LIVELY POV

"Sunglasses? Are you sure?" I said, looking into the mirror after putting them on. I mean, they look good, but I don't think now is the right time for sunglasses.

"Why not?" Emersyn stepped back, her eyes giving me a final inspection.

"It's called sunglasses for a reason. It's dark outside," I said, peering through the windows.

"Nothing stands between a girl and fashion, Liv. Those will complete the look with sophistication. Plus, you'll need them. This is your first public appearance with Aaron, and you'll want protection from the flashlights. Those cameras you're about to face will bring out the photosensitivity you never knew you had. You wouldn't want photos of your startled poses surfacing tomorrow morning on TMZ, Deuxmoi, basically all over the internet."

That!

Nerve-wracking realization overwhelmed me as I turned fully to face the mirror. My reflection was a stranger to me, not overly dramatic but exuding a loud power that felt out of my social class by a thousand levels. The outfit, brought in by one of the staff in a garment bag while Emersyn prepared me, was now draped over my frame. It was a striking black and white houndstooth-patterned design that screamed everything I was not behind these sunglasses and makeup—boldness, wealth, and sophistication. The tailored overcoat I wore, worn cape style, cascaded down my form with structured shoulders, wide lapels that added a theatrical flair, and belted cuffs. Underneath, a sleeveless high-neck top hugged my upper body, complemented by a matching high-waisted mini skirt, both with the same attention-grabbing pattern. Large gold hoops adorned my ears, and a chic black handbag with a gold chain strap dangled from my arm, beneath the overcoat. On my feet were knee-high black boots fit for a model, something I had never worn or even imagined myself in, and surprisingly comfortable to walk in.

Emersyn had done my makeup gently, and I loved it. She styled my hair sleek and straight, parted slightly down the middle.

Staring into the mirror, my mind raced with familiar voices advising me on who I am, reminding me I can't hide behind material things—it wouldn't last.

"What if I ruin it?" I gasped, feeling the invisible hands of my real shadow tightening around my neck, making it hard to breathe. "What if—" I turned, terrified, coming face-to-face with Emersyn. She stepped closer, taking my hands in hers, her smile causing me to stop nervously blabbering

"You won't. Aaron will be there. Hold onto him," she reassured me.

Her words helped. We left the deck after being informed everyone was on the main deck.

"Isla is coming too?" I asked Emersyn curiously as we followed the stairs towards Aaron.

"No, she's seasick and isolating in her cabin tonight."
"What? We should stop and check on her."

Emersyn grimaced and shook her head. "There's a doctor with her. But tomorrow, then."

"Okay," I agreed reluctantly, respecting Isla's need for alone time, even if I didn't like it.

"Good," Emersyn smiled complacently, looking stunning as always in her high-neck, long-sleeved green blouse of silk with intricate lace detailing, paired with high-waisted black shorts and a wide black belt with an oversized buckle. Her designer black handbag and knee-high boots were elaborately adorned with green embellishments to match her blouse.

As we descended the last stairs, I saw some of the Wallaces were there, except for the twins. Emersyn had mentioned they had left for a hotel near the event to get ready.

Aaron was on the phone, engaged in a heated exchange with someone on the other end, his back to us so he didn't notice my presence. He wore a dark blue fitted tailored suit that accentuated his muscular shoulders, causing me to blush at memories of clinging to him in bed, bruise-holding, and deep biting on his skin hidden under the fabric.

"Our in-law is here, and she's not running this time," Kyle's voice rang out, and I looked around to see him smirking. Next to him is a tall, slim blonde girl, engrossed in her phone.

Aaron turned then, still on the phone but no longer speaking. The look he gave me made my heart skip a beat. I removed the sunglasses to see him clearly.

"You don't want Aaron fuming right here," another voice from the background said. "Mason must have almost arrived there. We should get going." The voice approached along with footsteps—it was Dane, offering his arm to Emersyn as they headed off. I would recognize the voice if I wasn't busy holding the gaze of the man a few feet away from me, staring at me like I was the best thing that had ever happened to the earth.

