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.

Elliot led Aeisha to a steakhouse in the mall, a place so luxurious it felt worlds away from anything she would have dared to enter alone. The soft lighting bathed the pristine tables in a golden glow, and Aeisha couldn’t help but gape at the opulence surrounding her.

Elliot noticed her reaction and smirked. “You’ll need to get used to this. Your lifestyle is going to change.”

Aeisha frowned, unsure how to respond. “There’s no point in getting used to it,” she said softly. “After a year, we’ll go our separate ways, and all of this will disappear.”

For a moment, his expression flickered, revealing something unspoken, but the moment passed as quickly as it came. He sighed but said nothing, signaling the waiter to take their order.

Elliot took charge, ordering for both of them, sparing Aeisha the challenge of navigating the complex menu. As they waited, he began asking her questions—simple ones at first.

“What’s your favorite food?” he asked, his tone casual.

“Pasta,” Aeisha replied immediately.

“And dessert?”

“Choux à la crème,” she said with a small smile.

“Interesting. Favorite color?”

“Pastel purple,” she answered.

He raised an eyebrow. “Pastel purple? Is that even a color?”

Aeisha laughed softly. “Of course it is! There are so many colors beyond the rainbow.”

Elliot nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I see. And your favorite flower?”

“Tulips.”

He seemed to commit her answers to memory, his composed expression softening slightly.

When the food arrived, they ate in comfortable silence, but Aeisha couldn’t suppress her curiosity. “What about you? What’s your favorite food?”

Elliot’s answers were vague—“Whatever’s convenient” or “I don’t really have a preference.” His nonchalance left her more puzzled than before.

As they continued their meal, Elliot’s gaze shifted toward the entrance of the steakhouse. His brow furrowed slightly, and his jaw tightened, though his expression quickly returned to neutral.

“Is something wrong?” Aeisha asked, following his line of sight.

“It’s nothing,” he replied, his tone calm but distant. “Just eat.”

Though unconvinced, Aeisha chose not to press further. Unknown to her, Lance had already slipped away, silently investigating whatever—or whoever—had caught Elliot’s attention.

After dinner, Elliot drove them home. The quiet hum of the car and the stillness of the night seemed to ease Aeisha’s nerves, and she leaned back in her seat, allowing herself to relax.

The tranquility shattered in an instant.

Out of nowhere, another car rammed into theirs, jerking them violently to the side. Aeisha screamed in shock, clutching her seatbelt as her heart pounded in her chest.

The car skidded, but Elliot’s hands stayed firm on the wheel, quickly regaining control. “Duck down!” he commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative.

Terrified, Aeisha obeyed, crouching low as the deafening sound of gunfire erupted around them. Glass shattered, and metal groaned under the assault. Each jolt of the car sent fresh waves of panic coursing through her.

Through the chaos, she saw Elliot reach under his seat, pulling out a gun with practiced precision. Her eyes widened in disbelief as he rolled the window down just enough to return fire.

The sharp cracks of his weapon mingled with the cacophony outside, and Aeisha pressed her hands over her ears, trying to block out the terrifying noise. Despite the danger, Elliot remained calm and focused, his movements calculated and efficient.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the car screeched to a halt in an isolated area.

“Stay here. Don’t look. Don’t move,” Elliot ordered, his voice cold and firm.

Too shaken to argue, Aeisha nodded, huddling in her seat as he stepped out of the car. His tall, imposing figure disappeared into the darkness, the sound of gunfire resuming moments later.

Aeisha sat frozen, her breathing shallow and uneven. She prayed for the nightmare to end, her mind racing with questions. Who were these attackers? Why were they targeting Elliot?

After a tense few minutes, the chaos ceased, and silence blanketed the area.

“It’s safe now,” Elliot’s voice called out, breaking the oppressive stillness.

Aeisha hesitated before unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the car. Her legs wobbled beneath her as her eyes searched for him.

Elliot stood a few steps away, his figure illuminated by the dim light of a streetlamp. Without thinking, Aeisha ran to him, tears streaming down her face as fear and relief collided within her.

She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. “I was so scared,” she sobbed, her voice trembling.

Elliot hesitated briefly before wrapping an arm around her, his hold steady and reassuring. “You’re safe now,” he said quietly, his tone unusually gentle. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”