LIVELY POV

Aaron walks back into the hospital room after what felt emotionally like an hour, though I can bet it wasn't that long. I was just in my head, needing his presence, which was the only thing that assured me of security. Emersyn gets up at his arrival; she was the only one with me in the room after Dane had left a few minutes ago. They had both been supportive, telling jokes I wasn't mentally present enough to get a kick out of when a tormenting thought had pulled my mind into a dark pit where the plaguing question lingered: what if I had died and left Bubble behind?

"Alright, I'll be flying out too, but I'll see you two in Portland," Emersyn told us, snapping me out of my shock as I absentmindedly watched Aaron stroll nearer. I thanked her for coming over, wishing my words didn't come off as robotic as they did, but with the heavy weight on my shoulders and the overwhelming desire to be home, I doubted I had any emotions left in me to care.

She affectionately hugged her cousin, and they kissed cheeks before she left. We were then lost in silence, but this time, I worked through the blankness and focused on the present, where there is Aaron, vivid colors that make known of life, and my voice is heard. It was easy to zone out since I woke up, my mind squabbling in torture, trapped in a dark, bottomless abyss of nightmares where my screams had no sound, my will was powerless, and my fight was utterly futile—where nothing could stop life from draining out of my body due to internal rejection of any function.

"Good news," he smiled, infiltrating cheer into the gloomy atmosphere as he settled into the chair next to the bed. The earlier help from the doctor allowed me to sit up a bit more comfortably. Aaron might have noticed my expression as he took my hand, his touch normally reassuring but now feeling like there was a gap. Maybe it was the look on his face.

"A doctor will fly back with us to make sure you're given good care, so we can leave anytime," he said.

"Right now?" I asked eagerly. I wanted to go home, be in my room under my blanket, listen to Bubble's soft breath as he slept, and hear my mom and dad's distant voices from the kitchen while they cooked. Only then would I feel whole and thriving.

Aaron exhaled, his jaw visibly tensing, something clearly weighing on his mind. Before I could muster the courage to ask, he spoke up, "Yes, but your outfit will be delivered first from our nearby store, so we have to wait for Keenan to receive it."

Realizing I needed to change out of this blue hospital gown, I nodded. "Oh, okay."

He smiled at my agreement, leaning closer. He brought the back of my hand under his neatly groomed stubble chin, underlining his muscularity and enhancing his already striking appearance beyond what I remembered from our teenage years. He excelled in every trail about him that made those near him scramble and elude rational calculations, wanting nothing more than to trace their hands over his face and explore every detail about him, even if it was not enough to satisfy the appetite of having him near. 

"In the meantime... I want to talk to you," he drawled in the middle, his husky, playful voice dropping off to a pitch that sent goosebumps over my skin.

"Everyone might think we're moving fast, but I like that we're going at this pace. It's what I want," he continued, inclining forward to the edge of his seat and kissing my palm. Flustered, I bowed my head, not successful in hiding my flushed cheeks. "Considering the six-year gap we lost, I think this is the right way to make up for it. Being around each other often. What do you think?" he prompted with sobriety in his expression mirroring how his voice rolled out at the end.

"I like being around you," I nervously admitted, though he already knew.

When I peeked up, his lips were tipped into a satisfied smile, causing a swell from the pit of my stomach to my palpitating heart at how indecently alluring they were, driving me not to look away until he cleared his throat. My eyes then popped up to his hazel orbs, which unexpectedly inserted gravity into the atmosphere.

"Liv, there are things you should know about my family," he began, his expression shifting to one of seriousness that laid over his complexion. I immediately knew this was going to be a hard conversation for him, and it would be for me as well. I kept my breathing steady and watched him with a calm demeanor that I was capable of upholding. "There is a long list of rules we must abide by, the first two of which are crucial. The first is our willingness to sacrifice, like when I gave up my football dream for the path that was already laid out for me by my family. The second rule is protecting the reputation of the Wallace family. Those are above everything we do."

I am confused.

"Why are you telling me that?" I understand his grandpa said I needed to learn, but now isn't the place or time for these lessons. I just revived back to life from almost getting lost in deep water.

"Because you are going to be a part of it, and you will hear the same thing from my grandfather and all the elders," he explains. But I can sense there's more to what he's telling me from the conflict I noticed in his unfathomable eyes.

