Accidentally His Husband.

ADRIAN'S Pov The hospital smelled the same as always, antiseptic, cold air, and that faint trace of metal that clung to everything. I used to hate it. Now, it felt like the only place where life made sense. Mom smiled the moment she saw me walk through the door. "There's my boy," she whispered, her voice soft but warm. I dropped my duffel on the chair and bent to hug her. She felt smaller somehow, lighter, like her bones were made of glass. "You're working too much again," she said, pulling back to look at me. "You've got shadows under your eyes." I forced a laugh. "I could say the same about you." "Don't deflect," she teased gently. "What's going on?" I hesitated. For a moment, I wanted to tell her everything, that I was married to Soren Knight, that the world was tearing me apart online, that I didn't even know who I was anymore. But the sight of her smile, fragile, hopeful, stopped me. She didn't need that weight. "Nothing's wrong," I lied. "Just long hours, that's all." She reached for my hand, her skin cool against mine. "You've always carried the world on your shoulders, Adrian. You can't fix everything alone." I swallowed hard. If only she knew how badly I'd broken everything instead. "Try to rest," I said softly. "Doctor said your next treatment's tomorrow, right?" She nodded. "If my insurance clears. Otherwise, they'll delay again." My stomach twisted. I didn't tell her that the bill was already paid, that Soren had quietly taken care of it behind my back after seeing her file on my table. I'd found out from the hospital's finance office this morning. I should have been grateful. I should have thanked him. But all I felt was anger. Because once again, he'd taken control. He'd made a decision for me, make I was too small to handle my own life. And the worst part? He was right. I left the room an hour later, needing air. The hospital hallway buzzed with nurses and rolling carts. I slipped out through the side exit and leaned against the cold brick wall, pressing my hands into my jacket pockets. My phone buzzed. Ten missed calls. All from an unknown number. Probably more reporters. I turned it off and looked up at the night sky. For a city this loud, the stars barely showed, but one or two flickered faintly above the buildings. Then I heard footsteps. When I turned, a man stood by the curb, half his face hidden by shadow. "Adrian Vega," he said smoothly. "Busy night?" My muscles tensed. "Who are you?" He smiled faintly. "Just someone with a message. You should be careful who you trust." "I don't even know you." "Exactly." He took a step closer. "You don't know any of them, do you? The Knights, their allies, their enemies. You think marrying Soren puts you in his world, but it only paints a target on your back." "Back off," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. The man smirked. "Tell your husband his father doesn't forgive betrayal easily." Before I could answer, he turned and disappeared into the darkness. I stood frozen, heart pounding. Victor. He meant Victor. I fumbled for my phone, turned it back on, and before I could even dial, it started to ring. Soren's name flashed across the screen. I answered, breathless. "Soren?" "Where are you?" His voice was low, tight, urgent. "At the hospital. Why?" "Stay there. Don't move." "What's going on?" "Someone's been following you." My grip on the phone tightened. "I just saw him." There was a pause, then his tone shifted, sharper, protective. "Did he touch you?" "No. Just a message. About your father." "I'm on my way." "Soren...." The line cut. I paced by the parking lot, trying to make sense of it. Why would Victor send someone after me? I wasn't part of their fight. I was just an accident in Soren's plan, a byproduct of his defiance. A sleek black car pulled up minutes later. Soren stepped out, his suit jacket half unbuttoned, his eyes scanning every shadow before finding me. "You shouldn't have come alone," I said, my voice trembling despite myself. He ignored that and reached for my arm, pulling me toward the car. "We're leaving." "I can't just go. My mom...." "She's safe. I have people here now. You're not." His words came out clipped, controlled, but I could hear the undercurrent, fear. I'd never thought Soren Knight could fear anything. But tonight, his hands shook slightly when he opened the door. Inside, the silence was thick. He drove too fast, eyes fixed on the road. Finally, I said, "It was your father, wasn't it?" His jaw tightened. "Yes." "Why? What does he want from me?" "Not you," he said coldly. "Me. You're just leverage." "Leverage for what?" He didn't answer. "Soren." He exhaled. "Victor hates public failure. He's going to punish me for it. And if he can't destroy me, he'll go after what I've touched." His hand clenched the wheel. "That means you." I stared at him. "So what, this is my life now? Your father's shadow following me around?" "I'll handle him." "You can't handle everything!" I snapped. "You don't even see what you're doing. You drag people into your world, then act like they're chess pieces you can move around." He glanced at me, eyes dark. "Would you rather I left you to them?" I faltered. "No. But.." "Then stop fighting me," he said softly. "You're safer if you stay close." The words weren't a threat. They were a plea. And somehow, that scared me more. We reached the penthouse after midnight. The lights from the skyline bled into the glass walls, painting everything in gold and blue. Soren locked the door behind us, checked the windows, then turned to me. "Are you hurt?" I shook my head. "Just tired." He nodded once, then rubbed a hand over his face, pacing. For the first time, he looked human, exhausted, angry, lost. "You shouldn't have been there alone," he said quietly. "I needed to see my mom." "You could've told me." "And what? You'd have sent a security team? You'd have made a scene. She can't know about any of this." He stopped pacing. "You're not the only one who cares about her safety." I blinked. "What?" He hesitated. "The hospital. The bills. I took care of them." The air left my lungs. "You did what?" "It wasn't charity," he said evenly. "It was necessary. They were stalling her treatment." "You had no right." He met my gaze, his tone unyielding. "I had every right. You're my husband." That word again. It landed heavier this time. I took a step closer, my anger trembling under the surface. "You think money fixes everything, don't you? You think control makes people safe. But you can't buy peace, Soren. You can't buy me." His voice dropped, low and steady. "Then tell me how to protect you, Adrian. Tell me what you need." I hesitated. Because under all the anger, under all the walls, his words sounded real. "I don't need protection," I said finally. "I just need you to stop treating me like a mistake you're trying to manage." He didn't answer. We stood there, the silence burning between us. Finally, he said, "You weren't a mistake." The words were quiet, almost lost to the sound of the city outside. But I heard them. And they sank deep. Before I could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression changed. Cold. Focused. "What?" I asked. He looked up. "Nathan just found something." "What is it?" "Someone inside the company leaked the video of our wedding night." My heart stopped. "What video?" "The chapel security feed," he said. "Someone paid to get it. They're releasing it tomorrow." I took a step back. "Soren...." He stood still, his jaw locked, eyes burning. "They want to humiliate me." "They'll humiliate me," I said quietly. "You'll survive this. You always do. But I....." He cut me off, stepping closer. "You won't face this alone." For a moment, I believed him. For a moment, I wanted to. But deep down, I knew what tomorrow meant. Another scandal. Another storm. Another headline that would bury me deeper in his world. And this time, I wasn't sure if I'd come back out.