(Aya’s POV)“Aya, do you plan to stay there forever?” Addie called from downstairs. “You can’t avoid Ryan that long, you know?”“I know! I’m… Coming?” I pouted as I put on my earrings.I had to come home to my apartment, afraid that Ryan might show up here to pick me up even if I told him we would meet at Lucy’s Kitchen. He had this habit of doing things even if I asked him not to do them.My eyebrows knitted, looking at myself in the full-length mirror while thinking why on earth Red wanted me to look my best tonight. Ariana still had plenty of gifts I had not used, and plain ones would be better, not as provocative as this one. I did not want Ryan to think I had other motives tonight.I asked Red how long he thought I would stay with Ryan in the restaurant when all I had to do was return the parure and break the news to him that I was already married. He only smirked and joked that I should break up with Ryan in style, so here I was, looking at my reflection wearing the knee-length

(Aya’s POV)“Will you marry me, Aya?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with delight as he waited for my answer.I gaped at him, also hoping to pull down my eyebrows and close my mouth because I surely looked like an idiot in front of Ryan. The universe must have gone mad, giving me two marriage proposals in just one month, and like how I met him, in Red’s case, I let my guard down, saying yes because of his children and… perhaps my annoyance with him because he pestered me until I say yes?“I should be asking this with the champagne and cake, but when you stopped the server, I got nervous that I couldn’t wait anymore.”I swallowed hard, blinking while laying my eyes on the engagement ring, not realizing we would come to this moment. Knowing Ryan, I should have anticipated that he always treated me like his prospective client, selling himself with the ultimate goal of closing a deal with me, which, most of the time, we ended up in bed.“I was never that perfect boyfriend for you, not being

(Red’s POV)“What happened, baby?”To question what had occurred was stupid because I knew exactly what had happened today except for their conversation inside the restaurant. Liam and Mike interrogated me last night as if I was guilty of a crime, asking me if I had fallen in love with Aya to waste time and effort in making her believe I left today and would not return until Friday.Yes. No. Maybe.All I knew was that my heart hammered in my chest as soon as I saw her in the elevator, crying, and I could not help feeling bad for myself that she was forced to break up with her boyfriend because of my kids and me. When I opened my arms to her, she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, burying her face into my chest as she cried. I embraced her, my fingers brushing her hair, hoping it would ease her pain. I sighed, wanting to apologize for getting in the way of having a promising future with Ryan.I let her cry for a while, and when she had stopped sobbing, I moved slightly awa

(Aya’s POV) My eyes were shimmering with tears, and my heart overflowed with potent emotions I thought I would never feel again. I never expected Red could put back the pieces of my heart together, making me feel alive and happier. He moved closer to me, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my body as he rested his head on my shoulder. We watched the fireworks shattering bright sparks of colors, making the sky look enchanting and beautiful. “No one has ever made me so happy, Red,” I sniffled, thinking that even Gino had never made me feel this way. I turned around, not wanting my tears to flow down my cheeks, but happiness was overwhelming inside me. My whole body trembled as I gazed at my husband, looking divine before me. Who would have thought I could have my happy ending with Red? “I’ll do everything for you, Aya,” Red said, kissing my forehead. “It’s hard to believe, but you made my heart beat again,” he smiled softly and then pressed his lips on the tip of my nose

(Aya’s POV)I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom as soon as Red came out. I knew he glanced in my direction, startled but ignored me and walked toward the walk-in closet. I spent the entire hour taking a bath, pampering my skin with fragrant lotions, drying my hair leisurely, and choosing the sexiest sleepwear I could find in my closet.Still, when I was done, I hoped that Red had fallen asleep, not caring much about the effort I exerted for tonight. I stepped outside the walk-in closet and leaned on the doorframe, seeing him still awake and reading a baking cookbook Violet gave me.My lips curved into a smile as I gazed at him, looking adorable as he narrowed his eyes at my book.“How do you prepare something so delicious like this?” He asked without looking at me.“Have you chosen what you like? I’ll try baking it,” I said, getting his attention.He raised his head, and I was sure his jaw dropped, and then licked his lips, his brown eyes slowly sweeping over my face to my bla