TEN_A FAMILIAR FACE
The ride to the DeLuca mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aiden sat in the backseat of the sleek black car, his hands resting on his lap as the city lights passed by outside the window.
Across from him sat his husband.
Alexander DeLuca.
The title still felt strange in Aiden’s mind.
Husband.
Just a few hours ago, Aiden had woken up expecting a normal day. Now he had been forced into a marriage with the most feared man in the city.
Neither of them had spoken since leaving the wedding hall.
Aiden wasn’t sure what to say anyway.
Finally, the car slowed.
Large iron gates appeared ahead, slowly opening as the car approached. Beyond them stood an enormous mansion surrounded by perfectly trimmed gardens and tall lights.
Aiden’s eyes widened slightly.
So this was where Alexander lived.
The car drove up the long driveway before stopping in front of the grand entrance.
A guard stepped forward and opened the door.
Alexander stepped out first, calm and composed as always.
Aiden followed, trying not to stare too obviously at the mansion.
It looked less like a house and more like a palace.
Before they could reach the door, it opened.
A graceful woman stepped outside.
Her dark hair was neatly styled, and her presence carried quiet authority. But when her eyes landed on Alexander, they softened immediately.
“My son,” she said warmly.
Alexander’s usually cold expression relaxed slightly.
“Mother.”
She walked forward and gently touched his arm before looking him over.
“I heard what happened at the wedding,” she said. “Your uncle called me the moment the news spread.”
Alexander sighed faintly.
“It was… unexpected.”
Then her gaze shifted.
Straight to Aiden.
For a brief moment, Aiden felt nervous under her eyes.
But then she smiled.
“Aiden,” she said.
His surprise must have shown on his face.
“You remember me?” he asked.
“Of course I do,” she replied kindly. “We met several times during the family dinners. You were always the quiet one sitting at the end of the table.”
Aiden felt slightly embarrassed.
That was true.
During those dinners, his stepmother and stepsister usually took all the attention while he tried to stay invisible.
She walked closer and studied him for a moment.
“So you’re the one who ended up marrying my son.”
Her tone held amusement rather than judgment.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I guess so.”
Alexander watched the exchange silently.
His mother turned to him.
“You could have warned me that the bride changed.”
“It wasn’t exactly planned,” Alexander replied calmly.
She shook her head lightly before looking back at Aiden.
“Well,” she said gently, “unexpected or not… welcome to the DeLuca family.”
The words made Aiden pause.
Welcome.
It was such a simple word.
But he realized no one had ever said it to him before.
Not in his own house.
Not from his stepmother.
Not from his stepsister.
Alexander noticed the brief flicker of emotion on Aiden’s face but said nothing.
His mother gestured toward the mansion.
“Come inside,” she said warmly. “You both must be exhausted.”
As they walked into the large entrance hall, Aiden felt something strange settle in his chest.
His life had changed in one day.
He had lost the only home he knew.
But standing inside the massive DeLuca mansion…
He had a strange feeling that this place might change his life in ways he didn’t expect.