Married by Force

Aurora POV

I can't do this," Ethan whispered

I blinked, confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly

For a second, in just a second;I wondered if this was part of his elaborate plan to surprise me. Ethan was dramatic like that. The musicians might start playing our song. The lights could dim. Our families could stand up and cheer. He would drop to one knee and laugh at how gullible I was.

He couldn't look at me. His jaw clenched. His eyes were darting everywhere else; the chandelier hanging above us, the glass of champagne he hadn't touched. His throat bobbed with a hard swallow. His fingers curled around the velvet tablecloth as he muttered the words from his mouth.

"I can't go through with it. He said, slowly The proposal. Us."

My entire body went cold. My breath froze halfway into my lungs. The sound suddenly blurred. The orchestra at the far end of the restaurant faded into a distorted hum. Every pair of eyes from the other tables glued themselves to us.

"Wait...what?" My voice cracked

Ethan stood. The chair's legs scraped loudly against the polished marble floor, as everyone stared at us from other tables

He reached into his coat pocket, My heart leaped.

There. The box. Finally. He's nervous. He panicked. He didn't mean it.

But instead, he pulled out his hand.

"Aurora..." he said quietly,

"I need the key to my apartment back."

The words sliced through me. My breath hitched

"Is this a joke?" My voice trembled. "Ethan, tell me this is a joke," I whispered

He didn't answer.

Two nights ago, I had snooped through his laptop two nights ago and found an open tab for "2-carat oval engagement rings." My heart had skipped. I had even practiced saying yes in front of the bathroom mirror, hands over my mouth, fake tears in my eyes.

Tonight, everything was supposed to fall into place.

Except he didn't pull out a ring box. Everyone was here. Everyone saw it.; my father, my stepmother, and my stepsisters, Ethan's older brother, and even my nosy aunt who lived in the UK. They watched from their table at the back, wide-eyed and surprised.

"Why... why?" I whispered. The question managed to come out of my throat, barely formed.

"Say something!" I yelled suddenly, the sharpness of my voice cutting through the entire room.

Ethan flinched. His lips parted, his eyes filled with guilt

"I'm sorry, Aurora. I love you. But I've made a mistake."

The air shifted.

I didn't see her at first.

My sister, my stepsister;Camilla. She stood from a nearby table where I hadn't even noticed she was seated. Tonight wasn't about her. Except, apparently, it always had been.

She moved faster than I ever imagined she could. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, and before I could piece together what was happening, she was standing beside Ethan.

And then-

She grabbed him by the collar of his perfectly ironed white shirt. With her fingers tangled in his hair, she kissed him. Their mouths moved like they had been starving for each other

I froze.

Ethan didn't push Camilla away.

No, He pulled her closer.

It took a full five seconds to draw me back to reality

"What... what is this?" I whispered, my voice splintering like cracked glass.

Camilla pulled back from the kiss slowly and flipped her hair with a smirk on her face

Oh, sis," she purred, linking her fingers with his. "It's exactly what it looks like."

"I didn't plan for it to happen like this." Ethan wiped his mouth, eyes filled with guilt.

"Yes, you did," I snapped. The words scraped out of my throat,

"You planned every detail of tonight. The restaurant. The people. The music. You invited my entire family!!." For what.., so they could watch me break?"

His jaw tightened. The shame on his face shifted into something harder to read.

"I invited them because I thought I could go through with it ."

I froze , what he had just said hurt me even more. The idea that he wanted to marry me, right until the moment he didn't.

Camilla slid her hand across his chest "Baby," she murmured, "don't feel bad. She'll get over it."

Ethan swallowed hard. "I'm choosing her, Aurora."

Camilla laughed, the sound soft but cruel.

"Oh, don't pretend you didn't see this coming sis. He came to me. I didn't even have to try. He was already slipping from you, darling."

"You're my sister," I whispered.

"Step-sister," she corrected with a faint smile. "Let's not be dramatic."

" You should've known better."

"Ethan..." I said, trying to steady myself. "Look at me." My gaze turned towards the man I loved

He did.

That single look hurt more than any kiss they'd shared.

"Do you love her?" I whispered.

He didn't answer, and that was my answer.

My chest tightened painfully.

The next thing I knew, my chair scraped back, screeching across the marble floor. I couldn't breathe in that room for another second.

I ran like something was chasing me. Three years!! Three years of believing I was building a life with a man who held my heart with careful hands. But it was all a lie. People turned their heads as I rushed past, I didn't care that people stared or whispered as I flew past them like a ghost.

The night air hit me, cold and sharp, making everything real. My chest heaved. My mascara burned my cheeks as it mixed with tears.

The pavement glistened from the earlier rain. My heels skidded slightly but I didn't stop. I wanted to go away from the restaurant, from the eyes, from the betrayal, from the part of me who still believed in Ethan's love. Camilla had taken him the same way she had taken everything that had ever mattered to me.

I stumbled into the road, not looking, not thinking.

And, Then-

A flash of lights hit me, bright, blinding, too fast.

A horn blared.

"No!!"

Aurora POV

"Hey !!"

