I pause at the sound of Raven’s voice and lean back against Sierra’s bedroom door, my eyes falling shut for a moment.

Who am I kidding?

I came here because I knew I’d find Raven.

Not because I wanted to see my sister.

“I’m worried I won’t be able to change her mind,” Raven says softly. “With only a few days left, my anxiety is through the roof. If Hannah doesn’t show up on her wedding day, I’ll be the one getting married instead.”

“Would that really be so terrible?” Sierra asks.

My heartbeat quickens as I wait for Raven’s answer.

But silence is all I get.

I straighten slowly and force myself to knock on Sierra’s door.

The moment it opens, Sierra’s eyes widen in surprise.

I can count the number of times I’ve entered my siblings’ private spaces on one hand.

Growing up this close together made all of us fiercely protective of our privacy, and we’ve always respected the unspoken rule of leaving each other alone unless we’re in shared family spaces.

Today, though?

Today is different.

I’m not here for Sierra.

I’m here for Raven.

I look past my sister and straight into hazel eyes filled with quiet agony.

“Raven,” I say softly. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

She hesitates briefly before nodding and rising from the edge of Sierra’s bed.

Even now, with heartbreak written all over her face, she’s beautiful.

“Follow me.”

She quietly falls into step beside me as I lead her out into the hallway.

“Where are we going?” she asks softly.

“My place.”

The words feel strange coming out of my mouth.

Because if everything keeps spiraling the way it is now… she may actually end up living there with me.

Neither of us wants this.

And yet every passing day makes it clearer that we may not have any choice at all.

We’re both still clinging to the same illusion.

That Hannah will change her mind.

That somehow everything will go back to the way it’s supposed to be.

But deep down?

We both know better.

Raven stays quiet as we walk through the long hallway connecting Sierra’s house to the main estate.

Maybe I should’ve taken her to the family sitting room instead.

But I don’t want anyone overhearing this conversation.

The second we step into my house, I suddenly see everything differently.

Hannah designed most of this place over the years.

Every room.

Every detail.

We always assumed we’d eventually live here together after the wedding.

I wonder what Raven thinks of it.

Does she like the monochrome palette Hannah chose?

Does it hurt her to imagine living inside the life her sister built for herself?

“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask after she sits down on my white leather sofa.

The same sofa we fell asleep on together only a few weeks ago.

Raven shakes her head.

“I’m okay.”

Then she looks up at me cautiously.

“What did you want to talk about?”

I sit down beside her and turn slightly toward her.

“You already know what we need to talk about, Raven.”

My voice comes out quieter than intended.

“We can’t avoid this forever.”

She lowers her gaze immediately, trying to hide the distress written all over her face.

“Ares,” she whispers brokenly.

Something inside me twists painfully.

I hate seeing her like this.

And I hate knowing I’m partly responsible for it.

Because from this point forward?

No matter what happens, I’m probably only going to hurt her more.

“I’ll talk to Hannah again,” she promises quietly.

I immediately shake my head and take her hand before she can pull away.

“You know that won’t change anything.”

I swallow hard.

“Don’t you think I already tried?”

Her eyes drop to our joined hands.

Then she slowly slips her hand free and cradles it against herself like even my touch hurts right now.

“We have to try again,” she whispers.

Then she finally looks up at me.

And the hopelessness in her expression nearly guts me.

Does the thought of marrying me really devastate her that much?

“Cupcake,” I murmur softly, “we’re out of time and out of options.”

I drag a hand through my hair.

“I know this isn’t what either of us wanted. Trust me, I never imagined we’d end up here either.”

I meet her eyes steadily.

“But we can’t walk away from this anymore. So maybe we’re better off facing it together.”

She stares at me like I’ve completely lost my mind.

“Ares,” she whispers, “I can’t marry you.”

Her voice cracks.

“How could you even consider it when you’ve loved my sister for as long as I can remember?”

Pain flashes across her face.

“How could you make me your wife when Hannah is the only woman you’ve ever truly wanted?”

I hold her gaze helplessly.

Because she’s right.

Even now, part of me still aches for Hannah.

For the future I thought we’d have together.

“Raven,” I say carefully, “this is still an arranged marriage at the end of the day. As long as there’s affection and respect between us, we’ll be okay.”

