The black car stopped in front of a massive modern mansion.
Aria stared out the window in silence.
Tall iron gates. High walls. Security cameras on every corner.
"This looks like a military base," she said.
Ronan stepped out of the car.
"It's safer that way."
The gate slowly opened as if it already recognized him.
The car drove inside.
Aria noticed something strange immediately.
Two men in dark suits stood near the entrance of the house. They weren't ordinary guards.
Their posture was too alert.
Their eyes moved constantly, scanning the area.
Ronan noticed her looking.
"My team," he said.
"Team?"
"You didn't think I worked alone."
Aria followed him out of the car.
The guards nodded respectfully.
"Boss."
Ronan walked past them without stopping.
Inside, the house was quiet and elegant. Large windows let sunlight fill the spacious living room. Everything looked expensive but minimal.
Aria slowly turned around, taking it all in.
"So this is where the mysterious Ronan Blake lives."
Ronan placed his keys on the table.
"You'll get used to it."
Aria looked at him.
"You sound very confident about that."
"You signed a one-year contract."
"That doesn't mean I'll like it."
Ronan shrugged.
"That's not part of the agreement."
Aria sighed.
"Of course it isn't."
Just then footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A woman walked into the room.
She had short blonde hair, sharp eyes, and wore a black tactical jacket.
She stopped the moment she saw Aria.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Boss," she said.
Ronan nodded.
"Lena."
The woman crossed her arms.
"And who is she?"
Aria noticed the suspicious tone immediately.
Ronan answered calmly.
"My wife."
Silence filled the room.
Lena blinked.
"Your… what?"
"My wife."
Aria awkwardly raised her hand.
"Hello."
Lena looked between them like she had just heard the most unbelievable news of her life.
"You got married?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"This morning."
Lena stared at Ronan.
"You disappeared for three hours and came back with a wife?!"
Ronan poured himself a glass of water.
"Yes."
Lena turned slowly toward Aria.
"And you are?"
"Aria Sen."
The moment Lena heard the name, her expression changed.
"The Sen family?"
"Yes."
Lena looked back at Ronan again.
"Boss… you know Victor Kane is planning to marry her."
"I know."
"And you married her anyway?"
"Yes."
Lena rubbed her forehead.
"This is going to start a war."
"That's the idea."
Aria blinked.
"Wait, what?"
But before anyone could explain further, a phone rang.
Ronan looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Speak."
A deep voice came through the phone.
Calm.
Cold.
"Ronan Blake."
Ronan didn't react.
"Victor Kane."
Aria froze.
Even hearing the name made her stomach tighten.
Victor Kane's voice sounded almost amused.
"You move fast."
"You're slow."
Victor chuckled.
"You stole my bride."
"She chose me."
Victor's voice became colder.
"Do you know how many powerful people wanted that marriage?"
"I don't care."
Victor was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"You think marrying her protects her?"
"Yes."
Victor laughed softly.
"That's adorable."
Aria felt chills run down her spine.
Victor continued,
"You just painted a target on her back."
Ronan's expression didn't change.
"I've had targets before."
"But now you have something to lose."
The call ended.
Silence filled the room.
Lena cursed under her breath.
"Well… that went exactly as expected."
Aria felt nervous.
"What did he mean?"
Ronan placed the phone down.
"He means he's angry."
"That much I understand."
"He'll try to take you back."
Aria swallowed.
"Take me back… how?"
Ronan looked directly into her eyes.
"Any way possible."
The words made the air feel heavier.
Lena walked to the window and looked outside.
"Boss."
"What?"
"Three black cars just stopped outside the gate."
Ronan walked beside her.
Aria followed nervously.
Through the window, she saw them.
Three expensive black vehicles.
The doors opened.
Several men stepped out.
And then…
A tall man in a dark grey suit.
His presence alone felt powerful and dangerous.
Even from far away, Aria recognized him immediately.
Victor Kane.
Her heart stopped.
"He's here already?" she whispered.
Lena sighed.
"Well… that was fast."
Ronan's eyes became cold.
"Of course he came."
Victor Kane slowly walked toward the gate.
The guards outside looked nervous.
Victor stopped and looked directly at the house.
At the window.
At Aria.
Even from that distance, she felt his gaze lock onto her.
Then he smiled.
A slow, chilling smile.
"He came personally," Lena said quietly.
"That means he's furious."
Aria's hands trembled slightly.
"What happens now?"
Ronan turned toward the door.
"Now?"
His voice became calm and dangerous.
"Now I greet my guest."
Aria grabbed his arm.
"Ronan…"
He looked down at her.
"Don't worry."
"Victor Kane is not someone you can just—"
Ronan gently removed her hand.
"I know exactly who he is."
Then he walked toward the door.
Outside, Victor Kane stood calmly near the gate.
The moment Ronan stepped outside, Victor's smile widened.
"Well," Victor said slowly.
"Congratulations on the marriage."
Ronan stopped a few steps away.
"Thank you."
Victor glanced past him.
His eyes found Aria standing inside the doorway.
His expression darkened slightly.
"You look beautiful, Aria."
Aria felt her heart racing.
Victor looked back at Ronan.
"You stole something that belongs to me."
Ronan replied calmly,
"She's not property."
Victor chuckled.
"You really think a piece of paper changes anything?"
"Yes."
Victor's eyes sharpened.
"You just made yourself my enemy."
Ronan tilted his head slightly.
"I thought we were already enemies."
Victor laughed again.
"Fair point."
Then his gaze shifted to Aria one more time.
"Enjoy your honeymoon."
His voice became colder.
"Because this marriage won't last long."
Victor turned and walked back to his car.
The vehicles drove away slowly.
Silence returned.
Aria finally exhaled.
"That man is terrifying."
Lena nodded.
"Yeah."
Then she looked at Ronan.
"You just declared war on Victor Kane."
Ronan's expression didn't change.
"I know."
Aria looked at him nervously.
"And you're okay with that?"
Ronan looked at her calmly.
"I told you something yesterday."
"What?"
"Once you marry a spy…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Everything becomes dangerous."
And somewhere across the city…
Victor Kane sat in the back of his car.
His smile slowly disappeared.
"Find every weakness Ronan Blake has," he said coldly.
The man sitting beside him nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Victor looked out the window.
And whispered one sentence.
"If I can't marry Aria Sen…"
"Then no one will."