Maya's POV

Even a dead man could sense the tension between the two of us sitting in the car and it was making it hard to breathe.

I couldn't exactly look Eden in the eyes besides, he has not even offered a word to me since he started driving.

I felt like he was giving me the silent treatment but then, why was it affecting me? After all I don't need his permission to live my life the way I want. But why? why was I craving for his opinion?

"So you're marrying him, huh? " Eden finally broke the silence but his eyes were still glued to the road.

"Yeah, turned out that way " I replied fiddling with my hands as some sort of distraction.

"Why do you want to marry him? " He asked but this time glancing at me but for a brief moment.

"Do I need to explain myself ? " came my question.

"Yeah, money? fame? sex? love? You need to specify which of them prompted you into agreeing to marry him." Eden demanded , there was an edge to his voice which told me he could loose it anytime soon.

"I don't need to explain myself to you, so you can think anything you want " I stated and obviously impressed by my courage.

" Don't marry Nik " He said this time stunning me.

I blinked " Excuse me? "

"Don't marry Nik " He said again, this time his voice a lot firmer as if he was giving out an order.

"You can't just tell me not to marry someone" I retorted " You have to give me a specific and solid reason why I shouldn't marry Niklaus " I sighed, pinching the space between my brows.

Honestly, I was getting tired of all these melodramas. what was so wrong with marrying Nik ?

Eden wanted to say something but when he saw my fiery gaze and stance ready to start a full-fledged argument, he helplessly closed his mouth, his hand tightening on the wheel .

Then without warning, he swerved the car violently, not an effort to avoid hitting a car but to park the car to a side.

I was thrown forward then backward from the sudden momentum but thankfully didn't suffer a whiplash - though I would've have possibly banged my face somewhere if the seatbelt wasn't holding me back.

"Do you want to murder me?! " I screamed at him when my brain regained its functions again. What in the world was he thinking?

"I'm sorry " He apologized " I didn't mean to, I was just distracted "

"Perhaps, the next time you have me in your car- that is if there would be a next time , you give your undivided attention to the road and not stick your nose into someone's private matters ! " I chided with a deadpanned expression.

It seems my words really touched him this time cause for a complete minute, he just kept starring at me, mouth agape with diverse emotions flashing across his face or so I thought.

"You look incredibly hot when you're angry " He muttered and all my anger dissipated and a new form of emotion called disbelief grew.

I facepalm . like really facepalm. mentally . Were all the Spencer male like this? How in the world do I look cute or hot when angry?

Though I haven't stared myself in the mirror while angry but I could guess I looked like hulk probably, with dishevelled hair, nose emitting hot steam and laser eyes. That is literally.

Eden took a deep breath "I'm sorry for fooling around with your life " He apologized once again before adding "But you still can't marry Niklaus "

Ugh, here we go again.

I threw my hands up in the air " Why can't I marry Nik?"

He gazed deep into my eyes saying " Niklaus is a devil in sheep clothing "

I snickered "The devil I know is better than the angel I haven't seen "

Eden hooded his eyes " Why are you so stubborn? " he asked releasing a slow breath.

"Hey" I called out and moistened my lips - a gesture that gained his attention effortlessly "Umm" I cleared my throat when his gaze on my lips lingered for a while making me a bit uncomfortable.

The fake cough worked cause his attention flicked back to me and not my lips " Look, I like your cousin Niklaus and - "

"Like not love? " He interrupted me.

"I'm trying to be realistic here, dummy " I sassed, folded my arms across my chest and went on

"I wouldn't exactly call it love cause we haven't been together for that long and though we've passed through some tough and nice experiences but I don't think yet we have something that can stand the test of time. But I'll believe with time, I'll make a good man out of Niklaus "

For a while, Eden just stared at the girl not knowing what to say but he felt uncomfortable with the familiar ache in his heart.Why did he feel he had just lost a gold to Niklaus again?

" Would you have made a good man out of me if I had been the one to propose instead? " Eden asked suddenly and I blushed.

" W-why...wo..would you s-say? " I sputtered uncontrollably.

It was totally unbelievable, two of the world's most eligible bachelors were interested in me? Seriously Maya, did you save a nation in your past life?!

But wait, what if this is one of Eden's trickery?

"I'm serious here Maya " He said rousing me from my thoughts. This time taking advantage of my distraction, he had leaned towards me, his face too close for my liking.

" Would you have accepted me if I was the one who proposed to you? " He asked this time staring me in the eyes with raw emotion.

I gulped and involuntarily moved back but there was no more space, my back was now pressed against the car door.

I seriously wondered what Nik was thinking sending me into the lion's den. Infact, I'll give him a piece of my mind when he gets back.

"Fine " I breathed " You want to know the truth? Well now, this is the truth. " I faced him, looking him straight in the eyes and making a mental note not to cower nor blabber nor bite on my lips nervously.

Maybe I had to be like Nik for once, cool headed, unwavering, firm, say what's on my mind and don't give a damn who doesn't like it.

"I'm never going to accept you "