace family. They chatted and laughed while I stayed nearby, ready to help if needed, until Emersyn eventually told me they'd be leaving soon.

With extra time on my hands and no more Wallaces to serve, I asked Carol for a golf cart key instead of heading home and joined Sadie on the course, selling beverages until five.

Keenan drove Bubble and me home, just as Aaron had asked. And just like earlier, when he picked us up, the neighbors were snooping around the Rolls Royce parked on our street. It was an unusual sight in our neighborhood, especially with the Wallace name printed on the license plate.

I thanked Keenan and headed inside with Bubble. Since I didn't drive, we skipped our usual stop for chicken nuggets, so Mom's packed food in the fridge came in handy. I heated it for us, and after taking his medications, Bubble fell asleep watching PJ Masks as usual.

With the night to myself, after I'd taken a shower and put on my nightwear, I sat in silence, my thoughts drifting to Boyd Clarkson High, the school I attended, and the day Aaron Wallace's team arrived.

They had it all, prestige, a sleek white bus, unlike the usual yellow ones we had here. They stepped off in their private school sports tracksuits: black, white, and red. Aaron was the last to get off.

The crowd of girls erupted in giggles at the sight of him, but it felt distant in my ears.

He wore a baseball hat, his crooked eyes unnaturally charming, his smile aimed at every girl. It even broke my heart.

***

The next day, Dad took Bubble to daycare, and I biked to the country club. The Wallaces were all there, so the work was hectic, but I foolishly searched for Aaron among his family and he wasn't there.

Maybe he'd taken his family's advice and was distancing himself because he regretted the kiss.

I was foolish to think he wanted to fix something that was beyond repair. So, I put my armor of resentment back on, protecting myself from feelings he didn't deserve.