At her prolonged silence, Kaden cursed inside his head. He didn't expect her blank expression. Immediately, his heart lurched. He wanted her. He wouldn't hesitate to do anything in the world to keep her by his side. Marriage wasn't a means of collar for him, but a way of confirmation.

  Confirming she'd stay with him.

  "Should I kneel?" Kaden asked. "No, wait. I'm doing this backward."

  Lina nodded her head in agreement.

  Kaden noted his demeanor was too aggressive. So, he lowered his tone and looped his arm around her waist, loosely, so she knew she could run.

  "Dove," Kaden said in a gentle voice.

  "You're pretending to be as docile as a doe, and neither of us is buying it," Lina said with humor on her face.

  Kaden let out a laugh. So, he yanked her closer to him, the ring dangling on his finger. She knew him so well.

  Kaden bent his head and rested his forehead upon hers. "I should've knelt first, asked for your hand, then written the contract, and then have you move in—"

  Suddenly, Lina's mouth found his. She kissed him and molded her body against his. He froze for a split second. One. Two. He kissed her back with alarming swiftness. Her lips tasted of sweet champagne. It sent shock down his body. A low, primitive noise left his throat.

  Kaden kissed her like she was his air and his lungs were on fire. She slipped her tongue inside, hesitant, but curious. She explored his mouth. He immediately hardened. That was an understatement. He contemplated doing it. Right here. Right now. Under the stars.

  "Lina," Kaden hoarsely said upon her mouth.

  Lina kissed him again. He didn't protest. She fitted herself into his arms, his hands sliding up her back. He captured her nape and angled her for a deeper kiss. He stifled a groan, but let it out when she touched his face.

  Kaden was going to lose his mind, for all the right reasons. He pulled away to give her air. Her eyes were overridden with desire and urgency. Suddenly, she kissed the corner of his mouth.

  Kaden could barely contain himself. He grabbed her waist, turning his head.

  "Dove, you… oh, you're such a doll, no… wait…" Kaden grabbed her by the chin.

  Kaden kissed her on the forehead. His breathing was heavy, but so was hers.

  "Dove, that tree in the corner is stable enough to hold the two of us, so we better stop." Kaden brought his mouth to her hair, his arm so tenderly around her. He was worried she'd shatter and disappear forever.

  "I don't understand…" Lina paused.

  "O-oh," Lina managed to say.

  "Oh," Kaden repeated in a sardonic tone.

  Kaden pulled away to show her the ring again. "Let me ask properly and kneel—"

  "Yes," Lina breathed out.

  Kaden was silenced. Nothing else mattered more than a single word. Yes. That was all he wanted. All he needed to hear. He let out slow laughter and pulled her incredibly closer.

  "I do," Lina added.

  Kaden's lips twitched in amusement. She was too sweet, really.

  "You say 'I do' at the altar," Kaden teased her.

  Lina simply smiled and offered her hand. Kaden laughed under his breath. His eyes were filled with warmth when he slid the ring onto her finger. It fitted her perfectly. All 18-carat of white gold.

  "It's beautiful," Lina murmured, not because of the size, but because the color reminded her of the pillars on the temple.

  Kaden said nothing of it. He rested his hands on either side of her hips. He squeezed her for comfort.

  Lina remembered his love language was that of affectionate touches. Dear god. What was she going to do with this handsome man?

  "We'll have to negotiate our contract," Kaden told her. "The one we made previously was crafted in the midst of rage and desperation."

  Lina couldn't imagine how much had changed between them. From her hatred towards him to the love shared between them. They went from enemies to lovers back to enemies and now, lovers again. She had lost track of the things he did that made her fall for him. Whether it was his sincerity or kindness, she couldn't describe it.

  "When?" Lina curiously asked.

  "We can abuse my lawyer, Anakin, by revising the contract within the hour," Kaden humored her. "He'd love that."

  "I'm sure he'd draft his resignation letter the same time he drafts the revised contract," Lina said with reluctant amusement.

