Chapter 3: Her Plan.

I sat in Liliana's car, the warm blanket felt like safety. For now, I was free. No more Brian. The vanilla scent in her car calmed my heart- it felt like home. Something I hadn't felt in too long.

My memory flashed to all the times she saved me. From when we were kids to now, as adults. I took a deep breath.

"Lily..."

"Yes?"

"Am I safe now"

She smiled briefly. The kind that revealed everything she wasn't saying. We both knew it couldn't be over so easily.

My phone buzzed, I was startled.

"Don't." she said reaching for the phone. 

"It couldn't be..."

"It's him."

"I have to see what he wants." Against her order, I opened the message. It was a two-paged document.  

I read through it. 

My face ran cold. Like the all blood in it drained. My fingers were trembling so badly I had to press them into my thigh to steady them.

Liliana parked the car. 

"It's a document right?"

"I, I don't understand Lily," I stared at the document and the part written boldly stared back at me. 

My heart raced threatening to jump out of my chest. 

I gasped and looked at the highlighted part.

"The undersigned parties hereby agree to this marriage contract"

Husband: Christian Brian Woods(signed) 

Wife: Aurora Rosella Borealis(signed)

"I didn't sign this Lily, I didn't!" I screamed.

My throat tightened, "This signature Lily... I've never signed like this..."

"Did he? He forged this." I whispered.

She reached onto the dashboard, and grabbed a document.

"I swapped the documents in dad's office. This is the original. He's with the copy, and since he forged your signature... Forgery is a crime."

She left some words unsaid.

"Sue Brian?, we can't!"

"That's what he wants you to think"

Another text came in. 

Brian: You have an hour to come back before I find you.

I showed Liliana the text. She smiled calmly.

"What do I do Lily?, I can't go back. He'll kill me"

"There's one thing you can do"

"What?"

"Marry the one man who can stop him- Damon Grey.

"What? Marry someone I've never met?. I won't do that!"

"It's either that or you go back to Brian." 

I glanced at the time. It was almost morning. I had less than 3 hours to figure out what to do.

I suddenly remembered the note I crumpled and threw in the limo, I hoped he wouldn't find it. 

I reflected on the content, "Stay away from him, he's mine. Stick to yours."

I recovered from the flash back. A thought popped into my mind.

Since Rex was much more powerful than Brian that even he(Brian) dared not retaliate, I could marry him instead. After all, he suggested that himself and I didn't even have to seduce him.

"Lily, I don't know how you'll feel about this but I met someone else, he stood up for me, he was at the party and I promise he's the most handsome man I've ever seen. He commanded such authority unlike any I've witnessed..."

"What's his name?"

"Rex"

I went on to explain everything that happened. My interactions with Rex and the lady I saw him with.

After a long pause she said, "If you want Rex, I can help you find him. And if you want Damon, just say the word."

"There's only one thing left to do Chica," she added.

I sighed. I understood.

I thought about the audacious woman. It didn't help that I didn't like her.

I was prepared to play dirty.

A wicked smile crossed my lips.

"I'll marry Rex- the man Brian can't touch"

                      . . .

I couldn't return to Brian's house and my father's wasn't an option this time.

Even though she didn't say, I knew Liliana was driving to her house.

When we got in, I lay the blanket on the couch and sat on it. Liliana disappeared into the kitchen. Soon, the housekeeper brought a cup of steaming coffee, Liliana brought Toast and chicken soup.

"Eat, I'll bring a change of clothes"

I smiled, amazed by her big sister care.

"Thank you Lily. You're the best. I love you."

She winked and made a silly face.

I giggled. She always knew how to make me smile, even in unpleasant moments.

She turned to leave but changed her mind.

"Let me have your phone"

    

                       . . .

Just as I was drifting off to sleep I heard loud banging on the door. Liliana who was right beside me quickly got up and signalled for the housekeeper to check.

"Ma'am..." he hesitated, "it's your father."

"What?!" She exclaimed.

I got up slowly, unsure of my next move. I wished I could disappear.

"Wait here. He's not going to do anything to you. I promise"

I nodded anxiously.

As soon as she opened the door, my angry dad stomped in. 

"Where is she?"

"Right here dad"

"Why didn't she come home? What did you mean when you said not to look for Aurora?" He questioned Liliana.

She turned and faced the staff. They bowed and immediately left the room.

"What did you do? Brian told me what happened, how could you? You're throwing your life away!, Why won't you just do as you're told and marry him?!"

"Dad, I, I can't." I stammered.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Brian is not who you think he is dad..."

"Cut the crap, I've known him 12 years!"

The argument blazed. Dad was enraged.

"Do you want to end up like your mother? Have a failed marriage like she did?!"

"Don't you dare talk about mum like that!" Liliana commanded. Her voice echoed round the room.

Unable to handle any more, I ran up the stairs sobbing.

Liliana didn't try to stop me and dad didn't look twice in my direction. 

Once in the guest room, I slammed on the bed drenching the pillow in my tears.

I must've cried for about 20 minutes when I got up.

Enough of this, I wouldn't let anyone control me anymore. 

I grabbed my phone. It was a few inches from where I sat.

"Who is Rex?". "Rex at rooftop party" I typed in the search bar. 

Images popped up but they weren't exactly what I was looking for. None of them showed him, only clips from the event on influencers' social media.

I typed in more words, repeatedly. Yet, time and again, it brought nothing of use.

I bit the corner of my lip and slammed the phone on the bed.

I got up, paced and poured myself a glass of water I saw on the table. I gulped and salivated at it's cool, hydrating feel- a contrast to the heat I felt.

The air conditioner blew angrily and I could feel the frost on my earlobes. The curtain on the left side of the room swung, exposing the locked windows. 

 I checked the time and realised It was two hours and 10 minutes left till sunrise.

I was to be married to Brian by 7:00 according to the arrangement.

I took a deep breath.

I grabbed my phone once again. This time, I was sure to find what I was searching for.

I typed as fast as I could, sweat dripped from my forehead.

Backspace. Search. 

Two phone numbers popped up at separate searches.

If this ruined me, so be it.

"Hi Damon Grey. I'm Aurora Borealis. Could we talk?"

"Hello Rex, it's Rosella. Could we talk?"

I dropped the phone. My body trembled. I had to hold the dressing table to steady myself.

If neither of them replied, I'll make a fool of myself and worse, marry my killer.

I thought of the various ways he'd torture me. I looked at my skin and imagined a belt wrapped tightly around me.

Lost in the crippling imagination. I heard a notification.

I held my breath, and prayed once more.

It was from one of the numbers I texted.

My hands shook. I almost clicked on the delete icon.

When I calmed, I opened it.

"Hi Aurora..." with a smirk emoji.

I saw a profile photo. I tried to resist the urge to click on it. In the end,

my curiosity got the better of me.

It opened. My eyes widened in shock.

Realisation dawned on me.

Rex is Damon Grey!.