One Wild Night

Laughter filled the cozy dining room on Saturday morning as Candace and Andy watched the playful contest between Aaron and Jamal as they had breakfast.

Jamal was always hesitant to eat his green beans, so Aaron always came up with different fun games to make him eat them.

This morning, it was a game of first to finish everything on their plate grants a wish. And Aaron was smart enough to finish everything on his plate just before Jamal took the last spoon.

"Grandpa, you cheated!" Jamal shrieked, making everyone laugh.

Aaron chuckled, "Don't be a sore loser, boy. Now, it's time for you to grant my wish," Aaron said and Jamal frowned.

"But I don't have anything. I can't give you anything," he said, and Aaron smiled.

"You have a whole lot, boy. You have a wealthy grandfather, a wealthy mother, a wealthy, aunt, and a wealthy uncle. You're the richest amongst us all, don't you know that?" He asked, and Jamal's eyes lit up.

"Really? Am I richer than Tom?" He asked and they laughed. Novel Fire - novelfire.net

"When is your obsession with Tom's wealth going to end?" Candace asked and Jamal's brow pulled together.

"What is Obetion?" He asked, making them laugh.

"It means when you want something very much," Andy responded easily.

"Like I want to talk to Dawn?" Jamal asked, and they all laughed.

"When did you become so close to Dawn that you keep wanting to talk to her, anyway?" Candace asked, and Jamal shrugged.

"Lucy likes her. I like her too," Jamal said, thinking about Dawn with a fond smile, "When I grow up and I'm super rich, I'm going to marry her," he said confidently.

"Marry?" Aaron asked, and he nodded his head.

"Yes. I will marry her and we will have a big party. Everybody will be there. And I will buy her a house and a big car," Jamal said, and Candace raised an eyebrow.

"What about me? Will you buy me a house and a big car?" She asked and Jamal shrugged.

"You have a car already. I will ask Matt to buy you a house," Jamal said and they all laughed.

"So, you're not going to buy me anything but you will buy Dawn a house and a car?" Candace asked and Jamal sighed.

"Alright. I will buy you something. Maybe a plane. Because I love you," Jamal said and Candace smiled happily.

"What about me? Are you buying me something?" Andy asked, and Jamal smiled.

"You and mom can share the plane. It will be too big for her alone," he said, and they all laughed.

"I guess I made the right choice in taking Dawn's side when you fought. I don't want to be on bad terms with my fitur daughter in-law," Candace said and Jamal nodded.

"You have to be good to her, okay?" He said, and Candace nodded.

"If you're done, can I tell you what I want now?" Aaron asked with a small smile.

"Okay," Jamal said with a solemn expression.

"I want you to eat all your vegetables next week even though I won't be around…"

"You won't be around?"

"Where are you going? Why are we just hearing it now?" Andy and Candace asked at the same time.

"I'm going on a little trip," Aaron announced, his voice carrying an undercurrent of nervousness he hadn't planned on. "To Ludus. On Monday."

Candace's brow furrowed. "Ludus? But Harry just left there for his vacation. Why would you want to go to Ludus?"

Aaron cleared his throat, the excitement dimming slightly. "There's something I need to do there."

"Can I come with you to Ludus? Maybe I can see Lucy and Tom," Jamal asked, excited at the thought.

"You can't, boy," Aaron said gently, "you have school on Monday. Besides, this trip is just for grown-ups." He winked at Jamal. "You know, business and all that boring stuff."

"What kind of business do you have there?" Candace asked with a concerned frown.

"Is it what I'm thinking?" Andy chimed in, "A visit to the prison?" Andy asked, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous, Andy. There's no way he will travel down there to see Sara," Candace said dismissively.

"Who is Sara?" Jamal piped up, ever-curious. He had heard the name a couple of times but he had no idea who that was.

"Jam, this is adult conversation. Go do your assignments in your bedroom. Leave the difficult ones for later," Candace ordered and even though Jamal didn't like how they dismissed him each time they wanted to talk, he rose and did as he was asked.

"You're going to see her, right?" Andy asked after Jamal had left.

"Yes," Aaron admitted.

Candace's scowl deepened, "Why? What for? This is ridiculous, Dad. There's no reason for you to want to go see her. There's no reason for you to want anything to do with that woman. She doesn't deserve it." Candace said with displeasure.

Aaron sighed, "I know she doesn't deserve it, I have a very good reason, Candace. And it's important." Aaron's gaze met Candace's, his expression firm.

Andy sighed, breaking the tension. "Alright, alright, no need to get all dramatic. Maybe Dad just wants to go get closure, right?"

Aaron smiled sadly. "Something like that, Andy."

"Dad, I still don't think this is a good idea…"

"I am still married to her, Candace. I need her to sign our divorce papers," Aaron explained and both Candace and Andy looked at him in disbelief.

"You have remained married to her all these years? Despite what she did to you? To us? Why?" Candace asked, unable to understand Aaron.

"Wow. You're incredible," Andy said, completely awed.

"Whether I divorced her then or now, it doesn't make any difference. I'm going to Ludus on Monday," Aaron said, and Andy's gaze softened.

"How long will you be gone?"

"Just two days. I'll leave Monday morning and be back by Wednesday. Don't want to be away from my family for too long, you know that."

"Can I at least come with you? I don't want you going there alone," Candace said, recalling what Lucy had told her about when they met with Sara for the first time and how Aaron had been affected.

"No. I want to go alone," Aaron said and Candace opened her mouth to protest, but Andy cut her off with a gentle hand on her arm.

"He will be fine, Candace. Let him go."

A wistful smile touched Aaron's face. "Thank you, Andy. I appreciate that."

