Chapter 5

On the morning of the third day, I heard the familiar click of heels.

Mother appeared outside the iron door. She looked worn out, dark circles under her eyes.

"Aurora," her voice was soft. "Let's talk."

I didn't get up. I just leaned against the wall. "Talk about what?"

"About your marriage." She paused. "We've picked a suitable match for you. Julian, your brother's law school classmate. He's poor, but he's got a good character and a bright future."

I sneered. "Suitable? Suitable for who?"

"Aurora, we're not playing favorites." Her voice held a hint of pleading. "Julian is a good man. Better than a ruthless mobster like Marcello. You'll be happy with him."

"Not playing favorites?" I stood up abruptly, a massive wave of hate welling up inside. "Then let Chloe marry him. If she's willing to marry this broke lawyer, then I'll believe you're not playing favorites."

Mother's face changed instantly. "Aurora! What are you saying? How could Chloe..."

"How could she what?" I cut her off. "How could she marry a poor man? How could she not live a life of luxury? Or do you mean, how could she not get the absolute best?"

"You can't fight with your sister like this..." Mother's voice shook.

"Fight?" I scoffed. "When have I ever fought her for anything? From the day I got back, I said we'd stay out of each other's way. You broke the deal first!"

"Broke the deal?" Mother's tone turned sharp. "You stole her fiancé first!"

Those words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.

I froze. I stared at her, stunned.

Her blurting that out just exposed what she really thought all along.

In her heart, I was just the bad woman who stole someone else's man.

No matter how I explained it, no matter what the truth was, she would never believe me.

"Hahahaha..." I suddenly burst out laughing. My laugh echoed in the cold cellar. It sounded almost manic.

"What's so funny?" Mother was freaked out.

"I'm laughing at how naive I am." I stopped laughing, a dangerous glint in my eye. "You all swear I seduced Marcello. You think I steal fiancés..."

I paused, staring dead into her eyes.

"Then I'll give you exactly what you want."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm marrying Marcello." I said every word clearly. "Since you say I stole him, I'm going to steal him for good."

Mother's face went ghost pale. "Aurora, are you insane?"

"Yeah. I'm insane." I sneered. "And you drove me to it."

"You can't do this! It'll ruin Chloe!" Mother grabbed the iron bars, her voice almost begging.

"Ruin her?" I scoffed. "What about me? Did you ever stop to think if it would ruin me?"

"Aurora, how can you be so selfish?"

"Selfish?" Rage fueled my veins. "How am I selfish? When I came back from Detroit, I asked for nothing. I called her my older sister. I gave up the room that was supposed to be mine. I never fought her for a damn thing!"

"But now you're stealing her fiancé!"

"I didn't steal him!" I roared. "Marcello chose this himself! But since you don't believe me, since you think I'm just some bitch who steals men, then watch me do it!"

Mother was shaking all over. She raised her hand to slap me.

"Do it." I closed my eyes, my voice deadly calm. "This slap can pay you back for feeding me for a year. After this, we're even."

Her hand stopped in mid-air. It never came down.

"Crazy... you are completely crazy..." she choked out.

"Yeah, I'm crazy." I opened my eyes. "But you're the ones who made me this way."

Just then, a huge crash came from the iron door.

Bang!

The heavy metal door was kicked open. Marcello stood in the doorway.

He was in a black suit, face dark, his hand resting on his gun holster.

"Mrs. Russo." His voice was ice. "Are you trying to lay a hand on my future wife?"

Mother backed away in fear. "Marcello, how did you..."

"How did I know?" He smirked coldly. "Where Aurora goes, I go. Anyone wants to mess with her, they go through me first."

He walked up to me and held out his hand. "Let's go. We're going home."

I looked at his outstretched hand. My feelings were a total mess.

But I took it anyway.

Because I had nowhere else to go.

"You can't do this!" Mother cried from behind. "Aurora is our daughter!"

I stopped and looked back at her.

"Daughter?" I sneered. "Mrs. Russo, didn't you just say you were marrying me off to a broke lawyer? Now I'm your daughter?"

"Aurora..."

"Don't say my name." My voice was freezing. "From now on, I am only Marcello's wife. I have nothing to do with the Russos."

With that, I followed Marcello out of the cellar without looking back.

Walking through the estate halls, I looked at this arrogant man. My heart felt hollow.

He thought he saved me.

But the truth was, we were just using each other.

He used me to rebel against his family. To get back at Chloe.

I used him to escape this freezing home.

Maybe this was fine.

At least we were both clear-headed.

Even if it was a mistake, we just had to walk it out and see what happened next.