Chapter 2: The Game

Aurora's POV 

The silence in the lounge was deafening.

Even the music seemed to dim.

Justin was still looking at me, his eyes wide with shock, as if he had just seen a ghost.

Then his brows slowly knitted together.

“Aurora?” he said, disbelief clear in his voice. “What… what are you doing here?”

I stared at him.

My chest rose and fell as I tried to breathe through the storm raging inside me.

That was the question he chose to ask?

My fingers tightened around the package in my hand.

“Is that really the right question?” I asked slowly, my voice shaking despite my effort to sound calm.

I almost laughed, taking a look at the crumpled package in my hands.

“I'm delivering your package.”

Then I looked back up at him — at his suit, his posture, his champagne glass. “Funny question, though. What are you doing here?”

“Aurora—”

I took a step forward.

My eyes moved down to his legs.

To the legs that were holding him up perfectly.

No wheelchair. No trembling. No weakness.

Nothing.

I swallowed hard.

“And why,” I continued, my voice growing colder, “are you walking?”

“Aurora—"

“Your legs are fine.” I said, my voice shaky as I stared at those long legs like I was just seeing them for the very first time. “You're standing. You've been standing. How long have you been standing, Justin?”

Something moved behind his eyes.

“This isn't the place—"

"How long?”

Justin opened his mouth as if to speak.

But before he could say anything, a soft laugh interrupted us.

“Oh Aurora, is that really you?”

The voice was bright and warm and completely unbothered, and I turned to find Jessica already moving toward me with a wide smile on her face, like we were old friends reuniting after a pleasant separation. Like she hadn't dismantled my entire life with both hands and never once looked back.

“It's been so long,” she said sweetly.

Her gaze traveled from my simple delivery uniform to the package in my hands.

Then she looked back at Justin with amusement in her eyes.

“Justin,” she said lightly, tilting her head. “Are you still playing that little game you started back in college?”

The temperature in my body dropped ten degrees.

I turned to look at Justin. “What's she talking about?”

He said nothing.

I looked back at Jessica. "What game?"

Jessica blinked at me. Then she turned to Justin with exaggerated surprise, pressing her fingers lightly to her lips. "Oh. She doesn't know?" She let out a short laugh, like this was all mildly entertaining to her. 

"Justin, really? After all this time?"

"Jessica." His voice carried a quiet warning.

But she ignored it.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t ended it yet?”

Justin’s jaw tightened slightly.

But he didn’t answer.

Jessica shrugged casually before turning back to me.

“Well,” she said with a bright smile, “since you’re here and you've seen him, I guess there’s no harm in telling you the truth.”

A strange unease crept into my chest.

Jessica folded her arms loosely.

“Seven years ago,” she began, “Justin and his friends made a bet.”

My fingers trembled slightly. “A bet?” I repeated.

Jessica nodded. “Back then, everyone in our circle thought you were… interesting.”

Her smile widened slightly.

“You always acted so principled. So hardworking. So loyal.”

Her tone made those words sound like an insult.

“So Justin decided to test something.”

I felt my stomach twist.

“Test… what?”

Jessica glanced at Justin briefly before answering.

“To see how long a woman like you could endure suffering for love.”

My mind went blank.

Jessica continued calmly, like she was talking about something amusing.

“The bet was simple. Justin would pretend to be poor and approach you. Then he’d see how far you would go for him.”

Her eyes sparkled with mock amusement.

“Would you stay with him even if he had nothing?”

“Would you still love him if life became miserable?”

“Would you sacrifice everything for him?”

Each word struck my heart like a hammer.

I stared at her.

My mouth slowly fell open.

Seven years.

Seven years of struggling.

Seven years of working countless jobs.

Seven years of believing I was protecting the man I loved.

Jessica chuckled lightly. “And honestly, Aurora, I must commend, you exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

My ears rang.

Everything around me suddenly felt distant.

Seven years of my life was a game to them?

Waking up at four in the morning for the laundry shift.

Eating half a bun for lunch because the rest of my money had gone toward Justin's medication.

Crying alone in the bathroom because I was so tired but I couldn't let him see it because he needed me to be strong.

Is that what that was?

Entertainment?

My throat felt dry.

I slowly turned to look at Justin, my husband.

The man I had loved for seven years.

"Aurora—" Justin finally moved toward me, but I took a step back. He stopped. Something flickered across his face. 

"Look, it started as a bet, but things changed. I do care about you. The money doesn't matter now — I have money. You don't have to work anymore. You've passed the test, you can—"

"Passed the test.”

Something bitter settled in my chest and I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

"You want me to be grateful that I passed your test." I stared at him. "That's what you're offering me. A reward. For surviving.”

"That's not what I—"

"I want a divorce."

The lounge went very quiet.

Justin blinked. Something shifted in his face — the control cracking just slightly at the edges. "You don't mean that."

"I do."

"Aurora, you're upset. You should go home and—”

"I am not going home." My voice finally found its edge, my gaze sharp. "I am never going home to you again. I want a divorce, Justin.”

Justin sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“There's no need for all this drama Aurora. Since you’ve already discovered the truth,” he continued, “there’s no point hiding it anymore.”

He gestured casually around the luxurious lounge.

“You see now who I really am.” His voice was calm. “You should forget about the past,” he said.

My chest tightened painfully.

“Forget about it?”

Justin nodded.

“Yes. Focus on the future instead.”

He looked directly into my eyes. “With my wealth, I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

His lips curved slightly. “You don’t have to work anymore. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

I stared at him, waiting.

Waiting for the words that never came.

An apology.

Just one.

But none came.

Rather he looked very satisfied with himself.

“Now I know you’re not a gold digger.” he continued, still smiling like everything was perfect. “From now on, you won’t have to work anymore. You can finally enjoy the good life.”

My chest hurt so badly it was hard to breathe.

I looked at him slowly. “I still want a divorce.”

For the first time, something flickered across Justin’s face—fear.

Or so I thought.

His mouth opened—

“Justin.” Jessica's weak voice cut through whatever he was about to say. She pressed one hand delicately to her temple, her eyes fluttering like the light was too much.

"I don't feel well," she breathed. "I think it's the flight. I feel faint—”

Justin immediately turned to her. “Jessica!”

Concern filled his voice as he quickly rushed to her side.

Before I could react, he bent down and lifted her into his arms like she weighed nothing.

Jessica leaned weakly against his chest. “I think I need to go to the hospital…” she murmured softly.

“I’m taking you right now,” Justin said immediately.

He started walking toward the exit quickly. Then suddenly, he stopped as if he had just remembered something.

He turned back to look at me.

“Aurora,” he said impatiently, “Jessica isn’t feeling well. I need to take her to the hospital.”

He adjusted Jessica in his arms.

“Stop being stubborn and talking about divorce.” His tone sounded like he was scolding a child. “Go home and wait for me. When I get back, we’ll talk properly about our future.”

Our future.

Before I could say anything, he had already turned and walked away, with Jessica, still cuddled in his arms.

Within seconds, they disappeared from the lounge.

I stood there.

Frozen.

Everything felt unreal.

Eventually my legs remembered how to move. I set the ruined package down on the nearest table, turned, and walked out.

The corridor was empty and blessedly quiet.

I leaned against the wall outside the lounge and pressed the back of my hand against my mouth.

Don't cry here. Not here. Not in this place.

I breathed in slowly. Out slowly.

With shaky hands, I took out my phone.

My son.

I needed to pick him up. At least he was the only real thing in my life right now. The only thing that truly belongs to me.

I dialed his number.

And the moment it connected, the phone almost slipped from my fingers.

What I heard from the other end, felt like ice to my already cold heart.