The Devil’s unwilling bride

Back home

The drive home was quiet.

Maple stared out of the window, lost in her thoughts. The events at her father’s house kept replaying in her mind, the slap, the humiliation, and then Devon appearing out of nowhere.

She still couldn’t believe he had stood up for her.

Finally, the car rolled through the large iron gates of the Kingston mansion. Maple watched as the gates slowly closed behind them before looking down at the wooden box resting on her lap.

Her fingers traced the carved edges, following the familiar patterns she’d memorized as a child.

It was one of the few things that still made her feel close to her mother.

The car came to a stop.

Devon stepped out first, but after taking a few steps, he paused when he realized Maple wasn’t following.

He turned around.

“Hey. You coming?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Maple quickly gathered herself and stepped out of the car, walking a few steps behind him.

As they approached the house, she couldn’t help but look around. It all seemed even more impressive now that she was actually living there.

And somehow, everything around the house seemed to carry Devon’s presence.

They entered the living room.

Devon glanced at the wooden box she was holding tightly against her chest.

“Be careful with that.”

Maple looked at him before carefully placing the box on the table.

Her eyes stayed on it.

A maid walked into the room and immediately approached Devon, taking his coat from him.

Devon barely seemed to notice.

His attention remained on Maple.

She stood beside the table, staring at the box as though she was afraid someone might take it away again.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

She gave a small nod.

But she wasn’t really okay.

Her mind went back to her father’s house.

The place she had once called home.

She had never imagined her father would raise his hand against her. Even after everything that had happened between them, some part of her had still believed he cared about her.

Apparently, she had been wrong.

She looked down at the wooden box.

At least she had gotten this back.

The last few things that belonged to her mother.

A strange mixture of sadness and comfort settled inside her.

“You need help with that?”

Maple turned.

Devon was watching her with an amused look in his eyes.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone.

Maple’s eyes accidentally dropped to his chest.

She immediately looked back up.

Too late.

Devon had noticed.

The corner of his mouth lifted.

He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous look appearing in his eyes.

Maple’s face turned red.

She quickly looked away, wishing the floor would just open up and swallow her.

Why did he have to notice?

“I… I’ll be upstairs.”

Before Devon could say anything, she grabbed the wooden box and hurried toward the stairs.

She made it a few steps before stopping.

She turned around.

“Uhm… Devon?”

He looked up at her.

Maple hesitated for a moment.

“Thank you.”

Then she quickly disappeared upstairs.

Devon stood there for a moment.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

He shook his head before turning away.

Damian just smiled.

Upstairs, Maple closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned against it.

She let out a quiet breath.

She walked over to the table and carefully placed the wooden box down.

After staring at it for a few seconds, she finally opened it.

Her breath caught.

Photographs..

Jewelry..

Letters..

Everything was still there.

Maple slowly picked up one of the photographs.

There was her mother, smiling brightly at the camera.

A smile Maple remembered so well.

Memories came rushing back.

Her mother’s bedtime stories.

The way she used to tuck Maple into bed.

The sound of her laughter.

The little moments they had shared.

Maple smiled through the tears gathering in her eyes.

She wished her mother were still here.

She would have given anything to have one more conversation with her.

Still, having these things back made her feel a little better.

She carefully placed the photograph back inside the box and closed it.

Then her thoughts drifted back to Devon.

He had come to her father’s house.

He hadn’t asked too many questions or made her explain herself.

He had simply stepped in.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

Maybe her husband wasn’t as arrogant as he looked.

______________

Downstairs, Devon stood near the living room, his eyes resting on the staircase Maple had disappeared up.

His mind returned to what had happened at her father’s house.

His jaw tightened.

He hadn’t wanted to get involved in her family problems.

They weren’t his business.

But Maple was his wife now.

And whether he liked the marriage or not, there was one thing he wouldn’t tolerate.

No one was allowed to hurt his wife except him.

:

This chapter gives us a tiny shift in their relationship without making Maple suddenly fall for him—she’s simply starting to realize there may be more to Devon than the cold, arrogant man she first thought he was. ❤️