LOGINEntering the mansion feeling dejected, I call out for Helen and let her know I have returned home. She greets me instantly, appearing from the kitchen door, wiping her hands on her apron.
“That was, Miss Aurora.” She notes, her brows furrowed with concern.
“The storm got too bad, and I figured coming home was safer than being out.” I lie smoothly, giving her the practiced smile I have used many times at Liam’s work events.
“Ah, I see. Would you like something warm to drink to help chase the chill of the storm away?” Helen asks, and I instantly say yes, asking for her famous hot chocolate. Helen smiles happily, telling me to go change into some warm clothes and that the hot chocolate will be ready in a few minutes. Thanking her, I head up the stairs and into my room, deciding that I needed to call Mira as soon as I changed into some comfortable clothing.
As soon as I reach my room, the first thing I do is dig the pregnancy test out of my purse and throw it and anything related to it into the trash. I know Helen will come to collect the garbage when she brings me my hot chocolate, so I tie it up and place the bag near the bedroom door like I usually do.
After washing my hands, I head into my closet and grab a simple night gown, the soft cotton fabric warming my cold skin, but my heart still feels a chill from the truth I just learned. I sigh, grabbing my phone and making my way to the large bay window and curling up on the bench built there, wrapping the soft throw blanket I left there this morning around me. I want to call Mira to explain what I just learned, but Helen is loyal to Liam. I will have to wait for her to leave before I call my best friend.
A knock on the door sounds, and I put on another smile, calling out a soft “come in”. The door swings open and Helen walks in, a smile on her face and a tray in her hands with my hot chocolate and a plate full of chocolate chip cookies.
“I figured a snack would go well with the hot chocolate.” Helen says before I can say anything, placing the tray on the table. I thank her, taking a cookie from the tray and nibbling on it, not really feeling hungry. Helen busies herself gathering the dirty laundry and picking up the small bag of garbage where I left it. After telling me to have a good night, I am left alone in my room, watching the clock tick away for five minutes before I am sure Helen would not hear me.
Unlocking my phone, I scroll through my contacts and click on Mira’s name, holding the device to my ear as I watch the storm outside rage on, rain falling like one large sheet of water in the quiet night.
“Hey Aurora!” Mira greets instantly, her cheerful voice finally causing the dam of emotions to break. I sob as I tell Mira that I am pregnant. How I went to the club to tell Liam and ended up finding out the truth about why he was with me. Mira listened, reminding me to take a deep breath when I felt the crushing weight of heartbreak weighing down on my chest. By the time I got to the part about both men not wanting the baby, I was done crying and ready for my best friend’s advice.
“You’re not staying with Liam after this, right?” Mira asks calmly, too calmly. I know Mira enough to know she was planning something.
“Yes. I am not staying here where Liam and his brother could still hurt me.” I confirm, resolved to leaving Vancouver City and never seeing the Knightsbridge brothers ever again.
“Well, why not move to Toronto. There is an art gallery here that needs a manager, and you have the qualifications. Plus, they do a monthly local artist showcase. You could both run a business as a manager and sell your art on the side.” Mira suggests, the idea sounding perfect.
“That sounds like something I can do.” I confirm, smiling happily. Mira lets out an excited squeal, telling me to start shipping my things to her condo. I agree, telling my friend to text me her information as I start thinking about the items I would need to ship out. I don’t have much, not even books or art materials, so I could probably have everything sent to Mira in two days, leaving me five more days of wasting my time with Liam and his twin. I need to get back at them, at Liam, Dominic, Sheryl, and their friends.
“Mira.” I tentatively call out my friend’s name, running a hand through my hair.
“Do you still have that hacker friend?” I ask, the plan already forming in my mind.
“I do, why?” Mira answers hesitantly, her excitement dying down. I sigh, returning my gaze out the window. The storm had died down to a drizzle with low-lying fog covering the ground.
“I want revenge.” I admit, closing my eyes.
“They used me for their own entertainment, and I got pregnant because of it. I want their plan to fail spectacularly on my supposed wedding day.” My explanation comes smoothly as I delve into the details of my revenge plan. Mira chimes in, telling me how her friend can help with the technological side as long as he has access to Sheryl’s social media, something I could easily help with. Headlights appear through the fog and, after a few moments, I recognize the BMW that Liam, or should I say Dominic, drives. After promising to email Mira all the information and the video evidence from tonight to her so she can pass it on to her hacker friend, I wish my friend a good night and end the call.
Now, let's see which twin came home to me tonight.
