He leaned in slowly, his fingers still wrapped around hers, his thumb brushing over her skin in a way that made her breath hitch before she could stop it.
Valerie instinctively leaned back, but there was nowhere to go. The back of the sofa pressed against her, and his strong chest caged her in.
Her heart began to pound, loud enough that both of them could hear it.
"Wh-what are you doing…?" she whispered, though her voice came out far softer than she intended.
Instead of answering, his gaze dropped to her lips.
Her fingers curled against his sleeve. "C-Contract. T-The contract—"
Her words cut off when he leaned closer, their breaths mingling.
He chuckled, amused. "Sweetheart, did you read the contract?"
Valerie froze. She hadn't! It was like a hundred pages!
Her lashes trembled, her mind blanking as his lips brushed against hers. The air felt heavier, her eyes almost dropped closed when—
Her phone rang!
The sharp sound shattered the moment, whatever magic he had done on her.
Valerie jolted. "Ah—!"
She pushed against his chest in a panic, scrambling away from him as if she had just been burned.
Azrael's hand lingered in the air for a second before he slowly leaned back. Instead of looking dejected, he seemed entertained.
"You...! You are a cheater! I should have never trusted you!"
Her heart was still racing as she fumbled for her phone, nearly dropping it before finally answering. It was her Aunt Eleanor.
"H-hello, Auntie…?"
"Mama!" Her little boy chirped from the other side.
"Roe?" Her voice softened immediately. She passed Azrael a glare before perching on the opposite sofa. "B-baby, are you okay?"
"I'm okay!" Little Roe sounded a little unsure. "Mama, where are you? Uncle said you went out…"
Valerie shot a quick glance at Azrael, instinctively turning away from him as she lowered her voice.
"I-I'm..." She glanced at him, taking a bite out of a croissant. She had taken a risk but she didn't know what would happen next. She trusted him even less now. "Did you eat? Are you behaving?"
"I ate!" he replied proudly, then hesitated. "Mama… you didn't go to meet Daddy without me, right?"
"Wh-Who told you?" Alarmed, she stuttered before realizing she had just confessed.
"Mama! Why did you not take Little Roe with you!"
"I didn't—" she started instinctively, only to stop midway when she realized there was no saving it.
A small gasp came from the other end. "Mama! You did go meet Daddy but didn't take Little Roe!"
"I…" She exhaled in defeat. "Daddy… wanted me to pick a gift for you, so I had to come first."
It was the best she could come up with on the spot. She could just take a little toy back with her.
"Really?!" Little Roe's voice lit up instantly. "Mama, did Daddy already buy it?"
Valerie blinked. "What? The gift, we are still looking—"
"The Big Bounce House!" he exclaimed excitedly. "The one as big as Mama's house!"
Valerie went completely still. "…What?"
She pulled the phone, staring at the screen in disbelief. A bounce house… the size of their house?
What kind of nonsense was that? What kind of madman would buy a bounce house that big?
"Roe…" she said as calmly as she could. "What are you talking about?"
Little Roe had been obsessed with bounce houses since he played a kid's version of Capture the Flag with paintball guns in one at a friend's birthday right before coming.
"Mama, Daddy already promised! If he breaks a promise, he will grow a monkey's tail!" His voice wobbled, already on the verge of whining. "He said we can play together and I can invite everyone and—"
Valerie's eye twitched. She turned her head very slowly toward the man sitting across from her.
He was calmly sipping his drink. As if he had nothing to do with this.
"Mama…" Little Roe sniffled. "Daddy won't lie to me, right?"
Valerie opened her mouth, ready to snap when the phone in her hand was gone.
"Huh—?" Azrael had plucked the phone right out of her hand.
"It's a promise between men," he said smoothly, bringing the phone to his ear. "Of course Daddy kept it."
Valerie stared at him, dazed. Then her eyes widened. He is that mad man!
Little Roe squealed; she could hear him jumping with joy on the other side of the phone. "Daddy, is it really big? Like really, really big?"
