Morning had arrived, but surprisingly, no one came to fetch me. My room remained undisturbed, with no knocks on the door to wake me. It was just as well, considering my mother's regular routine for pouring me with cold water rather than gently waking me. Or Orla's creative method of sending her dog to my room to bark me awake. I had often wondered how she managed to transfer her personality to her dog.
I left my room, heading to the dining room. I was marveled by how beautiful the house looks, it felt different from yesterday. The scene yesterday kept ringing in my head, the bloody man!! I felt a sudden surge in my stomach. I didn't eat throughout yesterday. I was highly disgusted by the scene. I puked till I slept, I really don't want to stay here anymore.
“Are you Mrs Blackwood?” A mature woman said, I immediately snapped out of my thoughts.
I nodded my head in response.
“Mrs Black….” I cut her off immediately.
“Please call me Aurora, I am sorry but I prefer to be called my.name.” I replied politely, forcing a smile.
“But.madam..”
“Please, I.will appreciate it,” I said with a smile.
“My name is Rhoda, Ma.” She added, still smiling at me.
“Come downstairs Ma, Breakfast is ready. Should I go call Sir Rylan, or you will call him yourself.” The maid suggested.
“Just do your normal routine.” I said, walking away from her.
I saw her shake her head, her gestures seemed disappointed by my response. But what can I do? I hate it here!!!
I headed downstairs, I still can't believe the beauty of this mansion. I bet Orla and my Adopted mother will die with jealousy if they find out where I live.
Was it the glittering Chandelier or the fancy fireplace in the Sitting room?
The design was very exquisite, I wished Rylan was a good man. I wouldn't mind living here with him. But I have made up my mind. I am leaving for good. I can't let others control me.
The doorbell rang, but Rhoda wasn't downstairs to get it. I don't want to.meet other people coming to this house, I feel like hiding. I thought about going up to.call her to get the.door. But would I seem like a bad person, if i do that. The doorbell kept ringing, then I reluctantly stood up to fetch the door.
As soon as I opened the door, I was taken aback by a woman wearing a revealing red dress that showcased her cleavage. Her provocative attire was so shocking that I almost spat out my coffee. Before I could react, a thunderous slap landed across my face.
“Who are you? Why are you in Rylan's house?” She spat, her voice filled with venom. She looked like she could strangle me at any moment from now.
"What do you mean? And who are you? Why did you hit me?" I demanded, my anger growing rapidly.
She raised her hand again, but Asher, my husband's assistant, intervened, holding her back. "Anne, she's the boss's wife," Asher reminded her, still gripping her wrists.
Anne's expression changed as she sneered, "Oh, really? The wife his mother chose for him? I thought she was just another gold-digger chasing after Rylan."
Asher released her hands, and Anne walked away, deliberately bumping my shoulders without apologizing for the slap.
I just needed to compose myself, because my mom said that I should be in my best behaviour. That this marriage is very important to my family business. I just have to come to terms with my so-called husband, if not I will run away to where nobody can find me.
They climbed upstairs laughing their lungs out, I am very sure that they were laughing at me. She glanced at me while she climbed the stairs and shook her head. That gesture was like she saw me as a disgusting ant. Did she just look down on me? But who is she? Rylan's girlfriend? He doesn't have a good taste in women. Is this the kind of Vulgar woman that he likes? Her and the Assistant seemed so close. I felt like a stranger in this house. Can I really endure living in this house?
**-***
“Boss, I am sorry. I actually slapped your new wife when I saw her open the door for me.” Anne said softly, holding onto Rylan's hand.
I felt nauseated and disgusted by how she spoke. I should be the one getting an apology not him?
“It's really my fault, I thought it was one of those leeches that fly around you.”
“It's not your fault, it's understandable to make a mistake.” Asher responded like he was the boss.
“But Rylan can't hear, why is she talking to him?” I thought deeply.
Anne tried to sit beside Rylan on the dining chair, but Rylan gave her a deadly glare. She immediately stood up and I took the seat beside him. It was a sweet gesture but my legs were shaking. Since I met him, we haven't had any discussions, just cold glances. I couldn't focus on eating, recalling the fact that this dinning table was used to chain the bloody man.
15 mins later breakfast was over.
I hurriedly climbed the stairs, heading to my room. I couldn't spend a minute there with them. The tension was high, only Anne and Asher kept talking like the house belongs to them.
For the 5th time, I really don't like it here!!
I can't breathe with them around me.
Anne suddenly grabbed my arms tightly at my room entrance, blocking me from entering.
"What exactly are you looking for?" I exclaimed, with a serious tone. I had no time to listen to their shenigans.
“Do you think because he let you sit beside him that he likes you? You are just a monitoring spirit sent by his mother!! I advise you to leave here before you get kicked out!!” Anne hissed, brushing me off as she went down the stairs.
“Why is she so worked up? Like I am here to steal her man?” I asked no one in particular.
Instead of staying here and recieving insults from this people, should I just run away? But how can I leave this marriage. What about I report him to the police? Afterall locking a man with chains is a crime!!!
