The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride-Chapter 47: Fan girl

The drive went on in silence.

Of course it did.

Hades wasn’t the type to fill silence. He weaponized it. Let it stretch like a wire between them, taut and humming. His hands rested on the wheel like he’d done this a thousand times—controlled, minimal, precise. His eyes stayed on the road. Not a glance her way.

Fine.

Alice hugged her arms to herself, pretending she wasn’t still cold. Pretending she wasn’t confused. Or... oddly grateful. But also scared. Because Hades wasn’t simply someone any person in their right mind would follow out. Yet, for some odd reason...

She wasn’t sure how to explain it.

Outside, the world shifted.

The estate’s wrought-iron gates disappeared behind them, replaced by roads wider than she remembered. Neon lights spilled across the pavement. Tall buildings rose like silent sentinels, their glass surfaces catching the city’s reflections and throwing them back in color—blue, gold, red.

It was night, but it felt alive.

Her breath caught before she could stop it. She didn’t mean to show it. Didn’t mean to press her fingers lightly to the window, like a child. But she couldn’t help it.

She hadn’t seen the West.

Not really.

They’d taken her from the North fast—too fast. Everything blurred. Then she returned for the wedding, and after that, it had all been awkward dinners, threats, expectations, and then the prison of that goddamned estate. No people unless they were guards or ghosts. Or they hated her.

And now...

She stared up.

Buildings curved toward the sky like art. Trees lined the streets with little lights hanging from their branches like stars. A group of people walked by—laughing, real, free. A child in a yellow sweater clutched a glowing balloon. It was nothing like the North.

God.

Alice pressed closer to the window. Just a little.

Then—

She turned, just slightly, to catch another view of something they’d passed—a bookstore, maybe, or a wall covered in street art—and then suddenly, there was movement above.

Click.

She flinched.

And then—

The roof of the car slid open.

She gasped.

A cool rush of air swept down into the cabin, brushing her skin, tossing her hair back. She blinked up, stunned.

The sky.

Real air.

Not filtered through the AC. Not thick with silence or smoke.

The wind touched her like it remembered her name.

She looked at him—Hades—but he didn’t say a word. His expression was the same. Cold. Neutral.

Like he hadn’t just handed her the sky.

"Why... did you do that?" she asked, slowly, not quite trusting her voice.

Of course, she always asked. Why did she even care about having conversations with him?

He didn’t answer.

Of course he didn’t.

Alice sat back but tilted her head upward. She let the wind hit her face. It made her eyes sting a little—but she smiled. A real one, small and reluctant, curling up at the corner of her lips.

For the first time in a while, it felt like her heart was free.

She didn’t thank him.

And yet—

She felt it between them. That weird, fragile thread. Like something invisible had shifted in the space. Not enough to call it safe. But maybe enough to call it... new.

Her head turned to look at him.

He was beautiful. Of course, he was. That was probably the only good thing about him.

She knew he knew she was staring.

And still, he didn’t look at her.

But his hand shifted again—one finger tapping the steering wheel once, then still.

The car pulled up in front of a building that looked like it had eaten three palaces and decided to wear them as a suit. Gleaming glass, gold-tipped lighting, and a discreet red carpet that whispered wealth without flaunting it.

Alice blinked at it as the roof of the car came back on.

"Why are we here?" she asked.

Hades didn’t look at her. "A drive."

She turned to him, eyebrows raised. "A drive? This doesn’t look like we’re just driving around. You parked."

He unbuckled his seatbelt with the same elegant indifference he wore like cologne. "We’re here now."

That was all he said before stepping out.

Still confused, she opened her door, and she was ushered into cool air and warm lights with no explanation and a pounding heart.

It looked like a high-class restaurant.

He’d had dinner already. A good one. Not like her who had to ’feast’ on the plate of greens and paprika. So even if he wanted to eat something else, he had a home and even private chef. Plus there were different kinds of restaurants in the estate. So why were they here?

