Chapter 4

“So the man you were talking about back then...” Ethan’s voice sounded low and full of anger, “was my Daddy?”

Aurora froze.

Her wrist was still trapped in Ethan’s grip, which felt tighter with every passing second. The pain began spreading up to her elbow, but Aurora did not try to pull away. She only stared at Ethan silently while trying to steady her uneven breathing.

The look in his eyes was truly different now. There was no longer the warmth that used to make Aurora feel safe. All that remained was anger and hatred.

“Answer me!” Ethan suddenly shouted, making Aurora’s shoulders tense reflexively.

Aurora closed her eyes for a moment. Her chest felt so tight that it was hard to breathe normally. She knew sooner or later this moment would come. Ethan would never stay silent after seeing her arrive at this mansion with Richard.

Slowly, Aurora lifted her head again. Her eyes met Ethan’s. She forced a small smile onto her lips. A smile that somehow felt even more painful.

“Don’t you already know the answer?” she said softly.

Ethan’s jaw immediately hardened. “I’m asking one more time.” His voice became even colder. “That richer man... was my Daddy?”

Aurora could clearly see the veins on Ethan’s neck beginning to show from holding back his emotions. His breathing sounded heavy while his eyes kept staring at Aurora as if hoping she would say everything was a lie.

But Aurora could not.

She could not destroy Ethan’s hatred toward her now.

If Ethan found out the real reason they broke up... everything would only become far more complicated.

Aurora finally smiled faintly again even though her throat hurt. “Of course.”

Bang.

Ethan immediately shoved Aurora’s hand aside roughly until her body stumbled and hit the small table beside the bed.

“Ah!”

Aurora winced in pain.

But Ethan did not care at all. The man instead laughed softly in anger while shaking his head slowly in disbelief.

“Crazy...” he muttered quietly. “I really loved you back then.”

Aurora bit her lower lip hard.

“You know what disgusts me the most?” Ethan continued while stepping closer again. “I kept trying to deny your reason for breaking up with me.”

Aurora quickly lowered her head before her tears fell in front of Ethan.

“I thought maybe back then you had another reason.” Ethan laughed sarcastically. “But it turns out you really are that cheap of a woman.”

Those words felt like a knife slowly stabbing into Aurora’s chest. But she remained silent. Because that was exactly what Ethan had to think.

“I hate you, Rory.” Ethan’s voice sounded much softer now, yet somehow even more painful. “You’re the cruelest woman I’ve ever known.”

Aurora held her trembling breath.

Ethan grabbed her shoulders roughly again before shoving her body away.

Aurora lost her balance and fell onto the floor.

But Ethan only stared at her coldly for a few seconds before turning around and leaving.

Bang.

The bedroom door slammed shut. And that sound finally shattered Aurora’s defenses completely.

Her tears immediately fell uncontrollably.

Aurora covered her face with both hands while crying softly. Her shoulders shook violently, while her chest hurt so much it became difficult to breathe.

“I’m sorry...” she whispered weakly between sobs. “I’m sorry, Ethan...”

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly while holding back her cries.

“It’s better if you hate me like this...”

Because if Ethan found out the real truth, the man would probably destroy himself for Aurora all over again. And Aurora did not want that to happen.

She only hoped all of this was a nightmare. A nightmare that would disappear when she opened her eyes.

But the pain in her wrist felt far too real to be called a dream.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the mansion, Ethan slammed his bedroom door so hard that the frame hanging near the wall trembled.

“Shit!”

Bang!

The table lamp immediately crashed onto the floor after being swept away by his rough hand.

Ethan paced back and forth while running his fingers through his hair in frustration. His chest rose and fell unevenly, while his mind felt so crowded it was close to exploding. He still could not believe Aurora was involved with his father.

Ethan kicked the chair near the table until it flipped over.

“Damn it!”

The sound of his heavy breathing filled the spacious room. Fortunately, the mansion’s walls were thick enough that no sound escaped outside.

Otherwise, the whole house might already know he was losing control right now.

Ethan roughly pulled open the desk drawer before taking out his wallet.

His hand stopped for a moment when he saw a small photo tucked inside.

Aurora’s photo.

An old picture from when they went to the summer festival last year.

In the photo, Aurora was laughing while holding cotton candy, with sweet cream smeared on the tip of her nose.

Ethan had always carried that photo everywhere he went.

But now, seeing that face only made his emotions even more chaotic.

“I was really stupid...” he muttered hoarsely.

Ethan stared at the photo for a very long time before finally crushing it tightly in his hand.

“I hate you even more now, Rory.”

The photo paper immediately tore apart in his hand.

The next morning, Aurora woke up with a heavy head and swollen eyes from crying all night. She did not even realize when she had finally fallen asleep.

But the sound of knocking on the door made Aurora quickly sit upright.

Knock knock knock.

“Young Madam, may we come in?”

Aurora frowned in confusion.

Before she could answer, the bedroom door slowly opened.

And Aurora immediately froze when she saw almost six maids entering while carrying various large boxes and expensive clothes hanging on racks.

“What is all this...?” Aurora muttered softly.

One of the maids smiled politely. “Mr. Richard asked us to prepare everything for you.”

Aurora could only stare in disbelief as expensive dresses began to be displayed on the sofa. Soft colors, shiny satin fabrics, branded high heels, even velvet-lined jewelry boxes were opened one by one.

Aurora felt as if she were looking at a walking boutique.

“This is too much...” she said softly.

“There’s still more, Young Madam,” the maid answered casually.

Aurora immediately swallowed hard. She had never even touched things this expensive before.

One of the maids approached while carrying a diamond necklace that made Aurora reflexively step back a little.

“May we help you get ready?”

Aurora was still too stunned to refuse.

Thirty minutes later, Aurora stood stiffly in front of a large mirror wearing a simple white dress that still looked expensive on her body. Her long hair was styled softly, while the light makeup made her face look far more mature.

Aurora almost did not recognize herself.

The door was knocked on again.

This time, Richard entered.

The man wore a dark gray suit with a black tie, looking neat and far too handsome for a man his age.

His gaze immediately stopped on Aurora.

“You’re beautiful,” he finally said.

Aurora immediately lowered her head uncomfortably.

Richard slowly walked closer while observing Aurora’s appearance from head to toe.

“That dress suits you.”

“Thank you...” Aurora answered softly.

Richard smiled faintly before glancing at the maids. “You may leave.”

All the maids immediately lowered their heads before leaving the room.

Now only Aurora and Richard remained.

For some reason, that made Aurora nervous again.

Richard stood in front of her for a few seconds before slowly lifting Aurora’s chin.

“Why are your eyes swollen?” he asked.

Aurora reflexively avoided his gaze. “It’s nothing, I just didn’t sleep well.”

Richard looked at her as if he knew Aurora was lying, but he did not press the matter further.

“Alright.” His voice became calm again. “You have to accompany me to a morning banquet.”

Aurora immediately lifted her head quickly. “A banquet?”

Richard nodded casually. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

Aurora’s heart instantly dropped.

“Isn’t it too fast?” she asked softly in disbelief.

“Of course.”

“But...” Aurora nervously gripped the edge of her dress. “I’m not used to attending events like that.”

The man stepped slightly closer while fixing a strand of Aurora’s hair that had fallen near her cheek.

“You’ll get used to it later.”

Aurora held her breath when Richard’s perfume filled her senses.

“Starting today,” Richard continued calmly, “everyone has to know that you belong to me.”