The Tyrant's Bride: His Plaything, His Prisoner

Unexpectedly, when Aria withdrew her chopsticks, she noticed something strange.

The entire table went silent.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes were glued to her, staring as if she'd grown a second head.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Did I do something wrong?" she wondered silently.

She hadn't even started eating yet!

Before she could piece it together, Carter's half-sister, Ember, let out a sharp laugh.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she spoke:

"Haha, sister-in-law, how can you be a wife? Don't you know that my brother has mysophobia? He doesn't let anyone touch his things. And he never eats carrots."

Aria's head spun.

Her mind raced: Could it really be that big of a deal?

Adding fuel to the fire, Mrs. Montgomery, Carter's mother, chimed in, her tone laced with disdain. "Quick! Change the bowls and chopsticks for the young master!"

All eyes shifted to Carter, waiting for the storm to break.

Surely, he'd flip the table in a fit of disgust.

Instead, he reached for the bowl in front of him with deliberate calm.

Picking up a piece of carrot, he brought it to his mouth and ate it.

A slap in the face.

The entire family froze, their collective shock palpable.

The room hung in stunned silence until the old lady, Carter's grandmother, cleared her throat sharply. "Don't talk while eating! Eat!"

Her words were sharp, but the way her eyes crinkled as she looked at Carter and Aria gave her away.

She was pleased.

Feeling the tension melt into the background, Aria kept her head down for the rest of the meal, too nervous to do much else.

---

The meal ended without further incident, and the family began to disperse.

After some chatting, Aria was called aside by Carter's grandmother for a private talk.

The old lady guided Aria to her room and motioned for her to sit.

Her voice was gentle but firm as she began to speak about Carter's past.

She painted a picture of a boy burdened with expectations, his heart guarded by layers of mistrust.

"Carter has always been distant from the family," the old lady admitted with a sigh. "But you… you've brought something new. He listens when you speak."

Aria didn't know how to respond.

She nodded politely, offering honest answers about their relationship, except for one thing.

She wasn't sure if Carter had mentioned the pregnancy to his grandmother or if he even planned to.

Keeping quiet felt safer.

Before the conversation ended, the old lady gave her a pointed look. "You must give this family a future. Don't delay."

Aria nodded, her heart sinking under the weight of expectation.

---

By ten o'clock, a servant escorted her to Carter's room.

As soon as she entered, she heard his cold, clipped voice. "Throw it away."

Aria blinked, confused. "Huh?"

He was staring at the red envelope and brocade box in her hand, gifts from Aunt Montgomery earlier that evening.

"Didn't you hear me?" His tone was sharper this time.

Aria clutched the items tighter, panic flashing across her face. "But… this is money. And jewelry! You can't expect me to just throw it in the trash!"

Carter's expression darkened. "Do you want me to throw you out along with it?"

His words sent a chill down her spine, but she held her ground. "Fine, then throw me out. I'll just go stay with Grandma!"

The room fell silent, and Carter's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You dare threaten me?"

Her mind raced, recalling something the old lady had said earlier: He's a wolf.

To protect yourself, you must learn to stroke his fur.

Taking a deep breath, she forced her features into a pout and softened her voice. "I wouldn't dream of it. But waste is shameful. Let's make a deal, how about I donate these tomorrow? There are people out there who've never had enough to eat, no warm clothes, no shelter. Wouldn't that be better?"

For a long moment, Carter said nothing.

His expression remained unreadable, and Aria braced herself for his wrath.

"Fine," he said at last, his voice low and begrudging. "Do whatever you want."

Victory.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, but before she could savor it, a white bath towel landed unceremoniously on her head.

"Go shower," Carter ordered. "Don't dirty my bathroom. Don't touch my things. Don't leave any hair behind. Use only what's in the red box and put everything back exactly where it was. No mistakes. And don't come out smelling… weird."

Aria stared at him, her mind reeling from the barrage of "don'ts."

Her thoughts spiraled into chaos as she stomped toward the bathroom, muttering under her breath about his absurd rules.