^^^AARON (PLAYED BY HUNTER PARRISH) ❤️

Cain was rubbing my back which was the only feeling I was processing.

Nothing else made sense to me.

It had been nine hours since Aramis had shown up to my apartment bloodied, before dropping a bomb on me that I didn't ever see coming. I mean, the man was telling me that a dead man had just been shot.

But I guess that would mean the man was never dead to begin with, right?

"Trent Payton," the doctor called, to which I quickly shot up.

"Who are you to the patient mam?" she asked.

"I'm, I'm his sister," I barely got out.

She nodded in acceptance. "The bullet missed Mr Payton's vital arteries, but it did do some harm to his lungs. However, the operation was successful, so he should make a full recovery in a month."

"Can we see him?" I asked.

"He's still knocked out, so if you like, I can get a nurse to call you when he's awake? You look like you've been here all night, and I'm sure you'd like to at least go and freshen up before you see him," she suggested.

"Beautiful, she's right. We'll come back later," Cain told me.

"I'll stay here and call you when he gets up," Aramis added.

I could only manage a nod. The nurse's words only made everything real. My brother really was alive, and I had been lied to since I was fourteen. I could remember the day of his funeral and how long it took me to accept that he was gone.

Only to learn that he was never dead in the first place.

I barely registered myself walking back to the car. After Aramis told me that Trent had been shot, life just became a blur from that point onwards. He told me which hospital he'd taken him to, and I grabbed Cain and we left and headed straight there.

"Beautiful," Cain said, interrupting my numbness. We were parked back at the apartment underground parking lot.

I turned to face him. "Hmm?"

"Who's Trent?" he asked carefully.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm not my father's only biological child. Trent is my older brother by seven years, but we didn't share a mother. His mother is my father's first wife and true love. One day when I was fourteen, I went to school like any normal day, only to come back to my father in tears. I was then told that Trent had been in an accident and he didn't make it. His funeral was a closed casket funeral, and everyone had been told that it was because of how severely he was injured from that accident. I never questioned it, but right now I don't know what to make of everything."

My fiancé left the car and came around to help me out. I wasn't even crying, and that's only because I didn't know why I would be crying to begin with. He took my hand and we headed up to our apartment.

I was vaguely aware of him moving around me, but I was rooted in the middle of the lounge, which is where he left me before heading upstairs. After a few minutes, he came back down, and I squealed when he picked me up bridal style before carrying my upstairs.

"Put me down Cain," I requested.

"I will," he said, before doing just that once we reached our room.

The whole room smelled like Jasmine, and I realized that it was coming from the bathroom. He went behind me and slowly pulled the zip down, until my dress dropped to my ankles, leaving me in my underwear.

I turned and undressed him too, and once we were both naked, he took my hand in his again, leading me to the bathroom. I was pleasantly surprised to find that he'd run a hot bubble bath for me.

"This was meant to be for just you, but since you can't help yourself to my naked self, I guess I have no choice but to join you," he joked.

I smacked his chest. "I need you with me ok?"

"I know beautiful, I know," he said before we got into the water.

The water was scorching, something I love and something he hates, but he was putting up with it for my sake. I don't know how I've survived so long without this man, but I can only hope that I never lose him.

"What's on your mind?" he asked after a long while of silence.

"I'm just so confused. I can't help but wonder if Trent was in on the whole thing," I confessed.

"You think he'd lie about his own death?" he asked unsurely.

"What other explanation could there be?" I asked.

He rubbed his fingers along my arms as I was leaning against him. "What kind of relationship did you have with him?"

"He was my first ever best friend and protector in the cruel world I was born into. My mother obviously hated him because she can't stand his mother. Anyway, he was my hero. I looked up to him, and he always stood up for me. He made my childhood a little better to handle. He hated Zoey wholeheartedly, and the feeling was mutual. I was his and my father's little princess, and I was beyond heart broken when they told me he'd died. I was mute for a year after that. I just didn't want to talk to anyone," I informed as the waterworks finally arrived.