Azrael's lips curved slightly. "Big enough."
"Waaah! I want to see it now!"
"You will," he said calmly. "Be good and wait. I'll come pick you up with Mama in a while."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
There was a small pause before the boy added sheepishly, "Daddy… Mama isn't mad, right?"
Azrael's gaze flickered briefly toward Valerie, who was still in disbelief.
"No," he said, voice low and certain. "Your mother loves the idea too."
Valerie's mouth dropped open.
"Wow!" Little Roe beamed through the phone. "I'll wear my new snow bear suit now! Hurry!"
The call ended. Valerie stood there for a full second.
"Are you insane?!" she narrowed her eyes. "What kind of ridiculous promise is that? It's not that big, right? Right?"
Their house was quite big for a house in the city because it had been handed down from four generations. Where would you even keep a bounce house of that size?
Azrael looked at her lazily. "He wanted it."
"Are you serious?" she doubtfully stared at him. "It can't be that big."
"It is that big." His eyes fell suggestively.
She stopped mid-step, her breath hitching at his double meaning. "…What?"
"The bounce house, what else?" He crossed the distance between them and whispered, "It's inflated right now... in my backyard."
Valerie's face flushed before she decided to ignore his double meaning. "You are bluffing."
He wet his lips provocatively, grabbing her hand. "You can always check."
He slowly brought her hand down, but she immediately snatched it back.
She glared at him before turning away. She needs to read that damn contract!
She grabbed her bag, ready to run, when she gasped. "My whole family is home today! It's the weekend and you told him you were coming to pick him up!"
Her mind spiraled. By now, Little Roe would have announced it to the whole house! As if she jinxed it, her phone began ringing. She took it out.
Her uncle was calling!
Her breath hitched. Everyone would be there. And now this crazy man wanted to just walk in?
"I haven't even decided what I'm going to tell them!" she said incredulously.
Azrael stood up unhurriedly, straightening his cuffs as if they were discussing something trivial. "What's there to tell them? We're going to pick our son up."
Valerie stared at him like she was looking at a lunatic.
"You...! I'm not going anywhere with you!" she shot back immediately. "Do you know what my brother will do if he sees you?!"
Azrael stepped closer, his presence instantly made her swallow hard.
"That's better," he said, calmly running his hands through her blonde hair. "I'll drop you at my place, then get our son."
She looked at him in disbelief.
"And explain everything to them myself," he added, his gaze peering into her.
Valerie's eyes widened in horror. "…We'll just tell them slowly! I'll go home right now and sound them out—"
His grin widened, not taking her seriously.
"Azrael!"
His eyes snapped to hers. Hearing her call his name sent a shiver of excitement through his body.
"Did I say anything?" he said mirthlessly.
"You...!"
He grabbed her purse along with the documents and pulled her with him.
"Hey—! W-wait!" Valerie stumbled, dragging her feet in protest, but she was no match for him. "I'm not ready!"
"You can read on the way," he said casually, not even slowing down.
"You kidnapped me into a marriage and now you're kidnapping me into a car?!" she snapped, trying to pry her wrist free.
"That's a bit dramatic."
"You are dramatic!"
He opened the door and stood between her and the car. She tried to side-step, but he grabbed her jaw, tilting her head up at him.
"Sweetheart, don't force me to stuff you inside." His whisper sent a shiver down her spine.
He was still smiling, but Valerie felt he really would.
She went in, stunned for a second, before she immediately grabbed the contract from her bag.
"You—!" She turned toward him as he got in, glaring. "You are getting so touchy with me! What is this? Will you force me inside? Now that I've married you, you are going to treat me like a doormat?!"
Azrael didn't even bother replying. He simply started the car, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.
She huffed, flipping through the pages with exaggerated force.
"Let me see what nonsense you added…" she muttered under her breath, flipping page after page, her brows knitting tighter the more she read.
Why were there so many words?! Her eyes scanned quickly and then suddenly stopped.
Her face turned red, but she shoved the contract to him. "Read this!"