Mina sat on the balcony, Ellie asleep in her arms, when Naarah came rushing out with her phone clutched tight. Her face carried that look — the one Mina had learned meant bad news.
"Mina… you need to see this."
Mina frowned. "What now?"
Naarah bit her lip and handed over the phone. It was an article, a bold headline screaming across the screen:
"Francis Hale Hospital Crumbling — Staff Layoffs and Donor Exodus."
Mina's brows knitted. She scrolled down. Lines leapt out at her — "supplies rerouted," "anonymous buyouts," "competition emerging: Vetercio Health."
Her chest tightened. She didn't need anyone to spell it out. The name behind all of it was written between every line.
Aaron.
The sliding door creaked open. She didn't need to look to know it was him — the heavy footsteps, the suffocating presence filling the air. He stopped behind her chair, silent.
"You did this," Mina whispered, her voice low but trembling with restrained fury.
Aaron didn't deny it. "He deserved worse."
Mina stood, careful not to wake Ellie, and thrust the phone against his chest. "Aaron, this is his hospital. His staff. Innocent people are losing jobs. Patients are losing care. You've turned your grudge into a war, and everyone else is paying the price!"
Aaron's jaw flexed, his eyes dark and unrepentant. "Francis chose this when he touched what's mine. You think I'll sit back while he prowls around you? Around our daughter? Every empire he builds, I'll burn to ash until he has nothing left. You are mine to begin with, and he knew that, but he still got involved. This was just a lesson."
Her throat ached, anger mixing with something. "A lesson? This is stupid. Why can't two grown men act like grown men? We are talking about people here, Aaron. People."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I don't care if the whole city crumbles, as long as you're safe and mine. Don't ask me to stop, Mina. Because for you—" he touched Ellie's hair, his gaze burning into Mina's "—for you and her, I will destroy anyone. And I think it's time for you to register this. You are mine and I am yours."
Mina's fingers curled beside her. She released the anger through her mouth. She moved closer to him and cupped his cheeks.
"Listen, Aaron. I love what you're doing for me. For both of us, but please don't include innocent people. Please. Spare them" She whispered
Aaron smirked, leaning down so close his breath brushed her ear. "I will do anything for you, babe. Just say the word."
Mina nodded at him. But before she could open her mouth, Aaron beat her to it.
"Don't say I shouldn't do anything to him. He started it, I'm just finishing it."
"Why the fuck are you so stubborn. Just settle this, OK. I have forgiven you. You want to torture Francis, but spare the innocent ones."
Aaron pouted at her. He didn't like what he was hearing. Didn't she like what he was doing?
"I will make you spend the night here."
His eyes lit. He lifted Mina and swirled her around.
"Don't fuck with me, princess. If I stop, will you make me spend the night with you?"
Mina rested her fingers on her chin, pretending to think. She realised it.
"Yes, you can spend the night here. Only, you exclude the innocent people."
Aaron nodded childishly. He placed her down and kissed her neck. He mumbled against it.
"Maybe we can try the new position I was talking about."
Mina giggled and threw her head backwards, giving him full access.
"Maybe," she whispered
Aaron sucked on her neck.
"Really guys. There is a baby beside you two." Naarah said.
She walked towards sleeping Ellie and held her.
"Bad parents." she left before saying that. With Ellie resting on her chest.