Forbidden Affection

Author's Note:

This story does not contain incest.

The relationship between the male lead and female lead may appear close due to the "uncle" title, but there is no blood relation between them. The use of "uncle" is symbolic, based on long-standing family friendship. This story focuses on emotional tension, slow-burn romance, and forbidden love-but not between blood relatives.

(Lara's pov)

"Lara, listen to me," my mom's voice was gentle but firm as she stood by the door. "You need to promise me something."

I turned to look at her, a puzzled frown on my face. "What is it, Mom?"

"Promise me you won't give your uncle a tough time," she said, her eyes softening. "He's been kind enough to let you stay with him now that you've transferred to his city. It's a big change, and he's doing this for you because he cares."

I sighed, trying to brush off the conversation. "I know, Mom. I'll be fine."

She stepped forward, cupping my face in her hands. "I mean it, Lara. Be patient with him, okay?"

"Okay, okay," I nodded, giving her a small smile. "I promise."

She looked relieved, a smile touching her lips. "Good. Now, you should get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

I nodded, watching as she gave me one last look before leaving my room, closing the door behind her. I sat down on the edge of my bed, staring at my packed bags. It was really happening. I was finally going to be in his city-finally going to be with him.

I laid down and pulled open my bedside drawer. From it, I took out an old, slightly worn photograph. It was a picture of me at ten years old, smiling brightly, and beside me was Aiden, twenty-six at that time. I traced my fingers over his face. He looked so young, yet even then, I had admired him so much.

My heart swelled with emotions as I stared at the photo. "I'm coming to you, Uncle Aiden," I whispered to the picture.

I pressed the photograph against my chest, feeling its edges dig into my skin slightly. It was comforting, like he was right here with me. Soon, it wouldn't just be this picture. I'd see him every day.

With that thought, I let my eyes close, a smile resting on my lips as I drifted into sleep. Tomorrow would change everything.

-----

As I settled into my seat on the plane, I let out a deep breath. The city I was leaving behind felt like a distant memory already. All I could think of was what lay ahead.

I glanced out the window, watching as the ground slowly disappeared beneath the clouds. My heart pounded with excitement and nervousness. I hadn't seen him in so long, and now, I'd be living with him. "What would it be like? How had he changed?"

I closed my eyes, imagining him waiting for me at the airport, the way I'd pictured it countless times. I could almost feel his arms wrapping around me in a comforting hug, the reassurance that he was really there.

The plane landed with a slight jolt, waking me from the light sleep I had drifted into. I blinked, adjusting my eyes to the sudden flurry of activity as passengers gathered their belongings. My fingers reached for my phone, and I turned it on as soon as I could. My heart raced as I scanned for any messages. Something from my Uncle.

"Nothing?" I sighed.

I shook my head, trying to ignore the slight sting of disappointment. He must be waiting at the airport. He probably just didn't have time to send me a text, right?

I quickly made my way out of the plane and into the arrival terminal.

I walked out of the terminal into the cool evening air. The city buzzed with life around me, but all I could think about was him, my uncle, My Aiden.

I wondered how he looked now. It had been so long since I'd last seen him, and the memories of his smile, his sharp eyes, and the way his hair fell over his forehead all flooded back to me. Had he changed much? Would he still recognize me the same way I would recognize him?

My heart fluttered slightly at the thought of seeing him again, and I found myself smiling just a little. He had always made me feel safe, and all I wanted was to see his face waiting for me among the crowd.

I glanced around, expecting to see him. My eyes moved eagerly from face to face until they finally stopped. My gaze fell on a young man in a black suit with brown hair, standing near a car with a polite smile on his face. My heart sank instantly.

"Really? He sent someone else to pick me up?"

Disappointment hit me hard. I didn't want a driver. I wanted him. He was supposed to be here, to greet me, to take me home. I clenched my jaw, walking straight past the driver without acknowledging him. I wasn't going to let someone else pick me up like some errand.

Without hesitation, I hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address of a nearby hotel. If Uncle Aiden thought sending a driver was enough, he was dead wrong. I'd wait for him-on my terms.

