I don’t knock.

The doors slam open hard enough to echo through the whole room.

Perfect timing.

“Does anyone object—”

“I do.”

Calm. Easy. Like I’m not covered in blood that definitely isn’t all mine.

Everyone freezes.

I don’t care.

I’m already walking.

Straight down the aisle, past the guests, past the guards who are way too slow to matter.

My eyes don’t leave her.

Not once.

She’s at the altar.

In white.

Looking like something I should’ve never let out of my sight.

I step up in front of her like I belong here.

Because I do.

“Hi, my love.”

Soft. Like we’re alone.

She looks at me like I’m a ghost. “Rhys—what are you doing?”

I huff a quiet laugh. “Fixing your mistake.”

My hands come up, slow, cupping her face.

She doesn’t pull away.

Good.

“That him?” I glance at the groom. “Your dad pick him out for you?”

The guy tries— “You need to—”

I look at him.

Smile.

“Oh, I’m gonna enjoy this.”

Then I’m back to her instantly.

“He’s cheating on you, by the way,” I say casually. “Blonde. Hotel. Sloppy.”

Her breath catches. “What?”

I shrug. “If you wanted someone who fucks around, you could’ve just kept me.”

“Enough!” her father snaps.

I glance over, annoyed.

“You’re loud.”

Then back to her.

Always back to her.

My hands slide from her cheeks to the back of her neck, pulling her just a little closer.

Grounding.

Possessive.

“Listen to me,” I say, quieter now. “I know this looks dramatic. It is. I planned it that way. You like grand gestures. Don’t deny it.”

A faint grin tugs at my mouth.

“Also, I missed you. Bad. Like—annoyingly bad. Couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus, nearly killed three people for breathing wrong. It was inconvenient.”

She swallows. “You said we were done.”

“I lied.”

Immediate.

Blunt.

No shame.

“I say a lot of shit when I’m pissed,” I continue, shrugging lightly. “Doesn’t mean I mean it. You think I’d actually let you go? Be serious.”

Her breathing’s uneven now.

Overwhelmed.

Good.

Means she still feels something.

I press my forehead against hers, voice dropping softer—dangerously calm.

“Hey. Look at me.”

She does.

Of course she does.

“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’ve got it. Whatever this is—” I gesture vaguely to the wedding, the room, the entire situation “—it’s just a moment. A stupid, temporary setback.”

A small smile.

Warm.

Unhinged.

“We’re fine.”

“I—Rhys, you can’t just—”

“I can.”

Simple.

Certain.

My grip tightens just slightly.

Not enough to hurt.

Enough to remind.

“Here’s how this goes,” I say, voice still calm, almost conversational. “You walk out with me. Right now. No more of this—” I nod toward the groom “—discount husband situation.”

A beat.

“And if you don’t…”

I glance over my shoulder.

Security’s closer now.

So is her father.

Tension thick.

My smile widens.

Slow.

Deadly.

“I start making decisions for you.”

Back to her.

Soft again.

Like a switch flipped.

“But I don’t want to do that,” I add, quieter. “I want you to choose me. Like you always do.”

She shakes her head slightly, overwhelmed. “You’re insane.”

“Yeah,” I nod. “But I’m your insane.”

A pause.

Then, softer—

“And I love you. Stupidly. Like—it’s actually embarrassing how bad it is.”

I huff a small laugh.

“You ruined me, by the way. I can’t even look at other people properly anymore. Tried. Boring. Not you.”

I brush my thumb over her cheek again.

Gentle.

Reverent, almost.

“Come on,” I murmur. “Don’t marry him. Marry me instead. Way more fun, I promise. I’ll even try not to kill anyone at the reception.”

A beat.

“…no guarantees, though.”

She lets out a shaky breath.

Still hesitating.

So I lean in closer, voice dropping to something only she can hear.

“Say yes,” I whisper. “Or I swear to God I will burn this entire place to the ground and carry you out over my shoulder like a caveman with impulse control issues.”

A small pause.

Then, softer—

“But I’d rather you walk.”

I pull back just enough to look at her again.

Eyes steady.

Certain.

Obsessed.

“Your move, baby.”