CHAPTER TWO

AURORA

I stood in the parking lot beside my beaten-up car, my eyes closed as the night wind grazed violently against my skin. I shuddered and pulled the coat over my shoulders.

Three years ago, after Julian had saved me from the fire, I had fallen for him. My mom had thought it was a horrible idea; after all, a playboy like Julian didn't match the status of the Sterling heiress.

I had been so sure we were destined together, so I made a bet with my mother. I ran my fingers through my hair and groaned angrily.

“Why the hell did I make that bet? Why did I give up so much for him?”

The only reason I had dumbed myself down was to be with him. He said he liked the obedient and sensitive kind of woman, so I hid everything about myself just to stay by his side.

My mind went back to the dainty house we shared. It was not even enough in comparison to what the Sterling staff lived in.

I pulled out my phone and booked a flight back to Los Angeles. Whatever I had left with him, he could throw away if he wished.

“Ladies and gentlemen aboard…”

I zoned out to the captain's voice.

My eyes fluttered open as I looked around me. We were thirty thousand feet above sea level. I was leaving behind the bitter taste of the three years with Julian.

I can't believe I was still thinking about him. I guess it was not that easy to forget the past with just a few words.

After about six hours of flying, we finally landed. I was barely past the gates when my phone lit up with a call from Chloe—my best friend.

“A little birdie told me you are in LA.”

I sighed, walking through the terminal with my hands in my pocket.

“Are you spying on me?”

“I only put a tracker in your stomach, nothing more,” she giggled.

She screamed when she sighted me and rushed forward to hug me. I melted into her arms.

“Are you here to pick me?” I asked, a smug smile climbing my lips.

“Of course I am.” She nodded, pulling away. “Oh, look how horrible you've gotten.”

I looked down at the overcoat still hiding the poorly sewn lingerie under it. I looked back up at her and smiled.

“Please tell me you've finally decided to leave that scumbag,” she asked.

I wondered how everyone saw it but me. Everyone knew Julian was a jerk or a scumbag, and I was just oblivious to that fact.

I guess the saying, ‘Love is blind,’ is really true.

I folded my lips and slowly nodded.

Her lips parted, a rough breath brushing against my face with how close she was. She blinked and tilted her head with widened eyes.

“Yes.” I nodded. “I am leaving that jerk, scumbag, bastard.”

I suddenly felt lighter saying those words. I raised my finger in the air, ready to curse him out some more.

“He deserves to be hit by a truck and then realize he can never use his legs again.”

“Agreed.”

She turned to my side and looped her hands through mine.

“Let's go.” She pumped her fist in the air.

“Where to?” I asked, turning so I could catch her eye.

“To celebrate... your breakup from that bastard.”

She pulled me out of the airport terminal and to her car, which was waiting at the entrance.

She only made one stop to change me out of the lingerie into a party dress I had missed so much.

She booked a private room and got some drinks. The first taste of the whisky sent a buzz through my system. I had given up drinking just because Julian didn't like it.

I took another sip, swirling the liquid in my mouth. It left a burning trail down my throat as I pushed it down.

“Yes!” I screamed, pumping my fist into the air, dancing and swaying on my seat to the music.

“I have some men. They can kidnap Julian and show him a good time,” Chloe suggested.

“As much as I would love that idea,” I said, trying to keep my voice above the loud hip-hop blasting through the speakers, “I don't want our princess to get her hands dirty.” I grabbed her hand and brushed my thumb against it.

“Then I will let him go for now. But if I see him anywhere around you... I'll break his legs.”

“Agreed.” I clinked my glass with hers and downed the rest of the contents.

“You know that now you're back, your mom would try and set you up with some rich heirs.”

I nodded. That was one of the reasons I had fallen for Julian. I was sure true love existed, and I was willing to do anything to get it.

I shook my head at my foolishness and shrugged at Chloe.

“At this point, I think that might be the best option for me.”

“Then if you'd be marrying anyone anyway, how about my brother?” Chloe asked.

“Alexander?”

My heart suddenly thudded in my chest. I leaned in and pressed the back of my hand to her head.

“If you marry my brother, we become in-laws. What better way to take our friendship to the next level than you becoming my sister-in-law?” she asked with a smug smile.

I had a crush on him in high school, but the crush had died a long time ago.

I raised my glass to my mouth and slowly shook my head.

“Not him.”

The truth was I didn't want anyone. I didn't want to think about men and the heartbreak they brought.

“Are you sure? I think my brother is the perfect catch.” She wiggled her brows at me.

“Since when did you begin to toot your brother's horn?” I asked, leaning in. She always hated his guts and called him a pain in the ass.

She shrugged. “I think if my brother is married, he would stop acting like he can control my life.”

“Ahh!” I exclaimed. “There it is.”

“What? You can't blame me.”

She continued filling my glass every time I dropped it. A few glasses later, there was a light buzz in my head, and the room kept on tilting every time I tried to focus.

“What did you even see in a jerk like him?” she groaned, holding her head. “I could smell the bastard in him from a mile away.”

“I thought it was true love.” The taste of the words left a bitter feeling in my mouth. “How foolish of me.”

“Ugh!” I groaned, running my hand through my hair as I slammed the glass onto the table. It rattled in response through the room.

“You know I was an obedient girl who stayed and waited for him all these years, and what did he do? He was keeping himself for his first love while playing me like a fool.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Why was I still thinking about him?

“I stayed a virgin for a jerk like him.”

“What?” Chloe slammed her glass onto the table, the sound rattling through the room. “You mean you haven't...?” she trailed off.

I shook my head. She balled her fingers and shook them in the air.

“I should be grateful,” I sighed. “I mean, I didn't have to sleep with a jerk like him.” I tried to force a smile, but the awkward stretching of my lips was obvious.

“I have an idea.”

A mischievous glint lined Chloe's eyes. It was the same one she had whenever she wanted to do something that would get us both in trouble.

She raised her phone in the air and shook it.

“I will get you the best male models in the city to show you a good time.”

“No, no, no.” I shook my head, trying to peel away from her side.

She smirked and grabbed my shoulders, planting me in place.

“You need to have a good time,” she said again.

“I don't think getting into bed now...” she pressed her finger on my lips and shook her head.

I had just survived a heartbreak. I didn't want to act like sleeping with a bunch of random men was going to cure it automatically.

“Don't worry, I will bring them over, and you can take your pick.” She leaned in.

That look was all I needed to know that no matter what I said, she was going to book the models. I might as well humour her for now and find a way to weasel out of it later.

“They would give you the best orgasm tonight.”