Chapter 3 Marry Me

Aria

Grant, I'll call you," I said, my voice steadier than my trembling hands.

But this time, I wasn't even acting. I was shocked and I could see Grant was shocked himself, but I have no time to think about him.

My legs nearly gave out beneath me.

The Pembrokes-the ones I couldn't find, couldn't question for the past three years-were standing right in front of me.

The killers of my sister. The ones who took the only family I had left.

Looking back, I had been so angry at my sister, calling her a gold digger, that I didn't even know the name of the man who got her pregnant.

My gaze flickered from Grant to Hunter, but their eyes wouldn't reveal the real devil, would they?

My attention snapped to their mother.

Sierra Pembroke.

The memory of her message to me resurfaced, dripping with venom-how dare I, someone so lowly, even ask about my sister's child? She had called people like me vermin, unworthy of standing before her.

She promised I would never rise to challenge her, not in this world or the next.

A wicked smile curled on my lips.

Sierra, here you are, hiding in plain sight, cradling your children while you did something monstrous to others.

where is my sister's baby?

My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of a child, but the house felt too soulless, too hollow. A place like this wouldn't nurture life-it will drains it.

My clothes felt suffocating now. My lungs burned. But I forced myself to move, to step outside before I collapsed under the weight of it all.

"I can do this, " I whispered, exhaling slowly.

The cool air hit my face, momentarily dulling the adrenaline coursing through me.

My legs moved faster-not from fear, but from the fear of causing chaos, the fear of yelling out who I am and getting my niece/nephew out of here.

Things will never work out if I do that, so I continue to walk away.

But I couldn't leave. Not yet.

Not without asking where the baby was. They wouldn't hurt their own grandchild, would they?

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of that.

I turned sharply, ready to storm back in, ready to demand answers no matter the cost.

I had waited too long for this moment to walk away, to just strategize in a way that might not even work, what if Grant never marry me, what if I never get another chance?

"Wait." Grant voice echoed.

His steps were quick, urgent, closing the distance between us. His voice was firm, but there was a strange edge to it. Like a softness beneath it.

"What just happened? That wasn't part of the deal."

I stopped, my pulse spiking again.

His gaze locked onto mine-steady, questioning. But his eyes weren't cold. Not like the others, maybe he was not Jaicy's boyfriend.

Who looks evil, Aria?

My throat tightened.

"Move." My voice came out low, almost a growl. I tried to step around him, but his hand caught my arm.

Not rough. Grounding, almost.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Trying to kill you," I said matter-of-factly. Not that he believed me.

"What?" His brows furrowed. "Why would you want to jeopardize everything? I brought you here."

I laughed softly, the sound sharper than I intended. Ideas flooded my brain, spinning faster than I could catch them.

I stepped closer, my fingers grazing his chest, testing the possibilities that I might become his wife.

That i might get a chance to destroy them, The thrill of it was intoxicating.

"Yeah, you did."

He scoffed, confusion knitting his brows. "You're not making any sense right now. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine enough to know you're confused," I replied, tilting my head. "But I still want to marry you. I have to marry you."

Grant blinked. Shock, disbelief. "What?"

"Let's tie the knot, Pembroke," I repeated, cool and deliberate.

"I'm Grant."

"Pembroke."

He sighed. "You're joking. I don't even know you. Mark hired you! What did he tell you, exactly?"

"That I was an actress." I nodded, slow and deliberate. "I played my role. But now? I suddenly feel the need to marry you."

"Lady, you're out of your mind."

"Aria," I corrected with a sly smile. "But 'ma'am' works too-it turns me on."

He recoiled slightly, frustration flashing in his eyes. "You've been acting crazy since you showed up here."

"Crazy?" I tilted my head. "I'd say I've been convincing enough for your super weird family to buy it."

The words came out colder than I intended, but I let them settle between us.

I needed Grant. He was the key.

The only way to get inside, to prove Sierra wrong. To drag whoever did this to my sister into the hell they deserved.

"Do you have a child?" I asked abruptly.

His brow furrowed. "What? No."

"A niece?"

His expression darkened. "What are you getting at?"

"Do you have a younger brother? Sister? Niece? Nephew?"

He took a step back, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Why does it matter?"

"Preparing to fit into your life. Plus, I'm a great babysitter."

"There's no child in this family," he said, his tone clipped.

"There has to be."

"The family will handle its own matters," he said, eyes narrowing. "Stop being weird."

I ignored his dismissal, reaching for his hand and stepping backward until I leaned against the car behind me.

Slowly, I raised a leg, wrapping it around his waist and pulling him closer. His body tensed, but he didn't push me away.

His glare was still sharp and dismissive.

I grabbed his face, fingers pressing against his stubbled jaw, the roughness igniting something electric under my skin, something I shouldn't feel but then, the roughness of anyone's stubble would have done that to me.

Our faces were inches apart, I let out a low moan, his expression hardened further, but he still didn't pull back.

"Your family needs to know the passion is burning, Grant," I murmured, my lips brushing his. "Since you have to marry me now."

He chuckled, low and disbelieving. "I have no idea what you're trying to pull, but it's time for you to leave."

He gestured toward a driver I hadn't noticed until now, standing at attention a few feet away.

Before he could step away, I slipped my hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone, quickly typing in my number.

"You can call me anytime now." I winked as I handed it back, letting my fingers linger on his lips just a second too long.

Finally, I let him go. "I'll see you later, Grant."

He offered a polite smile-calm, detached, unreadable-and opened the car door for me. I slid inside, waving as the vehicle pulled away, the Pembroke estate shrinking in the distance.

The tears started as soon as we hit the road.

Hot. Bitter. Unstoppable.