Inside the most luxurious presidential suite at the Ritz in New York City, the lighting was soft and intimate. Lainey Fisher stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking effortlessly elegant in a bold red, sleeveless evening gown. She cracked the window open, letting in a gust of chilly air, hoping it would clear the fog in her brain.

Today was supposed to be her wedding day, but there was zero joy in her heart. Her fingers found the heart-shaped pendant hanging from a thin silver chain around her neck. Where had he gone? Why hadn’t she heard a single word from him? It had been a whole year; not one call.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. Now she was someone else’s wife. Was he even worth thinking about anymore?

Her hand moved to take off the necklace, but the line of liqueurs on the coffee table caught her eye. She sank into the couch, grabbed a glass, and downed it in one go. The sweet, fruity flavor mixed with a faint burn of alcohol. It was her first drink ever, and suddenly, she got why people talked about alcohol the way they did.

They said too much would make you drunk, and that’s exactly what she needed—to get drunk enough to believe this was all some messed-up dream. That his leaving wasn’t real, this marriage wasn’t real. That when she woke up, she’d still just be Lainey Fisher, a regular college student.

Glass after glass disappeared without her even noticing. Her head got heavy, her cheeks flushed, and her small frame just melted deeper into the couch cushions.

She had no idea how much time passed before the suite door swung open and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. He had his white tux jacket slung over one arm, and he tossed it onto the sofa as he walked toward her.

Lainey heard the noise and tried to peel her eyes open to see who it was. “You, you…”

Aries Wilson smirked a little. He’d figured his new bride would be waiting patiently for him in the room. So much for that. She’d decided to drink solo. Half the booze on the table was already gone.

Lainey tried to stand, but a wave of dizziness hit her hard, and she stumbled right into his arms.

He caught her easily, a teasing grin on his lips. “Guess you really were eager to see me. Threw yourself right into my arms, huh?”

“I’m sorry!” Lainey struggled to get up, but she was too weak to even move much.

“Wifey, you are wasted,” Aries informed her, arms wrapped securely around her.

Frowning, Lainey insisted, “No, I’m not drunk.” Her rosy lips pouted a little before she giggled softly.

“Yeah? You know who I am then?” Aries asked, his voice low and gentle.

“You? I have no clue who you are. Wait—who are you? Why are you here? This is my room,” Lainey shot back, glaring at him.

Aries chuckled. “Nope, not your room. This is our room—our honeymoon suite.” And with that, he scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom, which was all warm-toned and decorated like a cozy love nest.

Lainey landed on the ultra-plush bed, immediately rolling over to snuggle into the comforter and find a comfy spot. “So sleepy…”

Aries watched her and thought back to the ceremony—how tense she’d been, her hands faintly clammy. Even when he’d kissed her, she’d almost moved away. Seeing her like this now, totally drunk? That was a surprise. Was she just scared, or was there something else going on?

He walked over to the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, poured himself a glass, and stood by the window, staring out at the city.

“Willis, Willis…” The soft murmur from the bed hit his ears, and Aries spun around sharply, striding over to her. He put the glass down, took her chin between his fingers, and said, “Lainey Fisher!”

Lainey’s eyes fluttered open. She winced. “That hurts!”

“Can you see who I am now?” Aries’ deep voice cut right through the haze, his intense stare locking onto hers.

“You…” Lainey sat up straight, shoving his hand away and scooting all the way to the edge of the bed.

Aries laughed softly. “Good, now that you recognize me, remember who I am. From now on, there’s only room in your life for me. I’m your husband.” As he spoke, he pulled her back into his arms, his lips grazing her neck, his hands sliding over the bare skin of her back.

“No! Don’t touch me!” Lainey kept struggling.

“Is that right?” Aries studied the tiny woman in his arms, his voice a seductive whisper right next to her ear. “What if I insist?”

“You’re such a creep! Have you no shame?” The words popped out of Lainey’s mouth before she could stop them. As much as she admitted she’d married him, having him this close still totally freaked her out.

Aries loosened his hold. “Well, since you said it, should I give you what you’re asking for?” He reached for the hidden zipper at the back of her dress.

