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AURORA POV

After Maverick disappeared, I felt sad, but why couldn't he understand me? I wanted to call out to him and ask why he was busy on our engagement day before I could speak, but he had already disappeared.

Lately, Maverick has been acting strange. There's this number that calls him frequently and I'm sure that was the number that called him now.

I love Maverick with all my heart, but lately, he has been acting indifferent, making the relationship look one-sided

He's not possibly out of love right? He's just busy and my mind is just overreacting.

The guests were waiting, and I didn't want to keep them waiting; I had to go back inside to greet them, putting on a smile to mask my sadness.

The party continued, but my heart stung every time my mind flashed back to Maverick's disappointed face, and I kept sighing. 

I greeted the guests politely, even though I felt like crying inside. I moved through the crowd, nodding and smiling as if nothing was wrong, even though every smile felt forced. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of wine when I felt a sharp pain in my elbow, and I turned around to see Astrid gazing at me.

She threw a small glass cube at me which bruised my elbow.

"You're deaf now that you can't pick up my calls when it was clearly ringing, and you didn't respond to me when I was calling you. Do you think you're free from me because today is your engagement day," Her tone was cold and mocking, and I nodded my head negatively.

"I'm sorry," I apologized and she sneered at me.

"Meet me in the dressing room right now," She ordered and strode out. I sigh, cutting some tissues as I use them to clean the bruise on my elbow.

I went to the dressing room and found Astrid waiting for me. She had a strict look on her face. "I want you to find me a suitable dress right now," she ordered sharply, her voice leaving no room for discussion.

My eyes widened, trying to comprehend what she was saying. I thought today was a day of my happiness but why does it feel like it's going to be the worst day ever.

"What are you still waiting for!" Her sharp voice interjected my thoughts, and I began searching through the dresses. 

I looked at each one carefully, hoping that maybe one of them would make me feel a bit better. But Astrid’s cold gaze never left me. Every time I picked a dress, she would frown and shake her head, as if nothing I chose was good enough.

I worked for what seemed like hours, my eyes growing red and tired. I knew that I had no choice but to obey her, even though every moment spent under her watchful glare made my heart ache. 

When I finally brought her a red dress, she barely glanced at it before nodding dismissively. "Perfect. Now, you can leave," she said and walked away.

I wasted time in her room searching for a suitable one and she chose this dress without checking it thoroughly and twice like she did with the previous ones but I'm glad she didn't reject it.

I was supposed to be greeting the guest but I'm here searching for a good dress for my step sister.

I felt my heart twisting in pain as I clutched the red dress. I had tried so hard to do what was expected of me today, but it felt like nothing I did was ever enough. 

I gathered myself and stepped out of the dressing room to greet the guests again, hoping that I could find some comfort in the company of others.

But the pain did not end there. When I made my way back into the grand hall, I noticed that my parents were talking in low voices with the Maverick's family. Their eyes met mine, and I could see disappointment in their expressions. 

My mother’s face was stern and my father’s eyes held a look of cold judgment. I heard snippets of their conversation as I passed by. They spoke as if I had done something terribly wrong today as if I was to blame for Maverick’s sudden departure. I did not know how to defend myself or explain that I felt just as lost as everyone else.

At one point, my father stepped forward and said in a low voice, "How could she not control her fiancée and let him know how important this day is," as if my feelings were unimportant and that I had humiliated the family. 

I tried to lower my gaze and keep my head down, but every word they said made me feel more alone and hurt. I could not understand why the people who were supposed to love and protect me were instead making me feel so small and worthless.

I was forced to smile for the guests and play the role of the happy fiancée. I moved from one group to another, exchanging polite words, all the while trying to hide the pain inside. My heart was heavy with the memory of Maverick's departure, and the fresh wound on my elbow hurt every time I moved.

Every time I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window or a mirror, I was reminded of how fragile I felt. I saw a girl who had believed in love, who had hoped for a day of joy, now marked by cruelty and neglect. I felt like I was watching someone else’s life, a life that was no longer mine. The words my parents and Astrid had said echoed in my mind, and I felt as if I was drowning in shame.

A maid approached me with a glass of champagne and I took it from her, gulping everything down.

I held onto the glass cup tightly. And after some minutes, I started feeling weird and hurriedly placed the glass cup on the one of the trays being held by the maids passing by.

"Goodness, what's wrong with me? Why am I feeling hot inside," I pondered as I felt my breath etched, hurrying upstairs to my room and before I got to my room, I felt my legs wobbling, my eyes spinning.

I held the wall for support, and suddenly I felt a hand holding my arm.

“Are you fine, Aurora?” I heard Astrid's voice and relaxed in her grip.

“Why am I feeling weird…I feel wet and strange. My body is itching me,” I muttered, and she brought her lips closer to my ear.

“You're horny. Just stay in this room, I'm coming. Let me go and get something that will calm you down,” She reassured, urging me to enter the room and I did.

The room was dark, and I felt a big arm grabbing my waist, banging me closer to his chest.

It…. surprisingly felt good, and I wanted more.

I honestly didn't know when I lost control of myself. I grabbed his lips, pulling him all over my body.

His fragrance felt familiar.

Maverick 

I shut my eyes as we kissed intensely. He carried me off the floor, as we landed on the bed. He trails his lips all over my body, ripping my clothes off.

His hand paused when it reached my panties line. “Please fuck me, Maverick. I want you, I'm hot,”