The Tyrant's Bride: His Plaything, His Prisoner

Could it be her?

The girl who could make his eyes change color?

Kai found himself frozen in place, his gaze locked on Aria.

Something about her delicate features stirred a memory buried deep in his mind.

There was an undeniable familiarity, an echo of something he couldn't quite place.

Then, as if a missing puzzle piece clicked into place, a grin spread across his face, warm and disarming.

"Hey! I'm Kai Weston, Carter's friend," he said, stepping forward with an easy confidence.

Aria met his smile with one of her own, her tone polite but genuine. "Hi! I'm Aria Monroe."

Kindness deserved kindness, that was how she lived, and it showed in her voice.

Kai's attention shifted to the shopping bag in her hand.

His brows rose in exaggerated disbelief. "Hold on...shopping? You actually went shopping with him?" His tone was incredulous, as if she'd just claimed to tame a wild beast.

Aria tilted her head, puzzled. "We're just heading home for dinner," she replied simply, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Kai gawked, his jaw practically unhinged. "Which home?" His voice was tinged with a mix of shock and curiosity. "And...dinner? With Carter?"

The sheer absurdity in his expression made Aria pause.

Did Carter have multiple homes?

She was about to ask when Carter's cold voice sliced through the air like a blade.

"Nosy."

Carter brushed past Kai without sparing him a glance, his strides purposeful and unrelenting.

Aria frowned at his rudeness and made a face at his retreating back, but she followed nonetheless, pausing briefly to wave at Kai.

"See you later!" she called, her tone light and cheerful.

Kai chuckled under his breath, his eyes glinting with amusement as he watched her leave.

There was something about her, a refreshing sincerity in her demeanor that he couldn't help but find intriguing.

---

The evening didn't unfold the way Aria had expected.

She had planned to pick up a small gift on her way home, but Carter's abrupt interference had thwarted her plans.

Instead, she found herself calling her mother from Carter's car, reassuring her that everything was fine.

The assumption of a quiet dinner shattered the moment they stepped into the house.

A wave of tension hit her like a cold draft.

The living room was filled with people, Carter's family, judging by their shared features, and none of them seemed particularly thrilled by her presence.

Without thinking, she reached out and brushed her fingers against Carter's hand, seeking some semblance of support.

She tried to withdraw immediately, embarrassed by her boldness, but Carter caught her hand in his.

His fingers interlaced with hers, and he guided her firmly to the center of the room.

An elegant woman with impeccably styled hair and sharp eyes was the first to approach.

"Carter, you're back," she said, her tone crisp. "The whole family's been waiting for you."

Carter didn't bother acknowledging her.

His focus was elsewhere. "Grandma," he said, his tone softening unexpectedly.

Aria followed his gaze to an elderly woman seated in a plush armchair.

Her stern expression and the way her lips pursed made Aria's heart sink.

Clearly, Carter's return wasn't entirely welcome.

But then, the old woman's eyes landed on Aria, and her demeanor changed instantly.

A radiant smile lit up her face.

"You brought someone?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise and delight. "You actually brought someone home this time?"

Her joy was infectious as she waved them over. "Come here, dear! Sit down, sit down!"

Caught off guard but unwilling to offend, Aria let herself be guided to a seat beside Carter.

She scanned the room, noting the mixed reactions of the family.

Some faces were warm and curious, while others were guarded and cold.

Contrary to her expectations, no one bombarded her with probing questions about her background or intentions.

The elderly woman seemed content just to have her there, as though her presence was enough to brighten the room.

As the evening wore on, Aria couldn't ignore the chill in Carter's interactions with most of his family.

He was particularly distant toward his father, though his second uncle and cousins seemed to receive slightly more warmth.

What struck her most was a peculiar detail she couldn't unsee.

While the older men in the family and Carter shared the same striking blue-black eyes, the rest of the family had ordinary dark brown ones.

The contrast was stark, making Carter's gaze among the younger family members feel even more piercing.

Throughout the night, Carter barely spoke, his focus entirely on his grandmother.

The weight of his isolation was palpable, and for the first time, Aria felt a pang of sympathy for him.

The cold detachment in his interactions wasn't arrogance, it was armor.

Dinner was eventually served, and the family gathered around the table.

Unsure of the customs, Aria hesitated.

Blushing, she quickly picked up some vegetables and added them to his bowl, a quiet gesture of gratitude for the chicken nuggets he had previously given her.