Watch Me…

Chapter Three

Aurora spent the next few hours of the ceremony sitting in the shadows feeling numb.

Her gaze never left the front row seats where Riley sat with Ethan and Celeste. They looked so happy and Riley looked so content.

Aurora felt her heart aching once more.

Does this mean that she was no longer in Riley’s heart?

She swallowed hard, pushing down the tears, and retreated further into the shadows.

Few hours later, the award ceremony ended and everyone started trooping out. From her position, Aurora could see Ethan’s mother and sister approach them from the crowd.

They smiled brightly and hugged Celeste, pinched Riley’s cheek and seemed very enthusiastic about what they had witnessed earlier.

No one seemed to express any shock at what had transpired earlier, and Aurora could not help but scoff in disbelief.

Several of the guests trooped around the Langfords and Celeste, even reporters swarmed around them, taking pictures of them.

Aurora could hear them exclaim what a happy looking family they were.

The three of them stood close to each other, Riley in Ethan’s arms, and one arm around Celeste’s shoulder, with Celeste fussing over keeping Riley warm.

They looked so picture perfect that it nearly made Aurora gag in anger, but the huge lump in her throat was definitely going to prevent that for sure.

Soon, the family went out of the hall and drove away, and Aurora followed them silently in her car. She did not know why she was trailing after them when all she would get was an additional heartbreak.

She did not know what straws she was grasping at, but she just kept going on.

Finally, the family stopped and went inside a five star restaurant located at one of the high end part of the city.

Aurora parked her car and went with them, the pressure in her heart growing to the size of a brick wall.

She could not breathe from apprehension and fear of what would happen next.

When she walked in, the family were already seated. The entire place was empty and Aurora guessed that Ethan must have rented out the entire place.

There was an elaborately decorated table before them, stacked with premium dishes and a huge birthday cake.

Aurora blinked, her heart beating wildly, just as Riley brought out a beautiful birthday card, as well as a beautifully wrapped present.

“Happy birthday, Celeste!” She giggled happily, as she placed her things before Celeste, “I made this specially for you. Open it!”

Aurora watched with mouth wide open, and eyes brimming with tears as Celeste brought out a beautifully handcrafted bead bracelet.

She let out a shaky breath, covering her mouth to keep her sobs from coming out. She had spied Riley working on that bracelet all week and heard her say it was a birthday gift.

Aurora had waited with joyful anticipation, because she knew this was a surprise gift.

No, she thought it was a surprise gift for HER.

Because today was also her birthday.

But the bracelet had been for Celeste all along.

Dry heaves filled her chest, and she clenched her dress hard, feeling the betrayal and pain cut her like a thousand glass pieces.

She watched as the family gushed over the bracelet.

“So pretty!” Ethan’s mother, Vera uttered, clasping her hands in delight.

Ethan’s sister, Bella reached over and ruffled Riley’s hair affectionately, “Awwn Riley, you just love your aunt Celeste so much, don’t you?”

Riley nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, Aunt Bella,” she uttered as she reached over and hugged Celeste, “I love her so much! I wish she were my mummy.”

Celeste smiled beautifully, gathering Riley her arms, “Awwn baby, I wish I were your mother too.”

As she spoke she surreptitiously glanced at Ethan, who smiled and nodded along.

Ethan placed a carefully wrapped box in front of Celeste as well. When she opened it, she drew out a beautifully handcrafted silver necklace that shone under the crystal chandelier up above.

Celeste gasped with delight, “Oh my god, I’ve always wanted this necklace,” she squealed, “Thank you so much, Ethan!”

Ethan smiled, his gaze dripping with affection, as Celeste continued gushing over the necklace. She bit her lips, looking at Ethan with bright eyes once more, “But I fear it’s too expensive for me, Ethan. It’s too precious.” She lowered her eyes as though suddenly saddened, “This type of things should be given to Aurora. I don’t deserve gifts like this…”

Ethan’s smile disappeared at once, “Don’t say that,” he uttered coldly, “Don’t you know how much that woman has collected from you? She does not deserve anything!”

“But…”

“No buts.” Vera uttered, her face filled with indignation, “We all know what that woman did and everything she’d taken away from you. Ethan is right. Do not worry about her.”

“Yes, Celeste,” Bella uttered, wrinkling her nose, “You’re only getting back what belongs to you, yet you’re still thinking about her.”

“If she hadn’t manipulated grandfather and schemed her way into her family, Vera continued saying with vindication, “Then you’d have been the Langford daughter in law, and Riley’s mother. Everything is just falling into place now, so do not worry about it, Celeste.”

“Yes.” Bella agreed, “Everyone knows you were Ethan’s first love. If it weren’t for that drab Aurora, you would be married to Ethan by now.”

Ethan reached over and gently took Celeste’s hand in his big ones. He gazed lovingly into her eyes as he spoke, “You deserve everything I have and more, Celeste. Do not worry about a thing because I will never leave you.”

“Ethan…” Celeste breathed, then he drew her in for a hug, placing her head against his chest and patting her softly.

Celeste sighed contentedly, clutching her gifts to her bosom. At that moment, her gaze drifted to the far end of the hall, towards the shadows where Aurora stood.

Their eyes met over the distance, Celeste blinking in surprise for a second, then her lips curved into a sly smile.

She leaned closer into the embrace of Ethan, staring at Aurora with dark eyes that said, “Watch me take everything away from you. Watch me take away your life, Aurora.”