The more she pushed against him, the tighter he held her, lifting the necklace she was wearing with his other hand. “Looks like the esteemed Miss Fisher isn’t too impressed with the diamond necklace I gave you.”

He’d already noticed she hadn’t worn the flashy diamond set; instead, she’d chosen this simple little thing.

Lainey suddenly remembered the necklace she’d been about to remove earlier. “That’s not it! The necklace just seems too valuable, and I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of what? You prefer this cheap piece over mine? Is it really that important to you?” As he spoke, the necklace slipped into his grasp.

“Give it back!” Lainey reached out, but he easily dodged her.

“You already married me. Some things aren’t necessary anymore.” He tossed the necklace aside. It clinked against the window before dropping to the floor.

“My necklace!” Lainey lunged for it, but Aries caught her, his solid body pressing her down on the bed.

His face was right above hers now. “Lainey Fisher, you want necklaces? I can give you thousands. But remember, you’re married to me now.” Then his lips were on hers.

Lainey’s resistance was useless against how determined he was. Her clothes were soon scattered.

“Do you actually want to do this?” Lainey knew she couldn’t dodge this forever. If he really wanted her, she couldn’t exactly refuse, right? Wrong, but…

Aries looked into her eyes and saw the bleak emptiness there. He knew she hadn’t married him willingly—a college sophomore marrying a guy she’d never met.

And he’d married her just to follow his father’s orders.

Lainey saw the hesitation in him. She bit her lip, staring up at him.

Suddenly, Aries let her go. “It’s late. Get some sleep.” He turned, lay down on the couch, and shut his eyes.

In the dim room, Lainey watched him for a second before grabbing a set of sleepwear and tiptoeing into the bathroom.

A little while later, she came out and stood next to the sofa. Was this man really going to be her husband from now on? She looked at him with his eyes closed, his handsome face set in a slight frown, his straight nose, his lips pressed tight—the kind of man who was both gorgeous and loaded. A dream for so many women. Too bad he wasn’t hers, but they were stuck together in this marriage anyway.

After hesitating for a moment, she gently laid a small throw blanket over him, then crawled back into bed. She turned down the bedside lamp to just a faint glow, not wanting total darkness to swallow the room.

Aries opened his eyes and gazed at Lainey’s curled-up silhouette on the bed. He said nothing as he shut his eyes again.

---

He didn’t spare so much as a glance at Sylvia Burns. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Lainey and steered her right out of the hall.

Sylvia whipped her head around and saw Inaya Price glaring at her. “What are you looking at me like that for?”

“Inaya, stop stirring things up. If you bring up outsiders one more time in front of Aries, you’ll be the first one kicked out!” Inaya headed for the sofa.

“What? You’re kicking me out? Is it because now you finally have a son, you want to kick us out too? If I hadn’t agreed back then, would you even have been able to bring that kid home? I’ve put up with so much, and you’ve never once shown me an ounce of gratitude! You’re heartless!” Sylvia lashed out, furious.

Inaya just looked at her and waved it off. “That’s enough! What do you want? Haven’t I given you everything all these years? Act your age; we don’t need the drama. Aren’t you even a little worried the servants will get a laugh out of this?”

Sylvia wiped her tears and dropped onto the couch beside him. “Then let her come home!” That was the whole point.

“I said I’ll handle it. When the time is right, she’ll be back.” Inaya wasn’t budging.

Seeing the firmness in his tone, Sylvia shut up, knowing she shouldn’t push her luck.

---

Aries drove Lainey back to the villa. Lainey sat there holding their dog, just quietly putting up with the occasional whimper in the cramped space of the car.

As the car sped along, the scenery blurred past, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. All she wanted was to get back to her apartment, out of this enclosed space where they could hear each other’s soft breathing.

The black Cayenne didn’t pull into the underground garage like usual. It stopped right at the apartment entrance. Lainey glanced at Aries behind the wheel. He didn’t say a word as she opened the door and climbed out. The second she turned, his car was already gone from sight.

What was that? He said he wanted to come back, and now he’d bolted. Was he in a hurry to see some other woman?

