Elliot Cane moved with a sense of urgency, his sharp gaze flickering between his phone and the open space of his penthouse. The tension in the air was palpable as he spoke into the device with the precision of a man used to giving orders.

“We’re going to the court,” he announced matter-of-factly. “A court wedding is simple and efficient. No point in delaying.”

Aeisha, sitting quietly on the couch, could only stare at him in disbelief. Before she could voice her thoughts, Elliot was already instructing someone on the other end of the line. “Bring a stylist and a few white dresses. Something elegant but not over the top.”

His cold, calculated demeanor left no room for protest. This man, who only hours ago had been bleeding in an alley, was now orchestrating a wedding like it was a business transaction. The efficiency with which he moved hinted at a life accustomed to control, leaving Aeisha no choice but to follow along.

An hour later, the penthouse door opened, and a small entourage entered. Two striking men led the way, followed by two women and a team of assistants wheeling in racks of white dresses. The surreal scene felt ripped from the pages of a glossy magazine.

The taller of the two men immediately approached Elliot, his expression one of thinly veiled concern. “We’ve been worried sick,” he said, his tone sharp.

“You disappeared without contacting us,” the other added, his eyes scanning Elliot’s frame.

“I’m fine,” Elliot replied curtly, but Aeisha couldn’t hold her tongue. “He’s hurt,” she blurted out, her voice tinged with worry.

Both men froze, their gazes snapping to Elliot in alarm. “Hurt?” they said in unison, their concern palpable as they began fussing over him like overprotective siblings.

Elliot sighed, his patience clearly waning. “If you two don’t stop, I’ll dangle you outside the penthouse for 24 hours,” he threatened, his tone icy.

The threat worked instantly. Both men fell silent, though their wary glances lingered.

Turning to the women, Elliot issued his next command. “Help her find a suitable dress for the wedding.”

One of the women looked startled. “Wedding?” she exclaimed, her voice rising in surprise. “Who’s getting married?”

Elliot’s icy glare silenced any further questions. He then looked at Aeisha, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Take your time choosing,” he said. “I’ll deal with these two.”

With a hesitant nod, Aeisha allowed the women to guide her into another room, leaving Elliot to handle his business.

Elliot led the two men, Lance and Ace, into his office, the air around him colder than usual.

“Who’s the woman?” Lance asked the moment the door shut. “The one staying with you?”

Elliot leaned casually against his desk, though his tone was anything but relaxed. “She’s the one who saved me last night. I’ve asked her to marry me.”

“Marry?” Ace raised an eyebrow, his tone edged with suspicion. “I know you need someone to marry, but… what if she’s a spy?”

Elliot’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “If she is, she’ll be dead by the end of the day,” he replied, his voice chillingly calm. “That’s why I want you two to find everything there is to know about her. No mistakes.”

Ace nodded reluctantly, though a flicker of doubt remained in his eyes. “And your wound? Is it okay? Do we need to take you to the hospital?”

“The woman took care of it,” Elliot said dismissively, his gaze drifting briefly to his side where the faint ache lingered.

Lance tilted his head, his expression a mix of curiosity and exasperation. “Do you even know her name?”

The question hung in the air, the silence stretching as Elliot hesitated. Instead of answering, he waved them toward the door. “Get moving. I need results by the end of the day.”

Meanwhile, the women worked quickly, dressing Aeisha in a simple off-shoulder gown that fell just above her knees. They adorned her with a delicate wreath, a soft veil cascading lightly over her hair.

“Perfect,” one of them said, stepping back to admire their work.

But Aeisha didn’t feel perfect. She felt like a stranger in a story she didn’t belong to. Yet she couldn’t deny the beauty of the dress or the skill of the women who had crafted her transformation.

When she emerged from the room, Elliot was waiting. His gaze landed on her and lingered, his usually guarded expression softening for a moment too long.

“You look… stunning,” he said, his voice sincere despite the coolness of his demeanor.

A faint blush crept up Aeisha’s cheeks, and she glanced away. “Is it okay?” she asked hesitantly.

“It’s more than okay,” he replied, a faint smile touching his lips.

Elliot stepped closer, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, a surprising contrast to the coldness of his exterior. “Let’s go,” he said, leading her toward the elevator.

Lance and Ace followed, their sharp eyes watching everything, while the silent men in black trailed behind. As the elevator descended, Elliot turned to Aeisha, his expression unreadable.

“What’s your name?”

The question surprised her. “Aeisha,” she said quietly.

He nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Just Aeisha?”

“Just Aeisha,” she replied, her voice steady despite the strangeness of the moment.