I offer her a faint smile.

“We’ve been friends for years, haven’t we? That’s already a stronger foundation than most arranged marriages start with.”

She lets out a humorless laugh and looks away.

“Ares, I want love. Real love.”

Her voice turns sharper.

“I want a happy marriage and a faithful husband. Can you honestly give me that?”

I study her face carefully.

Her sharp jawline.

Her trembling lips.

The way she refuses to fully look at me because she’s terrified of what my answer will be.

And suddenly I find myself wishing things had always been different between us.

If I could go back in time…

Would I still make the same choices?

“Yes,” I tell her quietly.

“I can’t promise I’ll always make you happy, but I swear I’ll try.”

Then I hold her gaze steadily.

“And as for fidelity? Yes, Raven. I would never cheat on my wife.”

Her eyes slowly lift to mine.

“You say that now,” she whispers. “But what happens later? Will you really be able to stay away from Hannah?”

I clench my jaw hard before nodding once.

“Yes.”

My voice comes out firm.

“I would never betray my wife. I’m not perfect, but I’m not that kind of man.”

I inhale slowly.

“Hannah made her choice when she ended things with me. There’s no going back now.”

Raven studies me for a long moment before her gaze drifts slowly over my body.

It pauses briefly on my suit pants.

Then she says quietly:

“I sat naked in your lap, and you still didn’t want me.”

I drag a hand through my hair as memories of that night crash violently through my mind.

That recurring dream of mine…

If we marry, it wouldn’t be forbidden anymore.

“Raven,” I whisper roughly, “you’re one of the most beautiful women alive.”

I force myself to hold her gaze.

“You have absolutely no idea how hard it was not to touch you that night.”

Her expression falters slightly in surprise.

“Every second you sat in my lap was torture,” I admit quietly. “But I couldn’t touch you then. I’m not a cheater, Raven. I never would’ve betrayed Hannah like that.”

She looks genuinely stunned by my answer.

And somehow that makes me smile faintly despite everything.

I’ve spent years forcing myself not to think about Raven that way.

Not to notice how stunning she really is.

Because she was never supposed to be mine.

Not until now.

“Ares,” she whispers carefully, “if this really happens… if we actually get married…”

She straightens slightly.

“I need more than respect and affection.”

Her eyes lock onto mine.

“I need boundaries between you and my sister. No matter what history the two of you share.”

Her expression hardens with fierce determination.

“If I make this sacrifice, then I refuse to regret it later. If I become your wife, I expect you to treat me like your wife.”

My heartbeat stutters violently.

What exactly is she saying?

I assumed she’d want this marriage to remain completely emotional and physical distance.

A polite arrangement built only on obligation.

But now?

It sounds like she expects us to genuinely try.

“As long as it’s within my power,” I say quietly, “there’s nothing I won’t give you, Raven.”

Then I add softly:

“That includes me.”

Her eyes widen slightly before she quickly looks away again.

“You won’t regret this?” she asks after a long silence. “You won’t end up resenting me for standing between you and Hannah?”

I gently cup her face and tilt it back toward me.

“No,” I promise softly.

“I won’t resent you.”

I brush my thumb lightly against her cheek.

“This situation is unfair to both of us. I know you’re sacrificing just as much as I am.”

I shake my head slowly.

“I could never blame you for a choice Hannah made.”

She stares at me silently, and for a moment I barely recognize the woman sitting beside me.

Raven has always been soft-hearted.

Sweet.

Gentle.

But the woman in front of me now is stronger than I’ve ever seen her before.

And strangely enough?

I think I admire her even more for it.

“I still hope Hannah changes her mind,” she whispers eventually. “All I’ve ever wanted for you is happiness, Ares. I don’t want to be the reason you lose it.”

“You won’t,” I tell her immediately.

I hold her gaze steadily.

“If we really end up married, then we’ll figure it out together.”

I manage a small smile.

“It may not be easy… but if this is where fate brought us, then maybe we’ll eventually find our own happiness too.”

The cautious hope flickering in her eyes sparks something unexpected deep inside my chest.

And for the first time since Hannah left…

I feel something dangerously close to hope myself.