Game Empire's CEO, My Accidental Husband

Like Magic

Aria

I suddenly remembered—I still had stuff left at Marcus’s apartment. And like it or not, I had to go get it. One thing in particular mattered more than anything else—my application papers for Veyron. Without them, my shot at starting over would go straight to hell.

Marcus’s crap was still in my place too. I’d already dumped it all into a big cardboard box. Today, I was going to return it. I didn’t want to give him any excuse to show up at my door again.

I waited for the right time—while he was still on campus. Hopefully, he hadn’t changed the damn door code yet. Lucky me—Marcus was still the careless asshole I remembered, too cocky to bother changing it.

I dropped the box of his stuff on the floor near the bookshelf and went straight to his room. Pulling open the nightstand drawer, my eyes landed instantly on the blue folder. I grabbed it with both hands, my chest loosening with relief.

“Got you,” I muttered, a small smile tugging at my lips.

That folder held everything. My application. My golden ticket. Veyron—the biggest gaming company I’d ever dreamed of working for—had finally called me in for an interview. Just holding the folder made me feel like maybe, doors were finally opening.

**

The next morning, I stood outside a sleek glass tower, my heart beating like a goddamn war drum. My hands were ice cold, slick with sweat even though I kept shoving them into my blazer pockets.

Inside the waiting room, everyone else looked so put-together—reading notes, tapping confidently on their phones. Meanwhile, I just sat there hunched over, fiddling with the corner of that blue folder like it was a lifeline. My breathing felt shallow. I tried remembering those motivational quotes I’d read online, but they all scattered the second I needed them.

Then my phone buzzed. Unknown number.

I stared at it for a long beat, unease prickling at the back of my neck. I never answered strange numbers, and there was no way in hell I’d pick up now. I hit mute and shoved it back in my bag.

“Focus, Aria. Just f*****g focus,” I whispered to myself.

When they finally called my name, my legs felt like lead. But I forced my shoulders back, slapped on a smile, and walked into the interview room.

It flew by faster than I expected, though every second dragged like hours in my head. When it was over, I exhaled hard. My body felt lighter, empty, like I’d left a piece of myself behind in that room. All I could do now was wait.

I walked back slowly, my mind still replaying every damn question and answer. But the second I turned into my hallway, my whole body froze.

Marcus was standing outside my apartment. His eyes locked on me, dark and unreadable.

“Aria,” he said softly, voice tight. “We need to talk.”

I shut the door behind me, gripping the folder against my chest. “You shouldn’t be here, Marcus. I already returned your things.”

“I know,” he said, nodding at the box in the corner. “But I can’t let it end like this. I f****d up, okay? I regret it. I still love you. Just… give me another chance.”

My hands clenched tighter around the folder, like it could shield me. “It’s too late, Marcus. I can’t go back to you.”

He stepped closer, eyes flashing. “Don’t say that. I know you still care. You’re just mad—”

I backed up until my spine hit the door. My pulse hammered in my throat. “Stay the hell away from me.”

But he didn’t. His hand shot out, reaching for me. My lungs locked. That look in his eyes—I knew it too well. Obsession. Possession. The urge to control.

Then suddenly—Ethan.

He came out of nowhere, rounding the corner like a storm, his face tight, eyes blazing with fury. In one swift move, he shoved Marcus back and drove his fist into his jaw.

Marcus staggered, stunned. “Who the hell are you?!”

Ethan planted himself in front of me, a wall of muscle and rage. “I’m her husband,” he said coldly, each word sharp as a knife.

The hallway went silent. Marcus froze, staring first at Ethan’s hand gripping mine, then at the ring glinting on my finger. His lips trembled, color draining from his face.

“You… you’re just trying to make me jealous,” he muttered weakly. But even he didn’t sound convinced.

“Don’t come near Aria again,” Ethan growled, his voice low and lethal.

Marcus didn’t argue. He gave me one last broken look, then stumbled away down the hall, defeated.

As soon as the door shut, my body started shaking violently. Tears streamed down my cheeks, all the fear I’d bottled up crashing over me.

“Aria…” Ethan’s voice softened. He pulled me into his arms, letting me sob into his chest. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

I tilted my tear-streaked face up at him. “Don’t leave me tonight. Please. I can’t be alone.”

He gave me a small, gentle smile, brushing my hair back. “I’m already your husband. Of course I’ll stay.”

I fell asleep that night in his lap, trembling at first but slowly sinking into the strangest sense of peace.

**

The next morning, the smell of coffee and toast woke me. I dragged myself out of bed, eyes heavy, and found Ethan in the kitchen. He was humming softly, flipping bread onto a plate.

A smile crept onto my face before I could stop it.

“Morning,” he said, handing me a plate. “You skipped dinner last night. Eat.”

I sat down, my chest tightening with something warm. “Thank you… for everything. For protecting me.”

He just nodded, sitting across from me, watching quietly with that soft look in his eyes that made me feel both seen and exposed.

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was an email.

With trembling hands, I opened it.

My eyes went wide. “Ethan… oh my God. I got it! They hired me! Veyron actually hired me!”

I screamed, jumping up with excitement. When I turned, Ethan was grinning like a damn fool, but he didn’t say a word—just stared at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.

“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked, breathless, half laughing.

He stood, wrapped his arms around me from behind, and murmured into my ear, “Because you deserve this. And I promise—I’ll find work too. I’ll back you up no matter what.”

My heart melted. I turned, our faces just inches apart. My breath hitched—not from fear this time, but from something far sweeter. I leaned in, and our lips finally met in a soft, lingering kiss, a promise wrapped in silence.

When we pulled apart, my cheeks burned hot.

There was no reason for me to kiss him so suddenly. No logic behind it. It just happened—like magic, pulling me in, effortless and undeniable.