Michael drove Adam and Aurora back to the house. On the way back, they received a check-up call from Sophia. She thought they'd been out too long and worried that there had been an accident. Aurora and Adam assured her they were fine despite a minor hiccup.
When they returned home, Logan was waiting in the driveway. As the car pulled up to the house, he frantically followed.
"My love, you didn't answer my calls, and Adam's phone was on his bed. Why did you leave without telling me? We agreed to go out this morning." Logan said, grabbing her hands as she exited the vehicle.
Aurora stared sadly at her husband.
"You act like there isn't tension between us," she said coldly.
Logan scoffed. "One disagreement and you alienate me?"
"You don't get to brush past this, Logan."
"I didn't say anything wrong."
"It's not about being right! It's your motive for doing it. You wanted to hurt him because it made you feel better."
"That's not true. Besides, he himself knows he's not serious about this. And when he's gone on his merry little way, we'll be the ones with a mess to clean up that will further jeopardise our future. The sooner he leaves us, the better."
Aurora tried to wriggle her hands free from his grasp. "Let go of me."
"I don't get you, Aurora. You take in a random child off the streets and act like you're his mother. You're doing him a once-in-a-lifetime favour in return for his help. Get off your high horse. You have your own motive behind your actions. Don't make me out to be the bad guy."
Logan let go of her and marched back into the house, angrier than he was at breakfast.
"Logan," Aurora called as she chased after him.
Adam knew this tension well. Aurora may be angry with Logan now, but Logan was her husband; she'd make him leave to preserve her marriage. Acting before being told, he hurried to the room.
His clothes were cleaned and sitting in his new bag. He also had a new pair of sneakers now. Wasting no time, he changed into jeans and a shirt and packed his loose belongings. He took a sad, quick look around the room before leaving. Free meals and a bed were nice while they lasted.
Sneaking out was easy; Logan was locked in his office, and Sophia had Aurora under observation. The cleaning ladies also kept busy and didn't pay attention to him as he snuck out. But he had no idea where to go. His feet naturally led him back to the mall he'd met Aurora and Logan at. It really was the only place he knew well in the city—apart from Logan's house.
Chase didn't have a plan when he left the house. He sat on a bench in the courtyard at the back of the mall and took stock of his situation. He was homeless again—not that it was a problem, but he was low on cash. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out all his money. Thirty- two dollars and sixty-seven cents. There was also the card Aurora got him today.
Their deal was for a week, and she'd promised to pay him a thousand dollars. He'd spent a week with her, as they agreed. He'd have to take the money out bit by bit. Better start now, he thought, getting up.
"Adam!"
ns 15.158.61.8da2