By the time I reached the hotel, the exhaustion from the long flight weighed heavily on me. I checked in and collapsed onto the bed, letting out a deep sigh. The soft mattress eased the tension in my body, but my mind was still racing.

I grabbed my phone, scrolling through the messages that had come in. One from him finally popped up.

"Princess, have you landed safely? I sent my driver to pick you up. We'll meet at home later."

I rolled my eyes and tossed the phone down.

"Later? No." I wasn't some afterthought. He was supposed to come himself, to make me feel like I was his priority, to make me feel safe and above all to make me feel loved by him. Instead, I was sitting here alone in a hotel room, waiting for him to figure it out.

As the hours passed by, the city outside my window grew darker. The lights flickered, and the night thickened. Yet, still no sign of him. No more messages, no missed calls.

"Why the hell isn't he calling nor texting?"

"Does he not care about me?

What the f**k!" I yelled into the phone, My voice came out louder than I intended, and the entire room fell silent. I could feel the eyes of my business partners on me, but I didn't care. Lara mattered more than their opinions. "What do you mean you haven't seen her?"

The driver stammered on the other end, trying to explain. "I waited at the airport, sir, but she never showed up. I checked around, but-"

"Why the hell did it take you three hours to tell me you couldn't find her!" I felt my patience running thin. "Lara was supposed to be here by four! Now it's seven, Damn it, and you have the audacity to tell me you haven't seen her?" The driver mumbled some excuse, but I cut him off.

"I don't care how you do it. You better find her. And don't call me until you have her." I ended the call, slamming the phone on the table. The weight of my worry was slowly suffocating me.

" Where are you, baby? Call me. Please."

I sent it, staring at the screen, and waited for what felt like centuries. "No reply?"I dialled her number, each ring feeling like an eternity, and it went to voicemail again.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a deep breath to calm myself. l grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the meeting room. I didn't care what they thought of me right now. Lara was missing, and nothing else mattered.

She was still new to this city and anything could happen.

I climbed into my car, texting her as I sped toward the airport.

"Princess, where are you?"

"Please, call me."

"I'm coming to find you."

I kept sending messages, hoping for a response, anything that would tell me she was safe. But nothing came. I clenched the steering wheel, my mind filled with worry. Why wasn't she answering? Where could she be?

I pulled up at the airport, not even bothering to park properly. I ran inside, scanning the faces in the crowd. No sign of her. I approached the information desk, showing them her picture, but they hadn't seen her either.

I clenched my fists, frustrated. I should have been the one to pick her up. But now, she was gone, and I had no idea where to start looking.

I dialled her number again as I got back into my car, whispering under my breath, "Come on, baby. Pick up."

I decided to send her a voicemail to at least know if she's safe or not.

Sia's POV

My phone buzzed again, and I glanced at it, seeing another message from my Uncle. I felt a mix of anger and satisfaction. He was finally worried, finally desperate. I smiled to myself, a small smirk playing on my lips. He was worried. Good. This was what I wanted-his concern, his desperate concern, needing to know where I was. I deserved that much from him.

"Baby, please pick up. I need to know you're safe."

"Why aren't you answering?"

"Where the hell are you?"

I read them all, my lips curling into a smirk.

Let him chase me. He should feel the way I'd felt. Tonight, I'd wait, and he'd come. He had to.

I wanted him to be the one to come and pick me up, not just send someone else.

I kept thinking about what I'd say when he finally got here. The mere thought of seeing him again, angry and desperate, made my heart race. I sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed and stretching out, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and nervousness.

Just then, I imagined what he must be going through right now, scolding his driver and probably driving like a maniac around the city. He cared-I knew that much. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling, a grin playing on my lips.

He'd find me eventually, and when he did, it would be on my terms. I will decide how he finds me and where he finds me.

Aiden's POV

I had already been to the airport once, but now I was going back there again. This time, I wouldn't leave until I found her. My heart pounded with a mixture of frustration and worry.

