Celeste stood outside the main mansion, waiting for her husband to be brought out of the penthouse. The staff had gathered as well, all waiting for the same reason.
She couldn't believe she had suggested this. If anything, she should be steering clear of her mad husband. He had seemed almost normal last night, but that couldn't be said about today. And the preparations made by his family only reminded her how terrible her idea was.
Chains had been brought out. Thick, heavy ones, like those used to restrain dangerous beasts. Beside them lay whips of different sizes, some braided with iron beads. One strike would be enough to tear skin. Ten men stood nearby, built like stone, their expressions just as hard. They looked less like guards and more like weapons.
Celeste swallowed. The sight alone was enough to unsettle her. The man she had seen last night wouldn't need any of these weapons, he had seemed like any ordinary young man. It felt off, though. Nothing matched the stories. The mad heir was supposed to be terrifying, inhuman... but last night had been different.
Was his madness something that came and went? Or was it all an act?
But then against, she had seen how he turned aggressive in the hallway yesterday.
Either way, she didn't want to be involved. What could she possibly do with a mad husband? Yes, he was rich, but she had no intention of trading her life for money. She had always wanted to marry for love. At least then, she might have received the love she never had growing up.
"Are you sure about this, dear?" Margaret's voice cut through her thoughts. "Aiden can get a little... worked up sometimes."
Celeste gulped. Yes, she was scared, but she had no other choice. This was the only way she could leave.
"Yes, Mrs. Blackwell."
"Alright, dear. I'll be right beside you." Margaret sighed, then turned to the guards. "Bring him out."
They hesitated. Last time, Aiden had sent them to the hospital, where they spent weeks recovering.
But an order was an order.
The doors of the penthouse opened. Celeste held her breath, each second dragging longer than it should.
The housekeeper stepped out first, followed by the butler. Everywhere had turned dead silent, all eyes were on the door, waiting for the human beast who seemed to enjoy keeping everyone waiting.
Then, he stepped out.
The air stilled as Aiden emerged, his stride slow and unhurried, like time itself would wait for him. Sunlight touched his skin, casting him I something almost unreal. Not quite an angel or a demon, but something in between.
There was pride in the way he moved, something that made it hard to look away. As if he held the entire courtyard in place.
Celeste stared. His madness seemed more like a flaw that barely dimmed him. He was more than beautiful. Mesmerizing. And judging by the silence around her, she wasn't the only one who thought so.
He wore a cream, deep-cut silk shirt and loose brown pants that emphasized his long legs. His tattoos were more visible now, trailing along his skin, complementing his piercings.
Aiden tilted his head slightly toward the sun, as if savoring it. It had been years since he'd stepped outside like this. The sky felt like an entirely new world, so vast compared to the ceilings of his penthouse. His tongue peeked out, as though tasting the morning air. Everything felt foreign, and he took his time savoring it before turning his attention to his surroundings.
He opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the brightness. Then he lowered them, taking in his surroundings. His pale green gaze swept over everyone in the yard. When it landed on the weapons, his expression shifted, eyes narrowing. Those things only brought him pain. Though he was accustomed to it, the thought of it still unsettled him.
His jaw clenched and his fists tightened, but before he could make a reaction, his gaze found her. And just like that, everything stilled.
Celeste felt it. Those pale green eyes met hers, and whatever tension had been building in him seemed to ease, like water poured over flame.
His lips curved.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as her mind betrayed her, dragging her back to the night before. She didn't need to read his thoughts to know what that look meant.
A light tug on her arm pulled her back. She turned to Margaret, who gave her a nod for her to proceed.
Celeste gulped.
This was it, what she wanted. She would walk over there and ask him about the divorce they had spoken about. He seemed sane, except for the smirk he wore. She had nothing to worry about, other than the fact he reminded her of their sinful act last night. She stepped forward.
His head tilted as she approached, his curious eyes not once wavering away from her. She stopped a safe distance away from him, trying to avoid his intense gaze. But those were all useless acts to Aiden, as he closed the distance she refused to fill.
She gasped and stepped back, but he followed. Closer this time. Her eyes darted around, everyone was watching, including his aunt and uncle. If he didn't have a sense of shame, she did. She had to speak quickly otherwise, who knew what this brazen man might do next.
Clearing her dry throat, she stammered, "Um... I-I just w-wanted to..."
"Do you feel sore, wife?" Aiden's voice cut through hers, deep and clear enough for everyone to hear.
Celeste might have mistaken his question for concern like everyone else, if not for the smirk that had only grown wider, reminding her that anything from his lips was anything but innocent.
He leaned closer, looming over her. "I may have been... a little rough last night. Do you still feel uncomfortable?" His voice dropped, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone else could hear.
"I ask because you walked strangely just now-"
Celeste choked on her own saliva, cutting him off. Her eyes darted around, searching for any sign that someone had heard. Embarrassment burned her cheeks, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
"T-the divorce," she rushed out. "I-I wanted to remind you..."
Aiden's expression shifted subtly at the mention of the word that had sour his mood last night. He'd thought she was just another pawn of his family, yet here she was, always rambling about divorcing him.
"What about it?" He asked, a strange scent catching his nose.
Celeste clenched her fists, trying to steady herself. "I wanted to—" Her words died as his eyes snapped shut without warning.
His body convulsed violently, as if waging a battle within. Celeste froze, her frown deepening, unsure what would come next.
Then his eyes snapped open.
The serene man she had faced moments ago was gone, replaced by the same mad presence that had nearly strangled her yesterday.
Celeste's eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, he shoved her with brutal force. She stumbled, landing several feet away with a groan.