"Noah… w... why are you here?" Aria asked, startled. He should have been asleep by now.
Noah didn't answer. He simply walked past her, climbed onto her bed, and sat down quietly with his teddy bear hugged to his chest.
Aria closed the door and joined him, confused.
"Noah, what are you doing here?"
He turned to her, his innocent eyes turned serious.
"Why did you accept?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you say yes to the marriage? Even though you didn't want it?"
Aria's breath hitched.
How does this little boy know everything?
"Noah, you're mistaken." She gently stroked his hair.
"I wanted this. It's… for my own good."
"You're lying."
Aria blinked. Damn, this kid is too smart.
"Noah, you really got it all wrong..."
"Then why were you crying?" he asked
quietly. "I heard you."
"How did you know about this?" Aria was in shock
'How disgusting must the family be to tell a little kid stuffs like this' Aria thought
"I overheard them talking about this marriage many times" Noah said so smoothly
"How old are you Noah?"
"Huh... 7years" Noah pouted his mouth
His answer shocked Aria 'He was too smart for his age'
"Noah… isn't it past your bedtime?" Aria immediately used that to end the discussion.
"I want to sleep here with you."
She exhaled, and forced a smile.
"Okay that's fine by me"
Later, she tucked him into her bed and sang softly, songs her mother used to sing to her when she was little. Noah's eyelids fluttered shut, and soon he fell asleep.
Aria carefully lifted him into her arms and carried him toward his room. A maid spotted her in the hallway.
"I'll take him, Miss Aria," the maid offered, reaching out.
"It's alright," Aria whispered. "Just show me his room."
The maid led the way. Aria laid Noah gently on his bed, adjusting the blanket and placing his teddy beside him. He didn't stir.
Outside the room, the maid smiled warmly.
"I've never seen young master Noah this close to anyone before. He must really like you."
Aria gave a tiny nod before returning to her room.
She lay down, closed her eyes, and prayed that tomorrow she would wake up and realize all of this, this fear, this pressure, this marriage, was just a nightmare.
THE STERLING MANSION
The next morning, Adrian stormed into the mansion, irritation radiating off him. He wore his usual fitted black suit, broad shoulders stretching the fabric. Every movement highlighted his sculpted body, and his face, sharp, chiseled, unfairly beautiful, looked like it had been crafted by angels and sharpened by demons.
His messy black hair only added to his dangerous charm, and his golden-and-red rimmed glasses made him look even more striking.
The maids bowed as he passed.
He ignored them completely.
The moment he disappeared from sight, they began whispering excitedly.
"He's so hot, why is he always angry?"
"I swear, I'd let him yell at me anytime."
"Ugh, he looks so good. I need him right
now."
Adrian was in a foul mood. His grandfather's butler had called early this morning, ordering him to come to the old man's mansion. They had ruined his sleep...and he hates coming here"
At the study door, Butler Ian bowed.
"Young master."
He opened the door. Adrian entered with a cold face as Ian quietly closed it behind him.
"Grandpa," Adrian said flatly.
The old man's chair was turned toward the window. Slowly, it rotated until Harold Sterling faced him.
"Adrian," he said, voice calm, "you still remember this old man? It's been months."
Adrian didn't bother replying. He checked his wristwatch.
"You have ten minutes. Say whatever you want to say"
Harold sighed at his grandson's coldness.
"Then I'll get straight to the point."
He clasped his hands on the desk.
"Good news. The girl said yes. She agreed to marry you."
Adrian jerked up, shocked.
"What?"
He pulled off his glasses, eyes narrowing dangerously.