He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 55: Next Time, I’ll Stab You in the Heart
Aiden Sinclair didn’t speak, just lowered his head and drank in silence.
"Do you know why you failed? Because from the very beginning, you underestimated how much Nina Walsh meant to you."
When it came to matters of the heart, sometimes an outsider could see things more clearly. Two years ago, Cameron knew Aiden was in deep when he started rushing home no matter how late the drinking party or dinner went.
But Aiden himself didn’t realize it.
"Stop drinking. You’re not engaged yet. You can still follow your heart and make a different choice," Cameron Lawson said comfortingly.
Aiden Sinclair seemed to be pondering what Cameron had just said. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "It’s too late. I’ve already made the worst choice of my life."
Aiden ducked his head, hiding his bloodshot eyes.
Cameron Lawson was stunned. He couldn’t believe Aiden would say something so dejected. After all, Aiden had never backed down from anything in his life.
His mother had been incredibly demanding of him since he was young. From the age of three, while other children were still rolling around in piles of toys, Aiden Sinclair had none; only six private tutors and countless training courses.
Aiden could not fall behind Julian Sinclair in any way. Whatever Julian could do, Aiden had to do it better.
Julian skipped a grade in elementary school, so Aiden skipped three.
When Julian came of age and was brought into the company to intern by Old Master Sinclair, Sophia Sawyer made Aiden drop out of school at eighteen to start his own business.
To force Aiden to show his true capabilities, Sophia Sawyer didn’t give him a single penny of startup capital.
In other words, from Aethel’s founding to the present day, Aiden hadn’t used a cent of the Sinclair family’s money. From its origins in simple software development to its later expansion across all industries, Aiden had built it all from scratch.
While others worked ten-hour days, he worked an average of over eighteen hours a day for four straight years, cramming two days’ worth of work into one.
It was only in the last two years, after meeting Nina Walsh, that his schedule had returned to normal.
Whether it was skipping grades in school or building a business from nothing, through all those hardships, Aiden had never worn such a defeated expression as he did today.
"Are you planning to give up?" Cameron Lawson snatched Aiden’s glass. "When I came in just now, I saw her drinking with Julian Sinclair."
...
In a booth near the stage at Nirvana Bar, Julian Sinclair, Mario, and Nina Walsh sat at a table. Julian enjoyed the noisy atmosphere.
"Miss Walsh, let’s have a drink. To our successful partnership."
Mario poured Nina Walsh a glass of wine.
Ten minutes earlier, Mario and Nina had just signed a five-year-long contract.
"I’m sorry, I don’t drink. I’ll toast with tea instead," Nina Walsh declined.
"Hey, even if you won’t drink with me, you should at least have a glass with Mr. Sinclair."
Mario directly picked up the glass and pushed it into Nina’s hand. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Between Mario’s appreciation and Julian Sinclair’s help, it was only right for her to drink this toast today.
Nina held the glass, her expression hesitant.
Suddenly, a hand reached out, and the glass was gone from her grasp.
"I’ll drink this for her."
Aiden Sinclair stood beside Nina, one hand in his suit pocket. With the other, he held the glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one go.
Julian Sinclair watched him with amusement. "Nephew, if you want to drink, why don’t you have a seat?"
CLINK. With a crisp sound, the glass was set back on the table, and Aiden Sinclair actually sat down.
He sat right next to Nina Walsh, even deliberately bumping her with his body.
Catching the strong scent of alcohol on him, Nina’s brow furrowed slightly.
"Mr. Sinclair, I’d like to propose a toast to you."
Nina got a new glass, refilled it, and raised it to Julian Sinclair.
Just as the glass neared Nina’s lips, Aiden suddenly reached out, snatched it, and poured the contents into his own mouth.
Julian Sinclair watched the comical scene and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. Nina stood up to leave. "Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Mario, I have something else to attend to. Let’s meet again another day."
Nina grabbed her things, walked quickly out of the bar, and slipped into an elevator.
Just as the elevator doors were closing, Aiden Sinclair squeezed in.
Nina acted as if she hadn’t seen him. She pressed the button for the first basement level and stood in the corner.
Aiden leaned against the elevator wall, turning to look at her profile. He called her name softly, "Nina..."
Nina remained silent. When the elevator doors opened, she strode out, staring straight ahead.
Aiden finally couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed her and dragged her into a dark corner.
"Nina, I’m sorry," Aiden said, holding her.
"Let go of me." Nina’s voice was devoid of any emotion.
"I won’t. I’m sorry. About that day... I can explain. Just listen to me—Ugh..."
Aiden’s words were cut short by a sharp pain in his side, and he staggered.
Nina pulled the knife out. Blood coated her hand, searing hot.
"Aiden Sinclair, stay away from me. Next time, I’ll be aiming for your heart."
Nina retracted the knife with a blank expression and turned to leave.
Back in the bar, Mario looked at Julian Sinclair curiously. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Aiden and Nina’s relationship was anything but ordinary.
He mulled it over for a while but couldn’t figure it out. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "You’re just going to let Aiden Sinclair leave with Miss Walsh?"
Julian Sinclair chuckled. "Heh, where is your mind going? ’Two men fighting over one woman?’"
"Well, isn’t it?" Mario retorted. Julian had been so attentive to Nina Walsh—didn’t that mean he was interested in her?
"You don’t understand." Julian Sinclair smiled meaningfully. "My dear nephew is like a dog guarding its food. Anything he likes, he hides away like a precious treasure, and he hides it well. As his elder, I have a responsibility to educate him. I’m teaching him that hiding things isn’t a skill. Snatching things from others—now that’s real talent."
Julian was only a year older than Aiden, so his words were arrogant, their mocking intent obvious.
Julian had barely finished speaking when a hand grabbed his collar. BANG! Aiden slammed him violently against the staircase railing.
"I’m warning you, stay away from her," Aiden said, breathing heavily.
Julian straightened up, adjusted his clothes, and unhurriedly took out his phone. "Nephew, you’re bleeding. Let me call you an ambulance."
Aiden slapped the phone from his hand, his face cold. "Stop pretending. If you provoke me again, don’t blame me for not showing you any mercy."
Julian suddenly struck, punching Aiden directly in his wound, his expression sinister.
"Ugh—"
Aiden grunted in pain.
"You, Aiden Sinclair, and your mother, Sophia Sawyer... the two of you are ruthless murderers who wouldn’t bat an eye. Who are you to talk about showing mercy?"
The bleeding from Aiden’s side wouldn’t stop. He hunched over, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.
Julian Sinclair looked down on him arrogantly. "Aiden Sinclair, the game is just beginning. Go on and savor the taste of this pain."
