ANMELDENThe clock on the corridor wall of the mansion ticked like a time bomb ready to explode in Ethan's head. It was nine in the evening, and the door to his father's master bedroom remained tightly shut. Ethan paced back and forth in front of his own room with irregular steps, his hands occasionally running through his increasingly disheveled hair. The passing servants only bowed respectfully, assuming their Young Master was pondering the piling corporate affairs of the company. No one knew that behind that cold face, a fire of jealousy was burning away his sanity.Ethan decided to check the situation. He approached the door of Richard's room, opening it just a fraction—only enough for one eye to peer inside. The sight within froze him, his blood seemingly ceasing to flow.On the grand bed, Aurora appeared curled up small within Richard's embrace. His father's sturdy arm was wrapped protectively around the woman's waist, while Rory's face rested against Richard's chest. They looked like th
The roar of the luxury car's engine as it pulled into the courtyard of the Calloway mansion that afternoon sounded like the beat of war drums in Aurora's ears. She stood in front of the large mirror in her bedroom one last time, making sure the collar of her oversized shirt was high enough to conceal the masterpiece of foundation covering her neck. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out and descended the cold marble staircase.Downstairs, the scene looked both harmonious and ironic. Richard walked in with the support of his black wooden cane, with Hugo attentively following behind him. Nana, already dressed in an emerald silk gown, immediately rushed over to embrace her husband, wearing the most worried expression she could muster."Oh, Richard! Thank goodness you're home," Nana said as she gently stroked Richard's arm.Richard only smiled faintly, his eyes immediately drifting toward the staircase. That was when Aurora appeared. Dressed in dark blue jeans that hugged her legs perfectl
The afternoon sun, now beginning to descend toward the west, illuminated the white pillars of the Calloway mansion as the car carrying Aurora stopped in front of the main entrance. Aurora took a deep breath and straightened her cream-colored outfit, which still felt stiff against her skin, trying to appear as calm as possible despite the frantic pounding of her heart.As soon as the car door opened, Claire was already standing there with her usual warm smile.“Good afternoon, Young Madam. Just got back from college?” Claire asked as she helped take Aurora’s handbag. “You look much more refreshed now. Your assignments must have gone well.”Aurora forced a faint smile, feeling as though a thorn were lodged in her throat every time she had to lie.“Yes, Claire. Thankfully, everything went smoothly. I’m exhausted, so I’m going straight to my room to freshen up before Richard gets home.”“Of course, Madam. Oh, by the way, Mr. Richard called earlier. He’s on his way home. I’ll prepare some
The two o’clock afternoon sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains of the apartment, casting light upon the dust particles dancing in the air. The fresh scent of sandalwood soap lingered on Aurora’s body after her shower. She sat motionless in front of the vanity table while Ethan stood behind her, holding a softly humming hair dryer. Ethan’s long, sturdy fingers slipped through Aurora’s black hair, massaging her scalp with movements so gentle, a stark contrast to the wildness they had shared just a few hours earlier.Aurora glanced at the phone lying on the table. A text message notification from Richard appeared on the screen.«Richard: Rory, good news. The doctor has allowed me to go home this afternoon at five. I'll head straight to the mansion. See you at home, Darling.»Aurora’s heart sank.“Richard is coming home at five this afternoon,” she murmured softly, almost inaudible beneath the sound of the hair dryer.Ethan switched off the device in his hand, and silence in
Without letting Aurora answer, Ethan pulled out his two fingers and replaced them with his own which had been perfectly erect since earlier. In one powerful thrust that directly pierced to the base, Aurora screamed loudly. Her hands immediately stretched upward, pulling Ethan’s hair tightly to find a grip amidst the sudden shaking. Ethan moved with a rhythm that was much more agile and powerful than this morning. This was his revenge because he felt "used" while he was sleeping earlier. He paced his movements on top of the desk, making the objects on top of it—the laptop, piles of papers, and writing utensils—vibrate and become messy. "Ah... Ethan... faster..." Aurora babbled, her consciousness beginning to evaporate. Ethan’s free hand squeezed Aurora’s breast which was still hidden behind the fabric of her dress. Feeling that the fabric obstructed her pleasure, Aurora with frustrated movements unbuttoned her dress and let the clothes slide down to her waist. She also unhooked he
The atmosphere of the apartment, which was previously quiet, was suddenly disturbed by the chiming sound of the private elevator stopping on the top floor. Audrey stepped out neatly, wearing a navy blue blazer suit and carrying a leather folder containing the quarterly report she had promised. She glanced at her smartwatch; it was exactly ten o'clock in the morning. As promised, she returned to ensure her boss did not die of loneliness in the midst of this luxury.However, as soon as the front door opened soundlessly, the silence inside the room felt different—it felt heavier and carried a foreign scent. Audrey walked toward the master bedroom with steps deliberately slowed so as not to startle Ethan."Boss? I've brought the files—"Audrey’s sentence cut off in mid-air. Her eyes widened, and the folder in her hand almost dropped. The sight on top of the bed was like a hard slap to her sanity. Ethan was fast asleep in a supine position, without a single thread covering the lower half o
Aurora held her breath for a moment, trying to steady her hands, which felt cold as she poured tea into Nana’s porcelain cup. Although she appeared calm and elegant on the outside, beneath her white dress, Aurora’s heart beat so fast it felt painful. The soothing aroma of jasmine tea suddenly felt
Aurora arrived at the mansion as the sun began to sink low on the horizon, leaving long, somber shadows across the vast Calloway estate. Her body felt shattered, not because of a busy college schedule, but due to the weight of thoughts that were increasingly crushing her. The incident at the cafe e
The Manhattan sky began to fade, leaving a gradient of reddish-orange that was slowly swallowed by the silhouettes of skyscrapers. Aurora stepped out of the campus building with shoulders that looked stiff. She clutched two thick books to her chest, as if those books were the only shield she poss
Aurora took a long, deep breath as she stepped out of the women's restroom, trying to inhale as much oxygen as possible to calm her lungs, which felt constricted. Her eyes still held a faint reddish hue, the remnants of the emotional storm inside, but at least her crying had subsided. She stood







