The Agreement…

Chapter Five

Aurora returned to the quiet house, and went straight to her bedroom, silently acknowledging the housekeeper who greeted her.

She headed to her closet and began calmly packing her things, taking her time because there was not much to pack in there.

She did not own a lot of things and they were mostly what she’d brought into the marriage herself.

As the wife of the CEO of Langford Capital Group, she obviously had some spending money allocated to her each month but Aurora never made use of the card.

In the first year of their marriage, she’d made use of the card for the very first time, purchasing a new shawl for herself.

Ethan’s mother, Vera, had taken one look at it and sniffed in haughty indignation.

“That’s all you’re ever good for,” she’d uttered in disdain, “Spending my son’s money! Aurora, you must be so glad you hit the jackpot, right? Manipulating an old man so you can have a part of the Langford’s wealth?! How disgraceful!”

Aurora had never brought anything for herself again using the money allocated for her. She took from her own savings to get even birthday and holiday presents for her daughter and for Ethan.

The card was always credited and had been in her possession, but she’d never used it once again.

She turned away from the closet, the bare walls making her throat tighten, and then turn back towards her dressing table.

She froze when her gaze fell on the package of Aurex-9 on it. The next second, her gaze hardened as she walked up to it and stared at the two tiny vials of serum inside it.

This was the last of the serums she needed to give to Ethan to complete his treatment cycle. She only needed to give it to him twice monthly and she was done.

She was out of there.

She glanced at the calender on her phone, and saw that it was the seventh of that month. She needed to give Ethan the serum on the fourteenth and thirtieth.

Oh, what a bummer.

Her fingers tightened around the package, wrinkling the edges.

She’d spent so much time in the last six years, worrying after his health, taking care of his meds, doing everything within her power to assist him in recovering fully…

But he only made her miserable, stepping on her efforts like a dirty rag, and never once appreciating her.

She inhaled deeply, pushing back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

This will be the last time.

Just one more month, and she was out of here.

The sound of the main door opening had her glancing towards her own bedroom door.

She heard Riley call out, “Mom, we’re home!”

She heard low indistinct voices, probably a conversation between Ethan and the house keeper.

And maybe someone else.

Aurora would not be surprised if Ethan brought Celeste home. He does seem to be getting bolder and bolder when he wants to hurt her.

Riley had called out to her but at this time of the night, she knew the housekeeper would just take her up to her room, while Ethan retired to his.

No one would look for her until the next morning when it’s time to make breakfast.

She returned to her packing with a calm and indifferent expression, and was soon done with it.

Just at that moment, the door to her room was pushed open and she turned to stare in surprise at Ethan.

What the hell was he doing here?

Ethan gave her a once over, distaste etched on his features. Without another word, he walked into the bedroom casually as though it was his, yanking at his tie.

As he walked past her towards the bed, Aurora caught a whiff of a flowery scent, probably Celeste’s perfume.

She scoffed and turned away, wrinkling her nose in disgust. How dare he come into her room, smelling like his other woman, irritating the shit out of her?!

Aurora calmly closed her closet door, and stared at him with narrowed eyes.

What was his problem?

Ethan sat on the bed, then glanced at her in annoyance as she stood by the closet, away from him.

“What are you waiting for? For me to come get you?” He asked, his tone laced with annoyance.

Aurora squinted at him in confusion, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the language, then narrowed with anger.

Aurora did not care.

She had never spoken to Ethan in such a manner before and it would definitely be surprising, but she was not in the mood to be catering to his personality to get his approval.

She was done being the wet mop, the one who has to hide her feelings every single time.

The muscles in Ethan’s jaw bunched slightly in irritation, “Is this some new tactic of yours? Are you trying to get me to notice you with this attitude? Dream on, Aurora. You know this is just a formality, right? Which you forced on me! I would never touch you willingly even if it’s the last thing keeping me alive.”

His words stung, but Aurora kept her expression and emotions under check.

“I don’t know what the fuck it is you’re talking about.”

Quick as lightning, Ethan moved from the bed and was by her side in a second, grabbing her by the arms and pulling her towards him.

Aurora gasped at his speed and the way his fingernails dug painfully into the soft skin of her upper arm.

“Ow! Let go of me!” She hissed at him, keeping her voice low so she does not rouse the attention of the housekeeper or Riley, whose room was just above hers, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Ethan leaned in to hiss back in her face, “Use that language with me once again, and I’ll make you regret being able to speak!”

So saying, he yanked her by the arm and threw her on the bed.

Aurora bounced on the soft bed, and quickly made to sit up but Ethan was on her in an instant, pinning her on the bed, while bringing his head down to nibble hungrily at the curve of her neck.

Aurora’s heart slammed against her chest as panic surged through her. This was quickly replaced with disgust as Celeste’s scent which clung to him, quickly filled her nostrils.

She pushed at him hard, trying to get him off her, “Get off me! What are you doing?! I don’t want this!”

“That’s enough, Aurora! What do you mean you don’t want this?!” Ethan growled at her, his grey eyes dark with anger and lust, “It’s the seventh! We agreed to be intimate on this day. Isn’t this what you wanted all along?! Huh?! Isn’t it?!”