I'm sure Aaron didn't say anything more to conclude the call; he simply ended it and stepped closer, making me tense with every breath. It was then I realized we were alone, everyone else had left except Keenan waiting off to the side, looking elsewhere.

"So it's true after all that someone's beauty could take one's breath away. You didn't make my heart stop; you made my entire universe pause," he said in a low tone, biting his bottom lip.

"You look good too," I replied, my voice shaking as his hand circled around my back under the coat, drawing me closer to the hardening of his clothed body. He smelled like the particular Eden conceived in my mind, each inhale burning within me like the sweetest hell, carving Aaron's existence into every fiber of my being. His face was close, he took a deep breath near my temple, his lips brushing against it. My eyes closed momentarily at the soothing sensation.

"You have a tendency to awake in me a barbaric yearning of you. I want to rip this cloth off and devour every inch of you. I'm suffering, standing in this suit," He grunted, and it all summed up to stir a fluttery feeling in my stomach. My throat ran dry, and I dared to look up at him with my gaping lips. He was tense, his eyes dark, his jaw sharp, with agonizing desire plastering his expression.

I wouldn't mind if he did it then. My heart raced, pulsating sensations coursing through me, turning my knees to jelly.

"I won't mess up your makeup, though," he smirked.
But why? I don't care.

"Let's go," he said, taking my hand and leading us off the yacht, my chest still racing from the vivid image of lust I saw in his eyes.

The vehicle waiting for us was a Rolls Royce—I knew that from watching the England coronation on TV. Sitting in it felt almost illicit. Aaron sat on the other side of the rear, holding my hand on the luxury center console. We drove for another hour, during which I relaxed, chatting with Aaron whenever he wasn't on the phone.

Our vehicle came to a halt, and through the windows, I saw massive crowds behind barricades.

"Sir, you're the last Wallace arriving. The event starts in the next twenty minutes..." Keenan proceeded to inform Aaron of all the details we needed to know about the event, but my heart was pounding in my chest to concentrate.

I had never been to something like this.

The door opening from the outside startled me.

"I'll see you in a second," Aaron smirked freely with his confidence intact, stepping out to wild cheers.
This was really happening.

Taking a deep breath, I put on the sunglasses Emersyn had advised on and took the hand of the man standing there, stepping out of the car. Another person held an umbrella over my head, just as one did for Aaron, and it took a moment to register that it was drizzling.

He came around and took my hand again, guiding us forward. The lights were blinding, screams and calls of "Aaron Wallace!" filling the air. I focused on my steps in the open space until we reached the entrance, where a woman in a black suit and earpiece directed us to turn for a photo.

Emersyn's lessons on avoiding startled poses echoed in my head, so I managed my poses as best as I could. I didn't think there would be an embarrassing photo of me tomorrow. All I needed to do was keep going, step by step, clutching Aaron's arm or hand as needed. Inside, it was crowded—I lost count of the famous faces I spotted, almost unbelievable. From initially freaking out upon low-key spotting a famous actress first, to composing myself through many similar encounters—shaking hands with Madonna and having a casual conversation with men on the list of wealthiest people in the world. Aaron came across familiar guests, and we stopped for greetings and introductions before heading to the red carpet for another photo session as Keenan had said.

After that, we headed to the massive event hall. The black carpet was entirely different from what was outside, with long rows of seating scattered around the huge space, and the high steel truss ceiling lit up.

Much to my relief, the twins who, if given a knife, would stab me right in the heart didn't spot us. They were dramatically dressed and engaged in conversation with a man across the space; Emersyn and the other two boys were nowhere in sight, but Aaron and I sitting arrangements were next to Kyle and the pretty girl who must have been his plus one, still busy with her phone. At some point, she will get a knot in her neck from keeping her head glued to that screen.

"Hey man," Aaron greeted his cousin with a handshake. I settled next to Kyle, Aaron taking the seat beside me, possessively placing my hand on his lap.