  "I'll shred the resignation letter the same time he shreds the old contract," Kaden said. He meant it.

  "To save pain on either spectrum, let's wait until tomorrow," Lina stated.

  "Pity. I wanted to ruin his night," Kaden responded with a shrug.

  Lina awkwardly laughed. Then, she realized he meant it. That poor lawyer——

  "How were you able to get the soprano and her choir to come on such short notice?" Lina asked him in the car ride back.

  "I own the auditorium she always performs in when she's in Ritan," Kaden told her.

  Lina slowly nodded to herself. Speaking of his female friends… her thoughts flashed to Priscilla. Lina didn't know what to do with her.

  Priscilla had no memories of what she did in the past. Priscilla of the modern day was a powerful director of DeHaven Corporation. She had done no wrong thus far. But would it be better to cut her off before she made any damages?

  Lina peered over at Kaden. She was startled. He had been watching her the entire time. He stroked the side of her hair behind her ears. His mouth curled when her baby hair sprang back to place.

  "What are you thinking this intently about?" Kaden questioned.

  Kaden stroked her skin, soft like fine grains. She appeared troubled by her own thoughts.

  "If someone was known to be problematic in the past, but isn't now, should we get rid of them before they become an issue again?" Lina vaguely asked.

  Kaden stared at her like she took him for a fool. "Priscilla."

  Lina blinked. She hated how smart he was.

  "Theoretically," Lina emphasized.

  "So, theoretically Priscilla," Kaden said.

  It could be no one else but her.

  Lina nibbled on her bottom lip. "I heard that Golden Roses can live much longer… Why did she die?"

  "She took her own life after I banished her," Kaden responded.

  "I learned from somewhere that Golden Roses thrive on the love they receive—"

  "Does it look like I love her?" Kaden asked.

  "I still remember. You were sitting under the peach blossoms and you smiled so kindly towards her, I felt hideous jealousy in my stomach," Lina told him.

  "A lapse in judgment," Kaden admitted. "To make you jealous."

  "Don't do it again," Lina said.

  "Don't do it to me either," Kaden deadpanned.

  "With who?" Lina shot back. "Atlantis? I would never."

  Kaden dropped the issue. So far, the things she did, she wasn't aware of.

  "Do you want me to get rid of Priscilla?" Kaden asked.

  Lina did not want him to. Priscilla had done nothing wrong in this life. She went from a servant in the first life to a renowned businesswoman. How could Lina cut off a woman who was thriving?

  "She can always work for another company," Kaden said. "Being the director of DeHaven Corporation is amazing as it is. If she applies for a different company, she can become the Senior Vice President, which is much higher than her current position."

  "But you lose a valuable team player," Lina said to him.

  "I do." Kaden leaned back in his seat. "A risk I am willing to take."

  "And would finding a replacement be difficult?" Lina asked.

  "Do you know how many people would die to work in the Big Five companies of this country?" Kaden asked, not in an insulting manner.

  "Applicants flood in within minutes of the posting," Lina pointed out.

  "Precisely," Kaden said. "Especially when I pay higher than the market value. High pay means high quality work to maintain their position and salary."

  Lina frowned to herself. Would she be too cruel?

  "Perhaps subtly suggest the idea," Lina finally said.

  Kaden shifted his gaze to her. His dear wife did not know the tactics of war. You kill someone before they become the problem.

  "I'll have a conversation with her," Kaden said. Where she'd be fired. He left that part out.

  "Is she excellent at her job?" Lina asked.

  "She's alright," Kaden told her.

  "Is she replaceable?" Lina urged.

  "You'll only get yourself hurt with these questions," Kaden informed.

  Kaden curled his finger under her chin and pulled her close. He pecked her on the mouth, smiling into the kiss.

  "For starters, we can worry about what to put in our new contract," Kaden whispered to her. He slipped her onto his lap and caught her lips in a deeper kiss.