Chapter 15

I stared at my reflection, almost unable to believe the woman in the mirror was me. It had been so long since I’d worn my hair long—I’d chopped it off years ago because it was too much to maintain. Now, with the added extensions cascading down my back, it framed my face like silk. The glasses were gone, replaced with contacts that made my eyes look brighter, sharper. My skin was smooth under the soft sweep of makeup, my lips painted with just the right shade to make them look fuller. “I bet you can’t even recognize yourself,” Miss Susan said with a playful smile as she stood behind me. I let out a shaky laugh, almost choking on the emotion rising in my throat. “Don’t cry,” she teased gently. “We wouldn’t want to ruin that masterpiece of a face now, would we?” I shook my head quickly, grinning. “No. I look… gorgeous, Miss Susan.” She stepped forward and wrapped me in a warm hug. “Now,” she said, pulling back, “it’s time to put on your dress, Aina.” A knock came at the door, and my mother’s voice followed. “Hey, Aina, Osborne is—” She stopped mid-sentence the moment she saw me. For a second, she just stood there, her eyes softening in a way I’d never seen before. Then, almost in a whisper, as though she was still trying to process what she was seeing, she said, “Osborne is here.” I nodded, my heart thumping, and she turned to leave. But just before she stepped out, she looked back at me with a small, genuine smile. “You look beautiful,” she said, her voice quiet but certain. And then she was gone. Miss Susan chuckled. “Ah, typical Aria—she meant every word.” I smiled faintly. “Where’s that dress?” As I descended the stairs, my eyes found Osborne pacing in the living room. He froze mid-step the moment my scent reached him. Slowly, he turned toward me—and then stopped altogether, as though he’d been carved into stone. I could hear it—his heartbeat, fast and uneven. “Breathe, Osborne,” I said without thinking. And he did. He inhaled sharply, blinked as if coming out of a trance, and finally let out the breath he’d been holding. I couldn’t help but chuckle. He looked… devastatingly handsome. The tux hugged his broad frame perfectly, his hair slicked back except for a few rebellious strands falling over his forehead. The polished gleam of his shoes caught the light, and every inch of him radiated a kind of effortless, dangerous luxury. “So,” I asked, tilting my head, “how do I look?” “Uh… you…” His voice trailed off as his eyes roamed over me, and it seemed like he was struggling to form words. Finally, with a quiet sigh, he said, “You look out of this world.” “You do too,” I replied softly. He shook his head, his gaze fixed on mine. “No, you don’t understand. You look… incredible.” My cheeks grew warm under his stare. I closed the distance between us, noticing the slight tremor in his hands. “Your friend will be waiting for you, Osborne,” I teased. “He can wait,” he murmured, lowering his head until his forehead touched mine. He breathed me in, then chuckled quietly. “I’m already getting jealous of the men who’ll see you today, Aina. I just hope I don’t end up snapping someone’s head off.” I laughed. “Same goes for me.” We shared the moment, the air between us charged and warm, before he straightened, still watching me like I might disappear if he blinked. Extending his arm, he asked softly, “Shall we?” I slipped my hand into his, holding his gaze as we walked out together. The limo Osborne arrived in was nothing short of breathtaking—sleek, polished, and radiating an elegance I’d only ever seen in glossy magazines. I’d never set foot in anything so opulent. The plush leather seats seemed to swallow me in comfort, and yet, the most captivating thing in that space wasn’t the car at all—it was the man sitting beside me. His hand remained wrapped around mine, warm and steady, as though silently promising I wasn’t alone in this. When I glanced at him, his gaze was still fixed entirely on me, so intense I almost forgot how to breathe. “We’ll be there soon, Osborne,” I murmured with a small smile, trying to break whatever trance had stolen his attention. The words seemed to pull him back to the present. He blinked, looked out the tinted window, and gave a small nod. “Yes… any moment now,” he replied, though there was a softness in his voice that told me his mind hadn’t been entirely on the destination. A knot twisted in my stomach. I really didn’t want to ruin this day for him, but his earlier reassurance echoed in my mind—if anyone tried anything, I could use him. He had told me to use him if I needed, and I decided right then that I would hold onto that promise. When the limo rolled to a stop, a group of uniformed guards stepped forward in perfect formation. One of them opened Osborne’s door first. He stepped out with the grace and authority of someone born into command, then turned, extending his hand to me. I placed my palm in his, feeling the firm, protective grip as he helped me out of the car. There were people everywhere—streaming toward the grand cathedral entrance, dressed in silks, lace, and tailored suits. Conversations faltered as heads turned. The moment the crowd recognized Osborne, their attention sharpened… but then they saw me. The air seemed to still, a wave of surprise rippling through their expressions. If I said I wasn’t nervous, I’d be lying through my teeth. My insides were twisting so badly, I was one deep breath away from a complete meltdown. Instinctively, I lowered my gaze, not ready to meet the weight of so many eyes. But Osborne’s voice, low and commanding, reached me. “Raise your head, Aina. Walk with your chin high. If you need to frown, then frown—but never bow to them.” Something about the way he said it sent a bolt of courage through me. I snapped my head up, met his eyes, and nodded. So I lifted my chin and let the smallest frown curve my lips, my gaze sweeping over the crowd. And what I saw surprised me—there wasn’t the disgust I had braced for. Instead, I caught flickers of amusement, sparks of jealousy, and wide-eyed surprise. At that moment, I realized something: the girl standing here wasn’t just Aina Wilfred anymore. No, today, I was Aina, mate to Osborne Cliff.