Bound By Vows, Sealed In Love

Heat clung to every surface in the room, turning the air thick and stifling.

Caiden Wells' body heat kept burning against Iris Wells' skin.

"Is it that comfortable? Your voice is so alluring." He chuckled lazily into her ear, his voice rasping and languid. "Then... how about this?"

A startled gasp left her lips.

Iris snapped awake, her heart plummeting before it leaped up and hammered in her chest.

For a moment, confusion fogged her senses, until she realized the truth. None of it was real.

She'd been lost in a dream-a vivid one. Caiden's touch had felt so real, the memory of his closeness still burning across her skin as she blinked at the ceiling, breath ragged.

Several moments passed before she could pull herself together. Her hand reached for the space beside her. Only cold sheets met her touch.

Caiden, her husband, hadn't come home.

Sighing, Iris pushed hair from her eyes and slid out of bed to pour herself a glass of water.

Some uncomfortable sensation clung to her crotch. Annoyed, she rummaged for her underwear and a nightgown, and headed to the bathroom, needing to wash away the sticky feeling of longing.

Desire for sex didn't care about gender; Iris knew that as well as any man. She had grown used to regular intimacy ever since her wedding.

Back then, their nights stretched on until dawn, neither of them calling it quits until the early hours. That rhythm had ended abruptly after an incident, and Caiden had taken an assignment overseas, vanishing for nearly a year.

No wonder those memories had spilled into her dreams.

After changing into fresh clothes, Iris was about to hand wash her underwear, but the shrill ring of her phone shattered the quiet.

Late-night calls weren't unusual for a surgeon like her. However, when she answered, the voice that greeted her was unfamiliar-a man, calm but urgent.

"Is this Iris Wells?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Good evening, Mrs. Wells. This is Officer Grant from the Horizon Avenue precinct. Is Caiden Wells your husband? He was picked up at a bar tonight-drunk and tangled up in a fight. We'd appreciate it if you could come down to help sort things out."

The words left Iris speechless for a moment. Caiden was back? And already making trouble, enough to land himself in police custody.

Iris hesitated before answering, "Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can."

She wasted no time slipping into something presentable, grabbed her keys, and left the house behind.

The Horizon Avenue stretched through the heart of Slidrora's nightlife. Neon signs pulsed above packed sidewalks, music drifting through the sticky air. The drive from her quiet villa to the city's party strip felt endless. By the time Iris reached her destination, the clock was creeping toward four in the morning.

Everywhere she looked, bars jostled for space, the streets alive with late-night drama. Even this late, the police station thrummed with restless energy.

As soon as Iris pushed through the glass doors, she saw him-Caiden, planted on a battered white chair, alone in the crowded room.

Despite the chaotic and noisy environment, he was still the most eye-catching presence.

He appeared to be in his own world, untouched by the chaos around him, occupying a solitary space with no one nearby.

A year had passed since she'd last seen him, and her eyes swept over every familiar line. He seemed unchanged.

He wore a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled just enough, black slacks that fit perfectly, but he had left the tie and jacket behind. That expensive fabric draped over his tall frame as if custom-made for him.

Caiden sprawled in the chair, knees angled apart, his shirt left open at the throat so the curve of his Adam's apple and a slice of collarbone caught the light. Creases marked his slacks where he'd been sitting, black socks framing his ankles. There was a careless charm about him, the kind that made his whole look come off as lazy yet irresistibly attractive.

His chin tipped forward, as though the room spun a little too much. Eyes tinged with red, he seemed even more striking than she remembered.

Only in private moments had Iris ever seen that raw, magnetic side of him-the way his beauty sharpened when he was truly satisfied, wrapped up in her arms.

Tonight, everyone in the building got a front-row seat. Strangers passing by couldn't help but stare.

Just looking at him like this felt almost like a guilty pleasure.

The Wells blood ran in his veins-Slidrora's most prominent family, marked by wealth and legacy. Caiden had always stood out, blessed with looks and charm, always in command of any room he entered.

Most in this city knew better than to cross him. He existed in another league, distant and unreachable, like a star no one dared to touch. Why, then, had things gone so wrong that the police had locked him up with the rest?

