Chapter 3

The boisterous men in the VIP room fell silent at once. Every head snapped toward me as I entered.

The room was dead quiet. Everyone stared, stunned.

Harrison turned as well, the lazy smile on his lips freezing instantly.

"Aurora? How did you..."

After a brief moment of shock, Harrison recovered quickly.

He strode toward me, his voice a frantic whisper. "How did you get here so fast? I told you to call and have a bodyguard bring you up."

I didn't answer. I just stood there, looking at him calmly.

My placid demeanor seemed to unnerve him; he couldn't read me.

Harrison moved to put an arm around my waist, his voice low as he tried to explain. "Did you... hear what they were saying?"

"I was just joking around with them. Don't worry, next month I'll personally put the pressure on and get your residency sorted out."

I remained silent.

My gaze drifted past his broad shoulders, sweeping coldly over the mob bosses who were watching the drama unfold.

After a long moment, I finally spoke, my voice flat.

"I just got here. I didn’t hear anything." I paused, looking at the room full of people.

"But clearly, I came at a bad time and spoiled your fun. "

"Since you're so busy, let's just forget it."

I had heard enough.

Making a scene and demanding answers about his marriage, not here, not in front of them, would earn me no pity.

It would only be a public humiliation.

My flight was tonight. All I wanted now was to go back to the estate and get my documents.

In eight hours, I would be gone from this place for good.

But I never expected that as I turned to leave, Cathy would grab my wrist in a death grip.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

"Aurora, I know you’re jealous of me, but must you keep Harrison on such a tight leash?" Cathy asked, her voice dripping with false innocence.

"You knew he had an important meeting with the Capos today. Did you have to follow him all the way here just to check on him?"

At her words, the men exchanged knowing smirks, their gazes on me turning colder, more disdainful.

My brow furrowed. Cathy was always like this, effortlessly throwing mud at me while playing the victim.

I met her eyes. "If you’re so afraid of angering me, then let go of my hand. And for the record, I’m not here to check on anyone. I’m here on business."

Instead of letting go, Cathy tightened her grip.

She began to wail, completely unhinged.

"No, I won’t let go!" Cathy wailed loudly.

"Not until we clear this up, right here and now! You have to tell them that Harrison and I are just family, that there’s nothing between us."

"And you have to promise you’ll stop throwing these jealous fits and let us be together like always. I won’t let your petty jealousy ruin his reputation!"

Even with my best attempts at composure, her blatant provocation and two-faced act finally lit the fuse of my anger.

"What kind of act are you putting on?"

"Your mother was a conniving, social-climbing snake who slept with my father while pretending to be his wife's best friend."

"And now you're following in her footsteps, using the title of my sister to shamelessly seduce Harrison, and you have the nerve to ask for my forgiveness?"

"Is it in your blood to do despicable things while painting yourselves as saints?"

My words shamed Cathy so much she buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.

Seeing her sobbing, Harrison's eyes flashed with rage. He whirled on me and roared, "That's enough!"

"Aurora, show some respect! Cathy is the Principessa of this family! If you have a problem, we'll deal with it behind closed doors at the estate. Don't stand here acting like a madwoman and making a scene for everyone to see."

Watching him so shamelessly defend her, the last thread of affection I had for him snapped.

My heart was dead. I couldn't be bothered to tear him apart in front of all these people.

I gave my arm a sharp tug to break free from Cathy's grasp.

I had barely used any strength at all.

"Ah—!"

But Cathy let out a piercing shriek. She threw herself backward, crashing hard against an expensive, solid-wood display cabinet.

With a sickening crash of shattering glass, she collapsed into a pile of broken shards and spilled liquor, her face pale as she clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

"It hurts... blood... it hurts so much!"

"Harrison, help me... our baby!"

Baby?!

The absurd word had barely registered before I was shoved violently aside. My back slammed against the cold wall, and Harrison's furious tirade rained down on me. "Aurora, have you lost your mind?!"

"Cathy was trying her best to help us make up, and you attack her? What the hell is wrong with you?"

I fought through the searing pain in my back and stared in disbelief at the man I had once loved so deeply.

"You were standing right here. You saw I didn't even push her."

"You knocked her up, and you have the gall to stand here and lecture me?"

I never imagined he would use my love for him to be so brazen, so cruel.

Harrison, consumed by his own anger, threw back words that were each more cutting than the last.

"Aurora, you've disappointed me more than I can say. Have you forgotten who's been supporting you here for the last five years?"

"Since you can't even follow the most basic rules... Someone, pull her security detail! Now! And freeze all family assets in her name."

"I've spoiled you rotten all these years. It's time you faced reality and saw for yourself if you can survive without the support of the Moretti family!"

With that, Harrison didn't spare me another glance. He swept the still-moaning Cathy into his arms.

He then roared at the stunned men around him.

"What the hell are you all standing there for? Get the family doctor!"

"Get the car! We're going to the best private clinic! Now!"

His men swarmed around them, rushing them out of the room in a panic.

The vast VIP room was suddenly empty, leaving me alone, rubbing my bruised shoulder, frozen in place.

I lowered my eyes and let out a self-mocking laugh.

Look at yourself, Aurora.

This is the man you gave up everything for, the man you followed with blind courage.

What does it matter how much you loved him? It all ended up like this.

But maybe this was for the best. At least now, there would be no lingering attachment.

I knew Harrison's personality too well. He was a man of his word.

I abandoned the idea of going back to the estate to pack.

Since he was so convinced that everything I had was a gift from him, I had no reason to take anything he had paid for.

Fortunately, I had brought my passport and all my identification with me today for the trip to the immigration office.

That was enough.

I stepped over the mess and walked out of the club. Using the last of my cash, I hailed a taxi and headed straight for the airport.