KELLAN WARD
"No," he said. "It's just that you're so beautiful, I can't look away."
Her pale cheeks turned an enticing shade of pink, and she looked down at her plate. He saw the curve of her lips and knew she was smiling.
"You're very handsome, too," she said, glancing at him through her long lashes. "I'm very lucky."
Kellan smiled at her words, but his heart contracted with fear. Who was this Aurora? She was sweet, gentle, and flirtatious. She didn't complain once about being handcuffed to the bed.
Even the fuzzy pink handcuffs had left marks on her delicate wrists. She'd cover the light bruising with a purple ribbon on one wrist, and a wide gold bracelet on the other.
"Can we get the certificate after breakfast?" she asked.
Kellan paused from taking the bite on his fork and put down his utensil. "Are you sure, Aurora? Not even forty-eight hours ago, you insisted that you would only marry Aiden Cross. And now ... what do you want? My money? My property? My life?" He reached across the table and gently clasped her hand. "I will give them all to you. Just don't leave me."
"I don't want your stuff, Kellan. I want you." She put her hand on top of his. "I know it's hard to believe. But I'm serious. I want to marry you." A look of disgust passed over her features. "And I want to kill Aiden Cross. What a douchebag."
Kellan studied her face and found her expression to be sincere. But she'd fooled him before. And his heart, his bloody, wounded heart, wanted her so much that he believed her over and over.
Only for her to lie and to betray him.
"If you're lying," he said, "you better keep lying, Aurora. I won't give you up. Not ever."
"Deal," she said, flashing another heartstopping smile. "If we need my household registration that might be a problem. My family has it locked away."
"You don't need it to get married," he said. "But we will need it to transfer you to my household registration later."
"Okay," she said. "Let's get married first." Her grin turned to what he could only describe as evil. "And murder Aiden afterward."
He cupped her chin. "I won't let you stain your hands with that dog's blood. Don't worry. He'll pay dearly for kidnapping you." He tapped her nose. "Are you full? The Civil Registration Bureau will open soon."
"I'm full." She stood up and stretched out her hand to him. "Let's go," she said enthusiastically. "Hurry!"
***|***|***
KELLAN WARD
They walked down the steps each holding a red booklet. Inside was proof positive that Aurora Moon was the official wife of Kellan Ward.
"I'm so happy," she said. "Let's post this on Moments."
They reached the bottom of the outdoor staircase. Kellan stared at her. "You want people to know that we're married?"
"Yes!" She paused. "Unless ... you don't want to?"
"I want to. Definitely."
Aurora smiled. "Let's take photos of our booklets first. And then the second picture will be of us holding them. Is that okay?"
Kellan nodded. They each took photos with their respective phones and posted the Moments on their WeChat accounts.
Kellan typed: Married the love of my life. I will be hers forever. And she will be mine.
Aurora's post said: Happy to be Mrs. Kellan Ward. I love my new hubby!
"I'll hold on to these," said Kellan. He took both booklets and tucked them into the interior pocket of his jacket. "I need to go to the company to take care of a few things."
"I'll go with you," she said. "We can go to lunch later."
"Whatever Mrs. Ward wants, Mrs. Ward gets." He tapped her nose. "You sure you won't be too bored?"
"I'll sketch on my tablet," she said. "Maybe take a nap on your fancy couch." She reached up on her tippy-toes and kissed Kellan's cheek. "I don't want to be away from you."
"As you wish," he said. His gaze dropped to her mouth.
"Are you going to kiss me?" she asked.
"N-no," he stammered, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. "We're outside. Everyone can see us."
"So what?"
"Hush. Get in the car, little butterfly."
"Will you kiss me then?" she asked as he opened the back door to the Maybach so she could slide inside.
"If I kiss you," he said leaning in to buckle her seatbelt, "I won't stop. So not kissing you is for your safety."
"I don't want to be safe," she said.
"Be good, Aurora."
She crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine."
He chuckled. She was so adorable. He shut the door and then rounded the car to get in on the other side. He grasped his wife's hand, and she clasped her fingers within his.
"You forgive me?" he asked, lifted their hands so he could kiss hers.
"Let's see your performance later," she said.
He leaned over and whispered in ear, "Don't worry, wife. Tonight's our wedding night. I promise to perform very, very well."
***|***|***
AIDEN CROSS
He lay on the floor, shivering, his whole body aching. He wanted nothing more than a blanket and pillow. And a goddamned doctor.
As he thought about Aurora striking him repeatedly with her high heel, rage burned through him. How dare she attack him!
What was wrong with her? She'd completely lost her mind. Just yesterday, she'd been so in love with him she promised to hand over her entire inheritance after they were married. He had the papers ready and everything.
Why had she dumped him and fully embraced Kellan Ward?
She was insane.
"Aiden?"
Ivy's voice drifted down into the wine cellar.
"Here," he rasped out. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Here! I'm here!"
He heard the clatter of people entering the cellar and then Ivy arrived with four huge bodyguards. "Untie him," she told her subordinates. "And carry him to the car."
"How did you get in here?" he asked hoarsely.
"They only left two guards at the entrance. They're dead." She gestured to one of the massive men. He picked Aiden up and tossed him over his shoulder into a fireman's carry.
Aiden groaned as pain shot through every nerve ending.
"Just hang on, baby," said Ivy as she brushed her fingers across his bruised cheek. "We're going to the hospital."
"I want to kill Kellan Ward," said Aiden. "And that bitch sister of yours."
"We will," promised Ivy. "We will."