Lainey’s suspicions flared. She’d caught a hint of a woman’s perfume lingering in the car. Not exactly shocking that he had other women, right? So why did her chest feel so heavy, her body so unsettled? She convinced herself it was just an allergic reaction to the perfume.

Who cared who he was seeing or how many women he had? The more, the merrier—it meant less time for him to bother her.

Lainey lifted her gaze to the evening sky, watching the last light of day fade before she turned into her apartment building.

It wasn’t until she’d disappeared inside that Dakota Willis emerged from a side street, standing silently, staring at the entrance.

Worried about Lainey, he’d driven over and waited all day without catching a glimpse of her coming outside. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Aries’ car pull up and Lainey get out.

Watching her retreating back gave him a bittersweet kind of comfort. He couldn’t get close to her anymore; all he could do was watch from a distance. Even just one glance was enough. He just wanted her to be happy—nothing more.

Night settled in, city lights twinkling in a dazzling show. Dakota felt wrapped in a cloak of bone-deep loneliness. A long time passed before he finally turned away, got into his car, and drove off.

---

Over the next few days, Aries didn’t come back to the apartment, so Lainey had total freedom. She kept busy with classes, her part-time job, and preparing her grandfather’s birthday gift with Mya Aguilar.

Lainey and Mya grinned at the finished project spread out on the coffee table in her apartment’s living room.

“Finally done. That’s awesome,” Mya said, stretching with a yawn.

Lainey laughed. “Yes! Grandpa’s birthday is tomorrow.” After working nonstop for so many days, the completion gave her a deep, satisfying sense of relief.

Mya checked the time. “Whoa, it’s already so late. I gotta run.”

“Okay, be careful heading back.” Lainey tidied up the items on the coffee table, placing them into a beautifully crafted box before walking Mya to the door. Once she saw Mya safely into the elevator, Lainey went back inside.

As she stepped in, she noticed their dog, Joel, trying to pry the lid off the box with his nose. “Snowball, you little troublemaker. You can’t touch that!” She hurried over to the sofa and scooped him up into her arms.

Snowball looked up at her with those big, curious eyes.

“Snowball, you hungry? Is that why you were trying to chew on the box? But you can’t ruin this. It’s for Grandpa’s birthday tomorrow!” Lainey gave him an affectionate pat on the head, then carried him into the kitchen to fill his bowl with dog food. She crouched down to let him eat.

Snowball dug in enthusiastically, letting out happy little sounds.

“You’ve put on some weight lately,” Lainey observed, noticing the once-scrawny dog was now round and chubby.

Snowball paused, tail wagging, his big round eyes gleaming as he came over to gently lick her feet.

“Alright, you keep eating!” Lainey laughed, but her smile froze when she heard a door creak open.

Was he back? Lainey’s expression tensed. She hopped to her feet and saw Aries walk into the room. He looked totally wrecked—dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his skin was pale.

“Are you okay?” Lainey moved toward him, and his heavy frame slumped against her slight one. She couldn’t support his weight, and they both collapsed onto the soft sofa.

Aries grunted as his arm smacked the armrest. “I’m fine.”

His voice was rough, and Lainey pressed her cool hand to his forehead. “You’re burning up. You’ve got a fever.”

“It’s nothing. I’m not dying,” Aries managed, his awareness fading.

Lainey nudged him, trying to wiggle out from under him. “Get up for a sec. I’ll help you to bed.”

With difficulty, Aries pushed himself up, almost all his weight crushing down on her.

She helped him, step by slow step, into the bedroom. By the time he lay on the bed, she was completely out of breath, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Lainey remembered she’d been waiting for a ride to school but fainted because she got dizzy. Guess she’d been overdoing it lately.

“Thank you, I’m okay now.” As Lainey spoke, she tried to get off the bed, but a nurse stopped her. “You can’t get up yet.”

“Huh?” Lainey asked, confused. “Why? Is there something wrong with me?”