She followed Hades through a small, private entrance and an elevator like a confused plus-one to a party she wasn’t invited to.

Inside, the lounge glittered. Velvet everything. Music playing low like a secret. Tables spaced out like each one deserved privacy and a personal therapist. The air smelled expensive—cologne, citrus, and candle wax that probably cost more than her entire wardrobe.

And maybe Aurora’s too.

Alice shrank a little in her seat. She was dressed in simple grey pants and a white shirt—the outfit she’d worn for dinner at the estate. She hadn’t expected to end up here. She didn’t even have a purse. Or any backup makeup. What if her eyeliner had smudged? What if her freckles were showing?

No one led them to a table. Hades walked straight to one by the high-rise window like he owned the place—or had already memorized it.

He didn’t even hold down a seat for her.

Not that she was expecting him to. Obviously.

She sat opposite him and peeked out the window instead. The lights of the city were dizzying—reflections bounced off glass buildings like fireflies. She’d never really seen this part of the West. She’d been practically kidnapped from the North, sent back only briefly, and then dumped on an estate after the wedding.

No small talk. No explanation.

They both sat in silence.

Just a man who looked like he belonged in this kind of place—and a girl who knew she didn’t.

She drummed her fingers on the table, then gave up with a sigh and leaned back. "I’ll use the restroom."

He didn’t stop her. Didn’t say a word.

The moment she disappeared down the hall, he finally reached for his phone.

A message from Milo:

"Boss, try to be a gentleman tonight."

He smirked. I’ve been nothing but.

---

Alice stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself. "Just don’t say anything stupid. Or smile too wide. Or breathe like a weirdo."

She ran her fingers through her hair, patted her cheeks, and prayed her freckles weren’t screaming through the foundation. Then she took a breath and stepped out.

She turned a corner too fast—and bumped into someone.

"Sorry—!" she exclaimed, quickly stepping back.

"My apologies. I hope you’re okay?" came the smooth, polite voice.

She looked up.

And froze.

He was tall—taller than she’d expected. Soft copper skin, tousled dark brown hair, lean build in an all-black designer suit, and eyes that sparkled like the camera lights had never tired him. That smile—curved, warm, and slightly crooked—was unmistakable.

Her mouth dropped open.

"You’re—Leonard Kim," she whispered.

The actor blinked, then gave the kind of soft smile that could probably start wars. "I am."

What the hell?!

Leonard Kim was the country’s leading actor. Everyone knew him. Everyone.

Who would have thought she’d casually bump into him?

Pauline would go crazy if she learnt this.

"I—I—" She stammered. "Holy crap. You’re amazing. Ocean Parade was... you were... the scene in the hospital? I actually cried. And I don’t cry. Like ever."

He chuckled, clearly charmed. "Glad to hear it."

"I—I write novels too," she added breathlessly. "And I’ve drawn inspiration from your roles so many times. I love you. I mean—not like *love* love. Not—well. You know what I mean." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

His grin widened—the kind celebrities reserved for fans during fan meets, but with just a flicker more curiosity.

"And your name?"

"Alice," she said, without thinking.

He blinked. "Alice. It’s my first time meeting a fan here."

"REALLY?!" Her eyes widened. "I’ve seen all your movies! Even that one that didn’t make sense—Cloudsplatter, or whatever it was called. You still made it work."

She realized she had no pen. No paper. "Crap. I don’t have anything—"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean white handkerchief. "Do you mind?"

"What? Of course not!"

He took a silver pen from his coat pocket and signed it with a flourish. "To Alice—stay bright."

Her heart might have imploded. She didn’t even notice how close he was standing until he tilted his head slightly.

"You look familiar, actually."

Her brain either circuited or probably remembered to start working again as soon as she heard that. Because apparently, she must have lost her freaking mind!

She was AURORA!

Her blood went cold immediately.

"We have met before haven’t we?" Leonard asked as he inspected her face closely.