At some point, maybe feeling eyes on him, Caiden lifted his gaze. His focus was hazy, as if unsure whether the face in front of him was real. Even so, the familiar softness lingered in his eyes-unchanged after all this time.

Iris kept her distance at first, choosing first to check in at the front desk. "Hello, I'm Iris Wells. Someone called about my husband and asked me to come."

A young officer walked over-he was clearly handling the case. Iris noticed the badge on his chest belonged to another precinct, which explained why he didn't seem to recognize the Wells name.

"You're here for Caiden Wells, correct? He was picked up for fighting at a bar. If you want the full picture, you can watch the security footage with me."

The officer tapped a few keys, pulling up the surveillance footage. The camera angle caught Caiden head-on, perfectly framing him in the bar's harsh lighting.

Even half-drunk and slouched at the bar, Caiden's striking features refused to be blurred by the garish lights-his posture careless, his looks impossible to ignore.

One hand in his pocket, phone in the other, he seemed completely unbothered by his surroundings. Suddenly, a hot woman hurried over and wrapped her arms around his waist.

The sight caught Iris off guard.

She watched as the woman rose on tiptoe, whispered in Caiden's ear, and drew a lazy smile from him. The gold-rimmed glasses on his face gave him a mischievous edge she'd never seen in public before.

Fingers tightening around her car keys, Iris barely noticed the sting of metal digging into her skin.

The surveillance footage rolled on. A group spilled out of the elevator. Their words blurred by static, but body language told the story. Caiden took off his glasses, slipped them into his pocket, and suddenly, the mood shifted.

In the blink of an eye, fists started flying.

Caiden moved with the grace of someone who'd been trained for this. Iris knew the Wells family had insisted on the best instructors since he was a boy, and it showed. His fighting wasn't just brawn-it was skill, every movement calculated and efficient.

Security stormed in, breaking up the chaos and calling the police.

It was all crystal clear-no mystery about who'd thrown the first punch, or why.

But the image Iris couldn't shake was that woman's arms circling Caiden's waist.

She glanced from Caiden, unsteady in his chair, to the battered crowd he'd faced. Among them were two young women. Once they realized she was Caiden's wife, they looked at her with a hint of sympathy.

Having a husband suspected of infidelity was bad enough, but being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to untangle a bar fight was its own brand of humiliation.

"Ma'am, we didn't mean any harm. My friend joked that my belly looked flat tonight, though it was bigger before. She was hinting maybe I'd been secretly pregnant and lost it. Your husband must've thought we were talking about the woman with him. That's when things exploded," explained one of the two women.

The phrase about losing a baby landed cold in Iris' chest. Her hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach, her thoughts spinning.

She finally understood why Caiden, always so composed and proper, had lost control and thrown himself into a brawl.

The officer said, "Did you see what happened clearly? This case-"

Iris cut him off, saying, "Excuse me, but does what Caiden did to them count as intentional harm?"

The officer hesitated before answering, "Technically, it's considered a mutual fight since they fought back too."

Iris continued, "So does what he did count as disorderly conduct?"

"Disorderly conduct usually needs to be intentional. In this case, it looks like both sides were drunk and acted without thinking, so we don't really call it disorderly conduct."

Iris refused to let up. "Isn't it immoral to flaunt an affair and hug the mistress in front of everyone? Can't something like that earn a few days in detention? Five? Or maybe ten?"

Suddenly, everyone there, even the officer, figured out that Iris was not trying to get Caiden out. She was looking for a reason to keep him in lockup.

People stared in disbelief. What a match made in hell.

While everyone else tried to process what was happening, Caiden leaned back in his chair, and the way he moved only made him look taller and more striking.

He spoke her name in a low, gravelly tone. "Iris."

There was nothing overtly threatening in his voice, but the chill that came with it was enough to unsettle anyone.

Ultimately, Iris gave in. With Wells Group's stock price on the line and memories of how kind Caiden's parents had always been to her, she finally agreed to settle the matter. She negotiated with the other side, handed over thirty thousand dollars, and secured Caiden's release.

Neither of them said a word during the drive home.

