a's

the shooting incident, I breathed easier, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders. La

lowing myself to be t

weeks-playing the piano. Music had always been my sanctuary, a world where no

ne when my phone rang. Without checking

you?" I said sharply. "If you're so amazing

en a deep, masculine voice re

adly that my hand crashed onto the piano keys, creating a dis

tammered, mortifi

your house,

lack Bentley was parked in our circular driveway. Aiden Carter stood besid

, though the answer was already painfully cle

mpulsive proposal had been nothing more th

n. Despite my outlandish proposal, Aiden Carter had t

th me, is that it?" His voice carried a

I denied quickly. "

ings I'd ever done, proposing marriage to Aiden Carter definitely ear

l stair and felt my ankle twist beneath me. I let out a small cry as

self pulled against a solid chest, the scent of expensive cologne filling my

blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. A slight furrow formed between his brows as he assessed

asked, his voice

power that radiated from him. Unlike Liam's polished charm, Aiden Carter possessed somethin

repeated, this ti

diately heat rushed to my cheeks as I realized I'd b

, quickly looking away. "You

me down as he carried me toward the living room. "Is this

jokes? This was so contrary to everything I'd ever heard about him that I found myself momentarily s

e feel weightless and, strangely, protected. He set me down gently on t

, his voice commandin

mate-firm, confident hands examining the injury with expert precision. I couldn't help but notice how different this felt f

of his face, the way his dark hair fell slightly forward as he bent over my foot. There was something mesm

d, his eyes meeting mine. "But you shou

say, my voice barely above a whisper.

age points around the room, their curious gazes darting between Aiden and me. I could already imagine my father's interrogation wh

ckly withdrew my f

ed forward immediately. "Could you please bring

d, hurrying away but not before gi

Aiden stood by the window, his imposing silhouette framed against the

hed, "we-"Before I could finish, he bent do

yelp, instinctively g

down-I can wa

t," he said matter-of-factly, alr

ing to my face-not just from embarrassment, but from the way

calm, carrying me toward the door. "Stay off it

s driver to head downtown. It wasn't until we pulled up in front o

hance to protest-Aiden had already stepped out, circled the car, and

es-whom Aiden had apparently arranged to be present-signed their names. Throughout it all, I felt like I

st like that

sbelief. Had I really just married Aiden Carter-my ex-fiancé's greatest

. Carter?" Aiden's deep voic

g to the floor of the car. As I leaned forward to retrieve it, our hands met on the document, h

could see flecks of darker blue in his eyes, the slight shadow

erved, his voice lower than before as

my expression more serene than I felt, while he gazed directly at the camera with characteristic confidence. We appeared

nsistence that I could manage on my own. As he set me d

o arrange your affairs,

asing sent a flutter

r me?" I

ss dip as he placed one hand beside me,

gister that seemed to vibrate through my entire body. "

d something darker, more primal-and feel the slight warmth radiating

t you to meet," he added, h

it difficult to form even t

. At the doorway, he paused. "Rest that ankle, Mrs. Carter.

ankle, a marriage certificate. and the overwhelming, surreal r

ands, the bold black letters of my ne

this

dreamin