He glanced at Candace, hoping for a flicker of understanding in her eyes. But her expression was a mixture of concern and disapproval.

He understood her, and could only hope that someday, she would understand why he had to do this now.

"If that's what you want. I can't stop you. Just promise me you will be okay," Candace said as she squeezed his hand.

Aaron squeezed her hand back. "I will be fine."

"Alright then. I need to go get ready for school," Candace said as she pushed away from the table and picked up hers and Jamal's dishes.

An hour later, Candace pulled into the familiar parking lot of the university and stepped out of her car.

As she shouldered her bag and adjusted her scarf, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Matt. A smile touched her lips as she picked up.

"Hey, lover," she answered, tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder as she straightened her notes.

"Just checking in, beautiful," Matt's voice filled her ear, smooth as honey. "You all set for your class this morning?"

"Yeah. Just got to school now," she replied as she straightened and held her phone to her ears.

As Candace made her way to the main building, she glanced around, the usual Saturday morning quietude broken by a flurry of activity.

People were walking past her with curious glances, some even offering hesitant smiles and waves. A furrow appeared between her brows.

"Ready to spend the whole day listening to talk about legalese?" Matt chuckled.

Candace felt a smile creep onto her face. "Something like that. You'd be surprised how interesting it can be."

She frowned when a couple of students walking by her stopped briefly, their eyes lingering on her before whispering to each other. A young woman even gave her a shy wave.

"Candace?" Matt's voice pulled her out of her observation. "Everything alright?"

"Hmm? Yeah. Yeah, everything's good... I guess," she added hesitantly. "It's just a bit strange. Why does it seem like everyone is looking at me weirdly?" she mumbled, feeling a flicker of unease.

"Weirdly in what way?"

"I don't know," she confessed, "like they recognize me or something."

There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line. "Candace," Matt began cautiously, "have you forgotten about the interview you did the other day?"

"Interview?" she echoed, her brow furrowing. "Oh, right! But that shouldn't really make me... oh."

Realization dawned on her like a bolt of lightning. The interview, the viral clip about her relationship with Matt and every other revelation she had blurted out. It all clicked into place. "You're right," she admitted sheepishly. "I completely forgot about that."

Matt chuckled on the other end. "Honey, you're practically a celebrity after that interview. Everyone's talking about you. Welcome to the world of the rich and famous," Matt said in amusement.

Before she could respond, a swarm of activity erupted around her. Microphones materialized out of thin air, shoved into her face by eager reporters. Cameras flashed, momentarily blinding her.

"Ms. Jonas! Ms. Jonas, a word!" a frantic voice shouted over the others.

"Candace, are you and Matt Swift really a couple?" another reporter bombarded her.

"A word about your relationship with Mr. Swift. Are there wedding bells in your future?"

"How does it feel to be dating one of the most eligible bachelors in the nation?"

"What is your present relationship with Sara Walker? Is it true that you paid her a visit recently?"

Her phone call with Matt forgotten, Candace froze, caught in a whirlwind of unexpected fame. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, and her mind raced for an escape route. Just as she felt the beginnings of panic constrict her chest, a broad hand materialized in front of her, shielding her from the barrage of questions and flashing lights.

A tall man stood between her and the throng of reporters, with his back to her, "Excuse me everyone, please step back and give the lady some space," his deep voice boomed.

The reporters, momentarily stunned by the sudden intrusion, fell silent.

Candace peeked around the man's arm and recognized him instantly. It was Samson Sullivan.

The guy from the anniversary party. The one who had said his mother was her professor. (Chapter 639).

What was he doing here? Candace mused.

"Come with me," he said in a firm voice, and shot a steely glare at the reporters before turning and leading a bewildered Candace through the throng of reporters and into the building.

He led her into an office, and after he shut the door, he let go of her hand and put some distance between them.

"Thank you," Candace murmured as she met his gaze.

"You are welcome. This is my mom's office. You can catch your breath here before going to class," he offered, and without another word, he walked over to the desk and pulled open the drawers, going through it as though he was in search of something.

Candace watched him in silence, wondering why it seemed like he was ignoring it. The first time they met he seemed to have had a lot to say, and now he wasn't saying anything.

Thinking back to their conversation that night, she realized that she might have been somewhat rude to him because of her shame and insecurity. Perhaps he was mad at her.

Before she could say anything, her phone rang and that was when she remembered she had been on the phone with Matt.

"Hey!" She whispered as she received his call.

"What happened? You suddenly stopped talking and there was a lot of noise in the background," Matt asked, sounding very concerned.

"Reporters. I don't know how they knew I'd be here. I barely managed to escape them," Candace said and Matt smiled.

"Sorry about that. I'm glad you're receiving the attention you desperately wanted to avoid, and it's not even because of me," he said with a chuckle.

"It's really not funny," she hissed.

"It is. Talk about not wanting to date me because you didn't want to be in public eyes. And now you're in public eyes and I'm not the cause," Matt said and Candace rolled her eyes.

"Half the questions they are asking is about my relationship with you," she snapped.

"You revealed that to them, not me. That's on you," Matt said and chuckled when Candace hissed at his and hung up.

Candace turned to see Samson on the phone, "Yes. I found it. The file with the green seal, right? I will bring it over now," he said before hanging up.

"Are you alright now? I'd love to lock up the office now," he said politely.

"Oh! Yeah. Sure," she said with a nod.

As they both stepped out of the office, Candace looked at him as he locked the door, "I'm sorry about last time…"

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize. Have a nice day," he said with a polite nod before walking away, leaving Candace with a frown on her face.

Why did he bother to help her if he was going to dismiss her that way? Candace mused.