The morning sunlight streamed gently through the sheer curtains, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. Lainey Fisher slowly cracked open her heavy eyelids. Her tired eyes swept across the spacious bedroom, searching for any sign of him. He was already gone. She pushed herself up and rubbed her aching forehead—yeah, she’d definitely had way too much to drink last night. The pounding headache was proof.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, she stretched her arms high, soaking up the sun. Sunny days really did have their charm. A small smile tugged at her lips. When you can’t choose your circumstances, the best thing you can do is face them gracefully.

After freshening up in the bathroom, she checked out her wardrobe. Half of it was stuffed with dresses from this year's latest collection. Most were way too revealing for her taste, so she went with a more demure, dusty-pink vintage-style dress and plopped down on the sofa. It was only nine in the morning, but she had nowhere to go—no friends in America and completely unfamiliar with her surroundings. Bored, she flipped through a financial magazine, but nothing sank in.

An hour later, Lainey wandered downstairs. She meandered through the hotel lobby until she found herself in the cozy hotel café. A sleek black Steinway pBraydeno caught her eye. As she stepped closer, the café manager recognized her right away and hurried over. “Mrs. Wilson, is there anything you need?” he asked, his tone polite as ever.

Lainey blinked, caught off guard. So they knew who she was? Not totally shocking, considering the over-the-top wedding that had gone down here yesterday. And since the hotel was owned by Wilson Group, it made sense. Actually, on second thought, this might make things easier.

“May I use the pBraydeno?” she asked softly, nodding toward the grand instrument.

“Of course, Mrs. Wilson. Feel free. Would you like anything else? Something to drink or eat?” The manager offered a friendly grin.

She shook her head. “No, thank you. I just want to play.” With that, she walked over, lifted the lid, and let her slender fingers dance across the keys. A crisp, clear sound filled the room.

The melody of Richard Clayderman's "Mariage d'Amour" floated through the café. It was one of her favorite pieces, the kind she often dreamed about. But dreams were just that—dreams. Right now, she was wide awake in reality. As she played on, she unknowingly drew the attention of several guests.

Aries Wilson strolled in, wearing a sharply tailored black Armani suit that fit him like a glove. From a distance, he spotted the figure in the pink dress at the pBraydeno. He'd only stepped out to run a few errands, and when he got back to the hotel, she wasn't in their room. If the staff hadn't tipped him off, he wouldn't have known she'd wandered down here.

The café manager noticed Aries standing there. “Sir,” he acknowledged.

Aries waved him off. “Carry on. Bring a coffee and a glass of milk over here,” he instructed, making his way toward Lainey with an easy, elegant stride.

Deeply lost in the music, Lainey didn't notice Aries until she finished the piece and turned, jumping slightly at the sight of him. She looked a little startled but didn't say a word.

“What's the matter? Don't recognize me anymore?” Aries asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Was it really that shocking to see him? Just moments ago, she'd been playing with a peaceful smile, and now she looked like she'd seen a ghost. Was he that intimidating?

Lainey shook her head and stood up. “I was just... surprised.”

“Really?” In one quick move, Aries pulled her into his arms. “What if you wandered off? How would I find you then?” His words sounded almost caring, but Lainey caught the sarcasm laced underneath.

“I'm not a kid. I won't get lost,” she shot back, a bit of sass in her voice. If she wasn't so afraid of losing her way, she would've explored a long time ago instead of roaming aimlessly around the hotel. The place was so huge, anyone could get turned around after a few wrong turns.

The whole reason the wedding was in New York was to keep her from running. Now, in a country she didn't know, she had nowhere to escape to.

Aries chuckled and guided her to a seat by the window. A waiter brought their drinks over in no time.

“I want the coffee!” Lainey slid the milk out of the way.

“Kids shouldn't drink coffee,” Aries remarked casually.

Lainey's eyes narrowed. “I'm twenty years old.” How could he seriously mistake her for a child?

Aries gave her a slow look up and down. “If you hadn't told me, I would've guessed underage.”

He was doing this on purpose. She was sure of it. Would he have even dared marry her if she were underage? Sure, their marriage was forced, but that didn't mean she'd just roll over and obey every command.

“I... want... coffee... now,” Lainey told the waiter beside them, each word slow and deliberate.

The waiter glanced uncertainly at Aries, but Aries just watched in silence.

