SURVIVAL OF THE STRONGEST

Aurora POV.

“Son, come forward. This is Dylan Blackwood,” said the pretty older lady, her face filled with smiles as she looked at him proudly.

“Sister- In Law, how are you? Welcome to the Blackwood family.” Dylan stretches his hands for a handshake. I shifted backward immediately, avoiding his touch.

His mom hit his hand, he immediately withdrew the handshake..

“Aurora, Where is your husband? Didn't he come up with you?” the pretty woman asked, flashing weird smiles at me.

“No, he didn't. He will be here soon.” I said nervously, avoiding Dylan's gaze. His eyes were fixed on me. I felt so uncomfortable, I really want to run away from here.

“Sister inlaw, if you don't mind. I would like to show you around the mansion.” He added, smiling mischievously.

I could sense that he has something up his sleeves, I never wish to be caught standing alone with him.

“Who is she to look around my father's house? I don't know why your mother let her in.!!” said the mean lady, refusing me to take a seat.

Though her words hurt me, but I was happy she said so, because I don't want to walk with him.

“She has more right to be here than you can.” A lady in white spoke while she walked in,  her red hair tied up in a bun. Her makeup is very sharp like her personality. Her lip was very red like a rose, I wondered why she was very redish.

She held my hands lovingly.

“Are you Aurora, Rylan's wife?” She asked me with a gentle smile.

“Yes I am. Ma.” I said, returning the smile.

The mean lady rushed to the back of the prettier older lady, she hid at her back hiding her face.

She immediately turned to the mean lady, her gaze filled with anger. “Sofi, who gave you the guts to act wildly in my father’s house. If I can remember your husband was caught with another woman in bed yesterday? And it's already all over the internet. You should be hiding yourself at home. Why are you here? What makes you think you can control my house and choose who gets to sit or stand?”

“Is it me that was caught in bed with a man? It's my husband!! Why should I be the one to hide at home? He should be embarrassed, not me!!” The mean lady Sofi screamed out while she hid behind the pretty older woman.

She turns to the prettier older lady, “Raine, can't you control your mice? Who gave her the guts to look down on Aurora. Aurora is Rylan's wife and also the next First Lady of this mansion.” Her voice echoing in the big living room.

Everyone seated kept quiet, some stood up and left, I realized she must be the toughest lady in this Villa. I was sure she is Rylan's mother, as tough and domineering as him.

“My mother didn't mean to…..” Dylan spoke and she cut him short.

“Shut up you Bastard, who told you to speak here?” said the tough lady, she stared at him with disgust.

“Red, you can't call my son a bastard!! He is officially a child of the Blackwood family.” said the older prettier lady called Raine.

“My father never let him bear that name, for as long as I am alive. He can never be a member of my Blackwood family!!” Red spoke with authority.

“Red, please don't forget that in this mansion, my family's blood and sweat has also been sacrificed to build this entire empire today. So my family can come here anytime they wish. They are humans not  mice!!! Without us this Family or this Villa won't stand today!!” Raine replied, then she held Dylan's hand. She turned to the family members.

“Everyone here today, my son Dylan is now the fourth grandson of the Blackwood family.

She said, with an obvious smirk at Red. Red stared at her with anger, “Bitch!!” She spat, and walked away dragging me along. 

****----****

I stood beside my mother-in-law in the garden, surrounded by lotus flowers that filled the air with an intoxicating scent. Cherry blossoms carpeted the ground, their delicate petals brushing against the flowers as the breeze whispered through.  But my mother-in-law's sudden gesture caught my attention. She wiped her eyes, and I noticed her teary eyes.

I felt a surge of uncertainty, unsure how to react or what to say. "Ma, shouldn't we head back inside? It's getting cold out here. Rylan mentioned that the ceremony was to introduce me to the family," I said, trying to break the silence. But she didn't respond.

I gently tapped her arm, "Mother-in-law?" Her expression shifted, and she laughed softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she turned to me with an amused look.

 

Her sudden smile left me wondering what was going on in her mind. Was she thinking about her son, but Rylan isn't all that soft. 

“Aurora,” she said, with a gentle smile.

“Yes mother in law,”

“I am not your mother inlaw, Rylan is my nephew. You just met his mom there.”

“Realy, I had no idea. You looked so young and like ermmm..like…” I stuttered as I couldn't arrange a statement.

“Aurora, I am Red. His father is my brother. You know Rylan is just like us. Quiet and still difficult to live with.” Red's expression changed to a sad face.

“Aurora, Rylan suffered a lot. He had a very difficult childhood. I want to entrust him to you, I believe you will do a good job as his wife.”

“But he still grew up well. The way you protected me, I thought that you were his mother.”

“No, I am not his mother. That pretty Lady in Blue. Her name is Raine. She is Rylan's mother. She was so pretty that she enticed my grandfather to make her my brother's wife.”

“What?” I said, my legs trembling.

“Auntie, then that guy she just introduced is Rylan's brother?”

“Yeah, Half brother. She had him with another man,”

"Wh..What?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's Rylan's brother?" The words felt like ice picks to my heart, and a chill ran down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the sudden cold that seemed to seep into my bones. 

Red's gaze locked onto mine, concern filled her face as she noticed my shift in expression. "Aurora, are you okay? Are you cold?" she asked, her voice soft with worry.

“Should we go in, I think you are cold.”

"I am fine, Auntie," I murmured softly.

“Aurora, just call me Red. Anyone I like calls me Red. Raine calls me Red just to disrespect me, because I also call her Raine. I hate that Bitch, for everything she did to my brother and his son.” She said, her tone filled with anger. I smiled softly, trying to erase my fears.

Red suddenly sneezed, rubbing her hands because of the cold.

“Red, you can go inside. I want to make a call.” I said with a smile.

She walked away after touching my shoulders gently.

My mind was running wild with a lot of thought, I couldn't stop thinking. Fear engrossed me after seeing Dylan,

“So that woman was Rylan's mother. And she is also Dylan's mother. What should I do now? Should I run away? Where will I run to? Dylan is Rylan's half brother. “

I stared blankly at the flowers, and someone suddenly hugged me from the back. Wrapping his hands around my waist.

“Do you miss me Rora?” Dylan whispered to my ears softly, my heart skipped a beat.