The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride-Chapter 75: operation seduction

The secret room at Hades Wildfire’s apartment was silent—eerily so, considering what was currently scribbled across the giant whiteboard in aggressive, crime-scene red marker:

OPERATION: SEDUCE AURORA

Underneath, in smaller—but equally aggressive—handwriting was:

"Try not to look like you’re kidnapping her while doing it."

Naturally, that line had Rowan’s fingerprints all over it. Currently, he was standing in front of the board like a deranged professor teaching "Flirting 101: How Not to Be a Walking Red Flag."

No one really remembered who gave Rowan authority to do that. Not even Milo, who was in charge of this mission. No one ever gave him authority. He just sort of... appeared, carrying vibes and bad ideas.

But everyone was in the room anyway, contributing like this was a strategic war council. A war council of idiots.

Except Gavin, of course.

"Now, hear me out," Rowan began, hands raised like Moses about to part the Red Sea of Common Sense. "Day One: accidental hand brush. Day Two: shirtless kitchen encounter. Day Three: intense eye contact that would make even the devil blush and hide in Milo’s closet—"

"No," Hades said, deadpan.

Rowan blinked, unoffended. "No to which part?"

"To all of it."

Across the table, Milo sat like the world’s most exhausted campaign manager, calmly tapping on his tablet. "Boss, respectfully, your natural romantic energy falls somewhere between ’cold warning sign’ and ’government-issued hazard alert.’ We need to dial up the... humanity."

"No." Hades didn’t even look up. His voice had the warmth of a glacier.

Milo smiled tightly. "You already signed the form that lets us advise you on this. Don’t forget."

He pointed to a document on the table. Hades picked it up wordlessly, then tore it cleanly in half. Slowly. Deliberately.

Silence.

"No," he repeated, like it was his personal brand.

Gavin was sprawled lazily on a leather couch, legs crossed, earbuds in—except they weren’t playing anything. He just didn’t want to hear the nonsense. Still, every once in a while, he shot Hades a bombastic side eye as if asking, Why is the Dark Lord of Doom planning to woo a woman like this is a Regency romance novel?

Rowan, still determined, tapped the board again. "Okay, but what about faking an injury? Women love vulnerable men. Picture this: sprained ankle, dramatic limping, she helps you inside—boom. Tension."

"I don’t fake anything," Hades muttered, as if the idea of faking an injury was more insulting than prison.

Milo cleared his throat. "Alright, plan B: psychology."

Gavin scoffed, a low, derisive sound.

"Women like powerful men," Milo said with a sage nod. "But more than that—they like to feel powerless... in the safe, cinematic, emotionally available kind of way. Like... you could destroy nations, but instead you choose to help her kill a spider in the bathroom."

Rowan nodded with reverence. "That’s poetic."

"Write it down," Milo said proudly, gesturing to Rowan.

Hades’s eye twitched. He actually seemed to consider this one. "Are you suggesting I intimidate her?"

"No, no!" Milo backpedaled, waving his hands like a panicked magician. "Command respect. There’s a difference. Maybe... block her path during the race tomorrow? Light shoulder brush? Slow-motion eye contact under the sun? You know—powerful tension."

Rowan clapped. "Yes! And don’t forget the classic ’Are you okay?’ when she stumbles. Voice low. Gravelly. Maybe say her name once."

Gavin buried his entire face in his hoodie sleeve.

"What race?" Hades asked, his voice flat.

"We received an updated info of the activities for tomorrow. She will be running for the ’environment’," Milo explained, pulling up a digital schematic of the sports complex.

Hades looked at the screen, then back at Milo, like he had no clue what the hell that meant.

"So yeah, good time to do all this," Milo finished, beaming.

"How is he supposed to block her path when she is racing? Can’t you both see you are idiots?" Gavin, who could no longer listen to their nonsense, chipped in, his voice muffled by the hoodie.

Rowan turned to Gavin. "Dear emo pineapple. Got anything? Anything at all?"

Gavin slowly removed one earbud like a gunslinger drawing a blade. "Piss off!"

Then he reinserted the earbud and lay back down.

Milo huffed. "Ignore him. He’s just bitter he can’t emotionally connect with anyone besides houseplants."

"Or knives," Rowan added helpfully.

Milo continued, undeterred. "Now, Boss. About tomorrow—"

"No," Hades said. Again. Sharper now. Ice dagger sharp.

Milo and Rowan exchanged a glance. A silent ’If he says no one more time, I’m going to cry.’

"I’m not going," Hades replied instantly.

"You have to," Milo countered, his tone pleading. "All you need to do is appear. Just exist in the vicinity of her with less murdery energy than usual. Maybe nod when she talks. Or... cheer once."

"I don’t cheer."

"Grunt then," Rowan said brightly. "Women like primal noises. ARRRGH!"

Even Gavin made a strangled sound at that one.

Milo nodded. "Just... show up. Maybe help her carry something. Or casually correct a guy who flirts with her by being hotter and more emotionally stable."

Rowan turned back to the board, undeterred. "Or look, you can help her stretch before the race."

"No," Hades said again, already standing up.

"What about sweat towel exchange?!" Rowan called out, desperate.

"No."

"Surprise breakfast picnic at sunrise?" Rowan offered, practically wringing his hands.

"Stop talking."

As he headed for the door, Milo called after him, "Boss, please! At least show up tomorrow!"

The door slammed behind him.

Rowan turned to Milo, deflated. "We’re gonna die alone before this mission succeeds."

Milo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Worse. We’re going to witness Hades flirt in real time."

Gavin looked at them from his couch, pulling out an earbud again. "Bastards." Then he stood up and walked away.

Both Rowan and Milo sighed heavily, deflated.

Just then, there was a news flash.

Milo opened it quickly.

"TRUSTED SOURCES SAYS THAT FIVE MEN WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED DURING THE DRUG RAID HAVE BEEN RELEASED THIS MORNING. OUR SOURCES CLAIM THAT IT’S ALL THANKS TO THE MALAY CORPORATION."

Both men looked at each other, the same questioning look on their faces.

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