[Music recommendation: RIOPY - The Heart’s Monologue]

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The storm continued to rage outside, yet nothing could compare to the storm currently tearing through Aliana from within.

’Marry me...’

Those two words continued to echo relentlessly in her mind, over and over again, as though lightning had struck her entire soul.

Her wide eyes remained locked onto those magnetic blue orbs staring back at her, utterly unflinching. As if he had not just detonated a bomb over her entire world.

As she stared at him, her short-circuited brain desperately tried to function... tried to discern whether he could possibly be serious right now.

But then again, Gavriel had always been an unreadable, impenetrable wall she could never truly see through.

On top of that, her violently racing nerves were hardly helping her rationalise the situation.

She didn’t know how many minutes passed as they stood so dangerously close to each other until Gavriel, who had been staring intensely at her, finally whispered, "You can’t do it... can you?"

Slowly, he released her chin before taking a single step back, and only then did Aliana realise she had been holding her breath this entire time. Her lungs burned as air finally rushed back into them.

She watched him take another step away, his piercing gaze never leaving hers for even a second.

"Since you cannot fulfil my terms..." he said softly, though his words struck like ice, "I suggest you leave."

With that, he turned around and began walking back towards the armchair he had been seated in earlier before adding, "Maybe next time, think about the consequences before you go offering just about anything to someone... especially when that someone is me," he said, the last part laced with a deeper, far more dangerous meaning.

As Gavriel continued to move away from her, Aliana’s stunned brain finally began catching up to his words and the meaning lurking beneath them.

Her eyes, which had widened to the size of saucers moments ago, finally blinked before narrowing slowly in disbelief.

’Wait... what did he mean by that?’ she thought.

’Is this... is this his way of deterring me from pushing him any further? Like some twisted lesson to make me stop taking his warnings lightly?’

’M-marry him?’ Her thoughts nearly screeched to a halt again.

’I thought he had truly lost his mind, but the way he said it... it was like he knew. He knew that if nothing else worked, this would finally push me away and make me run for the hills.’

At that thought, anger bubbled in her chest, as another thought forced its way into her mind.

’Does he think this is some kind of joke when I’m dealing with a literal life-and-death situation? That he can just throw whatever absurd demand he wants at me so that I’ll finally leave him alone?’

Her jaw clenched.

’Well, if that’s the case... then he is hugely mistaken. I’m not a pushover, and certainly not someone who gives up easily. If he thinks he can get away with playing these little games with me... then two can play that game.’

The instant that thought crossed her mind, her feet finally moved from where she had stood frozen only moments ago.

Just as Gavriel took another step forward, his footsteps came to an abrupt halt when he suddenly felt a pair of delicate hands wrap tightly around his wrist.

His eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting her to rush after him after what he had just asked of her.

Slowly, he turned his head over his shoulder and met her fierce gaze.

For a moment, even he looked taken aback.

The fire from the fireplace reflected in her grey eyes, making them appear as though they were truly burning into him.

He watched her throat bob slightly before she finally parted her petal-soft lips and asked, "Is this... truly what you want?"

This time, it was Gavriel’s turn to freeze at her question.

His piercing gaze sharpened as he tried to read her expression, but she gave nothing away.

Only those blazing eyes continued to stare at him with such fierce intensity that they made the actual flames behind him pale in comparison.

Turning fully to face her, he finally replied, "Yes."

"You do realise what this means, right? You... being married to me?" Aliana asked, her voice dropping lower.

"I do," Gavriel answered before lazily tilting his head. "But the question is whether you know what this means."

"I’m not a child. Of course, I know what marriage means. But for people like us, it also means a merger... a merger not just between two people, but between our businesses as well. Do you really think you’re ready for something like that?" Aliana asked, her gaze unwavering.

A small smile slowly played on Gavriel’s lips before he took a step forward, towering over her.

"Tell me, little rose..." he murmured softly. "Are you under the impression that this would be some sort of contract marriage?"

Her brows immediately pulled together. "Isn’t that what you meant? Otherwise, why would you..."

Her voice suddenly trailed off when Gavriel lifted his hand and brushed the back of his fingers lightly against her cheek, sending a sharp shudder through her entire body.

The fierceness in her eyes softened slightly at his touch, and then his deep, dangerously low voice filled her ears.

"No, there won’t be any contract," he whispered. "You agreeing to this means it would be as real as it could possibly get."

Her breathing suddenly turned uneven when he leaned in until his breath brushed against her cheek.

The hand that had been caressing her face slowly dipped lower until his long fingers curled possessively around her slender neck. The tip of his nose dragged lightly along her cheek all the way to her ear as he spoke.

"It means..." he whispered darkly, "you’ll be mine and mine alone."

A violent shiver ran through her body.

"It means there will be no backing out once you are tied to me... it means your mind, your body, and even your soul will belong to me... only me."

His grip around her neck tightened just enough to make her pulse stumble.

"Make no mistake, Aliana..." His dangerously seductive whisper brushed against the shell of her ear, setting every nerve in her body ablaze. "This won’t be just for public eyes. It will be very real... even behind the closed doors of... our bedroom."