Chapter 5

Aurora still felt awkward as Richard held her hand while leading her down the mansion stairs. The man’s fingers were warm and calm, a complete contrast to Aurora’s heart, which had been beating uncomfortably inside her chest the entire time. The white dress she wore felt far too expensive for her own body.

The moment they reached the last step, Aurora immediately saw Ethan standing near the foyer table while adjusting his watch.

The man was already dressed in a formal black suit with a dark gray shirt that made him look even more mature. His hair was still slightly messy as if he had been in a hurry, but that was exactly what Aurora used to love about Ethan. There had always been something too alive about him even when his face often looked cold.

And now Ethan’s eyes immediately stopped on Aurora.

His body seemed to tense for a split second.

Aurora could clearly see the small movement of his jaw tightening, while Ethan’s fingers slowly stopped adjusting his cufflinks. His gaze moved slowly from Aurora’s face down to the dress she was wearing, then back to her eyes again.

There was hatred there.

But there was something else too.

Something that made it difficult for Ethan to look away.

Aurora immediately felt the tightness in her chest worsen.

Ethan’s gaze this morning was far more dangerous than his anger last night.

Because now the man looked like someone desperately trying to hold himself back.

Richard, on the other hand, looked relaxed. “Morning, Tantan.”

Ethan blinked slowly as if he had just snapped out of his thoughts. “Morning, Daddy.”

Aurora quickly lowered her head. She did not know how she was supposed to stand in front of Ethan now. Everything felt wrong.

Richard glanced at Ethan briefly. “Do you want to come to the banquet?”

“Seems like I can’t, Daddy. I have a meeting at ten.” Ethan’s answer sounded flat, but his eyes unconsciously fell back on Aurora again.

Aurora could feel that stare even without looking directly at him.

“Alright. Aurora will accompany Daddy today,” Richard continued while gently stroking the back of Aurora’s hand.

That small gesture instantly changed the look in Ethan’s eyes.

The man smiled faintly.

But the smile did not reach his eyes at all.

“Oh,” he said shortly.

Aurora secretly gripped the edge of her dress.

The atmosphere between them felt strange. Too full of things that could not be said aloud.

Ethan finally picked up his car keys from the table. “I’m leaving first, Daddy.”

Richard nodded casually. “Yeah, be careful.”

Aurora remained silent as Ethan walked past them.

But when the man was right beside her, Ethan’s steps slowed slightly.

Aurora could smell that very familiar cologne. The scent that used to linger on his jacket every time Ethan hugged her.

Her chest hurt again.

But Ethan still left without saying anything else.

Aurora could finally breathe a little easier when the front door closed.

Unfortunately, that peace did not last long.

Richard’s phone suddenly rang.

The man let out a faint sigh while looking at the screen. “I’ll take this call first.”

Richard released Aurora’s hand before walking toward the backyard of the mansion while answering the call.

Aurora stood alone in the middle of the room while staring blankly toward the front door. She thought Ethan had truly left.

But a few seconds later, the sound of footsteps was heard again.

Aurora quickly turned around.

And her breath instantly caught when she saw Ethan standing there again.

The man had not left.

His gaze now was much darker than before.

“Ethan, you—”

Aurora had not even finished her sentence when Ethan walked quickly toward her.

“Wait— Ethan—”

The man immediately grabbed Aurora’s wrist and pulled her toward the side hallway near the quiet reading room.

“Ethan, that hurts— let go!”

Bang.

Aurora’s body was instantly pressed against the wall.

Her breathing became frantic in shock.

Ethan stood far too close, making Aurora able to clearly see the chaotic emotions in his eyes. His chest rose and fell quickly, while one of his hands still gripped Aurora’s wrist tightly.

“What are you doing?” Aurora whispered in panic while trying to pull away. “If Richard sees—”

“Why?” Ethan cut her off sharply. “Afraid of getting caught?”

Aurora stared at him in disbelief. “Ethan, enough.”

“Enough?” Ethan laughed softly, full of emotion. “You come into my house, become my Daddy’s future wife, and say enough?”

Aurora started panicking when she saw the way Ethan looked at her lips.

That look was too familiar.

And too dangerous.

“Ethan, don’t—”

Aurora’s words were immediately cut off when Ethan suddenly kissed her.

Aurora’s eyes widened completely.

The kiss felt rough. Full of anger and frustration Ethan had been suppressing all this time.

Aurora immediately pushed against the man’s chest in panic, but Ethan only pressed her body harder against the wall.

“Mmfh— Ethan!”

Aurora finally bit Ethan’s lower lip hard enough that the man instantly pulled away on reflex.

“Shit—”

A thin streak of blood appeared at the corner of Ethan’s lips.

Aurora breathed unevenly while staring at Ethan in both anger and panic.

“You’ve gone too far!” she whispered shakily. “Remember my position now!”

Ethan wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb while laughing softly in disbelief.

“Position?” he muttered quietly.

Aurora immediately shoved Ethan’s body away.

“I’m Richard’s future wife!” she said quickly with trembling breaths. “I’m your future stepmother now.”

Those words hit Ethan far harder than the bite earlier.

The man’s face instantly turned cold.

Aurora took that opportunity to quickly leave the narrow hallway.

The moment she stepped back into the main room, Aurora immediately held her chest.

Her hands were shaking.

Her lips still felt hot from Ethan’s kiss.

And that made her hate herself even more.

A few seconds later, a loud sound came from the back hallway.

Bang!

Aurora flinched.

Ethan stood there while holding his heavy breaths.

His right fist had slammed into the wall until his knuckles bled.

But the man did not seem to feel the pain at all. He only stood there silently with red eyes full of emotion.

Aurora immediately turned her face away before she started crying again.

Not long after, Richard walked back inside while slipping his phone into his suit pocket.

“Is there a problem?” he asked casually after noticing Aurora’s slightly pale face.

Aurora hurriedly shook her head. “Nothing, Richard.”

Richard observed Aurora for a few seconds before finally taking her hand again.

“Let’s leave now.”

Aurora quietly obeyed.

As they walked out of the mansion, Aurora briefly glanced back.

Ethan was still standing near the hallway with his bleeding hand.

The man’s gaze immediately fell on Aurora’s fingers that were being held by Richard.

Aurora saw something far more painful than Ethan’s anger.

The man looked shattered.

Completely shattered.

Richard opened the car door for Aurora without realizing anything.

Meanwhile, Ethan only stood far inside the mansion with his jaw hardened and red eyes holding back something he could not even let out.

Aurora slowly got into the car.

But right before the door closed, she still managed to see Ethan lowering his head slowly while laughing softly in despair.

“Aurora...” he whispered weakly, almost inaudible.

The car began moving away from the mansion.

And Ethan remained standing there alone.

His gaze continued following the black car until it completely disappeared from sight.

The man finally closed his eyes slowly.

His hand was still bleeding.

His chest felt so tight that it was hard to breathe normally.

“Aurora... Do you know what it feels like to be me right now?”