Aiden’s POV
Richard Huxley’s gaze flicked up from his desk the moment the door to his office opened, an easy smile spread across his face. “Ah, Aiden, you're late," he said as I walked into his office, his tone almost playful. "I was expecting you a bit sooner than this, to be honest." he said, his tone light, almost teasing, while I kept my expression stony. I stood rigidly in front of him, my jaw clenched tight while he lounged in his leather chair with infuriating ease. The contrast between his relaxed demeanour and my tension only fueled my anger. He lifted his hand, gesturing toward the chair across from his desk. “Sit,” he said casually. I shook my head. "I didn't come here to sit," I replied sharply. "I came here because yoI pushed open the heavy front door of my house, exhaustion weighing on every muscle. “What a damn mess of a day.” I muttered under my breath, loosening my tie that suddenly felt too tight around my neck. Everything had moved so fast out of control. The tension from my conversation with Richard Huxley still lingered, gnawing at me. The sound of heels clicking against the floor pulled me from my thoughts, I looked up to see Elena descending the staircase, dressed to perfection, Her honey-blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder in perfectly styled waves. She was obviously dressed for dinner with her father. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't help but admire how put-together she looked. She looked stunning, I had to admit, though my admiration lacked any real feeling. I didn’t want this marriage, and the thought of our arranged future didn’t make it any easier. "Darling!" Her face lit up when she saw me. In seconds, she had crossed the distance between us, throwing her arms aroun
Aiden’s POV I paced the length of my room, glancing at my phone every few minutes, each check amplifying the worry twisting in my gut. The silence of the house felt heavy, stretching with each passing hour. Midnight came and went, and Lara still hadn’t returned. By now, my patience had worn thin. I went to the window, staring out into the dark street, hoping for any sign of her. Then, just past one in the morning, a pair of headlights pulled into the driveway. I squinted, watching as a car came to a halt. I couldn’t make out the driver in the shadows, but I saw the passenger door open, and Lara stepped out, looking exhausted. Before I could make it to the door to confront whoever had brought her home this late, the car had already started backing out of the driveway, disappearing down the road as quickly as it had come.
As the car pulled to a stop outside the college gate, I reached for my bag, ready to make my escape. As I reached for the door handle to leave the car, I heard Aiden’s voice, soft and unexpected. “Princess.” He called out. My hand froze on the handle. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard him call me that, but hearing it now, after how cold he had been just minutes ago, caught me completely off guard. My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. “Princess,” he repeated, softer this time, his voice so gentle like he was trying to calm a storm. It made my chest tighten. I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes to steady myself. My chest felt heavy, my heartbeat loud in my ears. Damn, my heart will definitely explode at this rate. I wasn’t angry at him, not really, but I didn’t know how to respond. Part of me wanted to savour the moment, the tenderness in his voice, and another part of me felt overwhelmed by the sudden shift in his demeanour. I stayed sil
Aiden’s POV After dropping Lara off at college, I sped to my office, the tension in my shoulders growing heavier with every passing minute. I already knew I was late—painfully late—and didn’t need anyone to remind me of it. The moment I reached the company building, I moved with purpose, ignoring the curious glances from my employees. I took long strides down the hall, pushing through the office doors and shutting them firmly behind me. I sank into my leather chair, the familiar comfort offering no solace for my frazzled mind. My schedule for the day was already in shambles, and I dreaded the pile of tasks I’d have to catch up on. Rubbing my temples, I allowed myself a brief moment to breathe. But of course, peace was a fleeting luxury. The faint creak of the door caught my attention. I straightened in my chair, my eyes narrowing as the door slowly opened. And there it was—the last thing I needed today. “Future son-in-law!” The overly cheerful voice grated on my nerves be
Lara's POV After school, the driver picked me up as usual. But after a few minutes on the road, I noticed something odd. The car was heading in a different direction—not the familiar route we always took home. I furrowed my brows and leaned forward slightly. “Why are we taking this route today?” I asked the driver, unable to hide my curiosity. The driver glanced at me briefly through the rearview mirror before answering, “Sir Aiden instructed me to bring you to his office after college.” I blinked, surprised. “To his office? Why?” He hesitated before answering. “I wouldn’t know, Miss Lara.” That made sense. Of course, the driver wouldn’t know the reason. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why my uncle suddenly wanted me at his office.