"But why are you telling me this now, Aaron?" It's unlike him to be serious with me when I'm this vulnerable. Normally, he'd distract me with sex or some light-hearted chat that would make me laugh and blush—not something that sends a deadening chill down my spine. I'm not foolish; I know this has to do with his aunt, who arrived and gave me a fleeting, disappointing once-over, as though I were a brought-in rat mistaken for a rabbit in an experiment.

Aaron sighed and squeezed my hand, which was growing cold in his. His eyes were gentle, but it was explicit he was uncomfortable.

"I'm not in the place to tell you what to do. What you went through was unfair, but I want you to know that your rights will never be disregarded by me. And I'll stand up to ensure no one mistreats you..." He paused, watching me carefully as I wondered where this was leading. "I just need one favor from you." He spit the words out, as though they were poison, wincing as they left him.

Scoffing, I pulled my hand away and looked straight ahead at the white wall. It all made sense now. He started with assurances about our pace, integrating the idea of me into his family, but suddenly saddled me with responsibilities I shouldn't have to be loyal to. He really wasn't good at sugarcoating.

"This is about your twin cousins, isn't it? You want me to keep quiet," I stated.

I could perceive the tension in the air, and he shifted in his seat.

"That's not what I'm trying to say. I won't force you,"

"But will you sweet-talk me into it? If I'm persuaded by you, why would I talk?" I shook my head, even though he couldn't see it; his head was in his hands, pinching his forehead.

"Liv, I am the eldest of my cousins, I have duties you have no idea of." There it was, his shameless confession. "I can't be the one to bring havoc to our name or be the cause of deforming its reputation after years of my father managing it so well. This incident poses a critical threat to our brand; if the news gets out, it will only take an hour for our rivals to bring us down. Wallace wasn't just built in a day, it's what my ancestors worked hard to achieve. I shouldn't be the one to destroy all that sacrifices and progress."

He spoke without looking at me, knowing he couldn't meet my eyes after spewing all that to me.

"You speak of your father as if he's a good man, wanting yourself to follow in his footsteps like he's a martyr," I scoffed spitefully.

"Liv—" He started, his hand shoved into his hair, temporarily matting back the locks as he straightened his spine. Pain hardened his face, his eyes still closed.

I cut him off angrily. "That's who you plan to be? You see yourself in him. A man who disparages and puts down those beneath his rank, a man who exerts control over his son's wishes."

"I am not him," I gritted through clenched teeth. Now his eyes opened, and they were not as familiarly soft as they usually were when he looked at me. I couldn't bear to look at them for another second.

"You want me to be a puppet, to endure blows and criticism from your family and remain silent..." My hands fumbled nervously with the cover on my lap. My heart weighed heavily as talking to him always made me nervous, and getting angry at him was even worse. "All because I should be grateful to be part of the Wallace family."

"I repeat. I will not let anyone oppress you."

I wanted to laugh at that because his words contradicted his actions. "But that's what you're doing right now. You are oppressing me."

"Liv, you are my responsibility."

"So you expect me to stay silent," I nodded with my head down, feeling the intensity of his stare from the side. "Don't worry, I won't file a report, Aaron Wallace. I understand how delicate things like this are for your family, so I won't speak up." It just hurt to hear him side with them.

"Liv?" He called out, and I swallowed, my inner voice cautioning me not to cry. "Lively, for goodness' sake, look at me," he urged, a tinge of desperation creeping into his gruff voice as he took my shaky hand. My eyes met his reluctantly, and he suck in a breath. "Do you feel oppressed?"

I'm aware of the dull pain in my head since regaining consciousness, so I wouldn't blame any lack of comprehension on my current state. I know exactly what's been happening up until now.

Is he insane?

"I need you to answer me. I want to understand everything that's going on in your head while you're with me, so I know how you feel and what you need. Do you feel oppressed? Voiceless? Angry? Anything at all, if you do in any way, please tell me."

Wow!

"What will you do? Didn't you just say to make sacrifices for your family? I guess I am now voiceless, Aaron. The funny thing is, I wasn't even going to do anything even if I were stripped of my liberties. I promised you in my room that night that I would risk it all for you. It's just disappointing that you could come to me with such a request so boldly. It shows that you will side with them over and over as sowed in your blood. I will never be your priority, and that's what I fear, Aaron, because the last time we parted, you chose them over me, and it ruined me for six years. How many times will this go on?" It hurts. I just want to go home. I pull my hand out of his and breathe through parted lips. "I guess when you told me the good news earlier, this was the bad news."

His eyes narrowed to pinpricks as he stared at me, breathing shallow, almost like he was... scared. Was he scared? Because I feel empty like there's a drilling hole in my chest.