ANNE’S POVThey were actually trying to kiss!!They were really about to kiss? Why kiss? For what reason?Right there in her room, like no one existed but the two of them. My blood boiled.After everything!! everything!! I had done for Rylan… After five damn years of bending over backwards just to be seen by him, noticed. Worked my ass off!! Now he was all lovey-dovey with her? That little snake who walked into his life wearing a wedding dress and sad eyes?I stood frozen outside the cracked door, watching them. My stomach twisted in disgust.What does she even know about him? About what he's endured? She’s weak. She’s naive. She’s from them. She works with his mother. Why does he still trust her?And he… he’s mine. Or at least he should be mine before she showed up with her damn sign language and that pathetic act of “I care” look she gives when she thinks no one’s watching.I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed open the door loud enough to announce myself, and the moment shattered.
AURORA – POVWe were breathing each other in, lips tangled in something that felt like drowning and gasping at the same time. Our mouths moved together-slow, deep, aching. Not rushed, just feeling each others breath.But then, like cold water pouring down my spine..it hit me!! Was i really supposed to be doing this? This isn't my mission!! Falling in love wasn't in my agenda.That voice that always told us the right thing ringed in my ear, “You shouldn’t be doing this Rora!! Not with him!! Not after everything.Not when you don't even know where you stood in his life.”I panicked.I shoved him away with both hands and immediately slapped him on the cheek before I even know what I was doing.The sound echoed through the quiet room like thunder.My hand stung instantly.My heart stopped as He fell flat on his butt, then he froze.His hand slowly rose to his cheek, eyes wide, and stunned—not from the pain, but from something deeper. It was the kind of look someone wears after they’ve b
Continuation of Rylan’s POV.I opened Aurora's room door and shut it behind me.The words of the doctor still rang in my head, “She’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with her leg. If she’s still using those crutches, then it’s either for drama or for your attention.”I stood there frozen, watching her expression harden the moment the doctor left. She didn’t even look at me just sat there stiffly, her hands gripping the sides of the couch, knuckles white.I hated that she looked for me and I wasn't there. I hated myself more for even asking her if she was cosplaying.I moved closer. Slowly. Quietly.She finally turned her face, and her eyes met mine — not angry, not teary. Just… disappointed.The silence between us cracked something inside me.I picked up the notepad I’d replaced after she tore the last one, and quickly wrote:“I am sorry!! I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”She didn’t respond.I sat beside her, close but not too close. I wanted to reach out at least touch her
RYLAN'S POVAsher opened the door and dropped her crutches beside me before she stepped in. My heart stopped.Crutches? What the hell happened?She never said a word to me, not when she came home drenched last week, not ever. It's like she’s made it her life’s mission to keep me in the dark. Maybe because she still doesn’t trust me. Not with her pain. Not with her truth.“You didn't tell me you're a teacher,” she said suddenly, a smile tugging at her lips like everything was fine.Fake smile. Like always.“You didn’t ask,” I wrote on my pad, eyes never leaving her face.I narrowed my eyes. “So what’s this then? Cosplay? What’s with the crutches?”Her smile vanished, replaced by a sharp glare. But she didn’t answer. She just turned away, gazing out the window like I wasn’t even there. Like I didn't exist.I tapped her arm and wrote again:“Is your tongue tied?”She snapped. “Rylan, you’ve been gone for a week. A full damn week. How would you know I hurt my leg?”Her voice cracked, eye
A WEEK LaterAurora POV.“Hi Alex,” I greeted cheerfully as I stepped into the classroom. He was already by the door, waiting.“Aurora,” he signed quickly, worry etched on his face. Without hesitation, he rushed to me, his eyes scanning my body with concern.I forced a smile, trying to cover up the ache in my chest.He pointed to my crutches, then looked back at me. “What happened?” he signed. His face was all worried that it made my heart ache.“Umm...” I hesitated, then signed back with a small smile, “I fell down the stairs.”His expression tightened. “Why weren’t you more careful? Look at your legs, doesn’t it hurt?”“It’s okay,” I signed, still smiling. His worried look made me somehow happy. Creepy right? I was happy seeing his worried look. Because when I fell screaming, no one in the Grey's house had this look. No one gave me a little bit of care, no one felt pity for me. They just called the ambulance and left me behind. After I fell, I was very sure I saw someone running awa
Raine POVWe pulled up to Marylee Alberto's mansion. Hanni stepped out first and opened the car door for me, carefully placing his arm above the frame to keep me from hitting my head.He held out his hand for support.I took it with a small smile. No matter how many times I pushed him away, he always showed up when it counted.“Miss Raine, she’s inside,” he said gently. “You think she’ll even answer us?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.I glanced at me, reading the nerves he tried to hide. “Are you nervous?”“Of course I am. You know how difficult she can be.”“Dont worry, have you forgotten it's me. I am not that easily defeated.” I said to him, with a smile.We gently walked me in, the maids in the mansion led us to the waiting room. It was very big and exquisite but it lacked the ancient rich decorations like the Blackwood's mansion. The Blackwood mansion has always been the most famous mansion in Ireland.Marylee came in, she was putting on an expensive golden dress, he