Lina stormed down the hallway—a woman on a mission. She wasn’t going to turn back. She was grateful that she hadn’t signed the contract with him. Or else this was going to be one hell of a marriage she was going to regret. Instead, she kept her head high and her shoulders squared—even if she didn’t know how to get home from his fortress of a house.

“Lina.” ​​

Lina quickened her footsteps. It took him little to no time to catch up to her.

“Lina, wait.”

Lina walked faster. She might as well win the Olympic golden medal for speed walking. She wanted to get out of this house as soon as possible. Get as far away from that crazy man as quickly as she could.

“Lina!” Kaden sharply said, grabbing her wrist to stop her. She could run as far as she wanted, crawl as much as she’d like, but he’d always be one step ahead of her.

Yet, when she spun around to reveal her angry tears and a glare that could kill, he faltered. She could flee as much as she’d like and he’d let her, even if he could capture her just as easily.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Kaden needed to explain, or else she’d misunderstand. Their last moment together had ended with misunderstanding. He didn’t want history to repeat itself, especially after he had learned from it.

“Your Uncle would never agree to this marriage,” Kaden began. “Unless I provide him something greater than the Leclares could possibly offer him.”

Lina struggled to deal with her emotions. He had chased her. It was all she wanted. But he had chased her. It was what pissed her off. To think he thought she could be bought with money.

“You’re priceless, dove of mine, and you know that,” Kaden stated, pulling her towards him, but she was firm as a tree, unyielding to his touch.

Kaden’s gaze softened. He could see it again. She was spreading her pretty white wings, ready to flee at any given moment. The symbol of peace, until she wasn’t. He called her a dove for a reason, not because she was small, but because she was always ready to fly off. He wanted to cut those angelic wings and make her flightless forever.

But then, she’d be terrified and teary without her wings. Then, she’d no longer be the Lina he knew.

“It’s not passive income,” Lina finally said. “He won’t agree.”

Kaden let out a soft breath, a mixture of laughter and relief. “He will.”

“The Leclares offered him shares in the firm, you—”

“You let your Uncle sell you off like livestock when he isn’t even your father?” Kaden returned.

Lina paused. She opened and closed her mouth, but said nothing. How could she? He was right. And instead of fighting her Uncle, she fought with Kaden. Why?

Because she was afraid of going against her Uncle. She had misplaced her anger. It wasn’t Kaden’s fault. It was her Uncle’s, for creating that kind of system in the first place.

“He doesn’t even have guardianship over you. What makes you think he has the right to marry you off?” Kaden asked, giving her the small push she needed.

Kaden knew she was powerful in his own right. And he god damn loved that. The way she held herself, head high, shoulders squared, like she was ready to take on the world.

“He has no right,” Lina muttered, realizing what was stopping her from arguing with her Uncle? Her freedom? He had exchanged one collar for another, from a rich heiress to a trophy wife.

“That’s right,” Kaden slowly said, pulling her back into his cage.

He smiled at the gears churning in her head. That’s right. Get addicted to his advice…

“My freedom,” Lina suddenly said.

Kaden paused. “What are you talking about?”

“I want my freedom and he has it,” Lina muttered.

“Dove of mine, freedom is subjective. He can’t possibly—”

“A normal life,” Lina whispered. “I want a normal life. No power-hungry relatives, no scheming friends, no paparazzi, nothing like that.”

“I can give you that,” Kaden said. “Under my regime, no one will dare to scheme against you, no one will dare try to take power from your friends. No cameras shall touch you.”

Lina’s head snapped up. “Then I’d entrust my freedom in another person’s hands.”

Kaden’s gaze softened. “Then what plan do you have in mind?”

Lina did not know. She contemplated running away. Changing her name. Dying her hair. Getting plastic surgery. Anything. Everything. She was that desperate. No more fake friends. No more looking picture perfect for the limelight. No more restrictive mothers.

She’d never get to run far or long. It’s all due time until one of her relatives tracked her down. It’s all due time until she was back in her chains. And now, there were two men pursuing her.

Lina’s heart fell to her stomach.

“I don’t have a plan that’d work,” Lina admitted.

Kaden’s eyes flashed at the opportunity to lock her in his arms right then and there. She was vulnerable, so vulnerable that he could take advantage of her. Feed her lies until she was addicted, then have nowhere to go but into his arms.

It was a shame he cared too much for her to take advantage of her like this.

“Then stay with me,” Kaden said. “Until you’ve come up with a plan that’d work.”

Lina’s eyes sparkled at the opportunity, nervously licking her lips.

“You’d do that for me, even though there could be a day I’d disappear forever? A day where you’ll never see Lina Yang again?” Lina asked, her voice low and trembling.

“I don’t need to see Lina Yang, I just need to know you’re alive and well,” Kaden said, his grip tightening on her wrist. He glanced at her fingers, where a pretty ring will soon sit upon.

“Really?” Lina naively asked.

“Really.” Kaden pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist, pressing her body against his. She didn’t object. He was relieved.

“Promise me?” Lina said.

“Of course,” Kaden said, crossing their pinkies together and pressing their thumbs against each other.

Lina allowed Kaden to pull her into a hug. She allowed herself to fall in love with him, just for a split moment. But neither of them knew the expression on their faces.

Kaden didn’t see her determined stare and Lina didn’t see his evil smirk. They were both devils pretending to be angels. The question was, who’d come out the victor?