“If you don't get it, I'll fire you,” Lainey suddenly declared.

Across the table, Aries nearly choked on his coffee. This bold woman was already pulling rank as the CEO's wife on day one.

The waiter hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Wilson. Right away.” He quickly removed the milk.

Lainey glanced at Aries opposite her, her fair cheeks flushing pink as she dropped her eyes.

Watching her, Aries burst out laughing. “What happened to that commanding CEO's wife presence?”

“None of your business!” Lainey stood up abruptly and accidentally bumped into the waiter bringing her coffee. “Mrs. Wilson, your coffee.”

“Forget it. I don't want it anymore.” With that, she rushed out of the café.

At that moment, the head butler approached Aries. “Sir.”

“If you've got things to handle, go ahead. I'll catch up with Lainey,” Aries said, rising with a charming smile and heading after her.

He left behind a confused waiter and butler, both watching him go.

Lainey wandered through the garden, the pebbled path feeling nice under her feet. Her hand rested gently on her chest as her heart raced. What was I thinking back there? That jerk just stood by and watched the whole thing.

No, she needed to go home! They'd schemed to keep her trapped in America, saying they should do both the wedding and honeymoon here. It was all a setup.

But after circling around, Lainey still couldn't find the hotel entrance that led back to her room. She was way too embarrassed to ask for directions—that'd be just humiliating.

"Why'd they have to build this place so huge anyway?" she muttered, getting more and more frustrated. Feeling nothing but sorry for herself, Lainey sank onto an outdoor wooden bench, propped her chin on her slender arm, and watched the fish swim lazily in the pond.

"I'm so jealous of you," she whispered to the fish, tears welling in her eyes.

Aries had followed her from the café, circling through the garden just like she did, until she finally sat down on the bench. He shook his head with a mix of exasperation and amusement, then walked over.

"If you're tired, go back to the room," Aries called from above her.

Lainey looked up, meeting his gaze with a sad, lost expression.

"Still not going? Suit yourself. I'm heading back," he said, strolling past her in another direction.

"Wait up!" Lainey's steps couldn't keep pace with his long stride, so she had to jog to catch up.

Aries flopped onto the bed and closed his eyes again, not moving a muscle—like he didn't have the strength to lift a finger.

Lainey looked at him, noticing how vulnerable he seemed. This was a side of him she'd never seen before, a softness that tugged at her heart.

She bent down and slipped off his shoes. Then she noticed he was still in his suit jacket, shirt, and tie—no way was he comfortable like that.

Biting her lip, she hesitated. But after a moment, she reached out to remove his jacket. "Aries... Aries, can you move a little?" she pleaded, but he didn't respond.

With a struggle, she managed to get his jacket and shirt off. Now... what about the pants?

He had a fever. She needed to get him into something more comfortable. After a beat of indecision, she steeled herself. In his weakened state, he wasn't aware—she could always deny everything later if he asked.

Her hands trembled as she undid his belt. Cold fingers grew even colder as she gathered every ounce of courage to pull off his trousers.

Finally, she got him changed into soft pajamas and pulled the blanket up. She noticed the cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Feeling totally helpless, Lainey sat by the bed, watching him. Then she went to the bathroom to wet a cloth and placed it on his forehead.

He hadn't taken any medicine either, she guessed. Seeing him suffer like this made her heart ache in a way she couldn't explain. What was wrong with her? She stood there, staring at Aries in a daze.

Walking out of the bedroom, she headed to the kitchen. She stirred the bubbling porridge gently, letting it simmer longer to thicken.

She turned down the heat and set the spoon aside. A sliver of moonlight spilled into the kitchen, making her glance out the window, lost in thought. Once upon a time, she'd dreamed of a simple life—a humble home, a husband to cook for. But now?

Her so-called husband, the man she was married to in name only, had twisted every situation to trap her and keep her locked in this cage. No matter his mood, she was just an outlet for his frustrations.

So why was she feeling sorry for him? Shouldn't she just leave him be? Let him suffer and get sicker? A husband like him wasn't worth it.

But her thoughts were cut short by the sound of sizzling, snapping her back to reality. She reached out and turned off the heat, laughing bitterly at the pot of porridge.

