Chapter 82: Caught in His Arms

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Caught in His Arms

~Reynold’s POV~

I had dressed in something so revealing, desperate to catch his eye, and he had brushed me aside without a second thought.

Maybe I don’t attract him anymore...

I don’t deserve his love. I don’t even deserve his body anymore.

I dragged a hand across my face, wiping away the hot, silent tears.

It’s okay, Reynold, I whispered to myself in the darkness, forcing the words through the ache in my chest. One day, you’ll find someone who will love you the way you deserve. You don’t have to keep forcing yourself into someone else’s life or chasing a man who has made it clear that he doesn’t want to love you.

I tried to close my eyes, but sleep refused to come. I lay there restlessly for over an hour, unable to quiet my thoughts.

Then, my phone suddenly buzzed on the nightstand.

I reached out blindly and picked it up. When I checked the screen, I saw a message from Alden.

Hey, Reynold, are you still awake? I’m outside your gate.

I read it twice, my heart fluttering slightly. I quickly typed a reply.

I’m still awake.

His response came almost immediately.

Come out. I’m waiting for you.

I stared at the message for a moment. I knew I shouldn’t go out. It was late, and Frederick was sleeping right beside me. But the heaviness in my chest had become unbearable. I desperately needed someone to talk to, someone who could help me escape the thoughts weighing so heavily on my mind.

I slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to wake Frederick. I hurried to the closet and changed out of the revealing nightwear into something more modest. Once I was dressed, I quietly made my way to the bedroom door, opened it, and stepped into the dark hallway.

I tiptoed down the stairs, making sure not to make a sound, then slipped out through the front door. From there, I walked toward the estate’s outer gates, where Alden was waiting for me.

His car was parked just outside the gates. The moment he saw me approaching, he stepped out and walked toward me, concern written across his face.

"Why are you still awake at this hour?" he asked softly.

I gave him a weak, tired smile. "I just couldn’t sleep... What about you? Why are you still out so late?"

"I was visiting that friend I told you about. On my way back, I thought I’d try my luck and see if you happened to still be awake," Alden explained gently.

I looked at him, unsure of what to say. "Okay..."

Alden studied my face for a moment, his expression becoming more concerned under the dim streetlight.

"You don’t sound happy."

I lowered my gaze, trying to hold myself together. For a moment, I couldn’t say anything. My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, but the tears were already beginning to gather in my eyes.

"I..." My voice came out weak. I took a shaky breath and tried again. "I just... I don’t know what to do anymore."

I rubbed my hands together nervously, struggling to find the right words. "Everything feels like it’s falling apart," I whispered. "And no matter what I do, I can’t seem to fix any of it."

My voice cracked, and I quickly looked away, blinking back the tears. "I’m scared, Alden. I’m scared that I’m going to lose the person I love most."

I hadn’t even meant to say it out loud, but I had been holding everything in for so long that I couldn’t keep it buried anymore.

Alden remained silent for a long moment before his expression softened. "Is this about Frederick?"

I didn’t even try to deny it. I simply nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek.

"Yes... I love him, Alden. And it has nothing to do with his money, his status, or anything else."

Alden said nothing. He just listened quietly, never once making me feel ashamed or judged.

"Why won’t he love me back?" I cried, my hands trembling. "Why does he keep telling me I don’t deserve his love? Am I really that unworthy of being loved? Why does nobody ever want to stay and love me? Why?"

I wiped helplessly at my tears, my voice breaking further. "I’m so sorry for dumping all of this on you, but I don’t have anyone else I can talk to about how much I’m hurting right now. I just... I just needed someone to listen."

Alden stepped closer, his voice warm and reassuring. "Hey, come on. Stop crying. I’m right here, and I’m listening. You never have to apologize for hurting, Reynold."

He gently rested a hand on my shoulder. "I want you to know something, Reynold. You’re beautiful, and you’re worthy of being loved, cared for, and treated like a diamond. You don’t have to punish yourself or break your own heart just because you think you’re unlovable."

