***

"What do you mean?" I ask, already sensing something horrible.

Ashton sighs. "Did you know that Olivia fled to Switzerland with Roman and that they married there?"

I nod. Yes, I know it because Ian told me.

"Before they got married, Aiden had already been crushed by their betrayal," Ashton says. "Someone told him that they went to Switzerland together."

My chest tightens. I still remember that. I remember how Aiden cried after he heard that on the phone, how he was still wearing his wedding suit and was waiting for her at the altar for two consecutive nights. The pain is still very much in my heart.

"It was painful to be betrayed, but it was even more so when the ones who did it were the love of his life and his best friend," Ashton says. "Aiden was crushed, but he was also furious."

Fear starts to fill me. I'm scared to hear the rest of the story, because I can't bear knowing how much pain Aiden had to go through after that wedding disaster.

"Yes, he was angry. And he was more than entitled to be angry." Ashton's voice is filled with anger too. "After Olivia and Roman went to Switzerland, we sent our people to inspect what had been going on between them. Of course, we did. And Aiden was more than aware that we sent spies."

My heart beats fast. I don't know if I'm ready to absorb more.

"Eventually, they knew. Olivia and Roman knew that they were being followed, that their house was checked, and that we had eyes on them. It was all to confirm that they stabbed Aiden behind his back."

I listen intently even though I want to cover my ears.

It was already too much for Aiden to get his heart broken once. He didn't have to be reminded of how horrible it was.

"It was clear as day, but still, no matter how furious Aiden was, he also wanted to deny everything," Ashton says. "Deep down inside, he wanted to prove it wrong. He wished that his thought could have been wrong, so he didn't object to our inspection."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. I know that Ashton hasn't reached the worst part.

"But it all made Olivia stressed," Ashton continues. "I think the guilt she might have felt for Aiden made it worse. It was really stressful for her that she had Aiden's people inspecting them in Switzerland. It led to her depression, and Roman became furious."

I swallow, waiting for Ashton to reveal what happened after that.

"One day, Aiden received a message from Roman. It included something else. A video."

I can hardly breathe. It feels like all the air in my lungs is being sucked.

"It was a sex tape." Ashton closes his eyes, touching the crease between his eyebrows as he remembers the horrible thing.

I cover my mouth with my shaking hands.

How could Roman do that? It's too cruel, as if it wasn't enough for him to destroy his own best friend.

"We couldn't prevent it because he sent it directly to Aiden." Ashton's voice is filled with regret. "It was a video of them having sex, pouring their desire for each other. It was traumatic for Aiden, it destroyed him even more."

My throat hurts so bad, I almost choke. I shake my head in denial.

"Since then, being intimate with a woman is something impossible for him." Ashton sighs. "Even the image of woman's body now gives him the opposite effect. He would feel nauseous at any provoking sight as well as any intimacy he witnesses or experiences. The idea of developing any attraction toward a woman, be it physically or emotionally, sickens him. What other men would think arousing makes him nauseous instead."

I stare at Ashton in disbelief. The look he gives me confirms that everything he said was the truth.

"It's not just that. His mind and body block everything that can make him feel keen to have a romantic relationship with a woman."

"But--" My voice is shaking from holding pain.

I've never expected that it would turn out this badly. This isn't true. Aiden deserves to be happy again.

"But he can heal, can't he?"

"I don't know." Ashton's voice sounds tired, as though he's losing hope. "His therapist might know about that better, but as you know, Aiden refused."

Yes, I've heard Aiden declined a couple of times.

"I'm not the one who can explain well about Aiden's condition," Ashton says. "If you want to know better, you can ask his therapist. I will book an appointment for you."

I don't know what to say.

I indeed want to know better about Aiden's condition, but I don't know if I can be any help.

What if it turns out that his condition is even worse than what I've heard from Ashton? Will my heart be ready to take it?

Ashton, however, is waiting for my response. I notice his hopeful expression.

"What do you think, Nevaeh?"

I stop in front of Aiden's bedroom, carrying a tray, on which sits the hot chocolate that I made for him.

Even though the door is slightly opened, I knock on it first. "Aiden?"

There's no answer, so I wait. But after a while, I decide to step into the room. It turns out that Aiden is sleeping, and I sigh.

I place the cup of hot chocolate on his nightstand and stare at his face. Even though he's sleeping, he looks tense. He's frowning, as though the bad dream hasn't left him.

I place my palm on his forehead to check his temperature. He's still burning.

I swallow a lump in my throat. It hurts to see him in so much misery. It hurts even more that I was involved in the incident two years ago.

I wish I could take away Aiden's pain. I wish I could take his place.

I know for sure that Aiden Klein can love a woman so fiercely, and he doesn't deserve this punishment.

A sigh escapes from my lips as I make up my mind. I'm going to see his therapist tomorrow.