44. "I want to live with you, for you."
I dressed up in a short red dress with matching red heels as Aiden was taking me out to dinner.
As I stood in front of the vanity applying my lipstick, his reflection showed up in the mirror as he appeared behind me, smirking.
"What's the point in putting lipstick on when I'm just going to smear it?" He teased.
I blushed, turning around. "Don't you dare ruin my lipstick."
"That would take a lot of self control." He leaned in, breathing in my scent, turning me a couple of shades redder.
"Oh look at you. You actually look hot for once." I teased, taking in his sexily dressed appearance.
He was a sight to behold in black.
He smirked. "Uh huh. Right."
I grinned, letting him hold my hand and lead me out of our bedroom.
"Don't you dare bend over in public in that dress." He grumbled after we had settled into his car.
I grinned. "And what if I do?"
He reversed out of his driveway. "Then you will be punished."
I snickered. "Why am I tempted by the sound of that?"
He glanced at me, smirking before returning his attention to the road.
"So what made you think of taking me out to dinner tonight?" I asked, a smile permanently etched on my face.
"It's very normal to take your girlfriend out on dates." He replied.
"Girlfriend? First time you've called me that." I pointed out cheerfully.
"Probably also the last time." He replied casually, making a right turn.
I pouted, sending him a look of disappointment that he sat oblivious to.
Soon, he pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant we were supposed to eat at. He walked to my side, helping me out of the car before hooking arms with me and walking inside the restaurant.
He led me to the second floor which was completely empty. "I booked this floor entirely for us, but if you want the whole restaurant empty, say it and it will happen." He stated, pulling my chair out for me.
"No, no. You didn't even have to book a whole floor." I said, sitting in.
"I knew you would say that." He replied as he sat opposite to me.
He gestured to the waiter who handed us both a menu before leaving us to decide our order.
Aiden gestured me with his head to look through the menu.
I flipped through it, skimming over the options. "What are you getting?" I asked, running my eyes over the menu.
"Steak." He replied, putting the menu down.
I hummed. "Yeah, I'll get the steak too."
"Should I call the waiter to take our order?" He confirmed.
I nodded.
After the waiter left with our order, Aiden turned his undivided attention to me as he cleared his throat. I looked right back, waiting for him to get words out.
"I want you to know... that I'm going to work on my... temper. I'll try to change, to be a better version of myself. At least a sliver of what I once used to be." He spoke, a hint of quiver in his tone.
I smiled softly, reaching out to hold his hand on the table. "You've already made good progress at that, Aiden. I'm glad you're allowing yourself to be free from the chains of your past."
He gulped, nodding. "That part of my life has been preying at my soul for years, but I'm doing so much better now. All thanks to you."
I smiled, retreating my hand. "I didn't do anything."
"You did," he insisted. "You walked into my life and carried sunshine, hope and kindness along with you. Things that I forgot existed."
"You're making me emotional." I said, biting my lip.
He smiled softly, shaking his head. "You may not know, but you dragged me out of the hole I was plunged so deeply into with no way out. You've made it obvious that there could be no soulmate for me other than you."
I laughed. "I don't know why it's incredulous hearing the word soulmate from you."
He chuckled in agreement. "Well, little one, you've got me believing in soulmates, just like you've got me believing that life just might be worth living."
"Life is worth living with me by your side, for sure." I joked.
He smiled. "It is. I don't want to die anymore. I want to live with you, for you."
I gulped as his words sounded in my ears, grasping me in a chokehold as I struggled to hold tears back.
He studied my expressions carefully. "No crying, little one."
I snickered softly, swallowing the little lump in my throat. "Where's the part where you tell me you love me?" I attempted to joke.
His lips stretched up into a big, charming smile that made him appear more handsome. "I love you, little one. To infinity and beyond."
I giggled, butterflies taking flight in my stomach.
"Where's the part where you tell me you love me back?" He raised an eyebrow.
I grinned teasingly. "I need to be sure first."
His eyes darkened as he tilted his head to the side. "You need to be sure, huh?"
A gasp left my mouth before a response could, as his legs sensually entrapped mine under the table.
"Should I give you a little something to help you affirm your feelings?" He asked in a low voice.
I bit my lip, looking around to make sure we weren't being watched, before leaning in on the table to show him a good view of my cleavage. "Yes, please, sir." I whispered seductively.