***

What I remember of home is my mom preparing the right soup when I was sick, not choosing an outfit that matches my skin tone. The thought had rolled down to the consolidated pressure in my chest. But I am keeping a promise I made to Aaron—to make an unassuming impression in public for the sake of his family's standing, as any other behavior from me could impact him.

I wanted to agree with the look in his eyes that showed he felt he had no choice when he came to me needing my understanding of his situation. However, I am regardless hurt that his duty to them may become the barnacle on our ship's hull.

Keenan had brought over some Wallace shopping bags containing clothes I needed to wear to leave the country. The ensemble included a soft white woolen cable-knit sweater paired with chic high-waisted, light gray wide-legged trousers. A black belt accented my waist, revealing from the front tuck of the sweater and my pulled-up roomy sleeves showcasing a diamond-studded wristwatch from the outfit collection. I wore uncomfortable black pointed-toe pumps that already made my toes and heels ache, and carried a black leather handbag that was empty.

Since I didn't have makeup on except for a light touch of lipstick, despite having all the needed products included in the shopping bags, I placed them inside the handbag as its only contents. Instead, I opted for the dark rectangular sunglasses and let my loose waves of hair cascade around the sides of my face, partly concealing my pale skin.

I left the room once I felt physically and emotionally prepared to resume my usual demeanor, secretly longing to kick out of the heels as soon as possible. The specific floor of the hospital provided ample privacy. Aaron stood in the hall, clad in a fitted tailor shirt with rolled sleeves that exposed his wristwatch and corded, toned hands—attributes that could weaken anyone's knees, though I reminded myself not to entertain such thoughts. He ended the phone call after a few seconds and came to me.

Keenan had flown with us in the helicopter to the private airport. Upon arrival, we were bombarded by reporters. It was evident to anyone with more than an eighth-grade comprehension level that this was orchestrated—an act I assumed was typical for the Wallaces. An unimpressed smirk threatened to grace my lips, but I quickly suppressed it while mindful of the cameras, and held onto Aaron for the first time since our conversation in the hospital.

Feign perfection, and display the epitome of a pleased relationship. All checked. I am sure the articles tomorrow will come out convincing to anyone reading them.

We all knew that the family had the power of an elephant to crush anything, especially evidence of a crime. What had happened to me would never see the light of day, and ironically, I was helping them cover it up.

A crowd of reporters escorted us to the plane, where additional security measures were taken, and we boarded. Inside, we were welcomed with champagne by the hostess. It was clear for privacy reasons that Doctor Russo was already on board, waiting, along with our belongings. Keenan had informed me in the helicopter that our things had been transferred from the yacht when I asked about them.

Kicking off my shoes, I placed the cup into the holder by my seat and fastened my seatbelt, which I was getting used to. The plane was more spacious than the earlier one I had flown with Dane and Emersyn. The lounging area felt like a living room, and the seats were larger. As the plane settled into the air, I curled up in my seat and plugged in my earphones which were plucked out in a matter of brief instant. When I glanced up, I saw Aaron.

There were his men in the space, so I held back my frustration. Before I could understand his next action, his hands were under my thighs and back, lifting me close to his chest against his white shirt.

"What are you doing?" I embarrassingly chastised, but he continued to walk, opening a door, and then I felt my back meet something even softer than the seat I had been on moments ago.

I looked around and found myself in a room with white bedding where I was lying. Aaron propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes meeting mine quietly as his head towered me.

"Can I have my earphones now?" I asked, holding out my hand. Instead, he intertwined his fingers with mine, gently pushing my hand above my head and refusing to let go, knowingly mindful of what he was doing to me. "Aaron—" I squirmed, feeling a strong urge to be close to him. My stiff nipples almost cut through the fabric of my sweater. Embarrassing how even though mad at him he still has that effect on me as he did six years back.

He noticed the betrayal of my body, and a smug smile stretched across his gorgeous face.

"Doctor Russo said you shouldn't use earphones; they could disturb your brain. We can't risk it, just like I can't risk you lying in front of my men."

"Did you get jealous?" I arched a brow, curious and taunting.

It was a tricky gamble I was proposing. Should he tear my clothes and take me right here, all the men outside would hear me calling his name. And that wasn't the image I wanted them to have of me the next time they saw me.

"Only I get to see you sleep, baby." He smirked, and I rolled my eyes at his theatrical response.

