Avery's POV
The bell had barely rung when the message arrived. A formal note from Mr. Reid, requesting I see him after school. My stomach twisted.
After school? What could it be?
I tried to focus in class, but every word he said—every demonstration on the board—slipped past me. Numbers blurred into lines, formulas dissolved into nothingness. My thoughts were consumed with unease and curiosity.
He's never asked to meet me alone before…
When the final bell rang, I packed my bag slowly, prolonging the moment. The hallways buzzed with students chatting, laughing, their voices echoing off the walls, but I felt oddly detached. Every step toward the teacher's office made my heart beat faster.
I knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in," came the calm, measured voice.
The room smelled faintly of coffee and polished wood. Axel sat behind the large desk, hands folded neatly, posture perfect as always. His blue eyes lifted to meet mine. There was that calm intensity again, the same one that made my stomach flutter inexplicably.
"Sit," he said.
I did, careful to keep my hands folded in my lap, trying not to fidget.
He studied me quietly for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. I wanted to ask what this was about, but the words wouldn't come.
Finally, he spoke. "Avery… I have discussed with your parents. And with my family. I wish to marry you."
I froze. My mind stopped. "W-what?" My voice sounded too loud in the quiet room.
He didn't flinch. "I am serious. I want you to be my wife."
The words hit me like a thunderclap. Married? Him? My heart pounded with confusion, disbelief, and—though I hated myself for it—something like fear.
"I… I don't know…" I stammered. "I… I can't just… I'm… young. I'm not—"
"You're not ready?" he asked gently, though every word carried a subtle firmness, the kind that made you want to obey without fully understanding why.
"I'm not," I whispered, head bowed. I couldn't imagine leaving the life I knew, leaving my routines, my school, my friends… for a man I barely understood beyond his classroom presence.
He leaned back slightly, steepling his fingers, calm and collected. "I understand your hesitation. This isn't something to rush, Avery. But I believe it is the right decision for both of us. For the present, and the future."
I looked up at him. There was no malice, no force. Just certainty, calm, and… power. Power I couldn't ignore, power that seemed to command compliance without demanding it outright.
"I…" I swallowed, fighting the knot in my throat. "I don't want to disappoint anyone… but… I'm scared. It's all… so sudden."
"Fear is natural," he said softly. "But I would never ask you to do this if I did not mean to honor you. If we proceed, I will ensure you are cared for, respected, and safe. I promise you that."
His words were steady, almost hypnotic. I felt myself softening, the fear in my chest mingling with a strange sense of security.
"Axel…" I whispered. His name tasted strange on my lips, like it carried weight I wasn't ready to bear.
"Yes?"
"I… I don't like the idea…" My hands twisted nervously in my lap. "But… maybe… maybe I can try. If… if you promise…"
"I promise," he said immediately. "I will not fail you. Not in respect, not in care, not in life. That is my word."
I nodded slowly, heart still racing, mind still clouded, but a small flicker of acceptance—an understanding of trust—crept in.
I agreed. I can't believe I agreed.
After school, I walked home slowly, replaying every word. The thought of marriage made me dizzy, yet… there was something about Axel that made me feel… safe, in an odd, unexpected way.
The school felt different the next day. Every glance at him in class, every lecture, every soft intonation of his voice carried weight. My stomach fluttered, my hands trembled slightly. This is real. He's… going to be my husband someday.
I forced myself to concentrate, to take notes carefully, to pretend it was just another ordinary day. But it wasn't. Not anymore.
Not with him.