"So what's the plan? Where do they do the fashion show?" I asked Kyle, and he chuckled.

"They'll probably walk around each row, giving everyone a closer view."

"Great idea," Relievingly understood, I turned to Aaron and playfully broadened my eyes at him. He playfully smiled back, subtly stroking the back of my hand.

"Wallaces, can we get a photo, please?" a man's voice interrupted, cutting short our eye contact. Aaron cleared his throat, nodding at the man, and I shifted my gaze away, focusing on the camera aimed at us.

Smile and be bold.

It was a bit hard being all that now that I had taken off my sunglasses, and my skin tingled with the thought that I was being watched by everyone, even though it was likely not true. But I tried to smile. They took a group photo of us, and the man thanked us, moving to another guest.

When the event began after the host's welcoming speech, the lights dimmed, and the spotlight hit each space between every row. The live instrumentalists started, and then the models flowed, with their heads held high and steady steps.

I enjoyed it, recorded some of the models' entrances, and their dresses were out of this world. It was absolutely enthralling; I didn't want it to end, but they did this finale, as Kyle called it, and the designer came out, performing a little bow, while we all applauded.

"I will be staying for the after-party. I need to meet with some people," Kyle told us when it was all over, and the space was a crowded chaos of people conversing or trying to exit.

"See you on the yacht then," Aaron patted his cousin's shoulder, and he vanished through the packed bodies in the expanse.

Now that we didn't have company, I looked up to Aaron and admitted, "I had fun."

His lips spread into a thin smile until his name was called by a woman's voice specifically.

We looked in the direction spontaneously, and there were two brunettes, truly deserving of the elegance they wore, arms hooked around each other, as they came to a stop before us.

"Lydia?" a tinge of surprise in Aaron's tone.

"I thought I heard wrong when I heard the Wallaces are here. I said to myself I should know better that this isn't your family style." She laughed. "But it really is you in the flesh."

They hugged cordially, Aaron not letting go of my hand. I was only immersed in the thought of knowing everything about Aaron, and it was even more imaginable to meet people who knew him, with him giving them nothing other than friendliness.

"For your first time, you managed to steal the show just as you always do; everyone is talking about you," she amiably insinuated.

"Is that so?" Aaron replied, fully aware yet acting unaffected. All this sudden attention I was receiving was natural for him.

"They said you have a beautiful woman by your side, wearing a ring that cost the entire building and what's inside of it right now, that is, including us." Her eyes swept all over me but gleamed with only admiration. My cheeks were heating up.

"That's a bit exaggerated," said Aaron, a trace of egotism in his tone that suggested otherwise from his message.

"Is it?" She questionably raised her brows at Aaron and then brought her eyes to me. "I mean, you are a goddess." She smiled warmly.

If my cheeks weren't showing the burning under the makeup before, they were now. "Thank you; you both are stunning too," I replied, well put together, or at least that's how I believed I sounded.

Social events have never been a place where I find harmony with myself. Since before I dropped out of high school, I had avoided attention. When I understood that attention was going to be inevitable with the news of my pregnancy, I hid.

"Lydia, I went to high school with Aaron in Portland," the urbane young woman said, extending her hand for a handshake.

"Lively, nice to meet you." I introduced myself, hoping my hands weren't shaking from her warm yet intimidating aura.

Greetings, introductions, several brief discussions, and then we were back in the car, embarking on another hour of the ride, Keenan driving us back to the yacht. The moment we got into the shelter of the car, I struggled to take off my shoes, not even knowing how without hurting my legs or ruining the perfect shoes. Aaron noticed and offered to help; he did it with care and sensitivity, his firm yet gentle fingers moving along the unclad room between the mini skirt and high boots until I was barefoot as I wanted and dampening my panties, that part was unplanned, but I knew it was bound to happen as long as Aaron was near. So I set down my foot and kept my legs squeezed together to keep the pulsating tension of my vagina from spreading more like a fast-terminal disease.