Chapter Five - Aurora

“I missed you darling.” Dorian rushes me, squeezing me in a hug I want no part of. I let him hold me for a few more seconds, before distancing myself when I felt his hand start to stray below my waist. 

“You were gone for such a long time. Everything alright at work?” 

I nod, moving into the kitchen. “Everything is fine.” 

He follows, his voice dropping to something I once used to find sexy. “I so desperately want you.” 

Hatred and anger clouds my judgement for a second and I almost throw a fork at him. “Shut the hell up, Dorian,” I snap. 

My eye widens as shock crosses his face. I quickly backtrack with a tired sigh. “Sorry, I’m just tired.” 

He chuckles dryly. “No problem. Your mother called. She said you weren’t picking up and you should give her a call.” 

My Mother is alive! 

From how violently I’d died, it skipped my mind that she was actually not dead. That the drunk driver that had killed her a few months after my wedding hasn’t happened. 

“I’ll go call her now.” I leave the kitchen with quick steps. 

I head out to the ground floor balcony and dial the number. My mother, Alice picks on the first ring and a wave of tears hit me as I hear her vooice. 

“Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you’re going to ignore me.” 

“Hi mum,” I say happily, wiping away a stray tear from my cheek. 

“I know you’re on your honeymoon,” she says. “I’ll keep it short. Your father and I are trying to get back together.” 

I frown. “Get back together?” 

She sighs. “Yes. I know how our divorce affected you and I—We wanted to be the person to tell you before pictures of us starting floating around the gossip columns.” 

My initial happiness takes a backseat at her words. There’s nothing to indicate that she’s joking. 

This didn’t happen before. 

My father had cheated on her with his much younger and hotter secretary and they’d gotten divorced when I was fifteen. They never got back together. My mother had never forgive him or gotten over it. At her death, I remembered how broken my father was. Now to hear this, makes me feel cold. 

“Aurora? Are you there?”  

My voice is quiet with disbelief. “I’m here.” 

“We know this is a lot but we’re willing to give us another chance.” 

I rub my forehead. “That’s…” I have no idea what to say. I’m not given a chance when I feel arms circle my waist. It takes a great deal of control not to stiffen. 

Dorian’s scent engulfs me and his mouth presses a soft kiss on my neck. 

“Go away, I’m on a call.” I keep my voice light and since he can’t see my face, I let my disgusted expression show. 

These hands that hold me now had been the ones that administered poison. These lips that kiss me are the ones that told me to rot in hell. 

My mother’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Is that Dorian?” 

“Yes,” I answer absently, struggling to not get angry at his intrusion. It wasn’t as cute as he thought. 

“Say hi to your mother for me,” he whispers in my ears huskily.

“Go away,” I hiss again, my tone playful.

My mother picks up on the hint that our conversation is over. “I guess I’ll talk to you later. You can always come to dinner if you want to talk.” She sounds like she doesn’t believe that I’ll come for dinner and she’s right. 

I had watched my mother go through nights of heartbreak. I’ll do everything in power to prevent her accident but I won’t support whatever this is. 

“Bye,” I say briskly and hang up. 

Dorian nuzzles my neck. “I wanted to ask you something. You know that job I had applied for? I was hoping you’d put in a good word for me.” 

Of course. This is why he married me. For all the money and benefits I provide as CEO to Tempest Holdings. 

I force a loving smile as I face him. “Of course, honey. Anything for you.” 

He beams and for a moment, I glance the money hunger in his eyes. It disappears quickly and warmth replaces it. 

How ever did I let myself fall for this? 

When he kisses me, I return it eagerly. 

The long drive from the cafe back home helped me put my thoughts in order. My revenge plans formed in those long minutes. 

I will play the loving, doting wife. I will make him fall in love with the life he thinks he will have with me.  

In the end, he’ll leave with nothing and most likely he and Bianca would end up prison. 

There’s a reason why I own and run several companies. I took no disrespect and made sure nobody could bully me. 

It’s why they call rude and uptight. Some even say I’m cutthroat. 

Dorian has never experienced that part of me. He knows the lover, the gullible fool. 

He isn’t ready for me. 

His hands slip under my shirt, warm and familiar. Bile rise in my throat but I swallow it down. 

My skin itches to be far from him but I have to do this. I have to be committed to being the perfect wife. Saying no might alert him that I know something. 

I want him completely clueless. It would make my revenge more sweeter. 

I run my hand through his soft brown hair, the noise he makes encourages me. 

“I love you,” he mumbles against my lips, cupping my breasts. His words ring hollow and I realize there’s no feeling behind it. My anger starts to rise but I close my eyes and push into him hard. He matches my pace passionately. The air sings with the heat of our bodies rubbing impatiently together. 

The last thought that filters into my head before I shove everything away is ‘Nothing will ruin my revenge.’ 

Soon, his arms are lifting me off the floor. With our mouths still linked, he stumbles blindly toward the bedroom.