Lucas was blown away. He chuckled at the boy's request and approached him. He asked, "What? You want me to marry your mom?" "I'm serious, Mister!" Aiden said. "I think you'll be a better husband for my mom!" "You fight well. When you and Mommy were fighting earlier, it was like a synchronized dance, like you knew her well enough to predict her moves!" Aiden complimented. "Plus, you are smart and -" Aiden's grin grew wider as he described, "You are half as handsome as I am, so you'll do." Lucas, "..." "Half as handsome?" Lucas clarified. He was about ready to burst into laughter at his son's suggestion. He mused, 'Couldn't he see that we looked very much alike?' "Yeah," Aiden said. "Jake thought he was more handsome than me. Are you going to be the same? Choose your reply wisely, Mister." Lucas, "..." "You certainly are... more handsome than me," Lucas confirmed. Tears welled in his eyes, but he chuckled, thoroughly amused. He was amazed by his son's character. "You - you hav

Lily entered Aiden's room, holding a key to the handcuffs. She slowly walked over to Lucas' side and was about to insert the key, but the man grabbed her wrist violently. "Lucas," she said, nearly raising her voice. "Let go of me." She saw Lucas' lethal gaze as if he were ready to attack. Thankfully, his expression turned gentle upon recognizing her. He said, "Lily, don't startle me like that. I - I -" "What?" Lily asked. "Why were you reacting that way?" "Sorry, I - it's a long story," Lucas said, making Lily frown. "I guess I have to allocate one month for that very long story to come out," Lily muttered before unlocking the handcuffs. She glanced at her son, and seeing how Aiden held Lucas tightly made her almost want to cry. Earlier, Aiden insisted that Lucas sleep in his room. He would not tell anyone where he hid the keys to the handcuffs. It was evident to Lily that her son was afraid of losing his father. Fortunately, Lily found the key under the dresser in her pare

Lily's eyes rounded. She felt like she was transported to another place, perhaps a mountain resort, because the room's interior was very nature-like! It was precisely how she would have loved her room to be if she had bought her own house. The room Lucas assigned to her was massive. She thought it was even bigger than Lucas' room. She had a gigantic glass window with access to a small, enclosed garden. Her private space was painted in earthly colors, which was very much to Lily's liking. Lily took a big whiff of her room and could not help but smile at the scent of orange zest from the humidifier. She tried to hold it back, but her true feelings betrayed her. She muttered, "Dammit! Lucas really knows me. When did he have this room customized? We have only been married for three days!" There were indoor plants, rosewood furniture, a large portrait of her younger self on the wall, and a few mounted pictures of her and Lucas in the years before he left. Lily walked up to one picture

"Congratulations, Mister Wright, you may go home tomorrow," Lucas said with a smile. Another two days passed, and finally, Kaleb Wright received his discharge order. Lily and Aiden stayed in the center during the day and went home to Lucas's villa at night. So far, each night has been spent with a gracious dinner, and Aiden has bonded with Lucas. "Glad I'm going home, but I'm not really going home yet," Kaleb said with a hint of sarcasm. A growl rumbled in Lily's throat, cautioning her father. Their set-up in Rose Hills was supposed to be kept private. Major Patton needed time to ensure the Wrights' security, so Kaleb and Scarlett were asked to stay longer in Rose Hills. Lucas cleared his throat and said, "Just a little reminder. Walking and stretching is fine, but no strenuous exercises yet, especially ones that excite the heart." Kaleb and Scarlett were baffled. Because of their reaction, Lucas clarified, "No exercises that involve cuffs, chains, and black feathers." "What?!

"I was voodooed," Lily explained. "What?" Liam retorted. The expression on his face was incomprehensible. He exclaimed, "What do you mean by voodooed?" "Voodooed, you know! I think I was bewitched! Lucas probably practiced witchcraft over the years he went missing. He chanted some words, and I was compelled to sign the marriage contract!" Lily made up a story to defend her actions. "What chanted? What kind of spell did he say to make you marry him?" Liam asked in disbelief. "Um." Lily bit her lip. She said, "It went along the lines of many years ago, I promised a young girl I would be her special person and buy her a blue diamond ring. Then, he said he never stopped loving me. Ha. Ha." "See?" Lily revealed, "Get me now? I was voodooed!" "I suddenly felt an energy lifting my hand, and I signed the marriage contract," Lily described. "I was not myself when it happened." Liam narrowed his eyes at Lily. He was emitting steam as he sarcastically responded, "I did not know that a l