Chapter 41

The most exclusive Michelin three-star restaurant in New York was located on the top floor of a luxury high-rise. With a minimum spend of $3,000 per person, it catered exclusively to the ultra-wealthy and the powerful.

Aiden Thompson, dressed in a sleek black trench coat, stepped into the private elevator leading straight to the restaurant. Just as the doors were about to close, the sound of clicking heels echoed as a woman hurried in. The scent of her expensive perfume immediately filled the small space.

As soon as she stepped inside, her eyes landed on Aiden. "Aiden Thompson? Is that you?"

Aiden turned his head slightly, taking a moment to place her. She looked familiar.

After a brief pause, he remembered—she was a high school classmate, though they had never been in the same class.

Back in school, she had relentlessly pursued him.

Her name, though, escaped him.

Anthony Miller had mentioned her recently, saying she was now married to Daniel Chou.

Mia Wen's surprise at running into him was evident. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "What are you doing in New York? I thought you were back in L.A."

Aiden's expression remained unreadable. "I've been here the whole time. My family has investments in the city, so it made sense to build my career here. You know how it is—New York is where you go if you want to play in the big leagues."

"Wasn't your family based in L.A.?"

Aiden wasn't one to discuss personal matters, especially with people he had no real connection with. He had avoided Mia in high school, and he had no interest in making conversation now.

Just then, Mia's phone rang. "Hi, honey, I'm almost there."

"Great, meet me at the elevator."

"Sure thing."

After hanging up, she turned back to Aiden with a smirk. "You haven't changed—still the same cold and distant guy. You never liked talking to people, did you?"

Aiden remained unfazed. "We were never close in high school, and that hasn't changed. I prefer keeping my circle small."

Mia forced a smile. "Well, in case you were wondering, I'm married now."

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a man waiting outside. Aiden's gaze met his, and for a brief moment, there was a quiet tension in the air.

Daniel Chou gave a polite but distant smile. "Aiden."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Small world."

Daniel's tone was casual but carried an undercurrent of curiosity. "It is. Isn't Grace Li with you?"

"Not today," Aiden replied smoothly. "She had work commitments. You know how it is—this city never stops."

Mia looped her arm through Daniel's. "Honey, who's Grace Li?"

Before Daniel could answer, Aiden did. "She's my girlfriend. We've been together for a while. She's incredible—smart, kind, driven. She inspires me every day."

Mia was momentarily stunned. A sharp pang of jealousy hit her—not necessarily because she still had feelings for Aiden, but because she had once chased him for years without even getting close. Yet here he was, casually mentioning his girlfriend like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Trying to sound nonchalant, she asked Daniel, "You know her too?"

Daniel nodded. "Yeah, we went to college together. Didn't hang out much, but she was definitely one of the brightest people in our class."

Mia put on a friendly smile. "Since we all kind of know each other, maybe we should do a double date sometime."

Aiden let out a short laugh, clearly uninterested. "Not really my thing. I'd rather spend time with people who actually matter to me. But thanks for the offer."

With that, he glanced at his watch. "I have an appointment. Enjoy your evening."

As Aiden walked away, Mia's mood soured. She turned to Daniel, her curiosity growing. "Honey, is that Grace Li really your college classmate?"

Daniel nodded. "Yeah."

Mia hesitated before asking, "Do you have a picture of her?" She was dying to know what kind of woman had managed to capture Aiden Thompson's heart.

Daniel, of course, wasn't about to pull up a photo of another woman in front of his wife. "We weren't close. I don't have any pictures."

"Oh, okay."

Arm in arm, they stepped into the restaurant, but Daniel's mind was still on Aiden.

Something didn't add up. He had assumed Aiden was just another finance guy, but Mia had said they were high school classmates. And Mia had attended an elite private high school in L.A., the kind where tuition cost more than some people made in a year. That wasn't exactly a school for just anyone.

Daniel glanced at his wife. "So, you and Aiden went to high school together?"

"Yeah, why?"

"What's his background?"

