The Marriage Rules

Chapter Six

Aurora’s froze underneath him and her eyes widened in alarm for a second, as the realization of what he’d just said crashed through her.

Shit!

He was right.

Six years ago, when she’d newly married Ethan, he’d called her into on his study with all the formality of a businessman calling on his associate.

“Take this.” Ethan had said coldly, handing her a file as soon as she’d walked in. He sat behind his desk, looking as dashing as ever but the eyes he regarded her with were cold and soulless.

Aurora dragged her thoughts away from his expression, and collected the file from him.

She read the first line and blinked in astonishment.

“Our marriage…rules?” She asked, her voice soft with uncertainty.

“No.” Ethan leaned forward, his elbows in the mahogany desk in front of him, He glared up at Aurora, “They are just for you. You’re to agree with everyone of them if you wish to stay here. Go through them to see what it’s about. If you don’t like them, it’s fine. You can leave.”

Aurora’s heart did a hard flop at Ethan’s words and his tone. She was already going through the so called rules in the file which she’d been given.

She was not to appear in public as his wife.

She was never to get involved in any of his personal affairs.

She was to stay in a separate room, and never make advances on him.

If she dared to bring any disgrace to him or the family, she would get divorced ASAP

Due to his grandfather’s orders, he would have to copulate this farce of a marriage with her. That would only be once a month, on the seventh of every month.

That was the only time he would be able to tear himself away from his numerous activities to even give her the time of day.

Aurora bit her lips as she read the rules.

She knew Ethan did not love her but with this kind of setting, there was no hope that he would grow to love her.

Seeing her hesitation, Ethan cocked his head to the side, his mouth a tight grimace of disgust, “What’s the matter? Can’t do it?” He pointed toward the door, “Then you can get out.”

Aurora swallowed hard, “He’s just so eager to get rid of me,” she thought in misery, “Why can’t he just give me a chance?”

She took a deep breath, “Ethan…” She started, her voice and eyes soft, “I know this marriage is not something you’d rather be saddled with. But the Chairman brought us together. We have to honor his wishes. I believe we can make this work if we…”

Ethan laughed, shaking his head slightly.

It was a short sound, but the disdain and anger evident in it sent shivers running down Aurora’s spine.

She swallowed hard as Ethan looked back up at her, then slowly got up from his seat, walking out from behind his desk towards her.

“Honor his wishes?” He said, sarcasm dripping from his tone, “Really? His wishes! Don’t give me that bullshit!”

He roared suddenly, causing Aurora to stifle a scream as she crashed back into the wall in fear.

Ethan leaned in to say in her face, his teeth bare in anger.

“Like you didn’t put him up to it, you pathetic gold digger!”

Aurora shook her head. Tears spilled from her eyes and her entire body shook with fear, “That’s … No, that’s not true…”

“Oh save it, Aurora! That innocent victim act won’t work with me!” Ethan uttered, his tone harsh with impatience. He jabbed a finger into her shoulder again and again, pushing her further into the wall as he spoke, “Do you have any idea what you made me lose?”

Aurora shook her head once more, her head bowed in fear and sadness, “I…I didn’t mean to…I only…I just wanted…”

‘I just wanted to be with you.’

Ethan grabbed her shoulders suddenly, and shook her so hard that her teeth almost rattled

“I can’t fucking live without her, and you made her leave, Aurora! You made her leave! Damn you!”

He let go of her and turned away, raking his hand through his hair. His shoulders were shaking with emotion, and he was breathing hard, in an effort to keep his anger under check.

Aurora slid down the wall, her tears frozen on her face with shock and a sad realization.

Her?

There was another … woman?

“That was it.” She thought, laughing softly in disbelief, “That must be the reason. He loves someone else.” She looked down at the file of marriage rules on the floor beside her, and a great sadness overwhelmed her, “And I… I will never measure up.”

She looked up at Ethan, her eyes roving over his back muscles which splayed out nicely under his shirt. His back to her was very formidable and she’d had a sinking feeling back then, that she’d be seeing most of it in her marriage.

She had been right.

“But still…” she’d thought back then, “…still…even if he turns his back on me…it does not mean I should do the same. He needs me, and I’ll never leave him. Ethan Langford, I’ll make you see that I’m not the woman you think I am. I’ll make you see that I love you only.”

With those comforting thoughts, she’d stood up from the floor, walked to the desk and took a pen from it. Calmly, she signed it, then turned back to Ethan, “I agree.”

Ethan’s cold expression did not change. It actually hardened even more.

“Get out.” He bit out.

Aurora’s heart tightened with pain.

Without another word, she walked towards the door and walked out.

As she made her way to her room, she found herself thinking about the unknown woman Ethan had mentioned.

This was the first time she’d heard of anything being mentioned about a woman in Ethan’s life. The Chairman had not mentioned it when she’d being taking care of Ethan in the hospital, nor had he mentioned it when he’d told them to get married.

Not even his mother and his sister had mentioned it before they’d gotten married.

But suddenly, it became a topic she’d hear everyday for the next six years.

How she’d made the great Celeste Moore, Ethan’s first and only love, leave him due to her scheming.