Chapter 35: Vow (Aria's POV)

Fucking idiot. Who cleans a wound like that? By pouring the alcohol on it? It's still stinging too. 

I opened the bedroom door with my uninjured hand but he was quick to slam it shut. 

He stood in front of it, blocking my escape. I can't even process everything that just happened.

I glared at him. "Move." 

"No," he shook his head. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was just in a haze of anger, I'm still thinking about everything she just did." 

"And I'm thinking about everything you just did. You just poured alcohol on my wound like it's nothing, you swore at my aunt and then threw her out, and you didn't help me quick enough!" 

"I didn't know how to approach her without being disrespectful. But when she kept trying to hurt you, respect went out the window, okay?" 

"Then maybe you just shouldn't have helped," I scoffed, running my tongue over the cut in the corner of my lip. 

"I couldn't stand to watch her hurt you like that. And she swore at your first. All I did was defend you." 

"Well, don't! Don't defend me if it means you'll stoop down to that level and talk to a woman like that. My aunt or not, someone who abused me or not, she's a woman before anything else! And you are not the kind to act like this, Alex! When you did it with me, I thought it was an accident, but you did it all again!" 

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I know, Aria, I know. I know I'm hot-headed, when I'm angry I don't think, I do horrible things, I get extremely impulsive, but I was just worried about you! I didn't want her to hurt you or take you away! I just didn't want you to get hurt anymore!" 

"What would have happened if she did? She would have struck me a few more times and I would have tolerated it until the guards came, right?" 

"No. She could have seriously hurt you. You could have hit your head on the pavement instead of your palm. I had to do something!" 

"And you did something mighty, didn't you?" I asked sarcastically. 

"I did what I made a vow to do." He stepped forward. "I made a vow to be there with you through it all. And to protect you. So, that's what I did. I kept my vow. And if that angers you, then fine by me." 

I blinked, processing his words. 

"I protected my wife. And I'm sorry if this doesn't seem fair or if you don't like it, but you're my wife before anything now. And I promised to put my life on the line for you if I had to. What I did was nothing, all right? I was disrespectful. But if another person can't respect you, older or younger, you don't owe your respect to them either, understand?" he asked scoldingly. Authoritatively. He mumbled curses under his breath while turning to leave. 

I grabbed his hand, pulling him back. "And this?" I held up my palm. 

"I'm sorry about that too. I was fuming, you were wincing, I wanted it to end quickly." 

How can I not fall for him when this is who he is now? 

"Do you pour alcohol over wounds like that?" 

"I said I'm sorry," he huffed. "And if I cleaned wounds like that, I would have done the same thing on your first day here. When I was pretending to hate you. If I was doing it intentionally, to hurt you, why would I not do it to someone I hate but only to who I like? Why would I want to hurt someone I like?" 

We stared at each other for a few silent beats. 

"I didn't mean to make things worse or upset you. I really am sorry." 

"It's okay," I mumbled, staring at my palm. 

"Does it still sting?" he asked softly, his fingers brushing the skin around the wound. 

"A little." 

"And that one?" he asked, touching my bottom lip with his thumb. 

"That one too," I said softly, my eyes locking with his. 

"God, I'm so sorry," he groaned, hugging me. 

"It's okay. Really," I said, hugging him back. 

There was a knock on the door and we both pulled away as it opened. His dad peeked his head in. "Oh, goody. You're not fighting," he cleared his throat. "I just came to drop these in. Pearl told me you'd be coming back in. So I brought you a new suit for tonight's party. And Aria, I got you a new dress. I um, I don't know too much about style and sizes, but the girl was very sweet at the store, she helped me. I hope you like it," he smiled, handing Alex both the bags. 

"Thank you so much, Mr. Phoenix. It really means a lot, thank you," I said gratefully. 

"Oh, you're my daughter-in-law now. But we treat you like our own daughter, don't we? Call me dad," he grinned. 

I swallowed, nodding hesitantly. "Thank you... dad," my voice broke. 

"Bless you, honey," he smiled, patting my head. "Take care of her." He glowered at Alex before leaving. 

"They like you even more than me," he chuckled, putting the bags on the bed. When he turned to me, he saw that I was crying again. "Hey, what happened?" he questioned, brushing away the tears. 

I sniffled, shaking my head. "Nothing, I just... I... I haven't had anyone to... call 'dad' in ten years." I looked up at him. "It felt nice. To have parents again." 

He tucked my hair behind my ear, kissing my forehead before hugging me again. 

It felt really nice to feel like I have a family again. 

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I stepped out of the bathroom, clearly forgetting that I don't get my own room here anymore. That I'm sharing one with Alex. 

