Chapter: 805

Her outfit was a disaster, her hair a tangled mess, and her new clothes were ripped.

Frowning deeply at Nikolas, Aimee coughed before answering the phone.

Her voice was raspy and she struggled to hide it.

"Dad."

“Aimee, where are you? It's time to leave. Are you heading straight there, or coming home to go with us?"

Aimee licked her dry lips and paused. "Dad, I might not make it today."

"What?" Henson sounded shocked. "What happened?"

"I need to talk things over with a friend. I won't be able to leave for a while. Could you please apologize to him and his parents for me? Maybe another date?"

Aimee was cut off by a warning glance from Nikolas.

Hastily, she switched tracks with a forced smile. “If you find time another day, I'll treat you and mom to dinner with them."

“Why the sudden change of plans?" Henson sounded a bit sheepish, then his memory seemed to jog. "Hold on. Your friend... Is he the guy who came by today? He looked for you, but you weren't home."

"He came to our home?" Her gaze shifted to Nikolas.

Nikolas pursed his lips, a twinge of guilt crossing his face.

"Yeah! He wanted your number, but I didn't give it to him. Are you guys together?" Henson's anxiety rose. "Is he bothering you? Aimee, are you okay? Just say the word, and I'll come to get you!"

"No, no... I'm here with him. We're friends. We had a meal together. He's just returned from abroad, and we haven't seen each other in ages, so I couldn't leave yet. Dad, please go back with Mom. I'm fine here. Bye."

She ended the call before Henson could respond.

Nikolas scoffed, "Me? Just a friend?"

The lingering scent of their intimate encounter still hung in the air, yet Aimee had firmly set boundaries between them.

"I've turned down the blind date. Can I go now?"

"Do you really intend to go out looking like that?"

Nikolas hinted with a glance for Aimee to check her appearance.

Her lips were swollen, her face flushed, hair tousled, makeup smeared, and her clothes were both sweaty and wrinkled-as if she had just stumbled out of a skirmish.

Heading home in that state would surely prompt her parents to alert the authorities.

"You don't have to worry about me," she retorted.