When they pulled up to the house, Iris lingered outside to park the car. By the time she stepped inside, Caiden had already disappeared into the bathroom, clothes in hand. She ended up washing her face in the guest room, then changed back into her nightgown.

Sprawled across her bed, Iris felt like all the energy had been drained out of her.

Tonight should have been quiet for once. No emergency calls from the hospital, no late-night surgeries waiting. She could have gotten a rare, peaceful night's sleep. Instead, the evening had been a disaster that left her running all over the place for two straight hours. All she could manage now was to steal a short nap before her next shift.

As her eyes finally started to close, a sudden movement startled her. The hem of her nightgown was pulled up, and a hand pressed between her legs.

Iris jerked awake, legs snapping shut as she shot him a wide-eyed glare.

Perched on the edge of the bed, Caiden sat in a loosely tied bathrobe. The robe barely covered him, leaving his chest and abs exposed beneath the warm light.

Realizing she was awake, he didn't hesitate to push further. His face stayed unreadable, but his hands grew bolder.

Iris could only interpret his actions as toying with her.

She shoved at his arm and exclaimed, "Caiden, have you lost your mind? Let go of me right now!"

His eyes, dark and unreadable, flashed with a hint of sarcasm. "I saw what you left behind in the bathroom. Is this what you do when I'm gone for months? Did your own hands ever satisfy you the way I do?"

A wave of realization hit Iris when she noticed what he had seen-the underwear she left behind in her rush was still out in the open.

Embarrassment flickered across her face, yet she stood her ground, pressing her palms firmly against his chest.

Caiden never forced himself on her. His position and reputation made it unthinkable. The moment she fought back, he lost interest, brushing her off as dramatic and dull, and released her without another word.

With an air of indifference, he reached for a wet wipe, wiping his hands clean. Iris clenched her teeth, refusing to meet his gaze. A faint smirk played at his lips, though any desire had faded away.

Turning her back to him, she caught sight of something she hadn't expected-his wedding ring glinting on his finger, a simple band of platinum.

For the longest time, she believed he had taken it off for good.

Her own ring had vanished from her finger ages ago.

After tossing the wipe and tying his robe tighter, Caiden stretched out on the bed. The space between them disappeared, and his familiar scent-woody, warm-hung in the air. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

Sleep eluded Iris completely.

For the first time in a year, her husband shared a bed with her, but she wished with everything in her that he had stayed away.

Not wanting to stay another second, Iris slipped from the bed and moved to the guest room, seeking even a shred of comfort.

Lying alone, she couldn't shake the thought that the past two years of marriage had been nothing but wasted time.

...

The next morning, Iris dressed quickly and made her way downstairs. Caiden was already waiting, looking flawless as ever at the table. There was no hint left of the chaos from the night before.

He wore a tailored black suit, every line crisp, a matching tie, cufflinks gleaming, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. In no time, he had become the perfect image of the Wells family heir, exuding privilege and composure.

As Iris entered the dining room, Caiden stayed focused on his phone, not even sparing her a glance. He made no mention of her absence from their bed last night.

He spooned porridge into his mouth, the cuff of his dress shirt brushing against a watch with a deep blue face-a quiet symbol of his elegance and mystery.

The housekeeper, Cecily Douglas, appeared with a plate in hand. "Mrs. Wells, your breakfast is ready."

With a gentle nod, Iris thanked her, then turned her attention to Caiden. "I covered your settlement last night. That was thirty thousand dollars. Please give it back to me."

Behind clear, thin glasses, Caiden's eyes flicked up, his voice steady. "Didn't I already give you enough money?"

Iris remained composed. "You can check the account if you'd like. Not once have I touched your money since we got married."

Both families had plenty of wealth. Iris never needed to rely on him for financial support.

Without further argument, Caiden grabbed his phone and sent the exact amount to her. He added nothing extra.

Breakfast passed in near silence, broken only when his secretary arrived to escort him to work.

As he rose to leave, Iris put her spoon down and told him, "Since you've come back, let's settle our divorce."

Caiden paused, eyebrows raised, and then he glanced back at her with a faintly amused smile. "Come again?"

Her tone didn't waver. "First, the one living on the Autumn Avenue, and then, the woman from last night. There's no point in dragging this out. Let's end it."

