CHAPTER 70: A TRUCE

Chapter 70

If the mountain doesn’t meet the sky, then the sky will go meet the mountain.

Amanda took one last look at herself in the mirror and adjusted her red hair behind her ears, spraying her perfume as it lingered in the air, a sweet floral scent she had carefully chosen. She applied a little makeup, putting more lipstick on her lips to make them plumper and inviting.

Time wasn’t waiting for her anymore. She couldn’t sit back and let things fall completely apart.

Amanda clutched her phone tighter as she stepped out of the cab and stood in front of Aaron’s new building, biting her lower lip as the clouds above rumbled and darkened.

Her heart pounded heavily against her ribcage as she swallowed and walked to the door, knocking twice.

Aaron was picking up the crumpled blanket on the couch when he heard the knock. His brows furrowed and he thought Katherine had returned to pick up the handkerchief she had forgotten earlier. The kids had just left with her not too long ago. A small smile tugged on his lips as he walked to the door—his heart thumped.

But the excited smile vanished the moment he swung it open and saw Amanda. Immediately, his face hardened into an irritated scowl, an annoyed frown cutting deep into his expression.

Then Aaron raised his eyebrow. "What are you doing?" he asked in a monotone, detached voice. "I wasn’t expecting company," he muttered in disdain.

Amanda smiled faintly, rubbing her shoulder as she looked up at the darkening sky. "Won’t you invite me in? It looks like it’ll rain soon," she said in a meek voice.

Aaron didn’t bother hiding his irritation. His jaw clenched as he stepped aside, eyes filled with reluctance. He didn’t want her in his space. Not now. Not ever.

She stepped in, muttering a quiet, "Thank you," and let her eyes scan the condo.

Everything about the space screamed family now. Children’s books lay scattered on the coffee table, a few drawings hung on the wall, and Katherine’s scarf was folded neatly over the armrest. Amanda’s eyes flickered across the room, her lips twitching slightly before she masked it with a sweet smile.

"You’ve changed," she commented, walking deeper into the living room while Aaron shrugged, uncaring. "You didn’t even inform me before leaving me alone," she said with a grimace. "We came to this town together, yet you left me." She laughed lightly.

Aaron crossed his arms. "What do you want? And how do you know this place?" he asked coldly. Aaron didn’t give her time—he was feeling agitated having her in his private space. The space meant for Katherine and their children. He didn’t want to entertain Amanda at all.

Amanda turned, chuckling softly as she waved a hand. "Relax, I didn’t come to argue with you," she smiled. Amanda’s lips tightened for a brief second, but she quickly replaced it with a softer look. "I know," she uttered, her tone suddenly lowered. "I know things have changed. I know you and Katherine have come a long way." She paused. "I’m not here to ruin that. I’m not even upset about you two anymore. In as much as I’m still your wife," she said dramatically.

Aaron arched a brow at her audacity. His wife? He exhaled exasperatedly at her statement.

Amanda’s smile faltered slightly at his indifference and the mocking brow when she said his wife, but she smiled.

"Good," Aaron muttered when Amanda was short of words, fiddling with her hands. He rolled his eyes and took a seat. "So, if that’s all you want to say?"

"Yes," Amanda nodded.

"Okay, you can leave now," he said and couldn’t wait to push her out as he could hear the rain already hitting the roof.

"Oops," she raised her hands to her lips. "Won’t you even offer me a drink?" she asked in a soft voice. "As a truce—this might be the last time we’d be in the same space."

Aaron gave her a long, hard look—he wasn’t sure what she was scheming. "Just a drink," he said, and glanced at her again, exhaling sharply and walking to the kitchen.

Amanda nodded, raising her hand to display one. As soon as Aaron turned his back, she quickly grabbed her purse, unclasped it. She rummaged through it and pulled out a small sachet of powder she had bought some weeks ago from a dark market online.

Aaron walked out from the kitchen holding two empty glasses, then dropped them on the table between the two sofas as he stared at her again, then walked to the bar.

"Just in case." Amanda quickly twisted the vial open and put a pinch into one of the empty glasses on the table, shaking the glass to make the powder stain the glass.

Aaron returned with a wine bottle and dropped it on the table. "Five minutes," he warned, grabbing the bottle and pouring two glasses. Amanda subtly pushed the laced one closer to him as he set the bottle back down.

As Aaron wanted to grab his glass, his phone buzzed and he checked the screen to see it was a call from his mother. A frown found its way to his face—since the kidnapping of the twins, he’d last talked to Brenda.

He was angry, yet Brenda didn’t think she had done something wrong.

He cursed under his breath and stood. "Give me a second," he muttered, stepping out onto the balcony to take the call, shutting the glass door behind him.

Amanda watched him disappear through the glass and then reached quickly for the drink he left behind, poured the remaining powder from her purse into it, stirred gently, and leaned back on the sofa with a small, satisfied smirk.

The rain had started hitting the roof and the windows heavily, creating a perfect moment for her plan with no disturbance.

Everything would go perfectly tonight.

Aaron wouldn’t be able to turn away this night as soon as the drug kicked in. She raised her own glass and took a sip triumphantly.

The winner takes it all. After this night, Aaron won’t be able to discard her nor be bewitched with that bitch.