Flash Marriage: In His Eyes-Chapter 250: Ines Braxton

–Deanne–

Too bad I couldn’t step in directly during the current crisis.

Paris is down.

Now Rome is down.

On the satellite feeds, cities look like chessboards—cold grids of light and shadow—while government movements crawl across my screens in hostile patterns. Red vectors. Yellow warnings. Every blink of data smells like iron and static.

We already activated the contingency plan. New lairs. New routes. New shadows.

Livana was right.

I never doubted her intelligence—but I underestimated how accurate her instincts would be. Just as she predicted, someone from the developers betrayed the Queen. A single fracture in loyalty, and everything cracked.

I exhaled slowly and shook my head.

Across from me, Caine stiffened. He hadn’t expected this—not from inside the system.

"I’ll send out men," he said, already standing, phone in hand.

I caught his wrist before he could move.

"No," I said evenly. "You can’t ruin the Grandmaster’s game."

He froze.

The air shifted—thick, heavy, electric. He stared at me for a second, then slowly lowered his phone and sat back down.

"Wow," he murmured, studying my face. "You sounded... serious."

I didn’t look at him.

"So," he added, leaning back, surrendering the space. "What are you doing, boss?"

"Sending a signal to the Queen’s Knights," I replied, fingers already moving. "Based on the Grandmaster’s request."

"I don’t understand."

"You don’t need to." I rolled my eyes. "Just sit back. I won’t teach you how to do this."

He chuckled and stood again.

"I’ll make something. Ramen?"

"Nope."

"Instant noodles?"

"I won’t eat." I waved him off without looking. "Just leave me alone."

He smiled anyway.

I turned back to work.

In front of me, an extended portal monitor glowed—a wide, seamless wall of information connected to my oversized laptop. Blue light washed over my hands, my face, my thoughts. This penthouse hides its secrets well. Buried beneath the luxury is a private network—my own Wi-Fi, my own internet—installed by Lore himself.

Untouchable. Untraceable.

Lore already sent the full relocation data. I forwarded it immediately after messaging him about Rome—what failed, what burned, what needed to vanish.

"I’m blocking their satellites," Lore grumbled through the secure line.

I didn’t ask where he was. Somewhere dangerous. Somewhere isolated. Probably moving.

They could track him—but he’s using an ultimate VPN routed somewhere in the Pacific. If anyone can disappear while rewriting reality, it’s him.

Right now, the priority is simple:

Secure our people.

Secure our assets.

If they breach our ports, the data could be compromised. Not that I doubt Jorge’s security database. We don’t use USBs. No hard drives. No physical storage.

If they try to insert anything into our system, they won’t steal data.

They’ll infect themselves.

"Babe, eat."

I glanced sideways.

Caine had returned, placing a tray beside me—quiet, careful, respectful.

"I’m busy."

My fingers kept flying. Orders sent. Units deployed. Routes rerouted. And then—something warm brushed my lips.

Tempura.

I opened my mouth without looking, accepting it as he fed me while I worked. That’s how it is with us. I don’t notice hunger. I don’t feel appetite.

But my body still needs care.

"Thank you," I murmured later, finally leaning back as the tension eased from my shoulders.

This time, he handed me a bowl of corn soup—thick and steaming, sweet corn kernels mixed with mushroom, egg, and tender meat. I took it, sipping slowly while he settled onto the carpet at my feet.

He lifted my legs gently and rested them on his knee, strong hands beginning to massage my arches.

I moaned softly before I could stop myself, exhaling as relief spread through my calves.

"After this crisis," he said casually, "let’s get married right away."

"Hmm."

"How long will it take?" he asked.

"To recover?" I looked up, meeting those mossy green eyes. Then I shrugged. "The satellite? A few months. Operations will continue regardless."

"Good to know."

I handed him the empty bowl. He placed it on the coffee table, then reached into the drawer and pulled out two boxes.

Luxury brand. Heavy. Elegant.

"For me?" I grinned. "You’re spoiling me."

I opened the first box.

My smile faltered. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Baby shoes.

Blue. Tiny. Handmade. Soft stitching, flexible soles, careful craftsmanship. Not flashy—thoughtful.

I opened the second box.

Pink and white.

My throat tightened. I pressed my lips together and looked at him.

"Caine," I whispered, "you really know how to make my heart flutter."

"Of course."

He gently spread my legs and knelt between them, pressing his ear to my stomach like it held the universe. His voice softened completely.

"I love you so much, Deanne. And our baby."