She kept it warm on the stove, then grabbed some cold medicine from the first aid kit, hoping he'd take it when he woke.

Back in the room, Lainey found their dog, Snowball, sprawled contentedly on the bed, lazily flicking his tail with his eyes closed.

"Snowball, off the bed. Aries is sick today—you sleep in your own bed, okay?" she gently coaxed, carrying him to his little dog bed.

Snowball watched her as she turned away, then followed her everywhere, finally settling at her feet when she gave up. His eyes stayed open as she sat by Aries's bedside.

Her cold hand brushed against his handsome face, still burning hot. "What am I supposed to do?" she whispered.

She mixed up a packet of cold medicine and propped Aries against the bed with a pillow. Spoonful by spoonful, she tried to feed him carefully, but he swallowed none of it—the liquid just trickled down his jaw.

"How are you supposed to get better if you won't take your medicine?" she murmured, the words barely reaching his ears.

Out of options, she took the medicine into her own mouth and pressed her lips to his, feeding him the liquid.

After getting him to take it that way, she wiped his mouth with a tissue.

The night passed with Lainey sitting by his side, watching over him. By four in the morning, exhaustion finally won, and she fell asleep at his bedside.

As dawn broke and the eastern sky slowly lightened, Aries opened his heavy eyelids. He scanned the familiar room and ran a hand over his aching forehead. Turning his head, he saw Lainey asleep beside the bed, her face peaceful, though her brow was slightly furrowed even in sleep.

Aries reached out to touch her face, but he was just too weak and drained. His thick brows knitted in frustration, and a low groan escaped him.

The noise woke Lainey. Her eyes flew open to see Aries trying to sit up. "You're awake? Feeling any better?"

Her cool hand pressed against his forehead. "You still have a fever! Let me get your medicine." She rose to grab it from the table, but stumbled, her legs numb from sitting all night. Her knee hit the floor hard, pain shooting through her.

Even with the thick carpet, a blue bruise bloomed on her knee. Lainey got up, grabbed the medicine, and returned to his side.

Aries watched her without a word, a warmth spreading through his normally cold heart. But it was gone in a flash, like it had never been there.

"What?" Lainey handed him the water and pills. "Take your medicine. Why are you staring at me like that?"

Feeling his intense gaze, she looked away, uncomfortable.

Aries took the water from her hand but set it on the nightstand without drinking. He slapped the pills out of her hand, scattering them across the floor.

"You..." Lainey spun back to face him, stunned.

"What about me?" Aries's voice was roughened from the illness.

"You're sick. You've got a fever—don't you know that?" She turned to get more medicine, but he stopped her.

"I'm not taking it," Aries growled, gripping her wrist firmly.

"How are you supposed to get better if you don't?" she argued, taking in his pale face and hoarse voice. Yet he still stubbornly refused.

"I said no, and I meant it! I don't need you taking care of me!" His eyes flashed with anger. A simple cold or fever was nothing to him.

Lainey pulled free from his grip. "If you didn't want me here, you shouldn't have put me in this position."

As they reached the elevator, Aries Wilson came to an abrupt halt, causing Lainey Fisher—who'd been trailing behind with her head down—to smack right into him. "Ouch!" she yelped.

"Got dollar bills glued to the floor or something?" Aries teased, catching her reflection in the glass corner, her head still bowed like a scolded puppy.

Lainey scowled. "You're the one who slammed on the brakes."

Aries sidestepped and draped a long arm around her shoulders. "Better?"

"There are people watching. Ever heard of public decorum?" She tried to shrug him off but couldn't. She shot him an irritated glare.

"You're my wife. Big deal," Aries said, though Lainey could hear the hollow ring in his words.

The elevator doors slid open, and she went quiet, letting him steer her inside.

On their way out, the hotel manager passed by with a knowing smile and a polite nod. Just before the doors closed, Aries spotted someone lurking in a shadowy corner of the lobby, and his smile cooled, edged with something sharp.

The black sedan pulled away from the hotel and disappeared down the long stretch of road.