Cecily and the secretary excused themselves, closing the door behind them to give the couple privacy.

Leaning back in his chair, Caiden's eyes drifted over her before he folded one leg over the other. "Alright. Tell me your terms for the divorce."

Iris gave a small shake of her head. "I want nothing. We've barely lived as a real couple, other than sleeping in the same bed. Whatever belongs to you stays with you, and I'll take what's mine. I'll move out once the paperwork is done. That's all."

Any thoughts of splitting his wealth never even crossed her mind.

Caiden maintained a mask of politeness, but everyone who knew him understood there was much more beneath the surface. He might have seemed like a spoiled heir on the outside, but in reality, he was cold and calculated-a man with a reputation for playing by his own rules.

When Caiden had first stepped into the family business, his father had put him in charge of a struggling subsidiary. The entertainment arm had been losing money for years.

Caiden had cut jobs and overhauled the entire operation. He'd ignored every plea for leniency. Even the old-timers who'd built the company from the ground up hadn't been spared. Most people had thought he was reckless.

Instead of playing it safe, he'd thrown the company's money into film, TV, and new talent shows. He'd launched a fresh wave of stars, turned profits around, and the company's fortunes had soared.

That division was now a crown jewel of Wells Group, and the artists he had discovered were now among the industry's brightest.

There was nothing simple or innocent about Caiden. Iris had no intention of getting tangled up in his world. She just wanted a clean break.

In a smooth, almost gentle tone, Caiden replied, "That arrangement won't work for me. After all this time together, I think some compensation is in order."

For a second, Iris thought he was talking about making things easier for her, and the sudden courtesy threw her off.

She looked up and answered, "That really isn't necessary. If you're willing, I'll get in touch with the lawyer today-"

"You misunderstood. I meant you owe me compensation."

Iris froze, caught off guard.

A slow, cold smile spread across Caiden's face as he leaned back in his chair. "It hasn't even been a year, Iris. Have you forgotten you owe me a baby?"

Caiden's reminder sent Iris straight back to that bitter argument from the year before-a fight that had stripped away any sense of pride and left both of them exposed.

"You'll get your divorce after you give me a child. Until then, the score isn't settled." Caiden paused to push his glasses up, a half-smile curling on his lips as if he was teasing her. "Iris, if you think you can walk away from this, you're just fooling yourself."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out.

Iris leaned against her chair, feeling her chest tighten with anxiety.

She thought back to the woman's words last night-Caiden had exploded after hearing that joke about how the woman had been secretly pregnant and lost it.

That old wound hadn't healed at all. If anything, the grudge had festered.

Almost unconsciously, her hand drifted to her stomach.

A child-he still believed she owed him that.

The irony wasn't lost on her. Caiden was so good at casting himself as the victim when, in truth, he was obviously the culprit.

...

Today, Iris had an outpatient rotation.

At Unity Hospital, she was a chief physician at the cardiothoracic surgery department.

People didn't usually expect someone as young as her to hold such a prestigious title, but her skill left no room for doubt.

After graduating from a world-renowned medical school, she had been sought out by the hospital's director, who offered her an impressive salary to bring her back home.

Her years at Unity Hospital had only solidified her reputation. Staff and patients alike called her the finest cardiothoracic surgeon in the field.

Every doctor was assigned a private consultation room. Settling into her own space, Iris pressed the call button, signaling the start of her appointments.

She pulled up the next patient's information on her screen, preparing herself for the day ahead. The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside.

Looking up, Iris felt as though she'd seen this woman somewhere before.

"I don't see any previous records for you. Is this your first time here? What brings you in today?" she asked.

The woman couldn't have been more than twenty. She wore a deep V-neck dress that looked far too mature for her age, carrying herself with a confidence that bordered on arrogance as she sat down across from Iris.

Iris asked again, "What brings you here today?"

For a moment, the young woman simply studied her. Then she let out a sly grin. "I'm pregnant."

The answer caught Iris off guard.

A heartbeat later, the woman continued, "The baby's Caiden's."

Suddenly, everything fell into place for Iris.

No wonder she found the young woman's face so familiar.

She finally placed her-this was the same woman from the bar's security footage, the one practically glued to Caiden's side that night.