Lara POV As we entered my uncle's office, I was immediately struck by how grand and sophisticated it looked. The air inside was cooler, quieter, as if the walls themselves demanded respect. The space was wide and polished, with a massive desk at the far end, framed by a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Aiden sat behind the desk, his piercing gaze fixed on a document in his hand. He didn’t even glance up at first, and I hesitated by the door, unsure if I should disturb him. His assistant gestured for me to step forward, but I felt rooted to the spot. This was a side of Aiden I’d never seen before—calm, commanding, and so different from the playful uncle I knew. The assistant cleared his throat softly, drawing Aiden’s attention. His head shot up, and as soon as his eyes landed on me, the serious expression melted away. A small smile spread across his lips. Damn that smile. My heart melted instantly, a
Lara POV The room was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioning. I sat comfortably on the leather sofa, crossing my legs as I watched my uncle behind his desk. He had returned to his work after ensuring I was seated. His pen moved fluidly across the papers in front of him, but I could tell his mind wasn’t entirely on the task. I leaned back, draping my arm along the back of the sofa. My eyes lingered on him, appreciating the way his jaw clenched with concentration. He was in his element here, commanding, powerful, and completely mine. The sound of hesitant footsteps broke the silence, followed by a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Aiden said, his voice clipped and cold. The receptionist stepped inside, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly. My lips twitched in amusement as I took in her state. Good. She should be scared. She deserved whatever my uncle had planned for her. I leaned further into the sofa, the corner of my mouth lifting in satisfaction
Lara's POV I already knew. Of course, I knew. But hearing him say it, watching the words form on his lips, felt like a slap in the face. My nails dug into my palm as I forced a neutral expression. “Why are you telling me this now?” I asked, my voice low but steady. “Because you’re important to me,” he said without hesitation. “I don’t want you to feel left out or blindsided.” His words should have been comforting, but they only fueled the fire burning inside me. Important? Left out? Was that all he thought I felt? "But why so soon?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. “Why is the date so close? What’s the hurry?” He raised his brow, throwing a question gaze at me. I struggled to give a reasonable excuse. "I-I mean, both you and Elena are still young for marriage . why are you in a hurry to get married?"
Lara's POV The moment we stepped into the grand hall, all eyes turned to us. Aiden’s palm rested firmly on my waist as he guided me through the sea of guests with practiced ease. I could feel the stares—admiring, curious, and some judgmental—but I lifted my chin and focused on the man beside me. I couldn’t help but notice her. Elena. She stood at the edge of the hall, her sparkling evening gown clinging to her like it was designed to remind everyone she was the star of the evening. Her sharp gaze flickered toward us, narrowing slightly as her eyes settled on Aiden’s hand resting firmly on my waist. I pretended not to notice her obvious disapproval, focusing instead on the grandeur of the room. Glittering chandeliers hung above, casting a warm golden glow over the elegantly dressed crowd. Soft music played i
Elena’s POV I stood near the refreshment table, trying to calm the storm of emotions brewing inside me. My fingers tightened around the stem of my champagne glass, and I took a slow sip, but the unease didn’t fade. The weight of the evening pressed heavily on my shoulders. Guests filled the grand hall, laughter and conversation blending into a hum, but all I could think about was Aiden’s absence. Where was he? He should have been here by now. The thought of him not showing up sent a cold shiver through me. I couldn’t let anyone notice my worry; I had to keep my composure. The last thing I needed was to give anyone a reason to gossip. “Father,” I said softly, pulling him away from a group of his business partners who had been deep in conversation. “Are you sure Aiden will show up?” He gav
Lara's POV I already knew. Of course, I knew. But hearing him say it, watching the words form on his lips, felt like a slap in the face. My nails dug into my palm as I forced a neutral expression. “Why are you telling me this now?” I asked, my voice low but steady. “Because you’re important to me,” he said without hesitation. “I don’t want you to feel left out or blindsided.” His words should have been comforting, but they only fueled the fire burning inside me. Important? Left out? Was that all he thought I felt? "But why so soon?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. “Why is the date so close? What’s the hurry?” He raised his brow, throwing a question gaze at me. I struggled to give a reasonable excuse. "I-I mean, both you and Elena are still young for marriage . why are you in a hurry to get married?"