"Where do you think he could've possibly been all this time?" he asked.

"Honestly, only he can answer that question for me. Right now, I'm more curious about how Aramis knew he'd been shot," I commented.

"Is he the one who found him?" he asked.

I nodded. "The blood on him is Trent's. Everything was such a blur that I didn't really take the time to ask him anything else, but now I can't help but wonder. Aramis has been so evasive lately, especially for someone who's supposed to be protecting me. He hasn't been returning my calls or texts."

"You've been in communication with him?" Cain asked, and I didn't miss the surprise in his tone.

"I only wanted to know if there was anything else I needed to know. After he dropped the bomb about my non-existent marriage, he didn't say anything else. I haven't seen him since and he'd said he would come back to talk to me some more. Artemis was supposed to explain some things to me in his absence, but apparently the stupid brute changed his mind before Artemis could tell me anything," I explained.

"So he's withholding information on your life? What is wrong with that man?" he asked angrily.

I turned a little so that I was facing him. "Hey, it's ok. I mean, I'm not even sure if he's withholding anything, though Trent being shot doesn't help with that argument. Aramis is clearly a really complicated man, and I can only wait for him to tell me whatever it is I need to know."

"I'm not comfortable with him not telling you things about your own life, and he needs to know that," he said sternly.

"I'll be sure to let him know, but you can't be there," I told him.

"What? I have to b-"

"No Cain, you're not doing anything. You're not going to be there when I talk to him because the two of you can't stand each other and I refuse to have this be about you in one way or the other. I just want to get to the bottom of this without having to deal with you two on top of everything," I argued.

The adorable man was actually pouting. "Ok fine, but if he gives you any troubles, then you have to call me."

I leaned in to kiss him softly. "I promise."

We spent a few more minutes in the bath, talking about the wedding and our plans thereafter. He informed me that he'd get in touch with a real estate agent so that we can have a look at some houses.

Planning the future with him had me feeling both giddy and fearful. A part of me is still waiting for me to wake up and for all of this to have been a dream. I know that I should probably let go of my fears, but I just can't help it.

"Do you want to eat breakfast here or should we grab some on the way out?" he asked as we got downstairs.

"That depends on if you're making the breakfast or not," I bargained.

"Breakfast out it is," he replied, making me laugh as he grabbed his keys.

We both hadn't slept, and I could tell that he was slightly exhausted, but he refused to let me leave by myself. We grabbed some breakfast via a drive-thru before heading to the hospital just as my phone started ringing.

"We've just arrived," I said as I answered the phone.

"I've had him moved to a private room, so he's on the fifth floor. Just ask for his room when you get here," Aramis replied before the line went dead.

"Was that Aramis?" Cain questioned after my scowl.

"Yeah! I will never get used to his lack of telephonic manners," I replied, making him laugh.

"It's the only way he knows," he said as we headed inside the hospital.

"Have you spoken to him over the phone?" I asked.

"Countless times, but it was all in the name of business. However, even when we were younger, etiquette was just not his strongest point, much to Grier's dismay," he informed.

I scowled as we headed up to the fifth floor. "Just how long have you known the Van der Woodsens?"

"I've known them since I was five. While my parents weren't always wealthy, they at least had enough to take me to the best schools. Aramis and I went to the same high school in Greece. I was living there with my aunt at the time. We became best friends then before choosing to go to the same college here in the States," he replied.

"Where you then met Emily," I said knowingly, to which he nodded as the elevator dinged.

Aramis was talking to a nurse down the passage, and you could tell that the woman was beside herself. He wasn't giving off any kind of interest in her, and for whatever unknown reason, that made me happy.

Hell, my stomach dipped at the sight of him.

By the looks of things, he'd also gone to get changed. He was dressed in dark jeans and a t-shirt, and I won't deny that he looked palatable. When he saw us approaching, I won't lie and say I wasn't surprised to see his face light up.

"Hey," he said straight to me, ignoring Cain altogether.

"Hey! Which room is it?" I asked.

"He's in that room, but Evie, he doesn't know that you're here," he told me.

