Chapter 22

MADDIE

"We have to go, Mom," I told her gently.

Dad was doing better. His laboratory is all doing well, and so is his recovery. The doctor says that if all of these continue, he will be out of the hospital in no time.

My mom stayed silent for a minute before she turned to look at Hades, who was sitting in the corner, engrossed in his laptop. It seemed like he was always working, no matter where he was.

She then looked at me with her eyes filled with worries. "Are you sure you're okay, Maddie?" she asked. "I understand that we needed help for your father's surgery, but I'm worried..."

"Mom," I cut her off. "I'm good. Hades and I talked about it like a business deal. Nothing happened that we haven't talked about as two consenting adults."

"But you just got out of a relationship. Are you sure you understand what you're doing, sweetie? Marriage is a serious matter. I'm worried that you might be forcing yourself into this because of what happened to your father. I'm sure your father won't like you doing something you're not comfortable with," she said worriedly.

"I'll explain everything to him when he gets better. For now, let's keep it secret between us."

She blew a loud sigh of defeat. "I'm just praying that you really know what you're doing and you won't end up hurting yourself along the way."

"I won't, mom. I promised," I assured her. "Take care of yourself, okay? I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Don't worry about us. Now that your father is out of danger, we can take care of ourselves. Look after yourself instead. We've been putting too many responsibilities on you lately."

"Mom, both of you have taken care of me for as long as I can remember. It's time for me to step up," I replied.

"Just...just please be safe, okay?" she said.

I had no idea how to ease her mind about my situation. I wanted to assure her that there's nothing going on that I couldn't handle. But I guess worry comes along with being a mother. No matter how we assure them that we're fine, they wouldn't stop thinking about us.

"I will, mom." I smiled at her to assure her that everything's okay. "We'll go ahead."

"Okay, take care, sweetie," she replied.

I turned towards Hades to tell him that we could already leave, but I was surprised to find him standing behind me.

"Shall we go?" he asked.

I was stunned for a minute. When did he get here? The last time I saw him, he was still focused on his laptop.

"Yeah," I replied. I kissed my mother on the cheeks before we finally left the room.

Once we were outside, I intentionally quickened my pace, hoping to put some distance between us so we wouldn't be seen walking together. I thought I had succeeded, but when I glanced back, I found him just a few feet away. I had forgotten about his longer strides, making it almost impossible to outrun him without significant effort.

Determined to ignore his presence, I focused straight ahead, still simmering with frustration over how he had ambushed me in front of my mother. But luck seems not to be in my favor because all my effort was wasted when I found myself in the confines of the elevator with him.

I stepped into the elevator and moved to the farthest corner, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. But, to my annoyance, he chose to stand right next to me, seemingly intent on pushing my buttons further.

The elevator started moving, and the intense, awkward silence surrounding us was deafening. His towering presence beside me makes it hard for me to ignore him at all.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally spoke. "We need to get you a dress for tonight's party," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

I scoffed, "Did you even ask if I wanted to come?" My voice dripped with sarcasm.

"No, I didn't, because I have no intention of asking you. I'm telling you that you're coming with me," he replied coldly, his words sharp and unyielding.

"Is this how our deal works? You ordering me around as you please, without respecting my decisions?" I shot back, my frustration bubbling over.

Suddenly, he grabbed my waist and pinned me against the wall of the elevator, startling me. His face was inches from mine, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze. I gasped for air, my heart racing as his presence overwhelmed me.

"You should have asked that before signing the paper, sweetheart," he murmured, his hot minty breath brushing against my face. The closeness and the low, dangerous tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

His grip on my waist tightened, and I could feel the tension between us, electric and undeniable. The cold metal of the elevator wall pressed against my back, contrasting sharply with the heat radiating from his body. My breath hitched as I tried to steady myself, both physically and emotionally.

He held my gaze, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read what's going on inside my head. The intensity of his stare was almost too much to bear. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the emotions swirling inside me.

"Yeah, I should have," I finally whispered, my voice barely audible above the hum of the elevator. "It's one of the few decisions I've made in my life that I regret."

His eyes darkened as his jaw clenched. The tension between us remained palpable. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "Well, it's too late for that," he began. "You're my wife now, and you have to start playing the role well."