Mia gave him a knowing look. "His family owns Silverstone Group They're old money, real power players. That private school we went to? It was basically a breeding ground for the kids of CEOs, politicians, and billionaires. I remember this one charity gala we had back then—his family was one of the biggest donors. It was a whole scene."

Daniel felt a slight chill run down his spine. He had underestimated Aiden Thompson.

And now, he was more curious than ever.

The restaurant had several VIP rooms, each with a massive floor-to-ceiling window that offered a stunning view of New York's skyline at night.

Aiden Thompson followed the waiter to one of the private rooms and knocked before walking in. Seeing the person inside, he called out, "Mom."

Mabel Thompson stood up when she saw her son, her eyes filled with warmth. "Aiden, come sit down."

Aiden sat down. Since he'd moved here to start his career, Mabel visited him almost every month—sometimes at his apartment, other times in a restaurant.

As soon as Aiden sat down, Mabel looked him over carefully. "Honey, you've been living alone, haven't you? You're looking a little thinner. Are you taking care of yourself?"

Aiden smiled lightly. "Mom, it's just your imagination. I haven't lost any weight."

She didn't seem convinced but moved on. "How's work? Everything going well?"

"Yeah, it's going great," Aiden replied.

Mabel nodded. "Chinese New Year is coming up soon. You didn't come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas; you have to come back for the holiday this time. You know how important it is for our family. It's one of those things. We all get together, catch up, and make memories we can hold onto. It's irreplaceable. I really want you around the dinner table. Your dad misses you, even if he doesn't say much."

Aiden took a sip of water. "I'm not coming home."

Mabel frowned. "It's been six months. How long are you planning to keep this up with your dad?"

Aiden remained calm. "I'm not mad at him. I just want to show I can make it on my own without him."

Mabel's tone softened, a touch of concern in her voice. "Aiden, seeing the two of you like this really hurts me. Your dad has asked about you a few times. He's worried. He still cares. Why don't you go back and talk to him? We can all sit down and have a nice, peaceful time. Isn't that worth it?"

Aiden paused for a moment, then spoke. "Mom, I don't want to stay in a stand-off with Dad forever. Working on my own, being independent, that's been a good challenge for me. So, please don't worry about this. And don't let it upset you."

Mabel sighed softly. She'd tried many times, but Aiden hadn't budged. She knew pushing any further would only make things worse. She didn't want to ruin their time together today. The food started arriving, and she changed the subject.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's eat."

Aiden picked up his fork and began eating the dishes in front of him.

Mabel continued, "How about I come over for New Year's Eve and spend it with you? Let your sister be with your dad."

Aiden replied, "No need, Mom. Don't make a fuss over it."

"But you'll be all alone on New Year's Eve! That's gotta be lonely."

"It won't be. I'll have company."

"Who?"

"My girlfriend."

Mabel froze for a second. Her son was handsome, smart, and capable. She'd seen girls chase after him in the past, but she'd never heard anything about him having a girlfriend. This was a first.

"You're dating someone?" Mabel asked again, just to be sure.

"Yeah."

Mabel's mind raced. She should be happy, but she couldn't help wondering what kind of girl Aiden was seeing. Was she right for him? She was curious.

"What's she like?" Mabel asked casually.

Aiden's face lit up with a smile. "She's amazing. Smart, hardworking, and has the kindest heart. She's also Chinese, like us, and proud of our culture. She loves celebrating Chinese New Year—makes all the traditional dishes and even explains the meanings behind the customs to me."

Mabel's curiosity deepened. "Well, next time I visit, you should bring her along so I can meet her."

Aiden hesitated. "Let's take it slow, Mom. We'll definitely have the chance later."

Mabel wasn't ready to drop it. "Well, do you have a picture of her?"

"I do, but it's not a good time to show you right now."

Mabel thought to herself, "If Aiden's not ready to introduce her to the family or share a photo, maybe he's not taking this relationship seriously."

At 25, it was normal for Aiden to be dating, but she still wanted to know more.

"You want a girlfriend, I'm not going to stop you," Mabel said. "Just make sure you know what you're doing."

Aiden didn't respond. He just quietly continued eating.