POV: Alex Ren
If someone told me I'd spend my Tuesday parked outside a university like some kind of chauffeur, I'd have laughed in their face.
And yet, here I was.
Because Grandma Ren had decided that being married came with… obligations. Like picking up your overly enthusiastic wife from law school.
"She's your wife, not a cactus. Water the relationship."
That's what she said. Word for word.
So now I was leaning against my car, hoodie up, pretending I wasn't the CEO of Ren Corp while glaring at the front gate of Ellesmere Law.
And then I heard it.
The chaos.
The clamor.
The sound of Ava Chen being loved by literally everyone on campus.
"BYE AVA!"
"SEE YOU TOMORROW, AVA!"
"AVA, DON'T FORGET THE LAW CLUB MEETING!"
"LOVE YOUR DRESS, AVA!"
"AVA, MARRY ME—oh wait, you're already married. Lucky guy, whoever he is."
She emerged from the gates like a celebrity leaving the Met Gala. Hair down to her thighs swishing behind her, sunshine on her face, practically glowing.
A dozen students were walking with her, but she was at the center—grinning, hugging, waving, heart-fingering.
It was like watching a parade float come to life.
Then she saw me.
Her eyes lit up like she'd won the lottery.
"Oh my god!! ALEX!!"
She broke into a full sprint, pink tote bag flailing, blazer half off her shoulder, beaming like I'd just returned from war.
And in true Ava fashion—she tripped.
Not once. Not gracefully. But a full, arms-flailing, air-kicking stumble over absolutely nothing.
She landed in front of me like a victorious puppy who'd just face-planted but still expected a treat.
"I'm okay!" she chirped, popping up instantly. "Totally fine! Not dead!"
I blinked.
She threw her arms around me anyway. "You came!"
"I was blackmailed," I muttered.
She gasped dramatically. "Aww! You were forced to see me? That's so romantic."
She slid into the car, humming, swinging her legs like a five-year-old with too much sugar. I got in beside her.
"Best. Day. Ever."
"We've been married a week."
"Exactly," she said with a dazzling smile. "This is our soft-launch era."
I turned the engine on.
And tried really, really hard not to smile.