"And he knows that you're here?" I asked him, to which he nodded.

"And why is that?" Cain asked him.

"I don't have to answer to you," Aramis said darkly, taking a step towards him.

I stepped in between them. "Maybe not, but you at least owe me the response to that question. How did you know he'd been shot to begin with?"

"Go and see your brother Evie. You can interrogate me later," Aramis said instead.

I shot him a glare that didn't even bother him in the slightest bit, before turning to Cain. "Will you be ok out here?"

"There's actually something I need to go and check at the office, and since you're going in alone, I can head there and then come back to fetch you when you're ready," he offered.

He didn't want to stay here with Aramis.

"Ok, that's fine. I'll call you," I replied.

"You're going to be fine beautiful. Just remember that he's your brother, despite whatever reason he has for disappearing ok?" he said.

"Ok," I whispered, the tears returning.

He hugged me before kissing me softly. "You're going to be ok. I love you."

"I love you," I replied.

After one last kiss, he left me with an annoyed Aramis. I ignored the brute and headed into the room. I was met by the surprising smell of lavender, as well as the incessant beeping coming from the monitor.

My eyes moved around the room until they landed on the tall man lying in the hospital bed. He was nothing like the skinny twenty-one-year-old I'd last seen, but it was him without a doubt. He was a grown man now, and I could see his muscles as I walked closer.

I stalled my walking when he stirred, before his eyes slowly opened. He emitted a groan before turning to face the direction I was in. Confusion filled his light eyes as I stood still, before they widened in what I could only pin as recognition.

"Evie?" he said lowly.

Before the day of my father's memorial, he and my father were the only two people to call me by that name.

"Trent," I replied just as lowly, a tear escaping.

I watched as guilt filled his features. "I'm so sorry princess."

And that's all it took for me to crack.

I registered myself being caught before I could go down. Once again, I was surrounded by Aramis' signature scent as he helped me to the chair beside Trent's bed. I sat down and my brother reached out to hold my hand, except I withdrew mine. He had a solemn look on his face, but I needed time.

I needed answers.

"You're alive," I said after a long while of silence. The two of them hadn't bothered to say anything.

"I am," he replied.

I looked to Aramis. "And you knew."

"I did, but not all that long. I've only known for five years," Aramis defended.

"Not that it helps your case, but sure. I take it this has to do with dad?" I asked.

"Yes, and no. It has to do with my mother as well," Trent responded.

I frowned. "What does Gloria have to do with this?"

"Princess, you have to believe that I would never intentionally hurt you. I need you to believe that first," Trent instead said.

"Ok, but that doesn't answer my question," I pointed out.

Before he could say anything, the monitor beeped rapidly as his face grimaced, causing a doctor to rush in. "Please move aside."

"What's going on?" I asked, panicked as three nurses rushed into the room.

"Get me the sedative," the doctor told one of the nurses. She did as told and they injected it into Trent before he calmed down.

"What was that?" Aramis asked the doctor.

"I didn't understand it at first, so I had to go back and look at my notes after the operation. Trent has a history of lung problems, and we're guessing that whoever shot him, knew that because they shot him in a specific way. It's as though they were warning him or something," the doctor replied.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"As a doctor, I've seen and dealt with many things. Trent was shot in a way that suggests that whoever shot him knows how to take him out, but shot him in a way that the damage isn't great, but is noticeable enough, hence me saying that he was probably shot as a warning," the man explained.

I could understand what he was saying. What I was failing to understand was why anyone would want to shoot my brother, but then again, I knew nothing about the man lying in the bed in the room.

He clearly has dangerous enemies, and I know nothing about his life.

"Evie," Aramis said softly, bringing me out of thought. It was just him, an unconscious Trent and myself left in the room.

"Where did the doctor go?" I asked.

"You were spaced out, so he left, but he asked that we allow Trent some time to rest," he informed.

I nodded and turned to leave. "Wait."

"What is it?" I asked him. I was already outside the room and he closed the door before turning to face me.

"We need to talk," he said.