The girl wore a heavy makeup last night. Without it, Iris failed to recognize her.

Refusing to let her expression falter, Iris kept her voice even. "You'll need to head over to OB-GYN if you're pregnant. This is the cardiology wing. You've just wasted an appointment slot for someone who actually needs it."

The woman let out a mocking laugh. "Drop the act. I'm carrying Caiden's child. Shouldn't you be getting ready to step aside?"

Step aside? That was a new one.

Iris absentmindedly twirled her pen. The woman Caiden kept on the Autumn Avenue for years had never dared to speak to her like this. This newcomer had nerves of steel.

Clearly, Caiden had filled her with enough arrogance to feel untouchable.

Rather than argue, Iris picked up the office phone. "Dr. Fletcher, can you book a new slot for me? Schedule a painless abortion for a patient named Ariana Watson."

Ariana shot out of her chair, her face going pale. "Are you insane? You can't just get rid of my baby! If you try anything, Caiden will come after you!"

"I need two nurses here-this patient is resisting care."

As she hung up, two sturdy nurses entered the office. "Dr. Wells, you called?"

Realizing Iris meant business, Ariana's bravado turned to panic. She stamped her foot in outrage. "You're unbelievable! Everyone knows you schemed your way into marrying Caiden. You're nothing but a heartless manipulator!"

Iris pointed to her white coat, the emblem of her profession. "Explain to me how I'm the villain here."

Ariana's anger boiled over. "You only landed Caiden because your mother was close to his. The whole thing makes me sick. If it hadn't been for his mother pushing for it, Caiden would never have looked twice at you. You're just bad luck-you even caused your parents' deaths. You've kept Caiden away from everyone else long enough. It's time you let go!"

Iris took a sip of water, completely unbothered, as though she were listening to a story about strangers. She set her glass down and nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like you've done your homework. Did Caiden tell you all this?"

Ariana's eyes flashed. "I'm not about to let you keep hurting him!"

Letting her gaze drift to Ariana's stomach, Iris suddenly had an idea. "You care about him that much? Then let me help you out."

Ariana narrowed her eyes, suspicion clear in her voice. "What are you talking about?"

Iris turned to the nurses. "Please escort her through the back to OB-GYN. Dr. Fletcher will be waiting. She knows exactly what needs to be done."

Ignoring the outburst of protests and insults from Ariana, Iris reached for her phone and called Caiden.

He declined the first call.

Undeterred, she dialed again.

This time, he picked up, his voice flat and brisk. "I'm in the middle of something. You've got three minutes."

"I'd appreciate it if you could come collect your latest girlfriend. She's made a scene at the hospital and gotten in the way of my work. If you leave her here, I won't be responsible for what happens next," Iris remarked, ending the call before a full minute had passed.

Caiden showed up not long after his meeting wrapped up. By then, Iris had finished seeing her last morning patient.

His suit was the same crisp black from that morning, but he had loosened his tie and left the top two buttons undone.

The way he carried himself-part elegant, part careless-stood out more than ever.

She instinctively leaned back, creating a buffer between them before speaking up. "Your girlfriend says she's carrying your child."

Caiden's expression stayed unreadable behind the thin frames of his glasses. Not a flicker of emotion gave him away, so Iris couldn't guess if this was news to him.

"I have her in my custody," she added.

That finally elicited a reaction from him. "You locked her up? You have quite the audacity."

If this was what he called audacity, Iris thought he was overreacting.

"I want to strike a bargain," she said, her tone steady.

Caiden let out a short laugh. "Do you have any idea how much the deal I just closed is worth?"

Iris met his gaze, voice flat. "This is just as valuable. I can keep Ariana's child. If you want, I'll say it's mine-no illegitimate child for the family to fuss over. With the right story, your parents will accept it. This way, I won't owe you a child anymore. And we can finally divorce."

Caiden arched a brow, the light in his eyes shifting behind those gold-rimmed glasses. "I have to admit, you've got quite a talent for negotiation."

Iris wasn't interested in deciphering whether he meant it as a compliment or a jab. She tapped the face of her watch. "Take your time, but not too much. Ariana is in pre-op right now. The baby's fate is in your hands."