Page 26 of Her Alien Owner
Ariana’s smile widens, and she squeezes my hand briefly before letting go. The connection lingers between us like an unspoken promise.
As she returns to tending the garden, I stay by her side, content in this shared moment of quiet resilience and unspoken understanding.
Sometimes, words aren’t needed to convey what’s in our hearts.
CHAPTER 11
ARIANA
Tending to the garden is my favorite part of the day. The scent of freshly turned soil and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze calm my mind. I hum a little tune, pulling weeds and checking the blooms, when a familiar, unwelcome voice shatters my peace.
"Ariana! You think you can just walk away from me?" The slurred words hit me like a slap. I turn slowly, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Kevin," I say, keeping my voice steady. "You shouldn't be here."
His appearance is worse than I remembered. Unshaven, eyes bloodshot, reeking of alcohol. "Don't tell me where I should be," he sneers. "You think you're better than me now? Working for some rich guy?"
I take a step back, feeling the cool stone of the garden wall against my back. "I'm not doing this with you. You need to leave."
Kevin's laugh is harsh, cutting through the air like broken glass. "Leave? Not until you hear what I have to say." He steps closer, his breath hot and foul. "You're just a gold digger, Ariana. Jumping from one man to another for money."
Anger and fear twist inside me. "That's not true! I left because you?—"
"Because what? Because I had a few drinks?" His voice rises, eyes wild with fury. "You're pathetic."
My hands shake as I clutch at the gardening shears, wishing they were enough to protect me.
"And what do you think you're gonna do with those?" He points at the shears with a mocking grin.
"I think she's going to put them down," comes Valen's voice, smooth and commanding. He steps into view, his presence filling the space between us with an almost tangible force.
Kevin's bravado falters for a moment. "Who the fuck are you?"
"I'm the owner of this estate," Valen says coldly. "And you're trespassing."
Kevin snorts but takes a step back. "So this is your new sugar daddy, huh? Figures."
Valen’s eyes narrow, his expression hardening into something dangerous. "Leave now before I make you regret coming here."
Kevin hesitates, then spits on the ground near Valen’s feet. "This isn't over," he mutters before stumbling away.
As he disappears down the path, my legs give out and I sink to the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
Valen crouches beside me, his hand gentle on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I nod slowly, though tears sting my eyes. "Thank you," I whisper.
His touch lingers for a moment longer than necessary before he stands up straight again, ever vigilant. “You don’t have to thank me,” he says quietly but firmly. “No one threatens what's mine.”
The possessive edge in his voice sends a shiver down my spine—not entirely unpleasant—and as we walk back towards the estate together, side by side in silence filled with unspoken words and growing understanding.
Folding linens in the laundry room, I can’t shake the feeling of Kevin’s presence. His venomous words cling to me like a cold, damp shroud. My hands tremble slightly as I smooth out a pillowcase, the memory of his sneer playing on repeat in my mind.
I thought he'd moved on from me. It'd been months since I'd seen him last. Apparently I was wrong, and he still has an axe to grind.
A loud thud echoes through the room as someone drops a crate nearby. My heart leaps into my throat, and I spin around, clutching a towel to my chest like a lifeline.
“Sorry!” one of the maids calls out, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”