Chapter 6 - A WEDDING BUILT ON FEAR
Our wedding took place four months after the night Aiden entered my emergency department with a burned hand.
By then, the story had become public.
Aiden Chambers.
The man Seattle feared.
Marrying Tessa Parker.
A twenty-year-old hospital technician.
The headlines were merciless.
Some called me a gold digger.
Others suggested Aiden was using marriage to improve his public image.
A few claimed I was secretly pregnant.
That rumor made Lily laugh so hard she nearly spilled her juice.
"Apparently you're having triplets," she announced one morning.
I rolled my eyes.
"Wonderful."
"Can I name one?"
"No."
"Too late. I've chosen Barnacle."
Mom nearly choked on her coffee.
For a few precious minutes, we were an ordinary family.
But beneath the humor, tension remained.
Victor had disappeared from public view.
The investigation into Noah continued.
Aiden was cooperating with authorities while restructuring his businesses.
And someone was still sending threatening messages.
Three days before the wedding, a small red envelope arrived at Aiden's office.
Inside was a photograph of the farmhouse basement.
On the back, someone had written:
A bride won't save you from what happened behind that door.
Aiden didn't tell me immediately.
I found out when Marcus came to speak with him during our rehearsal dinner.
The moment I saw Aiden's face, I knew something was wrong.
I pulled him aside.
"What happened?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
I stared at him.
His expression changed.
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
I folded my arms.
"We agreed on honesty."
"I know."
"Then tell me."
He showed me the photograph.
My stomach tightened.
"Victor?"
"Probably."
"Have you given it to Detective Monroe?"
"Yes."
I exhaled.
"Good."
Aiden looked at me.
"Tessa, we can postpone the wedding."
I stared.
"Do you want to?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because I don't want you to feel trapped."
I stepped closer.
"Aiden, I know what I'm choosing."
His eyes filled.
"Are you sure?"
I smiled sadly.
"I'm scared."
He nodded.
"So am I."
"But I want to marry you."
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then whispered, "I love you."
It was the first time he'd said the words.
I froze.
He looked terrified.
"I'm sorry. I know that's—"
I laughed through tears.
"Aiden."
He stopped.
"I love you too."
For several seconds, he simply stared at me.
Then his knees seemed to weaken.
I reached toward him.
"Can I hug you?"
He swallowed.
"Yes."
I stepped into his arms.
Carefully.
He held me.
Not tightly.
Not possessively.
Just enough to know I was there.
And for the first time, I felt him relax against me.
The wedding itself was beautiful.
Small by Aiden's standards.
Enormous by mine.
We married in a glass conservatory overlooking Puget Sound.
Rain tapped against the ceiling.
White orchids lined the aisle.
My mother cried before the ceremony even began.
Lily wore a pale blue dress and carried my bouquet.
She'd been nervous about standing for too long, so we arranged a chair near the front.
Aiden stood beneath the flowers wearing a charcoal suit.
His hands were clasped.
His expression was unreadable.
But when he saw me, something changed.
His eyes filled.
I walked toward him.
And the entire room seemed to disappear.
When I reached the altar, he whispered, "You look beautiful."
I smiled.
"You look terrified."
"I am."
"Good. That makes two of us."
He laughed softly.
The officiant began.
We exchanged vows.
Not promises of perfection.
Promises of honesty.
Respect.
Patience.
When it came time for the rings, Aiden's fingers trembled.
I waited.
He looked up.
I smiled.
"Take your time."
He closed his eyes.
Then placed the ring on my finger.
When the officiant pronounced us married, Aiden looked at me.
"May I kiss you?"
I laughed through tears.
"Yes, husband."
He kissed me gently.
The room erupted in applause.
Lily cheered louder than anyone.
For one beautiful moment, everything felt possible.
Three hours later, we stood in Aiden's penthouse bedroom.
Rain streaked the windows.
The city glittered below.
My wedding dress felt suddenly heavy.
I reached for the zipper.
Aiden stood several feet away.
His hands were shaking.
I turned.
"Aiden?"
He looked at the bed.
Then at me.
His face was pale.
"Tessa, there's something I need you to understand."
I lowered my hand.
"Okay."
He took a breath.
"I know you're inexperienced."
I flushed.
"Aiden."
"But you don't owe me anything because we're married."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"You never need to let me touch you."
My heart tightened.
"Why are you saying that?"
His eyes filled.
"Because I grew up in a house where people used love to demand obedience."
I moved closer.
He stepped back instinctively.
I stopped.
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
His breathing became uneven.
"I don't want you to spend tonight worrying about what I expect."
I swallowed.
"And what about what you want?"
He looked at me.
For a long moment, he couldn't answer.
Then he whispered, "I want to feel safe with my wife."
Tears filled my eyes.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
"Then let's start there."
He stared.
"What?"
"Sit with me."
He hesitated.
I patted the mattress beside me.
"No touching required."
He laughed weakly.
Then sat several feet away.
We listened to the rain.
I removed my earrings.
He loosened his tie.
After a while, I said, "Aiden?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want me to stay here tonight?"
He turned sharply.
"Of course."
"Then stop looking like you're about to be sentenced."
He laughed.
A real laugh.
I smiled.
"We're married. We can learn how to do this together."
His eyes filled.
"What if I have nightmares?"
"Then we deal with them."
"What if I panic?"
"Then we slow down."
"What if I can't—"
"Aiden."
He stopped.
I looked at him.
"I'm not going anywhere because you need time."
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he whispered, "No one has ever said that to me."
I reached for his hand.
"May I?"
He nodded.
I took it.
His fingers trembled.
Then gradually relaxed.
We sat together until the rain softened.
Eventually, Aiden leaned his head against my shoulder.
I held still.
He closed his eyes.
And whispered, "I think I'm happy."
I kissed his hair.
"Good."
That night, we slept beneath separate blankets on the same enormous bed.
No expectations.
No pressure.
Just two people learning that love didn't have to hurt.
At 3:17 in the morning, Aiden woke screaming.
I sat upright.
He was shaking.
"Noah!"
I reached for the lamp.
"Aiden, you're home."
He stared at me without recognition.
"Don't open the door!"
My heart broke.
"Aiden, look at me."
His breathing was frantic.
"Please don't let him take Noah."
I stayed where he could see me.
"You're safe. I'm here."
For several minutes, he struggled to orient himself.
Then his eyes focused.
"Tessa?"
"Yes."
He looked around.
The bedroom.
The rain.
The wedding flowers.
His breathing slowed.
Then he covered his face.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"You don't have to apologize."
He began crying.
I asked whether he wanted me closer.
He nodded.
I sat beside him.
He leaned against me.
And whispered something that changed everything.
"I remember where Victor took Noah."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
Aiden looked at me.
His face was white.
"There was another room."
I swallowed.
"Where?"
He stared at the darkness.
May you like
"Under the stairs."
Then he whispered, "And I think someone else was there that night."