His legs tightened around mine as his eyes darkened even more with lust. "Hide that, little one. It's only for me to see."
I leaned in even more. "That's why I'm showing it only to you."
Before he could reply, the waiter showed up with our food, making me jump back in my seat. Aiden's eyes were fixed on every movement the waiter made as if he wanted to make sure that his eyes wouldn't stay on me longer than a second.
"Eat your dinner." I pointed with my gaze to his meal, grabbing my fork and knife.
He stared intensely at me. "My dinner is across the table."
I grinned, cutting a piece of my steak. "Consider that dessert."
His lips lifted up into a smirk as he grabbed his fork and knife and instantly cut into his steak, as if he wanted to fast forward to dessert as soon as possible.
"There's some place I want you to see after this." He spoke after a couple minutes of silence.
"What place?" I asked curiously.
"It's a brand new addition to my possessions. I wanted you to be the first to see it." He replied, keeping the suspense.
"What is it?" I asked, my interest piquing.
"A surprise." He smiled.
I pouted, but continued eating anyway.
After dinner, Aiden linked arms with me and led me back to his car.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he drove down the road.
"I told you, it's a surprise, little one." He replied calmly.
"So it's your possession, but it's a surprise for me?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows together.
"You know what? It's not mine. It's all yours." He replied, confusing me even more.
"You're really making no sense." I grumbled, leaning my head on the window pane.
"We'll be there soon." He said gently and assuringly.
"Why don't you call me your girlfriend like ever?" I mumbled, almost complainingly, realising that he never properly put a name to our relationship despite calling me his and confessing his love for me.
"I don't want to." He replied, almost monotonously, making me snap my head in his direction.
He sat so calmly in his seat, his full focus on the road as he drove smoothly.
It tugged at my heart. Was that all we would ever be? Living together and being intimate with an unnamed relationship? Would he never introduce me to people as his... lover, girlfriend, something?
I quietly took a deep breath, letting my gaze wander out of the window, realising I was overthinking. Forcing all such thoughts out of my head, I watched as buildings, vehicles and trees flew past us.
Soon, Aiden pulled in front of what looked like a fortress sitting in the centre of a large, beautiful garden blooming with red and pink roses that I could see in the dead of the night due to pretty, little fairy lights illuminating the lush green area.
"Like it?" Aiden asked, his masculine hand gently caressing my thigh as I looked out the window in amazement.
I nodded readily, not tearing my gaze off the exquisite view. His hand abandoned my thigh, and before I knew it, he was the opening my door for me.
I took his hand, letting him help me out of his car. "You bought this place?" I asked as I now had a better and clearer view of the garden.
"Yes. What do you say we surround this place with walls so this garden becomes our escape?" He asked softly, squeezing my hand.
I couldn't help but grin. "That's not a bad idea. I can't imagine how serene it would feel to sit in this garden with a good book and coffee."
He kissed my temple. "I know, right?"
He gestured me to walk towards the entrance of the giant structure in the centre. He stopped right as he neared the doorstep, turning to me.
"I need you to close your eyes."
"Why?" I asked.
"It's a surprise." He reasoned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The source of which I did not know.
I bit my lip, my heart beating in anticipation as I closed my eyes. I felt a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach as his hands grabbed my shoulders.
"Don't open your eyes until I tell you to, okay?" He instructed.
"Okay." I replied softly.
"Okay, we're going in." He spoke gently in my ear, and I heard him push the door open before making me walk ahead.
I felt a rush of adrenaline as we stepped in, and a cozy warmth instantly enveloped me in a comforting hug. Curiosity got the best of me as I wondered what Aiden could have planned, and what could have him so excited for me to see.
"Ready?" He whispered, and I didn't miss the enthusiasm in his tone— a rare occurrence.
"Yes." I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Okay, open your eyes."
I opened my eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the bright lights that instantly surrounded me. Blinking, I took in my surroundings, dazzled, amazed and overwhelmed.
My jaw dropped to the floor.
"N-no way... you... this can't be real." My words stuttered as I looked around, baffled. My eyes were wide as saucers, and adrenaline coursed through my veins as evidence of my excitement.
"It's all yours." He said softly, his eyes gleaming as he appeared satisfied seeing my expressions. He wore the most elated and easy smile on his face that I had seen to date.
Unable to form words, I attacked him with a hug, holding on to his body. He chuckled, tightly holding me as he buried his face in the nape of my neck.