Lara POV The room was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioning. I sat comfortably on the leather sofa, crossing my legs as I watched my uncle behind his desk. He had returned to his work after ensuring I was seated. His pen moved fluidly across the papers in front of him, but I could tell his mind wasn’t entirely on the task. I leaned back, draping my arm along the back of the sofa. My eyes lingered on him, appreciating the way his jaw clenched with concentration. He was in his element here, commanding, powerful, and completely mine. The sound of hesitant footsteps broke the silence, followed by a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Aiden said, his voice clipped and cold. The receptionist stepped inside, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly. My lips twitched in amusement as I took in her state. Good. She should be scared. She deserved whatever my uncle had planned for her. I leaned further into the sofa, the corner of my mouth lifting in satisfaction
Lara POV As we entered my uncle's office, I was immediately struck by how grand and sophisticated it looked. The air inside was cooler, quieter, as if the walls themselves demanded respect. The space was wide and polished, with a massive desk at the far end, framed by a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Aiden sat behind the desk, his piercing gaze fixed on a document in his hand. He didn’t even glance up at first, and I hesitated by the door, unsure if I should disturb him. His assistant gestured for me to step forward, but I felt rooted to the spot. This was a side of Aiden I’d never seen before—calm, commanding, and so different from the playful uncle I knew. The assistant cleared his throat softly, drawing Aiden’s attention. His head shot up, and as soon as his eyes landed on me, the serious expression melted away. A small smile spread across his lips. Damn that smile. My heart melted instantly, a
Lara's POV After school, the driver picked me up as usual. But after a few minutes on the road, I noticed something odd. The car was heading in a different direction—not the familiar route we always took home. I furrowed my brows and leaned forward slightly. “Why are we taking this route today?” I asked the driver, unable to hide my curiosity. The driver glanced at me briefly through the rearview mirror before answering, “Sir Aiden instructed me to bring you to his office after college.” I blinked, surprised. “To his office? Why?” He hesitated before answering. “I wouldn’t know, Miss Lara.” That made sense. Of course, the driver wouldn’t know the reason. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why my uncle suddenly wanted me at his office.
Aiden’s POV After dropping Lara off at college, I sped to my office, the tension in my shoulders growing heavier with every passing minute. I already knew I was late—painfully late—and didn’t need anyone to remind me of it. The moment I reached the company building, I moved with purpose, ignoring the curious glances from my employees. I took long strides down the hall, pushing through the office doors and shutting them firmly behind me. I sank into my leather chair, the familiar comfort offering no solace for my frazzled mind. My schedule for the day was already in shambles, and I dreaded the pile of tasks I’d have to catch up on. Rubbing my temples, I allowed myself a brief moment to breathe. But of course, peace was a fleeting luxury. The faint creak of the door caught my attention. I straightened in my chair, my eyes narrowing as the door slowly opened. And there it was—the last thing I needed today. “Future son-in-law!” The overly cheerful voice grated on my nerves be
As the car pulled to a stop outside the college gate, I reached for my bag, ready to make my escape. As I reached for the door handle to leave the car, I heard Aiden’s voice, soft and unexpected. “Princess.” He called out. My hand froze on the handle. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard him call me that, but hearing it now, after how cold he had been just minutes ago, caught me completely off guard. My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. “Princess,” he repeated, softer this time, his voice so gentle like he was trying to calm a storm. It made my chest tighten. I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes to steady myself. My chest felt heavy, my heartbeat loud in my ears. Damn, my heart will definitely explode at this rate. I wasn’t angry at him, not really, but I didn’t know how to respond. Part of me wanted to savour the moment, the tenderness in his voice, and another part of me felt overwhelmed by the sudden shift in his demeanour. I stayed sil
Aiden’s POV I paced the length of my room, glancing at my phone every few minutes, each check amplifying the worry twisting in my gut. The silence of the house felt heavy, stretching with each passing hour. Midnight came and went, and Lara still hadn’t returned. By now, my patience had worn thin. I went to the window, staring out into the dark street, hoping for any sign of her. Then, just past one in the morning, a pair of headlights pulled into the driveway. I squinted, watching as a car came to a halt. I couldn’t make out the driver in the shadows, but I saw the passenger door open, and Lara stepped out, looking exhausted. Before I could make it to the door to confront whoever had brought her home this late, the car had already started backing out of the driveway, disappearing down the road as quickly as it had come.