Before I could respond, the elevator dinged, signaling that we had reached our floor. He stepped back, releasing his hold on me, but not before brushing a stray strand of hair from my face with surprising tenderness.

"Come on," he said, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. "Let's get you that dress."

I followed him out of the elevator, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I'm confused about the feeling that his presence stirs inside me. I hate him, but at the same time, I was drawn to him like a moth to a fire. I have to guard myself properly, or else I'll end up hurting myself. Hades was like a puzzle that was impossible to solve.

We exited the building and made our way to a sleek black car waiting at the curb. The driver opened the door for us, and I slid into the backseat, Hades following close behind. The city lights blurred into streaks of color as we drove through the bustling streets, the hum of the engine providing a backdrop to my racing thoughts.

He remained silent beside me, his presence commanding yet oddly comforting. I stole a glance at him, studying his profile—the strong jawline, the slight furrow of his brows, the hint of vulnerability in his otherwise stoic expression. There was so much I didn't know about him, so much I wanted to understand.

The car came to a stop in front of an upscale boutique. Hades stepped out first, extending a hand to help me out of the car. His touch was firm and steady, grounding me in the midst of my swirling emotions.

"Let's find you something beautiful," he said with a small smile, his voice gentle but determined.

Inside the boutique, I was greeted by racks of elegant dresses and the soft murmur of classical music. The sales assistant approached us, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized Hades.

"Mr. Grant, it's a pleasure to see you again," she said warmly. "How can I assist you today?"

"We're looking for a dress for my wife," he replied, glancing at me with a hint of pride in his eyes.

The assistant nodded, her gaze shifting to me with a friendly smile. "Of course. Please, follow me."

We followed the assistant to the private fitting room, and it wasn't long before the other staff brought a rack full of elegant dresses.

Hades sat on a long couch in front of the dressing room, his eyes glued to his phone, seemingly preoccupied.

After the rough week I’d had, this felt like a much-needed distraction, almost like my usual stress-relief shopping trip.

For a moment, I forgot about my problems and focused on finding the right dress for tonight.

"Do you know what kind of party we're going to?" I asked him.

"It's a Black Tie party," he answered without lifting his head from his phone. He looked like any typical man dragged along on a shopping trip—uninterested and distracted.

With Hades seemingly disinterested, I took the opportunity to have a bit of fun. I chose a series of revealing gowns, each more daring than the last, and began trying them on. As I emerged from the fitting room in the first dress, a sleek black number with a deep neckline and a thigh-high slit, I glanced at Hades, expecting him to be absorbed in his phone.

To my surprise, I caught him looking up, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight of me in the dress. His reaction was brief but intense, a flicker of something—perhaps admiration or even desire—before he quickly composed himself and turned his gaze into a steely glare.

"What do you think you're wearing?" he demanded, his jaw tightening.

"A dress?" I replied with a hint of sarcasm, trying to deflect the sudden shift in mood.

Without another word, he abruptly put his phone away and rose from the couch. My breath caught as I watched his reflection in the mirror while he moved behind me. The change in his demeanor was palpable, and I felt an unsettling mix of anticipation and nervousness.

He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "This is too low," his voice laced with a barely contained edge. His fingers traced a path along my spine, moving slowly down until they stopped just above the curve of my buttocks.

I shivered at the touch and took a shaky breath, my body reacting to his proximity. "Yeah, it is," I managed to agree, my voice faltering slightly.

I felt his nose brush against the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. His presence was overwhelming, and his whispered words sent a jolt through me. "I'll kill everyone who lays their eyes on this," he murmured, his voice low and intense. His other hand followed a possessive path from my neck down the plunging neckline of my gown, his fingers tracing the contours of my body with a deliberate slowness.

I watched his every move in the mirror, each step and shift in his posture sending a thrill through me. His intense gaze, combined with the way he moved with such purposeful control, ignited a fire within me that seemed to burn through every core of my being.

"You're not going to wear this dress," he warned, his voice firm and authoritative, leaving no room for negotiation.

I met his gaze through the reflection, feeling a mixture of defiance and desire. "Watch me," I challenged him, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest.

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