"I assure you, there's not much to safeguard. I'm either drooling or, at worst," perhaps occasionally farting since it's one of that uncontrollable conditions when you are without your conscious.

"What is the worst?" he pursued, causing me to blush even deeper.

"Kicking and thrashing or mumbling nonsense, sometimes colorful words at you," I admitted, wishing the bed would open and swallow me whole.

His pupils dilated with amusement, a steady worn smirk on his face. "No way."

"My parents never knew that, which is great, but Bubble sometimes heard. He once asked me who Aaron was and why I called the name at night," I quietly confessed, watching as Aaron's face dropped completely, his expression turning solemn.

He knew it wasn't that kind of dream.

"And what did you tell him?" His voice was sober and full of curiosity, his throat shifting as if he already knew what I would say.

'Don't say it,' my inner voice pleaded, but the words flowed from the tip of my tongue, "That he is a monster in my sleep."

He was taken aback, perhaps even a little ego-bruised, but he got past it when I reached for his belt and undid his zipper, slipping my hand into his briefs and helping out the real monster he confined there. He tried to convince himself my health mattered most, but he was already groaning my name the next minute.

The journey continued through various meals delivered to the room, which I had no craving for. At some point, Aaron made IV threats if I continued to refuse food. He eventually fed me custard, claiming he made it himself. Out of pity for his hard work, I ate it. Most of the time, though when alone, I snuggled under the blanket, lost in the thoughts in my mind, haunted by the vision of the dark bottom of the water my body had sunk into until Aaron came in and had me buckle up for landing.

It was loud from across the door until it finally quieted down. I got up and checked myself in the mirror. Despite having overslept from my recent unconsciousness, I didn't look my best. I had eye bags, probably from crying the whole flight while Aaron left me to "sleep." Little did he know, my eyes were only closed to deceive him.

I put on my sunglasses, as it was almost one in the afternoon and any mistake could easily be caught in broad daylight—something the Wallaces wouldn't overlook. It's one thing to convince my parents with the lies swirling in my head, but it's another thing for Aaron's family, where no mistake is tolerated.

"Are you ready? Our ride is here," Aaron said as he returned, leaning with crossed arms by the door and peering at me.

"Yes." I smiled at him, ruffling my hair to give it a messy balance—some would suppose it was chic.

He grinds his teeth, sharpening the tautness of his jaw. That man was insanely stunning, and he was as aware of it as a shark is of its dorsal fin intimidating those who sight it.

Grabbing my phone and planting it into my handbag, I fizzled out any spiraling thoughts from my mind and stepped up to Aaron, letting him usher us through.

We exited the plane, and I was grateful for the grace of the sunglasses I wore because the summer sun was vicious today. Fortunately, there were no reporters like there were in Milan, only the Wallace's sleek vehicles ready and waiting. As we descended to the ground, I thought about the surprised faces of my family when they saw me return. We hadn't communicated much in the past few days. Aaron had said Mom called while we were in the hospital, but I hadn't had the chance to call back, so she might assume my return anytime but she had no idea I was already in Portland.

A man opened the rear door for us, and the driver wasn't Keenan. I supposed it was because he had traveled with us and was equally exhausted. But then the man said something confounding. "Mister Aaron Wallace, I am Parker. I will drive you and Miss Kelby directly to the lake house."

What? I took off the sunglasses that now suddenly felt obscuring and burdensome.

Looking up at the man holding my hand, believing he'd understand the error in the man's statement, as he promised me he would just hours ago. "Aaron, I really need to be home now. The vacation is over."

Aaron's throat shifted, not meeting my eyes.

"Aaron?" His reaction caused me to get worried and frantic.

He was silent. Parker understood the need for privacy and stepped back, standing still like a disciplined man would, minding his own business.

"It's an order from Thomas Wallace. You'll stay with us for a while until you're fully healed," Aaron finally spoke, his voice strained—unfamiliar, considering he was addressing me, not his business associates.

'Until I'm fully healed.' The words circled in my head like a whirlwind, trying to grasp their meaning. But it all boiled down to one simple truth: the Wallace family's logic of covering their arses by using me. But hadn't they done enough? There were no complaints against them; I walked before the cameras with their son and did everything they asked. Why was I being detained? And more unbelievably, that Aaron had a hand in it.

"I am going home. You are taking me home, Aaron, as you promised my parents," I grumbled, tears brimming in the corners of my eyes.

"I can't say no to my grandfather, Liv."

He wouldn't look at me. It was almost terrifying, this cold side of him.

