The Tyrant's Bride: His Plaything, His Prisoner

The bathroom door creaked open, and Carter stepped out.

Aria, standing frozen in place, turned instinctively.

Her lips parted, but no sound escaped.

If eyes could kill, she would have been struck down by a thousand daggers, torn to pieces.

The glare she received from Carter was so intense, it made her heart race and her palms sweat.

It was as though she had betrayed him in the worst possible way.

Aria could only imagine how unforgivable she must appear to him.

She watched as Carter, still wearing that cold, almost ferocious expression, walked over to the closet.

His movements were sharp and calculated, as though every step was a statement of his anger.

But then, something clicked in Aria's mind. S

She quickly grabbed the sanitary napkin from the floor and, without a second thought, retreated into the bathroom.

When she came out again, dressed and trying to gather her thoughts, she caught another glimpse of him.

Was this all really her fault?

She was just as confused as he was.

After all, she wasn't the one who had declared she was pregnant, or insisted on keeping the child, or begged him to marry her.

If anything, it seemed like Carter had every right to be angry... but why was she the one terrified?

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she tried to shake off the unease.

No matter the reason for this mess, there was only one thing she could do now:

Her heart pounding, she took a step forward. "Let's get a divorce! I—"

But before she could finish, Carter's gaze flicked toward her with a new intensity, the anger in his eyes almost palpable.

He didn't say a word, but his silence spoke volumes.

He had brought her into his home, and now, she was asking for a divorce?

Was she trying to provoke him?

Aria faltered.

She hadn't expected such a strong reaction, and for a moment, her mind went blank.

What does he mean?

Carter didn't wait for her to figure it out.

He turned, walking toward a nearby cabinet, and casually picked up his watch.

He slipped it on without so much as a glance in her direction.

Aria's frustration was reaching a boiling point.

"I'm serious!" she exclaimed, her voice shaking with determination. "Let's get a divorce!"

Before either of them could say anything else, the door burst open with a suddenness that made them both jump.

"Divorce? What do you mean, divorce? Carter, are you out of your mind?"

It was Carter's grandmother, flanked by the elderly maid.

The old lady's face was flushed, her hands clutching her chest in shock. "How could you be so irresponsible? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Aria, who was closest to the door, instinctively moved to support the old lady.

She gently patted her back, her heart racing as she tried to calm the situation. "Grandma, no, it's my fault! Really, it's—"

But the words felt like they were choking her.

She didn't know what to say anymore, and seeing Carter's grandmother so upset only made her feel worse.

Unknown to Aria, the Montgomery family had its own unique set of rules and peculiarities.

One of these was a gene that the men inherited, making them capable of making women pregnant only after they'd met their first love.

This gene, however, did not affect the women, and it was passed down exclusively to the male heirs.

Aria had no way of knowing this strange family trait.

All she knew was that she had been mistaken about her pregnancy.

She had assumed that she was pregnant, but now, with the truth staring her in the face, she felt completely lost.

The old lady, oblivious to the entire situation, believed Aria was simply a "well-educated and reasonable" woman.

She thought Aria was just upset, but to Carter, this behavior felt like unnecessary drama, "hypocrisy and trouble" as he put it.

"Grandma really loves you, Carter! Look at you, such a wonderful woman, but still…" The old lady trailed off, sighing deeply.

Carter didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

His grandmother was acting like she had everything figured out, but she hadn't even realized the real problem was him.

Trying to lighten the mood, Carter walked over and helped the old lady to sit down.

He patted her gently on the back, his tone much softer than before. "Grandma, don't be angry. You're going to hurt yourself! It's nothing. Aria's just upset with me."

Aria stood still, startled by his words. She looked at him, a mix of confusion and anger in her eyes.

What was he saying?

And then, the old lady raised her hand and slapped Carter lightly on the shoulder. "Don't be angry with her, Carter! She's not your subordinate! Girls should be spoiled, pampered! It's normal for them to be a little temperamental!"