Chapter 307: A Figment of Her Imagination

"So, were Aiden and Ines just pretending, and were you two secretly together abroad?" Elijah asked.

Yvonne didn't simply agree. "Aiden is wonderful," she replied. "Even if forced, he'd never play both sides. But he was distressed. He was constantly preoccupied and absent-minded. One day, he couldn't hold it in. He drank and cried, and I was there for him. That night, he confessed his deep love and said he wanted to be with me. Then… but the next day, he was gone. When I returned to school, I learned he'd dropped out. He was still pressured by the Burke family to be with Ines."

Yvonne's genuine emotion swayed even Alexander, momentarily. Only Isabella's sarcastic remarks prevented him from doubting Aiden.

Isabella scoffed, "You're being ridiculous. Your tragic tale is far from what I've gathered from Aiden."

The Quirks were jolted. "So, what's the truth?"

Alexander's curiosity piqued; his heart raced. He'd just begun studying abroad and was preoccupied, consumed by his love for Ines. He adjusted his schedule to stay in touch, neglecting his studies, friends, and parties. Aside from occasional outings with wealthy acquaintances—mostly to pass the time while waiting for Ines to wake up—he had little social interaction.

The Quirks: "So… it was just Yvonne's imagination again?"

Alexander: "He didn't remember Yvonne. In those social interactions, was she just another face?"

Regarding the tearful incident, the timeline shows it led to his taking a break from school the very next day—because of Ines.

Everyone who overheard Isabella was puzzled. Were there more mysteries?

Aiden genuinely cared for Ines. Persuaded by her family to study abroad, Ines was undergoing treatment (unaware of her illness, believing it was just menstrual pain requiring rest). Embarrassed, she avoided the hospital when Aiden visited, and didn't tell him. Deeply in love, Aiden noticed changes in her and investigated. The Deleon family initially deceived him, saying it was just recuperation. But Aiden discovered Ines had a uterine problem. The treatment was life-saving, but meant she couldn't have children.

The Quirk family and Alexander were shocked. The Deleon family had kept it secret to avoid pity or judgment. The secret only surfaced through the Gossip System.

Alexander understood why Ines' feelings for Aiden had become unstable: she believed Yvonne carried Aiden's child—something she couldn't provide. She felt immense guilt and believed she'd wronged Aiden. While not all women need children, she felt differently. Knowing Aiden's family issues, she understood his desire for children with her. She liked children, too, yet…

Discovering the truth, Aiden initially feigned ignorance, continuing his romance with Ines. His priority wasn't his own childlessness, but protecting Ines from heartbreak.

The Quirk family was touched.

Alexander wasn't surprised. To Aiden, Ines was the most wonderful person. His greatest dream was to protect her and ensure she lived a carefree life. Unknown to them, this seemingly perfect couple had once considered breaking up.