Lainey spent the afternoon curled up in an armchair, the TV droning in the background. As evening crept in and Aries still hadn't shown, her eyelids grew heavy and she drifted off.

Aries had been stuck in meetings at the branch office all afternoon. By the time he got back to the hotel, darkness had settled in. The driver pulled up to the entrance. "Sir."

"Park it. I'll head up," Aries replied coolly, stepping out and striding toward the revolving doors.

Lainey jolted awake the moment Aries walked in. "Did you mean that?" Skepticism was written all over her face. His behavior baffled her. Why on earth would she have feelings for him? Even if she were the last woman on Earth, she wouldn't fall for him.

"No affection? Not even a little?" Aries' lips curved into a smirk. "Then why the rush to deny it?"

Lainey faltered. "Cut the games. Eat something or just keel over!" she snapped, though a tiny pang of pity for his illness crept in. She would've helped anyone in his shoes, not just him.

Normally, Aries would've lost his cool over a comment like that, but tonight? He only offered a faint smile. "If I kick the bucket, you'd be a widow. Wouldn't you miss me?"

"Why would I care? Your fate isn't my problem," Lainey shot back, turning her head away, thrown by his uncharacteristically warm vibe.

It had to be her imagination, she told herself—some weird side effect of his illness messing with her head.

"Then what's with the worried look?" Aries seemed to savor their back-and-forth. Her mouth said one thing, but her eyes told a different story.

"Worried? Me?" Lainey forced a tight smile. "Why would I lose sleep over you?"

Aries pulled her into his arms. "You changed my clothes. Stayed up all night by my side. If that's not worry, what do you call it?"

Lainey took a step back, eyes wide. Even in his weakened state, his grip was iron.

Sick or not, he was still a force to be reckoned with, she thought, trying to squirm free.

"Hoping for a reward, maybe?" Aries raised an eyebrow. "Name it, and it's yours."

All the color drained from Lainey's face. She recoiled, stung. Was that all he thought of her? That her care came with a price tag?

"Scared?" Aries murmured.

"Scared of what? I'm just impressed you figured me out so fast," Lainey shot back, bitterness flooding her chest. How stupid she'd been to think genuine care actually mattered. To him, she was just someone driven by greed—nothing more.

Aries patted the spot beside him on the bed. "Come here."

Reluctantly, Lainey moved closer and perched on the edge of the mattress. Aries traced her face with light fingers. The exhaustion there was impossible to miss—the telltale sign of a sleepless night.

"If my father hadn't forced this marriage, things might've been different," Aries admitted.

Lainey met his eyes. "So this is all because I was your dad's choice?"

"Exactly," Aries said. "You're beautiful. If you weren't, I wouldn't have looked twice."

His words cut like ice, leaving her cold all over. "You could've said no to the wedding."

Her own parents had pushed her into this, too. Why should she be the only one paying the price?

"I hoped you'd refuse. But here we are. Was it the Wilson family money?" Aries' hand slid across her cheek, making her shiver.

Facing him, Lainey declared, "You got me. I married for money. I'm a woman who chases wealth."

"I don't mind. I can give you everything material, but love? That's off the table."

"No! I don't want any of that!" Lainey protested. She'd already sacrificed so much—for her family, for him.

Aries leaned in, his breath hot against her neck as his hands roamed her back.

"Please, don't," Lainey begged, eyes swimming. Pride gone, she pleaded with him not to strip her of whatever dignity she had left. All he wanted was her body. But her heart? Had she accidentally handed that over these past few months? Why did it ache like this?

Aries chuckled softly. "You sure about that?"

She knew she was holding back, torn. Did seeing her like this actually satisfy him? Was this what he wanted?

"No!" Lainey bit down on her lip, knuckles white as she gripped the sheets.

"Lainey Fisher, you won't get away that easily. You walked into this marriage. Walking out takes more guts than saying 'I do.'"

Tears streamed silently, soaking into her hair as she turned her head, closed her eyes, and let the darkness swallow her whole.

Aries got up and headed to the bathroom, the sound of running water echoing behind him.

Lainey knew the routine: he'd shower to rinse off the sweat—and, maybe even more importantly, any trace of her scent, like it disgusted him.