"Damn it, Princess, where the hell are you?" I muttered under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

As I reached the airport, I noticed a crowd gathered near the exit. My instincts screamed at me to check it out. I quickly pulled the car to the curb, got out, and pushed my way through the crowd. My eyes went wide as I saw her-Lara, lying unconscious on the ground. My heart sank. For a moment, everything else around me blurred. All I could think of was her.

I rushed over, dropping to my knees beside her, cradling her head gently. "Baby! Hey, angel, wake up," I called out, trying to keep my voice steady, but fear crept in.

People stared, their concerned murmurs barely registering as I cradled her head in my lap. I could hardly breathe, my heart pounding louder than the crowd's whispers. It was clear they were worried, but all I could focus on was Lara. The way her chest rose and fell-if it even did-was the only thing that mattered right now.

Someone call for help!" I yelled, but it was clear that all I wanted was to get her out of there.

I gently lifted her in my arms, her head resting limply on my shoulder. She felt so light, so vulnerable, and it scared me. I didn't waste another second. I carried her to my car, carefully laying her in the backseat.

I dialled my doctor on the way, my voice sharp with urgency. "I need you at my place. Now."

Driving back, I kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror, her face pale, eyes closed. I felt a pang in my chest. How could I let this happen? I should've found her earlier. I should've known.

As soon as we reached my house, I rushed her inside my room and placed her on my bed. The doctor arrived soon after, and I watched anxiously as he checked her. Each second felt like an eternity.

"It's nothing serious," the doctor finally said, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Just stress."

I looked down at her, my heart aching. "She'll be okay?" I asked, needing the reassurance.

He nodded. "It's not serious. She just needs to rest and eat. Her stomach is empty, which probably contributed to her fainting."

As the doctor left, I sat beside her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. I felt a mix of emotions-relief, anger at myself for not being there sooner, and a protectiveness that burned fiercely inside me.

I hurried towards the kitchen to prepare something for her before she regained consciousness.

Lara's POV

As soon as my uncle stepped out, I slowly opened my eyes, the darkness of the night surrounding me. My heart raced as I recalled my plan. I had deliberately gone to the airport and acted like I fainted.

His voice message echoed in my mind:

"Baby, where are you? I'm heading back to the airport. I won't leave without finding you. Just... Please be safe.""

Hearing him call me "baby" sent a flutter through my chest. His worry wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, intensifying the guilt I felt for putting him through this.

No offence, but I had to. I simply didn't know how to explain myself.

Suddenly, the door opened, and my uncle walked in, balancing a tray filled with food.

"That was fast," I mumbled to myself, surprised he had returned so quickly.

When he saw me awake, relief washed over his face. "Princess, you're awake!" he exclaimed, and I felt my heart flutter at the sight of his smile.

I nervously bit my lower lip, trying to think of what to say. "Uncle Aiden, I'm sorry. I-"

He cut me off, his voice gentle but firm. "Forget about it, baby. Just eat your food." He set the tray down beside me, filled with a warm bowl of soup and some bread.

He sat close to me, leaning in slightly as he asked, "Can I feed you?"

Okay," I replied almost immediately, unable to hide the smile creeping onto my lips.

Warmth spread through me as he fed me, but when the soup touched my tongue, I realized too late that it was still hot. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, pulling back as the burn tingled painfully.

"Are you okay?" My uncle asked, concern etched on his face. He quickly reached for a glass of water and held it to my lips. I drank eagerly, relief washing over me.

His fingers brushed against my lips, lingering there as he caressed them softly, his touch sending shivers through me. "You need to be careful, baby," he murmured, his voice low and gentle. "Are you alright?"

In that moment, the world around me faded. My heart raced as I met his gaze, the air was thick with unspoken words and an undeniable tension. I felt a warmth spreading through me that had nothing to do with the soup or the burn.

Aiden's eyes searched mine, and I could see a flicker of something deeper, something that made my breath hitch.

My gaze shifted to his lips, anticipation building in me. I leaned closer, my hand slowly moving to caress his Jawline.