CHAPTER 4

AURORA

Ethan really did sign those divorce papers, and the day I was informed he sent them over was the same day it was made public that his company, ET Logistics, was partnering with Jasper’s company, and that said all I needed to know and even more…

He had already moved on… and it is humiliating to know that I chose such a manipulative, shameless bastard over my family.

Five years ago, I met Ethan in London while on an internship business training program. He worked for the same company as an intern, and it was quick for us to click.

He naturally believed I came from an average family because that was the same thing I told everyone in the company. I didn’t want preferential treatment, so naturally, I extended that lie to Ethan, and when we eventually started dating, I wasn’t sure how to tell him the truth anymore.

I remember that Thanksgiving period. I had gone home to visit my parents, hoping to let them know that I was seeing someone and that I was serious about him, but instead, I was shown a picture of a man whose name I later discovered to be Cartier Spencer, and I was informed that he was the one I was supposed to marry.

I rebelled against my parents and the marriage plans for one full year, rejecting any form of meeting with Cartier, though I still ended up meeting him once, and that was also the last time because I looked him in the face, in the presence of his family, and told him that I would rather be a corpse than marry him.

His parents took offense, called off the marriage, and canceled their business deal. My father got angry, gave me an ultimatum to either break up with Ethan or face being kicked out of the family, and I suppose you all can guess which one I chose.

I went back to London and told Ethan that my parents had taken me off the family register, and he didn’t seem bothered by it because he was convinced that the company we were interning for would retain him.

After a year, I got pregnant with his child, which led to our hasty marriage. I lost the baby a few months later, and Ethan was never retained by the company…

⸻

Fastening my seatbelt, I looked out the window as the plane raced down the runway before coming to a stop.

People who were eager to return home rushed off the plane, while I remained seated, waiting for the last of them to get off before slowly joining them.

I dragged my suitcase to the arrival gate, my eyes scanning the crowd for Jonas, my brother.

Two days ago, I sent him a text on his old number, not even sure if it was still reachable. I told him I would be arriving in Manhattan today and that I was going to need transportation and a place to stay.

I won’t be surprised if that number isn’t in use anymore.

Coming to a halt in the middle of the crowd, I took a deep breath and looked around, not exactly disappointed that he didn’t show up, but very much hurt.

I guess they are still angry with me.

Reaching for my purse, I pulled out my phone, ready to handle the problem myself. I still have my number from five years ago, so I think I can handle this situation on my own.

Just as I opened my browser to find the cheapest hotel around, someone called my name from behind.

“Aurora?”

My lips stretched into a smile as I quickly turned around, expecting to see my brother Jonas and ready to cry my eyes out. Instead, I came face to face with my ex-fiancé…

Cartier Spencer.

My last conversation with him was me telling him to make sure he didn’t appear before me again.

“Mrs. Hayes?”

Of course he is going to rub that in.

Sucking in a deep breath, I forced a polite smile onto my face. “Hello, Mr. Spencer.”

His eyes moved from me to my luggage, then back to my face. “Your brother won’t be able to pick you up, so he sent me.”

“Jonas told you to pick me up?”

Ignoring me, he grabbed the trolley containing my suitcases and wheeled it toward the exit. Hastening after him, I caught up, feeling awkward about the whole thing. “I apologize for any form of inconvenience this has caused you.”

“I owe your brother a favor,” he rasped before passing the trolley to his security, who loaded the suitcases into the trunk.

I understood what he meant by that… this was for my brother, and not for me… he had no reason to help me.

Settling beside him in the back seat, I cleared my throat. “Are you taking me to the hotel where my brother is staying?”

“We’re heading to my private residence,” he rasped. “Your brother will come over later in the evening after his meeting to pick you up.”

I am staying with my ex alone in his residence. “You can drop me off outside the hotel.”

His gaze flickered briefly to me. “I promised your brother to keep you safe, and I am going to do exactly that until he comes for you.”

I was tempted to ask when they became such close friends. In the past, they were business rivals, and Jonas wasn’t exactly thrilled that I was being forced to marry him.

“Nothing is going to go wrong in a hotel, Spencer,” I reasoned. “I think I will be fin_”

“Mrs. Hayes,” he growled. “We are heading to my private residence.”

Mrs. Hayes. That title and name alone make my eyes sting… it reminds me of the ugly marriage and divorce I just went through. “Call me Aurora.”

“I use first names for family and friends.”

And I am neither… an enemy would be a more appropriate term for me. “Call me Ms. Wells then.”

His eyes moved down to my fingers resting on my thighs, then quickly looked away. “Fasten your seatbelt, Ms. Wells.”

Nodding, I reached for my seatbelt, sealed my mouth shut, and looked out the window.

~~~~

The car drove through a gate, followed by a long driveway lined with trees, small plants, and street lamps.

I was still admiring the whole scenery when the building itself came into view. Dumbfounded, I stared at what could be used as a castle for an ancient movie… a modern castle, if that makes sense.

“The staff will show you to the guest room where you can freshen up,” he rasped. “If you are hungry, let the staff know and they will fix something for you.”

“You’re not coming in?”

“Some of us are not on vacation, Ms. Wells,” he deadpanned.

Nodding, I reached for the door, opened it, and stepped out. “Thank you.”

“Close the door, Ms. Wells. I have a meeting to attend.”

“Oh… yeah.” I slammed the door shut, stepped back, and watched the car zoom off.

⸻

“Aurora!”

My head jerked off the bed at the sound of my brother’s familiar voice.

“Aurora!”

Rolling out of bed, I rushed out of the room, not bothering to wear my flats. Pulling the door open, I came face to face with my brother, whom I haven’t seen in three years.

“Jonas!” I broke into tears, falling into his arms as he wrapped his arms around me. The last time I saw him was when he came to London to beg me to come home, but of course I was too in love to do that.

“God,” Jonas breathed into my ear. “I have missed you.” He pulled me away, cupping my cheek. “I can see you’re still a crybaby.”

Scoffing, I slapped his chest playfully. “Why did you send Spencer to pick me up?”

He chuckled. “Did he give you a hard time?”

I rolled my eyes, walking back into the room to grab my bags. “I think he is still upset over what happened in the past.”

Jonas chuckled, helping me with some of the suitcases. “I don’t think that’s the case. Cartier is naturally broody. Besides, he has been in a relationship since you.”

Oh… “What happened?”

Jonas shrugged, passing the bags to the security guard, who quickly came over to help. “He didn’t talk to me about it. All I know is that it didn’t work out. Enough about Cartier.”

He opened the back door, waited for me to get in before following. “Are you here for the holidays?”

Exhaling, I looked out the window as the car rolled out of the driveway. “I am here to stay.”

“And him?”

Deep breath, Aurora… you don’t want to cry because of that bastard.

The tears rolled down regardless, and I quickly reached up to wipe them away. “We got divorced a few days ago.”

I felt his hand on mine, and he squeezed it gently. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Telling someone I lost my husband to a man is just plain embarrassing. “No. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Nodding, he pulled me into a hug, patting my back. “It’s a good thing you’re back. I have just the perfect spot for you in the company.” He kissed my temple. “That bastard is going to regret losing you, believe me.”

I know he will.