CHAPTER 034: The Mansion

Desiree's POV

Caspian is unusually quiet as we drive home.

Home. Oh God, I’m already thinking of it as home. The reality sinks in, and it’s both dizzying and absurd. Everything happened so fast—the impulsive wedding, the whirlwind of emotions. But now, with the pace slowing down, I have the space to really process it, and it’s crazy. I’m sitting in my ex’s dad’s car, wearing a ring, married to him, and heading to a place I’ve never seen but now somehow belongs to both of us. And here’s the wildest part—I want him. I want him more than I should, more than makes sense.

“Caspian,” I say, “how much longer?”

He turns to me with a smirk. “Welcome back to life, Cherry. I thought you’d left me.”

“Me? You were the one staring out the window, all brooding and mysterious.”

“That’s because I was starting to think you were regretting this.” His voice drops, taking on that deep, velvety tone he uses when he’s trying to probe my feelings without coming right out and asking.

I raise an eyebrow. “Reg