The loud alarm jerked fear all over Ava’s body causing the towel to fall off and just before she picked it up, she met Aiden’s eyes glued on her bare body causing the duo to freeze for a second. Aiden was quick to touch the automatic lock button by the side of the door to prevent the guards from running in. He watched her wrap herself again with the towel. Despite his burning rage that she touched his property which was off-limits to everyone in the mansion.

“I’m….not…a thief…” Ava stuttered still in fear of what next. Her body fidgeted continuously being alone with Aiden. His unkempt hair and beards concocted him as a monster that caused her to faint during their first encounter and being alone in the same sparsely lit place with him, she felt her heart cry.

“Thank…you.” She mumbled.

He scornfully gazed at her letting out a scoff before hitting the control button again for the doors to open. The guards rushed in ready to apprehend the thief but froze at the sight of Aiden alone with Ava. His chamber was filled with some maids and other domestic staff. The alarm of an intruder threw the room in a fit.

“What is it, boss?” Gavin asked, advancing towards him.

“Who let her in here ?” Aiden asked in his subtle Scottish accent. It was the second time Ava had heard him speak, the first was the false alarm to which she paid no heed but this time, her ears tingled at his voice.

Aiden’s question left all the staff confused, she’s his wife where else was she supposed to be? Mrs Jenkins rushed forward accepting the blame.

“You know how sacred….this place is for me…yet you let a stranger in?!” He roared betraying his anger in his voice.

“Stranger?” Mrs. Jenkins unconsciously blurted but quickly covered her mouth with her palm, bowing to apologize.

“Do you know her?” Aiden probed, and she quickly negated.

“Good! Lady of every part of the mansion but not near me….now get the American out of here!”

Mrs. Jenkins quickly signaled the maids to pack Ava’s things while she held Ava hand in hand as they marched out of the room.

As they left, she let her tears stream down her face, feeling embarrassed all the more. She thought for a second, he was saving her from the shame when he shut the door to prevent the guards from storming in and seeing her naked but the actions that followed left her devastated.

“My lady, your food will be brought in shortly.” Mrs. Jenkins said after settling Ava in her new room. Ava continued sobbing, striking a pity cord in Mrs. Jenkins who decided to sit by her side.

“Is he…always such…a monster? I was…just checking out… some nice paintings.” Ava asked between sobs.

“Those were not just nice paintings… but paintings that Mr. Douglas made for… his late mother…”

Ava paused, confused about whether to feel bad for him but she pushed it off, choosing to stick with the image of a monster. She ignored the dinner serving, crying herself to sleep.

The next morning, Mrs. Jenkins's subtle knock was the wake-up call that Ava received. She led some maids into her bathroom, who helped Ava prepare her luxurious bath with Aiden’s preferred red rose fragrance and set up a banquet for breakfast.

“Is there a feast?” Ava asked, seeing all the exquisite things that the maids were doing; lining up several dishes and preparing several body lotions and supplements for her. The fragrance filled the room, inviting Ava into the luxury bath.

After the bath and breakfast, Mrs. Jenkins led her down the stairs to meet the family designer. In that moment all Ava’s grumpy tendencies melted as she spotted Chandler Gold, the biggest fashion designer in the United Kingdom. She learned of her from Olivia who wouldn’t stop whining about her dream of one day been designed by the celebrity designer. She had gotten the cue of Aiden been rich but seeing the Forbes rated designer, another reality was opened to her.

“Wow! Mr. Douglas really got himself a trophy!” Chandler exclaimed spotting Ava’s body shape and detailing. At the snap of her fingers, her workers wheeled in several lines of clothes with her assistant handing her a measuring tape to get to work.

“Arm!” Chandler instructed but Sophia was too lost in thought.

“Whaaat?”

“Your arm, Mrs. Douglas!” Chandler exclaimed.

The fitting process continued as Chandler got Ava to try several masterpieces and also promising to send other outfits based on any occasion.

The fitting session however exciting for Ava was also tiring hence when she got the chance to go to her room, she threw herself on the bed, her eyes shut and with a smile on her face.

“Better an elegant cage than a suffocating one.” She muttered.

“Indeed, slut!” Alisa's wispy voice jerked her up from the bed, her whole body shivering in fear. When she walked in she didn’t see anyone so how was Alisa sitting on her dressing table?

“What….what are you…doing here?” Ava stuttered. Alisa threw her a bag in response.

Ava opening it, held out the stone-laced red gown.

“Red?” Ava blurted unconsciously. Her hatred for the color beclouded her reasoning.

“He loves red…”

“But I hate it!” Ava stumped, igniting a mild scoff from Alisa.

“No one cares what you want…your wedding dinner is in three hours.”

“Wedding dinner? What does that even mean?”

“A dinner where honorable elites gather to celebrate a supposedly honorable marriage.”Alisa scorned not hiding her hatred for Ava but letting it find expression.

“The makeup artist will be here in thirty minutes…don’t be late!”

Alisa announced before stepping out.

Ava held her rage. “I hate her so much!”

True to Alisa’s words, the makeup artist came in thirty minutes in the company of Mrs. Jenkins and other maids to help get her dressed. She expected to see Aiden but all she saw was a fancy chauffeur in front of a limousine.

“Welcome ma’am” the chauffeur greeted in his Scottish accent which made the ride fancier. She reached for the drinks inside the car, gulping down two glasses to help relieve her from the anxiety and nervousness eating her up.

Ava struggled to hold her wide gasps at the sight of the destination. The chauffeur revealed the hotel to be one of the properties of the Douglas and the whole family and friends are waiting to receive them. Gavin received them in front of the five-star hotel.

“You look beautiful, ma’am.” He muttered, she smiled in return, unable to respond due to her pounding heart.

Their names were crested at the entrance of the reception signaling that the five-star hotel was shut down for the couple. Ava couldn’t understand why such extravaganza had to happen despite the duo being married already.

Gavin led her up to the penthouse positioning her at the entrance of the door while he proceeded into the venue to signal every one of her arrival and as the Douglas tradition, they all stood with hungry eyes ready to behold the long-awaited beauty.

The lights were dimmed, the instrumentalist soloing a Scottish wedding sound as the sign for the guards to open the door. The crowd let out a huge gasp at the sight of Ava. Her blonde hair carefully rested on her bare shoulders, her finger-picked stone-laced gown; hugged her features revealing her hourglass feature and how her warm, her glass heels complimented her leg chain and her beautiful smile completed the look.

“She’s so….beautiful!” Mrs. Emily, Aiden’s stepmother gasped louder than anyone else. Aiden and Alisa’s eyes widened at the sight of her, his eyes escorting as she walked in majestically.

He pulled Alisa who stood by his side.

“I thought I gave you the dress to give her?”

He gritted, his face red in anger.

“I did, sir.” Alisa hushed back.

“So what the hell is she wearing?!”