He kissed my belly. I rested my hand on his head, fingers threading through his hair.

"Let’s get married right away," I said quietly.

"I would love to."

I pulled him into a hug, and he answered with kisses—gentle, reverent, certain.

I never thought about marriage.

Caine wasn’t part of the plan.

He’s a gentleman. He doesn’t sexualize me—maybe in his thoughts, but never in action. He knows my past. Helped me bury it. Along with my dead stepfather.

My mother is still alive. She probably knows more than she lets on about her second husband’s death. She hates me. Hates that her husband wanted me.

The thought alone sends ice down my spine.

But Caine?

I never imagined marrying him either. I thought it was just sex. Temporary. Convenient.

Yet here we are.

And I hope—if he ever changes—it will be for the better.

Because I will love him.

For better or for worse.

–Sophia–

Our reception? Oh, it was a party—the kind where laughter melts into music and champagne tastes like sunlight. Ines stayed seated at her table, flanked by her bodyguards, that delicate net headdress still veiling her face as she sipped wine like a queen observing her court. Lina chatted happily with her, joined by the other women of the family, their voices blending with the hum of celebration.

Ines wasn’t close to Kai’s parents—distance and oceans had a way of doing that. Hawaii, elsewhere, everywhere. Technically, it was Aunt Alyssa who raised the boys. History stitched quietly into the night.

"She looks familiar," Kai whispered into my ear as we swayed on the dance floor. His breath warmed my skin. My phone vibrated insistently inside the pocket of my dress. I didn’t look. Aunt Ines told me not to take calls—even if the world is burning.

I know Livana. She’ll fix it.

"You’ll understand soon," I murmured. He bent and kissed me, slow and tender, and I kissed him back. He twirled me, laughter spinning with the music, then guided me toward Ines’s table and helped me settle into a chair.

"Wanna dance, Auntie?" Kai asked, extending his hand like the gentleman he is.

Ines glanced at his hand, then placed hers in it. He led her to the floor, twirled her once, then drew her closer, lowering his head. I watched as she leaned in, her lips near his ear as they crouched together in a shared secret. Kai’s expression shifted—surprise blooming, then understanding. They didn’t stop.

I turned to Daisy—the petite agent with the codename that never fit her steel—dressed adorably and utterly lethal. She handed me a glass of water. I took a sip. She retouched my makeup with deft fingers.

"What’s going on with the cave?" I asked quietly.

"Rome has fallen," she murmured. "No worries. They’re dealing with it." She smiled up at me.

I should be in the field. Rome is far from Hawaii, though, and the night kept moving. Bouquets flew. Laughter rose. Rituals wrapped themselves up. Eventually, we headed back to the villa while the party carried on without us.

My husband took me to our bedroom, and it was glorious—warm air, soft lights, the ocean breathing just beyond the windows. Then a gentle knock interrupted us.

I opened the door and smiled. Ines stood there with Daisy. I let them in. The lights went low as devices hummed; they scanned the room, every corner, every shadow. Then, satisfied, we settled. Ines removed her hat.

"Auntie!" Kai dropped to his knees and hugged her. She hugged him back, kissed the crown of his head.

"I never—" He took her hands, holding them tight. "I never expected this. So... you’re the Big Boss?"

"Might be," she giggled, touching his face. "You’ve grown marvelously, Kai."

"Of course," he chuckled. "And—I married the girl I told you about."

"Oh?" Ines glanced at me with a grin that sparked my curiosity. "Well. Good for you."

"She’s feisty," Kai laughed. "Just like I said."

"Kai," I hissed.

My phone vibrated again. Even Daisy checked her wrist display.

"Shit," I murmured, standing. I looked at Daisy. "Sorry, Kai. I need to go. Our LA satellite is being ambushed." I reached for my veil.

Ines raised a hand. "Calm down, Sophia. You’re not going to the field this time. Enjoy your honeymoon. A week—then you can work."

"A week?" I frowned.

"Just a night, then," Kai offered quickly.

"A night?" Ines tilted her head. "This is your honeymoon."

"Auntie," Kai said gently, "she won’t enjoy it if there’s an emergency."

I nodded. He knows me. He loves me.

"Oh," Ines exhaled. "Then a night. I’ll have everything prepared."

"I’ll go," Kai said. "Please."

I shook my head—but Ines smiled and nodded.

Damn it.

I think Ines is ready to welcome new family members.

I’m not.

I won’t ruin Livana’s plans.