It was dark around when Aaron woke up to find himself once again on Destiny's big, fluffy bed.
He sighed and laid there with his eyes fixated at the ceiling.
"Hey." Destiny's soft voice lured his gaze to the doorway to see the appearing figure. "How are you feeling?" She came close and sat next to him.
Aaron sat up, still refusing any help from the older.
"Fine. I'll go to my room." He said and tried to get out of the bed but Destiny grabbed his hands and stopped him from going.
She held his hands in her own and stared intensely in his eyes.
Aaron felt nervous under her scrutinizing gaze but stayed locked on spot.
"Aaron, I'm not pitying you." She began, her voice strong and unwavering. "Yes, I do feel sorry for what happened, but this doesn't mean I'm doing all of this for mere pity.
I don't know how and when this happened, but I do care about you."
Shocked eyes froze as Aaron couldn't believe his ears.
"Yes, Aaron. I do. And I really want to give being married a shot. Only if you want. I don't want to lose you without even giving us a chance."
They both went silent after that.
Aaron couldn't find the right words to reply and Destiny had sputtered everything she had to say.
She still held Aaron's hands.
"Please say something." She pleaded and Aaron could see how much she wanted this.
It was evident in her narrow, crescent moon shaped eyes.
Aaron thought over her words and sighed.
Giving a chance wouldn't hurt, right? It was no wrong to try. Maybe something good would come out of this.
He nodded. Not saying anything. But that was enough for Destiny, for now.
"Thank you. I promise, Aaron, I'm not forcing myself. I really want this."
Aaron felt as if he was dreaming.
Destiny being so soft and expressive with him, it was something he longed for and thought would never have.
His heart shamelessly fluttered.
"Alright. I want to give us a try too."
Destiny squeezed his hands, loving how soft they were then let them go and sat with a smile.
"Let tomorrow be our first day together."
Aaron's heart jumped in his throat and a shy smile graced his lips.
Destiny could just kiss the air out of his lungs at this point.
"But before all of that, I want you to stay here for the next week. So, I can take better care of you."
If possible, Aaron blushed even more, heart racing against time.
Was it all actually happening to him?
----------
"Here it is. Let me know how you like it."
Destiny said while putting a bowl of steaming soup in front of the boy.
Aaron's eyes widened.
He still couldn't believe he was getting this kind of treatment from his wife.
All his life, he had never recevied such treatment from anyone.
He didn't have any friends in school, got bullied badly, then at home his parents abused him, made him work like a pathetic dog.
He couldn't help the tears from building in his eyes and wiped them with his sleeves.
Which put Destiny on alert. She quickly moved around the kitchen counter and rushed to Aaron, cupping his face in between her hands.
Aaron's cheeks felt so soft and squishy, they felt so warm to touch.
Destiny made him look up at her and wiped away his tears with the pads of her thumbs. Her brows knitted together in a concerned frown.
"What is it?"
Aaron shook his head, his heart rate accelerating from the touch.
Soft shots of sparks running through his veins from the skin to skin contact, his face quickly heating up. He smiled.
"Nothing. I-it's just no one ever cared for me like this."
Destiny still didn't know how much of an awful life Aaron had led before this marriage.
She did notice the marks on him but she didn't put much thought to it.
Aaron still didn't feel ready to tell any of that yet.
Kai and Lila knew and he was grateful for their sympathy and love, he just, for some reason, didn't want Destiny to feel forced to like him out of pity.
So, he stayed quiet about that for now.
"I'm sorry for crying every time." He chuckled softly and hid his face behind his hands, embarrassed.
To Destiny, it was one of the most adorable sights she had ever seen.
Her heart skipped a beat and something raging burned inside her.
A raging urge to protect this precious boy from the world.
"It's okay, love. It's okay to cry and let out your emotions. I promise you'll be cared for from now on. I don't know about your life before me, but I'd love to know all about you when you're ready to let me in."
Aaron felt overwhelmed by her words.
They were so understanding and a hidden emotion was there the way Destiny spoke them.
His heart warmed, and he nodded.
"Now, finish it." Destiny gestured to the bowl of soup.
After they had finished dinner, she handed him his medicine and tucked him in bed then went to her office to get some work done.
She had been absent since yesterday. Although she was the CEO and didn't need to answer to anyone, Destiny was workholic and loved her work.
But as of now, it seemed like something, or rather someone, has gained more priority than work in her life.
She quickly typed away, rechecking some files when an email came into her view.
It was from David Brown, Aaron's foster dad.
Destiny knew he was adopted but never realized how bad his life actually was.
She was dumbfounded seeing the mail.
It said about the agreement of their marriage.
A request from David Brown to sell his son as a slave in order to save his company.
It had Aaron's picture and bio data attached to it.
Destiny's heart dropped as she looked over the pages and found some points made by David Brown on the tasks Aaron could fullfil as a slave.
She felt sick to her stomach that someone could do this to another human being.
One of those points was, a suggestion to use him for physical pleasure.
Destiny slammed her laptop shut and clenched her fists tight, knuckles turning white.
Her eyes became red with tears as she felt utterly frustrated. Her heart ached for the poor boy with beautiful eyes.
She remembered the innocence in them, the swirl of curiosity and amazement whenever something happened in the movie he was watching. His smile when offered chocolates, his cute, shy smile when complimented.
Destiny ached all over and pressed the tips of her fingers to the corner her eyes to stop the tears from flowing.
How could someone even have the heart to hurt such soul? How?
She went to her room to see the boy curled up under the blanket, sleeping peacefully.
Going closer to him, she sat next to him.
She stared for a few seconds then gently brushed some hair out of his face, feeling a sinking feeling in her gut when she spotted a purple, faded cut line on the further corner of his forehead.
"I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
It was more of a promise to herself.
Destiny slowly leaned down and pressed a kiss to Aaron's forehead.
"I'll protect you. I promise."
----------
A/N:-
Let me know how you like the story so far.
Vote & comment.