He was trying to put on his tie and froze when he saw me. "Whoa, hello," he smirked, sliding the tie off and tossing it on the bed. 

I tightened the towel around me, sighing. "Buh-bye." I turned around to go back into the bathroom. 

"Don't you need your dress?" he chuckled. 

I groaned, going back out and staring at it on the bed, still in its hanger. It's so pretty. I don't know how much thought his dad put into this, but it seriously is beautiful, I'm so happy with it. 

"Or you could just stand there in the towel. That's perfectly fine too," he smirked. 

I rolled my eyes, going to pick it up. 

"But! Before you do that, can you help me with this tie?" he sighed. "I can't seem to get the embroidery to sit at the front like it's meant to." 

"Alexander Phoenix can't tie a tie," I snorted, walking over to him. "Sit down," I nodded. 

He sat on the edge of the bed while I stood between his legs. He grinned up at me while his fingers danced on my thigh, skimming the edge of the towel repeatedly. 

I slapped his cheek playfully and he stopped. I tied the tie slowly, making sure the embroidery sat right, and then tightened it just a bit. "Done." I turned to leave but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. 

He stood up, his face inches from mine. "Will you take a while getting ready?" 

"A little. Why?" 

"Then you should probably get ready first, then wear the dress. You can wear a robe until then. It's in the right drawer. The dress will wrinkle." 

"Right," I nodded. "Okay." I turned to go into the bathroom and he pulled me back yet again. "Now what?" 

"Nothing. I just want a kiss," he whispered. 

"Very funny," I said, rolling my eyes before slipping away and into the bathroom. I pulled on a robe with my undergarments on underneath. I did the hair first, blow drying it and then straightening it to perfection. I was nearly done but my arm started hurting. I put the iron down on the counter, sighing. 

"Can I help?" 

I looked at the door where he stood, leaning against the frame. "Can you straighten the back of my hair?" I asked. 

"Of course." He stepped inside and grabbed the straightener. "Can I burn myself while doing this?" he asked, grabbing a small section of my hair. 

"The hair can burn you, not really the iron. I don't think you're that dumb." 

He straightened it slowly and carefully and then five minutes later announced he was done. "Now?" he asked. 

"Now I," I turned to him. "Will do my makeup. You will wait outside." I pushed him out of the bathroom and started doing my makeup. 

He came back not more than five minutes later and stood at the door, just watching me intently. 

I didn't long and I didn't do too much. "Question," I huffed, zipping up the makeup kit. "Can you bring me my dress?" I spun around to face him. 

"Want me to put it on for you too?" he grinned. 

"Funny," I nodded. "So very funny." 

He chuckled, going and getting it for me. 

I shut the door, quickly put it on, realized I can't wear a bra with it, so I took it off and then opened the door. "Alex!" 

"Yes?" 

"Help me with the hooks, please?" 

He appeared yet again and closed all the hooks quickly. "Hmm. All done." 

"Thanks." We would be late if I delayed us any longer, so I rushed to put my heels on. 

"I'm doing so much for you." He yanked me back. "You still haven't kissed me once." He put an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. 

"I have lipgloss on," I mumbled. 

"You can put it back on later." 

"But-" 

"But? What excuse do you have now?" he asked. 

"None," I mumbled. 

"Exactly," he smirked. "So now, you will do as I say, hmm?" 

I stared at him. 

"And you will keep your pretty little mouth shut and kiss me, hmm?" 

I rolled my eyes. 

His grip on my waist tightened while he leaned in. And just when we were about to kiss... 

"Alexander! How much longer?" 

He groaned. "Fuck's sake," he said under his breath. 

"Two minutes," I grinned. I slipped away and sat on the bed, grabbing my heels. 

"Two minutes, dad!" he called out from the door. He walked over, kneeling in front of me. 

I gasped, "Oi, what are you doing?" I pulled my feet away when he grabbed my ankle. 

"Putting them on for you. Look at how pretty and long the dress is. You can't ruin it," he shook his head. "Come on, we'll be late otherwise." 

I let him slip the heels on for me and then he helped me up. "You still owe me a kiss," he said as we left the room. 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I rolled my eyes and turned the other way, hiding my smile.

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Chapter 35

I just wanna see how many people are understanding of Alex's anger issues- lemme know what your thoughts are about that

next chapter: Bollywood

my Indian babies, get ready

also, I like broke my finger today wtf

well, I didn't really break it, I just wholly twisted it. Now it's all blue. And it's now ridiculously hard to type. But I can't stop writing. Enjoyyy

PS- I'll put their outfits in the next chapter- dw