"Are you trying to get killed? A man yelled as he drove past me. I stood frozen, cold raindrops pattering against my skin.

I was about to scream back when the rumble of an engine cut me off as a convertible slowed down beside me.

Four guys crowded inside it, the stench of alcohol drifting toward me before the car even stopped. The driver leaned over, his eyes crawling on my body before settling on my chest

"Hey babe, want a ride" he grinned

"We got plenty of room on our laps"

His friends beside him snorted. They burst into laughter

"You have some nerve!!"

"Get out" I snapped

"Oh feisty" The driver smirked, killing the engine " I like feisty"

One of the guys vaulted towards the back door and he staggered towards me

"Let's see if there's more where that action came from, shall we?"

I stepped back

"Don't you dare come close to me" I screamed

Before I could react, he lunged forward and grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back. I screamed more furiously than terrified and clawed at his arm. My fingers slipped on his wet skin.

"You little-", He yelled. I swung my purse connecting with his temple. He leered at me, his eyes fixed on my chest.

The other men from the car were climbing out now, their movements predatory as they circled around me. I brought my knee up hard aiming for his groin but he twisted away at the last second

Before I could plan my next move, a sleek black car pulled up out of nowhere-so suddenly, so silently, that I hadn't even heard it approach.

The rear door opened.

A tall man with blue eyes stepped out immediately. Broad-shouldered and imposing in what looked like an expensive black suit. His face was sharp, dangerously handsome, with his jaw clenched so tightly.

"Is there a problem here?" the man said, his voice betraying nothing but respect.

This man looked like someone important, like someone people answered to. The guy who'd grabbed me froze. His fingers loosened from my hair immediately

"No-it's him," he hissed under his breath. To his friends: "Let's move. Now!!."

"But Boss?" one of his men said

"I said let's go" He yelled back

He loosened his grip on my wrist and shoved me forward. And just like that, all their drama died. They piled into their convertible, tires screeching as they sped away.

"What were you thinking?" The man in front of me snarled.

My heart stuttered.

His hands were gripping my arms.

."Let-let me go," I choked, trying to pull back.

He didn't.

"Are you trying to die?" he growled, shaking rain out of his hair. "You had some nerve confronting those men."

"It's none of your business!" My voice broke as I shoved at his chest.

He didn't move an inch.

"You're lucky " he snapped, ignoring my struggle.

"I said let me go!" I shoved him again, harder. This time he caught my wrists.

Both of them. Heat flooded my cheeks

"I don't need your help," I hissed. "I didn't ask you to save me."

"You men, you're all the same" I replied

His eyes narrowed, sharp and icy. "Yeah? "Well, too damn bad. I wasn't going to watch you get treated like a-"

"Like what?" I spat. "Say it."

He exhaled sharply through his nose.

His grip loosened around my wrist but not enough for me to pull away.

"You're welcome," he said flatly.

I wanted to scream.

"You're unbelievable," I hissed. "You don't know me, you don't even know what happened."

He exhaled through his nose, clearly losing patience.

"It doesn't matter."

"You should value your life a little more and just run when you find yourself in such a situation," he said, voice dropping to a growl.

My throat tightened painfully.

"You think I wanted to run into those goons?" I choked. "You think I-"

I stopped. He saw the pain and hurt in my eyes.

And I hated that he saw anything at all. His gaze flicked over my face then his jaw tightened.

"Come with me" he muttered.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I snapped.

He raised a brow.

"It wasn't a request."

Before I could react, he slid one arm under my shoulders and the other beneath my knees and lifted me.

"Put me down!" I kicked at him, fists pounding his chest. "Put me down right now!"

He didn't even flinch.

"Stop fighting," he said flatly.

"Stop grabbing me!".

He carried me toward the sleek black car. The driver rushed to open the back door.

The man lowered me into the backseat with a gentleness that contradicted everything about him. The interior smelled like leather and rain with an expensive cologne meant to mask the scent

"No! I'm not getting in that car!" I twisted, furious, "Let me go!"

I gasped, this time I was outraged. He placed me inside the car anyway.

I scrambled immediately toward the other door. He blocked it with his palm. We stared at each other, both breathing hard. He leaned in, rain dripping from his hair onto his collar.

His body was so close that I felt the heat pouring off him. His arm braced beside me so much that it stole the air straight out of my lungs

We stared at each other, both breathing hard, with a few inches between us.

"You want to go again?" he murmured, voice low and rough.

My pulse stuttered. His eyes dropped to my mouth; this time slowly, sending a sharp, aching shiver through me. His gaze lingered there, as if memorizing the shape of my lips, imagining what they'd feel like under his

My mind reeled at the thought of who this Greek God sitting in front of me was. He leaned closer. His breath grazed my skin and his nose brushed mine.

I could have pushed him away.

I could've said something-anything. But I didn't.

My hand curled into his shirt instead, pulling him much closer.

His lips hovered over mine, his mouth almost touching my lower lip,

The heat between us tightened.

I felt myself leaning in-helplessly,

I want him now...