"Is this some kind of cult?" I pulled my hand out of his, pain tearing through my chest like the clash of fireballs, the pang pungent on my tongue. "This is getting ridiculous, Aaron. I can't handle these demands, I just can't."

"You should understand the severity of our situation."

"You still talk about your family without considering me. What the hell is wrong with you? So the honeymoon phase is over, and this is your true colors, isn't it? I thought we had a second chance to make things right, but you'll never allow it. You'll never change. I won't be your family's pawn. I'm going to get myself home, even if I have to trek a day to get there. You can't keep me away from my family just because yours has some issue with where I come from."

I pivoted and started to move away, not even taking a step before a hand closed around my wrist. I struggled against it, twisting furiously and glaring at Aaron, who remained calm and collected. My chest pounded heavily. How could he be so composed? Was he truly this cruel, able to inflict suffering without feeling any remorse?

"Let me go, Aaron," I resisted, but he didn't relent. "Are you going to force me to stay with you?" I wobbly exclaimed.

"That's not it." His voice was tight with emotions he didn't reveal. It was confusing; I couldn't tell if he was angry at me, embarrassed in front of his men who pretended not to notice, or if he felt sorry for me and wanted to comfort me. At that moment, he was unreadable, shifting a void in the pit of my stomach.

"I won't do anything to harm your family, I promise. I just want to go home, Aaron. I need my family now, can't you see? I need to get back to my life, my job—"

"You don't work anymore." He spelled out.

"Excuse me?" I scoffed through a painful chunk in my throat.

"You will be my wife. You won't work anymore, at least not as—" His mouth snapped shut abruptly, the silence speaks volumes.

"As what, Aaron?" My voice cracked. "Your family's maid? Say it, because that's what I am, whether you admit it or not."

His facade faltered briefly. I couldn't discern the emotion that swept across his face before he regained his composure.

"Let's go," he said firmly, pulling me towards the open door.

"You haven't changed at all. You've just... lied," I choked out. He stopped abruptly, turning to look at me, his lips pressed tightly together.

"Look, Liv, I'm in a difficult position right now. There are already these Cinderella rumors circulating about you being exploited by my family, and then the accident happened. They want to know what really transpired. It's a tough situation for everyone back home, but if the media sees you're well and even staying at the lake house with all of the Wallace, it will dispel all the rumors. What's wrong with being with me? Haven't I promised you protection? Haven't I stood up for you? No one will dare to cross your path while you're in that house, I swear. So why do you act like I'm offering you up as a sacrifice? What do you find so repulsive about my home that you refuse me for it? You will be my wife, and the harsh reality is that those people you despise so much will also be your family. You'll have to get used to that house. So you might as well accept it sooner rather than later."

Through tears welling in my eyes, I glared at him with a sense of betrayal.

'What do I find repulsive and distasteful about his home and family?' he dared to ask as if he hadn't witnessed his father reducing me to a shoe cleaner—as if he hadn't seen my suffocation, my drowning, or the pain he himself inflicted upon me when I first entered that house six years ago.

He was being unfair.

"You lied... You're just using and controlling me to uphold your family's image to the world and to maintain your own around them. You keep ruining me, and I let you," I muttered, pulling on my hair with a rising self-hatred. "The neighbors were right. We're just pawns for the elite. I've been so naive. How did I let myself get into this?"

The grip around my wrist loosened, and though I didn't attempt to escape—what would be the point, with men around ready to follow his orders?

Warm hands touched my face, cupping each side and I closed my eyes, tears continuing to flow. Despite my heart's resistance to pull away, I always thawed whenever Aaron was involved.

"That's not true," he said softly, his words causing my head to shake as if I could somehow drown out his lies and protect myself. But who am I kidding? I knew I couldn't escape my feelings for him; he had permeated every part of me, and become an integral part of my life. "I want to love you, Liv. God, that's what I am doing," he continued fiercely. "I want to be the fuel to ignite a fire within you, and a strength fit for you to possess and help you heal from your pain. I want to be your rock, a stable pillar, to guide you to power you can't imagine, and show you the incredible things you're capable of. But we need to follow a process and take certain steps before we can reach that place. I need time, baby, and I promise you I'll separate you from pain and make you the happiest woman."

A rippling sob from my chest left me, I weakly nudged out of his hold without any fight left in me and stepped into the luxurious atmosphere with LED lights, the door closed behind me, granting me a moment of privacy until the door to the other side opened.