Chapter 199 - Party at Hill villa (8)

Two sisters laughed about the remark that Edward is an impostor when Aiden returned.

Seeing that he was in good spirits, Sarah could guess that it went well with her dad. Sarah was happy to see that her dad made an effort to bond with Aiden.

Aiden saw Sarah and JoAnna laugh cheerfully and could guess that Sophia is doing fine.

They all relaxed.

…

Party ended, Sarah and Aiden are in her bedroom. Sarah plopped on the bed. "What a night!"

"Your parties are never boring." he observed.

"You can say that again." Sarah rolled her eyes. "I don't even have any strength to shower. I just want to sleep." Sarah whined as she crawled up the bed towards the pillows.

"Hey, I remember someone promising to get me to drink and have her way with me..." Aiden teased her.

"Maybe tomorrow. Now I'm beat.", Sarah reached pillows and put her head on one. It's not that she does not want to have her way with him… but she is tired. And she knows that he will not let her. Since she came from the hospital, he is treating her like she is about to break any minute.

"At least put pajamas on...", Aiden was looking at her still dressed in a light sweater and jeans. After few seconds she didn't respond, and he got on the bed leaning to see her face. "Hey, are you sleeping already?"

"Almost... " she mumbled. "Do you know that Ed is watching me on campus?"

"Can you repeat that?" He was not sure he heard her right.

"Yeah... he knows what I do in class, and what I do in the evening in my room. Somehow he is watching me." Sarah mumbled.

Aiden frowned and thought for few seconds. "When we get back, check your room."

"I will do that..." Sarah yawned.

Aiden got another idea. "Or do you think someone is telling him this?"

Sarah didn't respond. He leaned over her and saw that she slept off. Aiden thought about what she just said... 'What she does in the class? Many can see that. But in her room? Only if he has some surveillance set up... or, maybe, Ed is working with someone who is close to her, and Sarah shared what she does... but she does not have many friends with whom she talks about such topics...'

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. It all boiled down to two options. One is that he has a camera in her room, and other is that someone close to Sarah is in cahoots with Ed. None of those options is good.

…

Next morning at breakfast, everyone was anxiously waiting for Sophia to join. Well, everyone except for Edward who was not aware what happened last night with Mark.

Sophia came in with Felix. She looked fresh, and the only visible remanent of a last night's incident was a small bruise under her left eye where ice pack didn't reach.

Edward noticed. "What happened with your eye?"

"I slipped in the bathroom. Maybe I drank a bit too much last night." Sophia answered without looking at him.

"You need to be more careful. That is close to the eye, it could be dangerous." Edward reminded her.

"It was unfortunate that we had a dirty cloth on the bathroom floor. Poor Sophia stepped on it and slipped." Stella explained to Edward and turned to Sophia with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, mom took care of it. You will not see that cloth again."

No one had a visible reaction to Stella's words. They all felt that no matter what treatment Mark got, he deserved it. Sarah and JoAnna knew that he is pursuing Sophia, but last night he crossed the line.

Aiden felt his hair stand up when he heard Stella's words. As soon as he got a chance, he whispered to Sarah, "What happened to Mark?"

Sarah whispered back. "I don't know... but if you really want to know, you can ask my mom."

He shook his head vigorously in response. The more he knew about Stella, the more intimidating she was. He can ask Sarah but knows not to poke his nose where it does not belong with Stella.

"We plan to head to Fairfield later today." Sarah announced.

"Is your wound OK now?" Stella asked.

Sarah looked at JoAnna.

JoAnna sighed. "Yes, for some time now there is no discharge. I can't keep her here anymore and put gauze on something that healed a while ago." JoAnna looked at her mom.

Sarah frowned. "Hey, did you two did that on purpose so I stay longer?"

Stella smiled. "Maybe. What are you going to do about it?" Then she changed her expression abruptly to a sad one. "I just missed you... can you blame me? I haven't seen you in such a long time… and I missed you. We all did."

Sarah shook her head. There is no point arguing over something that can't be fixed. Even if she retaliates, can she return the time? No. Sarah repeated, this time more sternly: "We are leaving today."

"Can you stay until tomorrow?" Sophia looked at Sarah. "It's Sunday... Even JoAnna is not working today. We could spend the day together... and do something."

Sarah looked at Aiden, and he slightly nodded. She thought how Sophia might need company now. Sarah gave a small nod. "OK. We will stay until tomorrow."

"Oh, oh! I know!" JoAnna exclaimed. "Let's all go to the Cabin!"

Sisters agreed, Edward and Stella confirmed that they will join also. Felix and Aiden followed the majority, since they didn't know what going to cabin means, but saw that sisters are excited. Sarah explained to them cabin is their house in the mountain, on 50 acres of a land. They go there to relax and exercise in nature.

Sophia, JoAnna and Sarah got excited and started making a list of things to take.

They asked maids to pack meat for BBQ, Edward went to get his fishing equipment, and Stella also stepped outside, but didn't say for what reason.