He looked directly into my eyes, his tone firm and sincere. "People do love you. I care about you, and I’m here because I care about you. And from everything you’ve told me, I don’t think the person you love is as indifferent to you as you believe."

I stared at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his words. "Are you... Are you telling the truth?"

Alden nodded slowly, giving me a reassuring smile. "I wouldn’t lie to you. But tell me... have you ever truly sat down and shared your deepest feelings with him? Have you told him how much you’re hurting beneath all those walls you’ve built around yourself?"

"I tried," I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I told him I love him. But... he never believes me."

Alden sighed softly, his expression thoughtful as he tried to help me see things from another perspective.

"Reynold, you have to look at it from his perspective. For a man like Frederick, who lives in a completely different world, someone simply telling him, ’I love you,’ might not be enough to convince him. He’s probably heard those words from people who wanted something from him before."

He leaned against the gate, speaking calmly. "Frederick is extraordinarily famous, even though he’s a businessman. He’s been at the top for a long time, and he has major stakes and properties all across Saint City. He’s powerful, guarded, and constantly surrounded by people who want something from him."

Alden paused and gave me a pointed look. "Think about it, Reynold. In the entire history of his life, you are the first person he has ever openly and publicly stepped out to claim and pick up in broad daylight. If he truly thought you meant nothing to him, he never would have done that. He wouldn’t have bothered."

He offered me a gentle, reassuring smile. "So, if he’s being hard on you right now, try to figure out what you might be doing wrong first. Don’t let his coldness convince you that you’re unlovable. Maybe there are things between the two of you that neither of you has been able to say properly. You just have to be strong enough to face them instead of letting fear get the better of you."

He paused, then gave me a playful smile. "Besides, everyone wants him, and you’re the one who got him. That’s a pretty big flex, Reynold."

I smiled shyly for a moment, but the smile quickly faded. I looked at him, my expression turning serious. "But how do I make him love me? I don’t want to lose him. I love him so much."

Alden raised an eyebrow and gave me a teasing smile. "I love him so much..." he repeated, mimicking the way I had just said it. "So you can actually talk this much?"

I smiled and lightly tapped his chest. "Stop teasing me. Just tell me what I should do."

Alden chuckled. "You don’t have to do anything, Reynold. If Frederick sees you for who you are and still chooses to be with you, then keep being yourself. That’s the person he chose. But if there are things he’s warned you about or boundaries he’s set, you have to respect them. Love requires sacrifice sometimes. If you want him, you have to show him through your actions that he’s all you want, that you don’t want anyone else."

I tilted my head, considering his words. "So... I don’t need to do anything grand?"

"Just listen to him, and half your problems are solved," Alden chuckled. "You know, my boyfriend always tells me to stop coming home late. We live together, but I still end up coming home late sometimes. And when I mess up, I don’t even bother trying to go inside. I just sleep in my car because he won’t open the door for me until he feels like it! I can’t even dare to leave and go to a hotel or sleep somewhere else, or he’ll completely lock me out."

He shook his head dramatically. "And the funniest part? It’s my house. I own it!"

I couldn’t help it. The absurdity of his story broke through my misery, and I burst out laughing, the sound filling the quiet night.

Alden smiled warmly, clearly pleased to see me laughing. "Well, if my little story managed to make you smile, then I’m happy to tell you more about us. Maybe I’ll come check on you again tomorrow. But remember, Reynold, to keep someone you love, you have to learn to understand and listen to them, or you’ll have to face the consequences."

He shrugged. "So I guess that’s what Frederick is doing to you right now. He’s making a point. Try apologizing sincerely and show him that you’ve learned from your mistake. I’m sure the two of you will be fine."

His words eased something inside me. After everything I had been carrying, talking to Alden had made me feel lighter. I looked at him with a grateful smile, and before I could think twice, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

"Thank you so much, Alden. Truly."

He returned the hug, gently patting my back. "You’re very welcome, Reynold."

I stayed in his arms for a few seconds, finally allowing myself to relax. But then a low voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Reynold."

My entire body froze.

I slowly pulled away from Alden, my heart pounding as I turned around.

Frederick stood a few feet away, his expression cold and unreadable as he stared directly at us...