Aurora POV

For a split second, nothing else existed except the narrow space between us. Our faces were still far too close, breaths tangled, shared air warm and uneven. I could feel his exhale against my lips, the world outside the car feeling so unreal.

His eyes dropped not to my lips at first, but to the hollow of my throat, as if he were grounding himself, reminding himself to slow down.

My heart thudded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, my body painfully aware of how close he was. One inch closer and we'd be touching.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

His voice was low but there was something raw beneath it, something that made my breath hitch instantly.

I didn't answer instead, my fingers tightened around the fabric of his coat

"I want you" I whispered

His jaw flexed. He lifted one hand slowly, as though giving me time to change my mind. His knuckles brushed my cheek first, His eyes flicked to my face, watching every reaction my body made

"You're dangerous, Princess."

His thumb traced the line of my jaw. It was the kind of touch that made my skin come alive. My pulse raced beneath his fingers, betraying me completely.

The silence between us grew thicker,The nickname sent a rush of heat through me, my cheek pressing more fully into his palm.

He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine, our noses brushing. He tilted his head slightly, slowly, giving me time to pull away but I didn't.

Just as our lips were about to meet-

A sharp knock rattled the window. I jolted. We both turned at the same time. He looked back at me and then I glared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. His jaw clenched.

I tore my gaze away and turned toward the window, my hands trembling as I reached for the button. The glass slid down slowly, the night air brushing against my face.

A figure stood outside the car.

I blinked and squinted to see who it was. The shape sharpened into a familiar outline. I reached for the handle and yanked the door open so fast it nearly hit her.

"Emily" I breathed

It was Emily, my best friend. Her eyes were wide; too wide, like she'd been searching every dark corner of the city and had finally found me when she'd already started to lose hope.

"Aurora!" she breathed, her voice breaking on my name. "Oh my goodness!!."

She leaned closer, scanning my face as if checking for bruises or proof of every worst-case scenario she'd clearly imagined

"I've been calling you," she said quickly. "Over and over. Why didn't you answer? I thought you were-" Her voice cut off abruptly

And then her eyes shifted to him.

To the stranger who had just nearly kissed me. Her body went rigid.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded.

Before I could answer, she questioned

"Who is he? And why is he in the car with you? Aurora, are you okay? Did he do something to you?"

"He didn't," I said too fast.

Emily's gaze flicked back to me, narrowing.

"Aurora..." she said slowly.

Then she smirked.

"Oh my..." she gushed

That look;the one that meant she was filing away every detail, just exactly what I needed, a best friend with instincts too sharp for her own good.

"Emily, I'm fine," I insisted. "He-he helped me."

Emily didn't look convinced

The man beside me didn't react at all. He didn't blink, didn't flinch, didn't even shift in his seat. He simply watched us quietly, his face calm, unreadable, almost amused.

I'm here to get you," she said, voice softening but only for me. "I was really worried. Your father wants you home now," she said turning her gaze towards me

"And I'm...sorry about what happened between you and Eth-" I nudged for her not to say more

She clamped her lips shut, but her glare said everything; You're explaining later, it promised. Every single detail.

Emily straightened. "I brought my car," she said brightly. "I can take you home, babe."

She leaned over to hug me, using the moment to whisper in my ear

"If you want to spend the night with him, I can totally understand," she murmured. "He's such a hottie."

"What the-" I pulled back instantly, shooting her a death stare.

She only grinned wider.

Before I could retaliate, his voice cut in smoothly.

"I guess this is my cue to leave now, Princess," He interrupted us." It seems like you're in safe hands"

"Yeah, sure" I replied, forcing calm into my voice, even as my pulse betrayed me.

"Goodbye knight in shining armor" Emily said to the man

"Bye for now, Princess"

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

He glanced at me then he really looked at me. His expression softened just enough to unsettle me, like he was saying something without words.

Then he nodded once.

I stepped back, closing the door as his driver started the engine. I watched as the car pulled away, taillights glowing red before disappearing around the corner.

I turned to enter the car with Emily

The car fell silent as we drove through the streets, the city lights blurring past the window

My hands rested in my lap, fingers clenched. Emily didn't speak. She didn't need to. I could feel her curiosity radiating off her like heat.

Finally, I exhaled slowly.

"Okay," I said. "Before you say anything-"

She cut me off. "You almost kissed a stranger in a car, Aurora ."

I winced.

"And not just any stranger," she continued. "A dangerously attractive one too."

I stared out the window, watching the city slide by. "I didn't plan it."

She snorted softly

I huffed out a quiet laugh despite myself. "He helped me. When some men were following me... he stepped in. He didn't have to."

"You looked like you wanted him," she said softly

I hesitated "He could be dangerous and a jerk like Ethan"

Emily sighed. "It's alright babe"

The rest of the drive passed in relative quiet, but my thoughts were anything but still. His eyes kept flashing in my mind. The way his voice sounded when he spoke my name. The heat of him, close enough that I could almost forget everything else.

As Emily pulled into my driveway, a sudden realization hit me so hard I sucked in a breath.

"Wait."

She frowned. "What?"

"I didn't get his name."

Emily burst out laughing as I stared ahead, my heart doing something dangerously close to hope.