Aria stared as if he'd slapped her. "W-what?"
"You heard me." Damien's voice was implacable. "Marry me, Aria. Become my wife, and we'll raise our son together."
She looked utterly astonished. "This… this is crazy. You can't just show up and propose marriage as a solution!"
"It's the most logical solution," Damien countered, crossing his arms. "Think about it. As my wife, you and Noah will have everything you need. He'll have both parents under one roof. Legitimacy, stability—"
Aria cut him off, bristling. "Legitimacy? For heaven's sake, Damien, he's not some heir to a throne. He's a little boy. And we've been fine without a 'Knight Enterprises' stamp of approval on us."
Damien's jaw ticked. "I'm thinking of what's best for him. And for you. You wouldn't have to worry about money or struggling to balance work and motherhood. I can provide—"
"I didn't ask you to provide," she snapped, tears of frustration in her eyes. "Noah and I may not have much, but we're doing okay."
He admired her pride, even as it irritated him. "Maybe now," he said evenly, "but life is long, Aria. What about his education? Medical bills? Opportunities? I can give him the world."
Aria shook her head, pressing her hands to her temples. "This is unreal… You think you can fix everything by marrying me and throwing money at us?"
"It's not like that," Damien said, struggling to keep his tone calm. "I want to be there for him. For you. We can give Noah a proper family."
"At what cost?" she whispered. "What about… what about love, Damien? You can't just sign some papers and expect us to magically become a happy family."
Damien hesitated. Love. The word hung in the air. "No," he said quietly, "but trust can be built. And affection. We already… cared for each other once." His voice dipped, a memory passing between them.
Aria flushed, shaking her head. "That was one night. We don't even truly know each other."
"We'll learn," he replied, certainty in his voice. "For Noah's sake, we can learn to be… partners in this."
He stepped closer, gently taking her hand. Aria looked up, eyes glossy with tears and confusion. When she didn't pull away, he continued more softly, "I'm not saying it will be easy. But I swear, I will take care of you both. You wouldn't have to give up your dreams either – you can continue your design career, with resources and support."
Aria's lips parted, her resolve wavering. He could see the conflict in her eyes. The offer of security for Noah was a temptation she couldn't ignore, no matter her pride.
"This would be… a business arrangement?" she asked, voice unsteady. "A contract marriage?"
"If that label makes it easier, yes," Damien said, though something pricked at him when she reduced it to that. "We can set terms. One year, two years – as long as it takes to give Noah a stable home life. After that… if you wish to leave, we can discuss it then. But I'm hoping," his thumb unconsciously stroked the back of her hand, "that in time, you won't want to."
Aria's breath caught. She searched his face, finding sincerity and determination etched there. "Damien… this is so much to take in."
"I know." He gently squeezed her hand. "But I need to do right by our son. And by you." His voice dropped. "Let me."
They stood in silence, the weight of the decision pressing between them. Aria closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. She thought of Noah sleeping in the next room, innocent and oblivious. She had done everything to give him a good life, but could she deny him the chance to have his father too? Could she deny herself the relief of not having to struggle alone anymore?
Yet marrying Damien… living with him… The very idea sent her heart into a tailspin. There would be risks – to her heart, to her carefully guarded secrets, to her independence.
But looking at Damien now – at the earnest plea in his stormy eyes – she realized that fate had left her little choice. He was here, and he wasn't going to walk away. And deep down, a part of her didn't want him to.
Aria inhaled shakily and opened her eyes. "Alright," she whispered, the word trembling on her lips. She squeezed his hand back, as if steadying herself. "I'll… marry you."
Even spoken so quietly, the words seemed to echo in the tiny apartment. Damien's shoulders eased, and something like gratitude and relief washed over his features.
He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles, a surprising gesture of tenderness that made Aria's heart flutter. "Thank you," he murmured.
Aria managed a weak smile, tears still glistening on her lashes. She wasn't sure if what she'd agreed to was a miracle or a mistake of epic proportions. Maybe it was both.
In the doorway of his bedroom, little Noah peeked out quietly, drawn by the unfamiliar sound of a man's voice in their home. He watched as his mommy and the tall stranger held hands in the living room. He didn't understand everything they were saying, but seeing his mommy crying made his small face scrunch up in worry.
Still, something told the boy that this man wasn't here to hurt them. In fact, when the man knelt down moments later to gently greet him and ask if he liked dinosaurs, Noah only hesitated a moment before breaking into a shy smile and nodding.
Aria stood behind, watching as Damien tentatively talked to their son for the first time – his deep voice oddly soft, Noah responding with growing enthusiasm about his favorite T-Rex. Her chest constricted with a confusing mix of hope and fear.
This was really happening. Their lives were never going to be the same.
As Damien scooped Noah up to see one of his crayon drawings more closely, Aria wiped her damp cheeks, praying silently that she hadn't just made a deal with the devil – and that behind his resolve, Damien Knight truly had a heart enough to make this unconventional family work.
Little did they both know, their marriage of convenience was about to become far more complicated – and real – than either had anticipated.