Sophia walked into her room, slamming the door behind her. She leaned back against it, breathing hard, trying to calm the storm in her chest. Everything felt like it was falling apart. Nothing was going the way she wanted. Her world was slipping away, and she didn't know how to stop it.
Her eyes scanned the room, but nothing seemed to make sense. She ran her hands through her hair, gripping it tightly as if that would help her think. She paced back and forth before sitting heavily on the edge of her bed. Her heart pounded with anger, frustration, and something else she didn't want to admit—fear.
She hated this feeling. She hated feeling like she was losing. "I can't let Aneira win," she said quietly to herself, her voice trembling with emotion. "I just can't."
She thought about Ethan. He wasn't Jaxton—he could never compare to someone like Jaxton. But Ethan was hers, and she wasn't going to give him up. No matter what anyone said, she wouldn't lose him too.
Sophia grabbed her phone from the bed and quickly dialed Ethan's number. It rang and rang, but he didn't pick up. The longer it rang, the more her frustration grew. Finally, his voicemail answered, and she nearly screamed. She threw the phone down beside her, burying her face in her hands.
"What's wrong with him?" she muttered. "Why isn't he answering me?"
Her mind raced. The night had gone from bad to worse. First, Aneira got married to Jaxton, a man so powerful that even Sophia had to admit he was far out of her league. Then, her father had said those awful things, like he didn't care about her at all. And now, Ethan wasn't even picking up his phone.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Her life wasn't supposed to fall apart.
She bit her thumb nervously, a habit she'd had since childhood. Her head spun as she thought about everything that had gone wrong. If only Camia, her birth mother, hadn't ruined everything. If only her parents didn't care about Aneira so much.
Her chest tightened as anger bubbled up again. She clenched her fists and stared at the floor. Her thoughts swirled in circles. What could she do to fix this? How could she take back control?
Sophia lifted her head, her jaw tightening with determination. Whatever it took, she wouldn't let Aneira overshadow her. Not in love, not in family, not in anything. She just needed to think of a plan, a way to make things go back to how they were supposed to be.
She wasn't going to lose.
—-
Jaxton slowly drove into the underground garage, parked his car, and stepped out with a smooth, calm motion. The moment Aneira saw him, she immediately opened the door and stepped out of the car. Jaxton smiled at her and nodded. "Let's go."
Aneira followed him, her eyes still wide with curiosity. From the outside, she had thought the house was just average, considering Jaxton was the only one living there. But the moment she stepped into the living room, her breath caught in her throat. It was nothing like she had expected. She didn't even realize she gasped until she quickly covered her mouth, feeling a little embarrassed at her reaction.
Jaxton chuckled softly, noticing her surprise. "This is your new home, Mrs. Haydra. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I'll have someone bring over your things tomorrow, so don't worry. You're in safe hands."
Aneira looked up at him, then hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Haydra, can I ask you something?"
Jaxton raised an eyebrow, his expression playful. "Mr. Haydra?"
Aneira flushed slightly, her voice soft. "You called me Mrs. Haydra just now."
Jaxton's lips curled into a small smile, but there was something in his eyes…something intense, something that made Aneira's heart skip a beat. He stepped closer to her, closing the gap between them in an effortless move. His presence was overwhelming, and Aneira could feel her breath catching in her chest. She instinctively took a small step back, but Jaxton's gaze never wavered.
"You really shouldn't be calling me Mr. Haydra," he said, his voice low and velvety. His eyes locked onto hers with such intensity that Aneira felt as though he could see right through her. "I'm your husband now, Aneira. You don't need to stand on ceremony with me."
The words hung in the air, making her stomach flutter nervously. There was a heat in his gaze that made her skin prickle with awareness. She swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how close he was, how his tall frame loomed over her, almost encircling her with an invisible presence.
Aneira could feel the tension in her body building as Jaxton took another step forward, his movements fluid and deliberate. It made her heart race, her body responding to him in a way that she couldn't control. But she also couldn't ignore the way her mind was spinning. Today was their wedding day, and this was their wedding night.
The realization hit her hard, like a wave crashing into her chest. The air felt suddenly thick, and she could feel the weight of Jaxton's gaze, the heat that radiated from him. She had to get away, to collect herself. This was happening so fast, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.
She stepped back quickly, holding her hands up in front of her as if to create some kind of distance between them. "I'm... I'm tired," she whispered, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "I think I'd like to sleep."
Jaxton's expression shifted in an instant, his lips pressing together in a thin line. For a moment, she thought he might push her further, but instead, he softened. "Of course," he said, his voice quieter now, though there was still an edge to it. "I'll take you to the room."
He moved in front of her, guiding her gently as they walked down the hall. As they reached the door to their shared bedroom, Jaxton paused and turned toward the closet, opening the door. He reached in and pulled out a soft, satin nightdress, the fabric shimmering slightly in the dim light.
"I had someone prepare this for you," he said, his voice low, almost thoughtful. "And I've asked them to run your bath as well. You've had a long day."
Aneira didn't know how to respond. The weight of everything, the marriage, the uncertainty, and Jaxton's presence was overwhelming. She felt both comforted and unnerved by his actions. Was he being kind, or was this part of some game she didn't understand?
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice small. She gave him a quick glance, trying to hide the mix of confusion and wariness in her eyes. "I'll be in soon."
Jaxton's eyes softened as he handed her the nightdress, his fingers grazing hers in the briefest of touches. "Take your time," he murmured. "I'll be here when you're ready."
Aneira nodded, not trusting herself to say more. She turned and walked toward the bathroom, but as she passed him, she couldn't help but feel the weight of his gaze on her back, lingering, intense, as if he was watching her every move.