06:

-ETHAN SLADE-

Another plate got smashed to the wall, breaking to pieces. I grabbed another but before I could smash it against the wall again, mother snatched it away from me.

“Get a grip on yourself, Ethan… what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Everything Mother… Every fucking thing” I snapped, running my fingers through my hair.

“Aurora is probably not in her right senses, you don't have to be upset by the nonsense she said a while back”.

“Didn't you see the look on her face, mother? Her eyes show determination in them. She probably didn't have water in her mouth when she called off the engagement, she meant every single word”

Mother banged on the table and balls her first.

“That stupid brat.. How annoying. The audacity. She should be grateful we have been putting up with her for years..”

“What if she never comes back to beg, mother?”

“She will, son.. Once she comes back to her senses, she'd definitely crawl back here and beg for our forgiveness. She's a big fat burden.. no man would want to marry an old lady”

I ran my fingers through my hair… For years and as long as I can remember, Aurora has never been so challenging and daring.

It feels like she has become a different person overnight.

She has been so crazy about me, excited about the wedding and everything and suddenly, she cancels everything?

I would have thought she had found out about my secret affair with her best friend - Ravenna. Perhaps, the real reason why I wanted to marry her in the first place.

But, she made no mention of those, she's still clueless after all.

I feel relieved that this so-called engagement is over. I never loved Aurora but agreed to her father's request just because of his money. I'd be ten times richer with her father's shares of the company.

And his properties, I would have them to my name as part of the wedding benefits.

Aurora isn't just fat, she's a burden to me and my life and my plan is to get rid of her once we're married.

My only anger right now is the effect of what her rejection would do to me.

“No!!” I snarled.. “ That can't happen.. I can't lose what is already in my name.. What if she decides to take back everything?”

“No, Son… we can't let that happen. We have come this far and some silly mistake from some ugly fat pig should not ruin things. You have to play the victim.. Everything is yours son.. it should remain that way”

I balled my fist as my mother's words made a lot of sense.

“I know exactly what to do mother..I'll do something to make her regret cancelling the engagement and beg for mercy. Just you wait and see, mother… She's going to get a real surprise from me by morning”

“What did you plan to do?”

An evil smirk formed on my lips as I already pictured how nice it would be seeing Aurora apologize.

-ORION VALOIS-

Once I was off the call with Aurora, I took a sip from my glass of wine and massaged my forehead.

I could feel my cousin's eyes on me and I needed no one to explain to me that there's a lot of questions Damian wanted to ask.

“Go on Damian…Shoot”

He understood my signal quite well and he didn't waste any more time throwing different questions at me.

“What are you doing, Orion? Getting married out of the blue? I know how you have locked yourself up with women… You claim you never want to get married and then, suddenly, you're getting married in two days?”

I poured myself another glass because obviously, there's more questions to be asked.

“Why did you agree to her request? You two barely know each other? ..”

“Her father helped me during my trying times, Damian.. you know that” I cut him off.

“Of course, I do. So now, you're repaying a favor?”

I simply shrugged my shoulders and he sighed deeply.

“I know you Orion. You are my cousin and I know when you're hiding something from me. This isn't just about repaying a favour…spill it”

I laughed.. not because his words are funny but because only Damian knows me to the core.

I placed my glass down and faced him properly.

“You are right.. I'm not just trying to repay a favor. I'm actually playing a game. A game of the weak and the strong”

Damian's face crouched up in confusion.

“So.. you're using her? She's just a pawn in your game? Is that it?”

I shook my head. “That's a wrong expression Damian. You should know what happened to me years ago. I don't want to go into details at the moment but, this is time to get back what rightfully belongs to me..”

“This is a dangerous move, Orion. I thought you let go already?”

I banged on the table.

“I never did, Damian…Letting go is for the weak and I am not a weakling. All these years, I have been waiting for an opportunity to present myself. And now that I have the chance, I won't let it slip past me. Unfortunately, she has to play the role. I feel sorry for her and sometimes, I don't”

Damian didn't say a word but just sighed deeply.

“You don't have to worry, I have everything all mapped out. All you need to to do is.. sit back and watch the game begin”

I poured myself another glass and as I drank, I let it drown my anger while staring into space and thinking about everything single thing that matters.

About the new chapter I'm about to step into with Aurora Wright.