For a man so commanding, his silence after her response felt unexpectedly intimate. As the elevator continued its descent, Aeisha couldn’t shake the question that loomed in her mind—what, exactly, had she agreed to?

The judge’s voice resonated in the quiet courtroom. "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Aeisha stood still, clutching the signed contract, the ink of her signature barely dry. The weight of her decision hit her with full force—she was now married to Elliot Cane, the second-richest man in the city.

Behind them, Elliot’s entourage broke into polite applause, their congratulations echoing through the room. The enthusiasm of the moment felt strangely out of place to Aeisha, who could barely process the surreal and detached nature of what had just transpired. She sighed, forcing herself to accept the reality she had willingly stepped into.

Elliot’s calm voice pulled her from her thoughts. "We’ll celebrate at Château, the five-star Michelin restaurant."

Aeisha blinked, startled by his nonchalant declaration. "Château?" she repeated, incredulity lacing her tone. "We don’t need to celebrate in such an expensive place."

Elliot raised an eyebrow, his expression betraying mild amusement at her protest. "And why not?"

She hesitated, feeling the weight of her discomfort. "The cost of a meal there could buy a car," she said finally, her voice soft.

A faint smirk played on Elliot’s lips, his gaze unwavering. "It won’t make me bankrupt, Aeisha. Let it go."

Realizing the futility of arguing with him, Aeisha sighed and relented. "Fine," she muttered, her resignation clear.

The car ride to the restaurant was a quiet one, Elliot seated beside her, exuding his usual composed authority. When they arrived, Aeisha’s breath caught as she took in the grandeur of the restaurant. Its elegant exterior was impressive, but the interior—lavish furnishings, sparkling chandeliers, and polished marble floors—was nothing short of opulent.

The staff greeted them with practiced warmth and efficiency. The manager approached swiftly, a polite smile gracing his face. "Welcome, Mr. Cane, Mrs. Cane. Congratulations on your marriage."

Aeisha froze for a moment at the sound of “Mrs. Cane.” The title felt foreign, and she struggled to respond, managing only a polite nod.

The manager gestured toward a private area. "Please, allow me to escort you to your private room."

Elliot nodded in acknowledgment, ready to follow, but their path was interrupted. A sudden tug on Aeisha’s hand made her turn sharply, and she found herself face-to-face with Zeus.

Her chest tightened at the sight of him. His once-familiar face, now unwelcome, was a stark reminder of betrayal.

"Aeisha," Zeus said, his voice a mixture of confusion and urgency. "Where have you been? Why are you just appearing now?"

Anger flared in her chest, and she yanked her hand from his grasp. "Why do you care, Zeus? You were ready to cancel the wedding for Daisy and her baby."

Shock swept across Zeus’s face, draining the color from his cheeks. "You know about that?"

Before she could respond, Elliot stepped closer, his frown deepening as he placed a firm hand on Aeisha’s waist. His voice was calm but edged with authority. "Is there a problem here, babe?"

The unexpected endearment caught Aeisha off guard, but she quickly caught on. Two could play this game. Smiling sweetly, she wrapped an arm around Elliot’s, her voice light. "No, honey, everything’s fine."

Zeus glanced between them, his confusion now tinged with disbelief.

Elliot’s piercing gaze didn’t waver. "We’re heading to our private room. Excuse us."

Without waiting for a response, Elliot guided Aeisha away, his hand firm and steady against her back. Aeisha kept her gaze forward, refusing to glance back at Zeus. She didn’t need to see his expression to know it was filled with questions she had no intention of answering.

Once inside the private room, with the door securely closed behind them, Aeisha exhaled a long sigh of relief.

Elliot observed her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Who was that?"

She hesitated, debating whether to explain, but it seemed pointless to hide the truth. "That was Zeus," she said finally. "The man I was supposed to marry yesterday."

Elliot raised an eyebrow, but his silence prompted her to continue.

Her voice wavered slightly as she admitted, "I found out he’s been in a relationship with my sister. She’s pregnant with his child."

Elliot’s lips pressed into a thin line, but his tone remained even. "And what do you want to do about him?"

The question surprised her. She stared at him, unsure of his meaning. "I don’t want to do anything. He’s not worth my time."

Elliot nodded once, as if her answer was enough. "Good."

The simplicity of his response threw her off. There was no judgment, no probing questions—just quiet acceptance. For the first time in days, Aeisha felt a faint sense of relief. Elliot’s presence, though detached and often cold, seemed to offer a strange kind of steadiness, like an unyielding wall against the chaos of her life.

"Let’s eat," Elliot said, motioning toward the table.