I scoffed. "Now you want to talk?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"It means I've been calling and texting you for the past four months, and all you've done is ignore me, and now you see fit to talk to me? Well, I'm not interested in anything you have to say," I spat before leaving.

He grabbed my hand, stopping me and turning me to face him. "I don't have any record of you calling or texting me for that matter."

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" I asked, deadpan.

He took out his phone, showing me his phone records and texts. "I haven't received anything from you. If anything, I thought you wanted nothing to do with me."

"What would make you think that?" I asked.

"For one, you were kissing my enemy, and after the way I left in Greece, I was sure you were with Bingham to get back at me," he replied.

Is he being serious?

"First of all, I didn't even know that you and Cain were enemies until that day you pitched up at my apartment. Secondly, I'm over what happened in Greece. You played with my feelings and I let you, but I've moved on now, so I couldn't care less," I said coldly.

"I didn't play with your feelings Evie. I would never do that to the woman I'm in love with."

I froze, looking at him in disbelief. One thing was clear as day on his face though- he wasn't lying to me. I looked for any signs of deceit on his face, but there was only a genuine honesty from him that knocked the breath right out of me.

"What?" I managed to finally whisper.

"I am in love with you Evie, and I shouldn't have left you the way that I did in Greece. I know that my reputation in the media and my situation with Emily is complicated right now, and I know that my recent actions don't exactly back me up on this, but I am. I don't expect you to trust that I'm telling you the truth, but just know that I am."

The man then walked away and left me standing there, completely speechless and equally baffled. I didn't know what I was supposed to be thinking as I watched his retreating back. I didn't even have it in me to call him back.

I was just stunned.

"Mam, are you alright?" one of the nurses asked me.

I shook my head, clearing my mind. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine thanks."

I asked about Trent and I was told that I could come back in the evening. I didn't want to call Cain yet since I was still dealing with the bomb Aramis had just dropped on me. He really needs to find a better way to communicate with me aside from dropping bombs.

"Hey hun. Are you ok? You and Cain left in such a hurry last night," she said as she answered her phone. They had stayed behind and they cleaned up before they left.

"I kind of need to talk to you and the girls. Can you get them together and come pick me up?" I asked.

"Ok! Where are you though?" she asked.

"I'm at the hospital. I'll send you my location," I told her before hanging up.

I didn't mean to be so short with her, but I couldn't help it. I know Zena and she would've wanted me to tell her what was wrong with me over the phone, and I just didn't want to have this conversation over the phone.

I waited outside. It was a beautiful day since the sun was out, but there was also a lovely cool breeze. I decided to text Cain after all, alerting him of the changed plan. As I'd predicted, he responded saying that I'd find him back at the apartment.

He was probably going to sleep.

"What are you doing here of all places?" Onyx asked me as I got into the SUV. She was with Ivy and the Van de Woodsen sisters, and Gigi was the one driving.

"Can we go somewhere to talk? I really just need to be away from civilization right now," I pleaded.

"Do we need to pick up some comfort food?" Ivy asked.

I nodded, loving the idea. "Then we can go to my place."

I was grateful that they didn't pester me into saying anything as yet. We were listening to the radio as we made various stops, buying different comfort foods. Wine was added to the list, and before I knew it, we were driving up to a beautiful house in an estate.

"Welcome to our humble New York abode. Artemis is out on business, so we have the house to ourselves," Ivy informed before leading us to the lounge.

We sat down and got comfortable with everything we'd brought, before they looked to me expectantly. "Sweetie, talk to us."

"I don't even know where to begin if we're being honest. I have never been this confused in my life," I confessed.

"Let's start with what's confusing you," Zena suggested.

"Well, my brother's alive and not dead as I've been under the impression for the past twelve years, and your brother told me that he's in love with me," I replied, making Gigi and Zena choke on their wine.

"Trent's alive?"

"Aramis told you he's in love with you?"

