~Ivan~

I was fuming. Ashley had bruised my ego again with her stubborn defiance, and I couldn’t understand why she always had that power over me. What was it about her that made me want to care for her, to treat her like a queen and chase after her; even though she never made it easy? I needed a drink to clear my head, so I went to the club.

The club was dim and crowded, with heavy bass and lights going crazy that barely touched the shadows.

I wasn’t really there for the party. I just needed to drown my frustration. As I made my way through the room, I spotted a familiar figure. Ashley sat alone at the bar, staring into her drink with a sad, distant look on her face. My heart sank a little seeing her so lost.

She wore a simple peach colored gown that reached her ankle and her hair worn down only made her sorrow even more obvious. She wasn't wearing her glasses too and I was torn between feeling sad and admiring her beauty from afar.

I watched her from afar, respecting her space. I knew better than to intrude when she was in pain. But then I noticed a group of rough men closing in on her. They circled around her, their intentions clear in their predatory stares.

I couldn’t let that happen. I pulled out my phone and called my bodyguards. "Get over here," I ordered firmly. "I want these guys taken care of."

Within moments, my men arrived and moved swiftly through the crowd.

We moved outside and I listened as shouts filled the air and the sound of fists meeting flesh echoed through the empty street. The thugs didn’t stand a chance; they were beaten up severely before they could do any real harm.

I kept my distance, watching the scene unfold. My anger had shifted into a deep, protective concern. Even though Ashley had hurt me more than once with her defiant ways, I couldn’t stand by and let anyone hurt her. There was something in her, a vulnerability mixed with fierce strength, that I couldn’t ignore.

Ashley barely stirred in my arms as I carried her into my home. She was light, fragile, her head resting against my chest like she belonged there. I had no idea why I brought her here instead of dropping her off at some hotel, but I wasn’t about to question myself now.

I placed her gently on the bed and stepped back, watching as she shifted slightly, curling into the warmth of the blankets. For a long moment, I just stood there, running a hand through my hair before finally turning away to think.

By morning, I had someone make breakfast.

By the time I returned with a plate of food, she was awake, sitting up with a dazed expression. Her hair was a mess, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She looked… cute. Too cute for someone who had driven me insane just hours ago.

"Eat," I said, placing the plate in front of her.

She blinked up at me. "Where am I?"

"My place."

She looked down at the oversized shirt she was wearing—mine. I had given it to her after realizing she couldn’t sleep in her ruined dress. A small part of me enjoyed how she looked in it, drowning in the fabric, her bare legs peeking out from underneath.

Ashley tugged at the hem of the shirt, frowning. "Did we—"

"No," I cut her off before she could finish whatever ridiculous thought she had. "You passed out. I changed your clothes so you’d be comfortable."

She was silent, staring at me as if trying to decide whether to believe me. I sighed and took a seat across from her, leaning back with my arms crossed.

"Do you even remember what happened last night?"

Ashley hesitated, then shook her head. "Not really."

"Some guys tried to hurt you. I had them taken care of."

She tensed at that, her fingers tightening around the fork. I could see the questions in her eyes, but she didn’t ask them. Instead, she focused on the food, eating in silence while I watched her closely.

After a while, I stood up and walked to the window, pulling out my phone. I had already asked Theo to look into the incident from the night before, but now, I needed answers.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed.

"Bad news," Theo’s voice came through the speaker. "That wasn’t a random attack. Her stepmother and sister sent those guys after her."

I stilled. "You’re sure?"

"Positive. Paid them off to make sure she never made it home."

My jaw clenched as I glanced back at Ashley. She was still quietly eating, oblivious to the weight of what I had just learned.

I ended the call and turned to face her.

"Ashley," I said, my voice firm. "I hear you have some issues with your family. Do you think they might have a reason to hurt you?"

She froze, the fork slipping from her fingers. For a moment, she didn’t move, didn’t blink, just sat there as the words settled over her.

Then, to my surprise, she took a deep breath, her expression hardening.

"Maybe," she said simply.

I frowned. "Like what?"

She met my gaze, steady and unflinching. "I don't know," she chipped. "Also, I think I'm ready."

"Ready for what?"

She lifted her chin. "To be your wife."

For the first time in years, I was caught completely off guard.

I narrowed my eyes. "I don’t do commitments, Ashley. What do you mean?"

She tilted her head slightly, a knowing glint in her eyes. "That’s funny," she murmured. "Because moments ago, you wanted me in your bed. That was your offer, wasn’t it?"

I exhaled sharply, amused despite myself. "And now you’ve changed what you want in return?"

She nodded, completely unfazed. "Yes. I want to be your wife."

I took a slow step toward her, closing the space between us. "Marriage isn’t just a word, Ashley. If you want to be my wife, you better be ready for what comes with it." My voice dropped lower, rougher. "I’m not gentle. I don’t do romance, and I sure as hell don’t let people walk away from me once they belong to me."

She didn’t flinch, didn’t move back. If anything, her chin lifted slightly in challenge. "I never asked for something gentle."

A smirk tugged at my lips. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. "So you think you can handle me?"

She held my gaze, steady and unwavering. "Try me."

Something dark and possessive stirred inside me. I reached out, my fingers brushing her jaw, tilting her face up toward mine. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away.

"You don’t get to play games with me," I murmured. "If you say you’re mine, you’ll be mine in every way. No running, no second-guessing." My thumb traced along her lower lip, my voice turning into a warning. "And when I take you, Ashley, it won’t be sweet. It’ll be rough. It’ll be real. And you’ll feel me for days after."

Her pupils dilated, but she stood her ground. "Then stop talking and show me."

I let out a low chuckle, a mixture of amusement and desire curling in my chest. She had no idea the kind of man she was provoking, but I was more than happy to teach her.

"You just sealed your fate," I told her, my grip tightening slightly on her chin. "There’s no turning back now."