As they sat down to dine, Aeisha couldn’t help but reflect on the whirlwind her life had become. Yet, amid the chaos, a thought lingered in the back of her mind—perhaps, in Elliot Cane, she had found an unlikely ally.

The next morning, Elliot made an announcement with his characteristic confidence. "We’re going shopping."

Aeisha blinked at him, taken aback. "Shopping? For what?"

"You need clothes," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "You don’t have anything suitable to wear."

She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. "If you refuse, I’ll just buy the entire mall for you."

The casual delivery of his outrageous threat left her stunned. "You can’t be serious," she stammered.

His smirk was smug. "Try me."

Reluctantly, she conceded, knowing there was no winning against his unyielding demeanor. "Fine. Let’s just go."

"That’s more like it," Elliot said, clearly satisfied.

An hour later, they were on their way to the mall. Aeisha couldn’t shake a feeling of unease as she noticed a car trailing them. "Elliot," she said softly, "someone’s following us."

Elliot glanced back briefly before meeting her gaze with an amused expression. "That’s just one of my bodyguards. Don’t worry."

His reassurance calmed her slightly, though the idea of bodyguards following her was still foreign and unsettling.

When they arrived at the upscale mall, Aeisha was awestruck by its sheer size and extravagance. Elliot led her through a series of luxury stores she had only ever seen in magazines. Her past life—filled with modest outings and watching others, like her sister Daisy, bask in luxury—felt worlds apart from this experience.

Inside one boutique, Aeisha’s eyes were drawn to a particular dress. It was simple yet elegant, a soft pastel spaghetti strap design perfect for any occasion. She hesitated before touching the fabric, unsure if it was even worth considering.

"You like it?" Elliot’s voice broke through her thoughts.

She nodded shyly, and he gave a single, decisive command. "Try it on."

While Aeisha disappeared into the fitting room, Lance and Ace arrived, their expressions sharp as always.

"We looked into her background," Lance began without preamble. "She’s clean—no ties to any of the other bosses or families."

Elliot gave a slight nod, his face unreadable. "Good. That’s one less concern."

Ace folded his arms, his tone more serious. "But we still need to figure out who leaked the details of the transaction a few days ago. That attack wasn’t random."

"Any suspects?" Elliot’s voice turned icy, his gaze narrowing.

"There are whispers about spies from the Cullen family," Ace answered. "It’s just speculation for now, but we’ll confirm soon."

Elliot’s expression hardened. "Find them and make sure they regret ever crossing me."

Both men nodded firmly. They were about to leave when the door to the fitting room opened.

Aeisha stepped out, and the room went silent.

Elliot, Lance, and Ace all turned to look at her. For a moment, none of them spoke, stunned by her transformation.

Feeling self-conscious under their stares, Aeisha smoothed the fabric of the dress nervously. "What? Is it that bad?"

Lance and Ace exchanged a brief glance, saying nothing, but Elliot’s expression softened slightly, his sharp features relaxing. "It’s perfect," he said simply, nodding in approval.

A small smile appeared on Aeisha’s lips at his compliment. "Thank you."

Elliot turned to the boutique staff. "We’ll take the dress."

The shopping continued, a whirlwind of high-end clothing and accessories. Elliot kept picking out outfits, each more extravagant than the last, while Aeisha struggled to keep up with the sheer volume of items.

"We’re buying too much," she said at one point, trying to stop him from selecting yet another dress.

"You need options," he replied, raising an eyebrow at her protest.

Sighing, she realized it was a losing battle.

Not content with just clothing, Elliot moved on to shoes, selecting multiple pairs without hesitation. By the time they were done, Aeisha felt as though they had purchased enough to fill an entire wardrobe.

"We’ve bought a lot already," she ventured as they walked toward another store. Hoping to distract him, she added, "Why don’t we get something for you instead?"

Elliot paused, considering her suggestion. "Fair enough," he said.

They entered a high-end menswear store specializing in suits. Elliot began browsing the racks, his movements measured and deliberate.

But as he inspected a particularly tailored jacket, his demeanor shifted. He stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the entrance.

"What’s wrong?" Aeisha asked, following his gaze. All she saw were shoppers passing by, seemingly unaware of their presence.

Elliot didn’t answer immediately, his face unreadable. Instead, he turned to Ace, who was juggling several shopping bags.

Ace seemed to pick up on Elliot’s silent command. Without hesitation, he said, "I’ll check on something," and disappeared into the crowd.

Elliot’s expression softened when he looked back at Aeisha. "It’s nothing," he said smoothly. "Let’s find something for me."

Aeisha wanted to press him further, sensing his tension, but decided against it. Whatever was bothering him, it was clear he didn’t want to discuss it.