I nodded in response to both questions. "Aramis rocked up to my apartment last night, bloody, to inform me that Trent had been shot. I've already spoken to him, but he went into shock or something, so they had to sedate him. I haven't gotten any answers from him though, so I guess I have to wait. I did learn that Aramis has known for the past five years that Trent is alive, so I guess that's that."

"I don't even know where to begin. Why would Aramis not tell you about your brother?" Zena asked.

"I don't know, but I guess his argument will be something along the lines of him not knowing me until recently. I honestly have no idea. All I know is that I'm confused about why I had to be lied to like that, especially since my father is apparently involved in this whole mess," I replied.

"And what about Aramis' confession? Where did that come from?" Onyx asked.

"He wanted to talk and I accused him of only wanting to give me the time of day now when I'd been trying to reach him for the past four months. He seems to have no record of me contacting him and he was under the impression that I was instead mad at him and ignoring him. He figures I'm mad about how he left things in Greece, which also led him to believe that I'm with Cain to spite him. I pointed out that I didn't even know that he and Cain were enemies until after I'd established a relationship with Cain, and that I wasn't mad about the kiss in Greece anymore because I let him play with my feelings but I moved on from it. Next thing I know he's telling me that he would never play with my feelings because he'd never play with the feelings of the woman he's in love with. I just stood there dumbfounded as he went on to tell me that even though his reputation in the media right now and his situation with Emily is complicated, he's in love with me. He doesn't expect me to trust and believe that he's telling me the truth, but he's pretty adamant that he's in love with me."

Silence fell onto the room as I watched my best friends digest the information I'd just given them. I used the time to do the same; to truly take in Aramis' words. There was just so much turmoil in me, and it frustrated me mainly because I shouldn't even be bothered by his words.

And yet I couldn't deny that I was.

"Do you believe him?" Ivy asked after a long while.

"Yes? No? I don't know," I whined.

"I think the more important question here is, even if he's telling you the truth, does this change how you feel about Cain?" Gigi asked.

"No, or at least I'm pretty sure it doesn't. I still love Cain. Aramis' confession doesn't change that," I responded.

"But are you still going to marry him?" Zena asked.

I frowned. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because Mimi has confessed his love for you. Do your feelings for him not count?" Gigi asked.

"My feelings for him are irrelevant. Cain is who I am with and who I'm going to marry," I said defensively.

"Ok hun, we hear you. Just know that it's ok for you to have feelings for both men, and I'm not just saying that because one of them is my brother. At the end of the day, it's up to you who you want to be with, and we'll support whichever decision you make," Zena said, holding my hand.

"I'm completely on board with that. We're just for whatever makes you happy at the end of the day," Onyx added.

"I'm curious about why Aramis wasn't getting your calls and texts though. Do you think that it's possible that Emily got a hold of his phone and blocked your number from it?" Ivy asked.

I shrugged. "Not that I really care, but I guess it's a possibility."

"I hate that woman so much. Why is he still with her?" Zena asked.

"That's a question only he can answer, and unfortunately you shouldn't bother asking. Max has already tried and Mimi all but bit her head off for it. He says we all need to mind our own business and let him live his life," Gigi informed.

"Except weren't he and Emily getting a divorce? I don't see how he can be declaring feelings for Evie while still being married to that snake," Onyx argued.

"I'm with you on that, but like Gigi said, it's something only he has the answers to. My brother has always been a complicated person to understand," Zena said with a heavy sigh.

"Well, complicated person or not, it's not fair for him to put Evie in such a position," Ivy commented.

"I truly don't wish to be you right now. I can't imagine finding myself having feelings for two very different men," Zena said.

I couldn't have feelings for both men, right? I mean, Aramis played with my feelings and I cut him out then, or at least I thought I did, and Cain has been nothing but amazing and he loves me completely for who I am. He wants to marry me, and I want to marry him too.

So why were Aramis' words affecting me so much?

***

Elo Smurflettes

So there you have it! Now you know who Trent is...

How are we liking this so far? Evie's confused, and so am I...😄🙈

Anyway, as with my other stories, everything will fall into place as it must...😊 I love you guys! ❤️

Katee (^^,)