Looking at the painting on the wall, I take a deep breath and breathe in the smell of the art gallery. Today was my interview for the management position at the local gallery, a decent-sized building next to Lake Ontario. One wall faced the water, letting in all the natural light and a beautiful view of the water itself.The spacious gallery held many paintings from Canadian artists, my favourite being the wall dedicated to indigenous artists here in Canada, where dozens of indigenous paintings were hung.“Sorry I am late.” A strong, feminine voice calls, and I turn to find a woman dressed in a black, knee-length sundress with a dusty rose blazer over top walking towards me, her heels, the same dusty rose as the blazer, clicking on the polished floor.“It’s no problem at all. I was looking at all the beautiful artworks.” I reassure quickly, stepping forward and shaking the offered hand.“They are beautiful, aren’t they?” The woman says, her eyes softening as she looks at the painting
Looking out at the streets of Toronto, my mind wanders to Aurora and what she might be doing. Letting her go live with Mira, knowing she is pregnant with my child, had been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. But Aurora needed this; she needed to get her freedom back after the way my brother treated her. At least I know she is with someone who helped take down Liam and Sheryl.Without Mira and her hacker connection, we would not have been able to surprise the two scumbags with Sheryl’s TikTok yesterday. We wouldn’t have been able to share the evidence of Liam cheating on Aurora, or the twisted games that Sheryl planned to harm my Norther Lights.“Sir, your mother is on line one.” My secretary’s voice comes over the coms system, and I frown. I had seen the aftermath of my mother striking Liam, leaving a red handprint on my brother’s face. Turning away from the window, I slowly walk to my desk, dreading whatever conversation my mother wants to have. Picking up the phone
Looking around Mira’s small two-bedroom bungalow, I take in the chaotic scattering of house plants on any viable surface, the canvases stacked by the large bay window with an easel holding onto a half-finished project, and the basket of painting supplies beside it.“It’s…” I trail off, shaking my head and laughing. God, was I so used to the spacious mansion that Liam owned that I did not expect such a crammed space to be my new home.“A mess, I know.” Mira finishes, helping me push my suitcases down the hall ahead of me.“But it’s home, and you can help me organize it, miss neat freak.” She continues, teasing me. I laugh again, following her towards what is to be my bedroom, taking in the chaotic splotches of colours on the wall and the random paintings hung in no order. Mira was always the free-spirited out of the two of us, always the one who had no worries when it came to life. If a man told her he no longer loved her, she would shrug and create a painting of her heartbreak, then m
The jet lands in Toronto Pearson Airport around two in the afternoon. By now, I can already feel the jet lag from the shift with the different time zone, and a nice soft bed seems to be calling me. Dominic had taken it upon himself to gather my luggage, much to my chagrin, as I was planning to sneak away and find Mira waiting at arrivals. Unfortunately, it seems this man plans to keep me by his side, and I am left texting my foster sister to say I am stuck with Dominic for the time being.“Are you ready to go?” Dominic asks, his voice coming from behind me. I jump, not expecting him to have gathered our luggage so quickly.“Y-yes, I am.” I stutter out, standing from the comfortable chair that Dominic had made me sit on, telling me to stay here until he returned with our luggage, which now sat on a cart. He smiles at me, the stress of the last week gone from his eyes as he looks so carefree.“Good, I have a driver outside ready to take us home.” He states, motioning for me to follow hi
Staring at the new cellphone I had bought only yesterday, I watch as Sheryl’s live stream begins while reclining back on the soft cushion of the private jet, sipping on the cold glass of Coca-Cola.“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.” She calls with that practice smile as she looks into the screen, her eyes shining with mischief as the cameraman follows her around. This was the account that Mira’s hacker friend had found. One that she had blocked my personal account and kept me from seeing her posts. Posts that made fun of me and shared more explicit details of hers and Liam’s relationship. For months, it seemed like she had been hinting at a big live event that would leave her fans laughing. This event would be my so-called wedding.“As promised, today we have a very important event!” She continues, posing for the camera in her expensive ivory dress. The gems glittered in the light, sparkling every time she moved like twinkling stars. The livestreaming audience was commenting happi
Looking at the sleeping woman beside me, I let out a chuckle as I carefully drive towards the mansion for the last time. Helen had told me that Aurora left the mansion early in the morning, taking a ride-share car and not telling anyone where she was going. I had made a call ordering my men to track her cellphone and quickly found out that she had gone to the bank. I knew about her little side hustle of selling the gifts Liam gave her online, making a fortune off of what she didn’t keep.Liam had been an idiot showering her with gifts, but it was his money he was wasting for Sheryl’s amusement, and Aurora had played him for a fool by taking his gifts with a smile and selling them just as quickly as they came. He never noticed it because he was to enamoured with that snake, but I watched as she steadily sold everything, watched her build that nest egg. I knew she was rich, richer than anyone in Sheryl’s little gang, but she kept it to herself. And yet, I still find myself wanting to gi