My eyes were teary as I clutched on to him, my mind bringing back flashbacks of words I had randomly spoken to him as a joke. Words that he took seriously, deciding to fulfil them like a vow.
"You're grumpy like the beast." I spoke.
He snorted. "You're a beauty like Belle."
I cleared my throat. "You should build me a library."
"What?" He chuckled incredulously.
I shrugged. "Fill it up with both medical and romance books."
I pulled back to look into his eyes that held nothing but utmost adoration and warmth. He wiped away a stray tear on my cheek with his thumb. "No more crying ever again, little one. I promise I'll do everything in my will to ensure that you are never upset."
I pressed my lips together, sniffling. "It's huge. How did you even manage this?"
He pressed his forehead to mine. "Anything for you. Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it, Aiden! It is the most beautiful and precious gift I have ever received!" I gushed, squeezing his shoulders.
He smiled lovingly. "I'm glad. I've sourced as many medical and romance books as I could."
I bit my lip, holding back my happy tears. "You know I had said it as a joke."
His smile grew. "You may have, but I intend to give you everything you desire, everything that comes out of these beautiful lips of yours, no matter how little or how extravagant."
I squeezed his bicep in an attempt to hold back my tears as butterflies took flight in my stomach. "Thank you."
He kissed my forehead. "Don't thank me, little one... now stop being emotional, and look around."
I grinned, stepping away from him to take a better look around. I could feel him right behind me as I headed towards a shelf to scour through the books. My eyes gleamed and my heart pumped excitedly as I went through the books, greatly impressed at his choice.
"I never could have expected you to have such a good taste in romance books. These are all my—" I turned around to meet his gaze again, but what I was met with made me halt.
The surprises just wouldn't end.
"Aiden..." my heart pumped even more to the point where I could hear it in my ears. My breath stood still in my lungs as I struggled to comprehend if that was really happening.
His eyes shone with hope and adoration as he knelt to the ground on one knee, holding out a ring box that held a beautiful diamond ring that shone exquisitely in the bright lights.
"Aysel, you deserve the universe and nothing but the best, but would you be so kind to compromise and bless this rude, bossy, scary CEO by agreeing to be his wife?
I promise I'll be a better version of myself for you, and I'll always get my treatments done from you.
You will always be my little doctor, and I will always, loyally be your CEO. "
Tears fell out of my eyes, my heart squeezing with glee. "Yes." I squeezed the word out as more tears flowed down my cheeks.
He rose to his feet and took my shaking hand, slipping the ring on to my finger, before pulling me into a tight, comforting hug. "I love you." He whispered genuinely in my ear.
"I love you too." I cried, holding on to him.
He pulled back, touching his forehead to mine as he wiped away my tears. "I can't wait to start this new chapter of my life with you."
I nodded, pressing my lips together in an attempt to control my emotions. "Me too."
He tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. "Thank you for taking me out of that dark hole I was in."
I looked back at him with equal admiration. "Thank you for... everything. From protecting me to making me feel comfortable to giving me the kind of love I always longed for."
His knuckles grazed my cheek. "I'd kill and die for you, Aysel."
I sniffled. "So when exactly are we getting married?"
He smiled. "Say the word and I'll have all arrangements done in just a few hours."
I laughed. "Slow down. Let's go home and start planning."
"Agreed. Let's start planning right away. I can't wait to address you as my wife."
I blushed, filled with warmth and happiness.
"Can I come here whenever?" I asked as we walked out of the massive library, hand in hand.
"Obviously, little one. It is yours." He stated matter-of-factly as he helped me settle into the passenger seat.
I was grinning from ear to ear as he pulled the car down the street and drove home, staring at the huge diamond that sparkled on my finger.
I was engaged to Aiden Knight. I was all set to officially become his wife. The idea itself seemed bizarre and surreal, yet so thrilling.
I was all smiles on the drive home, probably the happiest I had ever been.
Aiden soon pulled up into the driveway of his penthouse, his phone ringing as soon as he parked the car.
He sighed. "You go ahead. I'll quickly take this."
I nodded, stepping out of the car, high on my joy as I walked up the front steps and entered the penthouse that was now also my home.
The grin remained plastered on my face as I stepped into the front lobby, but it was soon wiped off as I met the sight before me.
A redhead standing in the lobby wearing a venomous look on her face, with her hand behind her back. It was Luna.
She moved her hand forward, revealing a large knife.