CHAPTER 6

AURORA

Walking through the house that had felt suffocating in the past… and, judging by the look of things, still did, I couldn’t help but wonder what my life would have been like if I had never left.

Would I have been happier?

Or would I have still ended up searching for a way out?

Jonas placed his hand against the small of my back, gently guiding me toward the stairs. “They are waiting for us in the garden.”

I blinked rapidly. “We have a garden now?”

He chuckled softly. “Don’t start. Mum says it wards off the negative energy in the family, and Dad eventually fell in love with the space.”

He led me through the back of the house, and the moment we stepped outside, I found myself staring at a place that looked nothing like the home I remembered.

It was beautiful.

Mum had done an incredible job with the garden. A winding stone pathway cut through perfectly trimmed hedges, colourful flowers bloomed in every direction, and a stunning glass house sat proudly at the centre. Beautiful vines crawled over its frame, while clusters of flowers cascaded from above, making it look almost magical under the afternoon light.

For a brief moment, it didn’t even feel like my childhood home anymore.

It felt peaceful.

Dad looked up from the tablet in his hand the moment the door to the glass house opened, while Mum, jumped to her feet.

Her eyes watered almost instantly as they landed on me, her lips trembling with emotions she was clearly struggling to contain.

She glanced at Dad.

He let out what sounded like a resigned sigh, almost rolling his eyes before giving her a small nod of approval.

That was all the permission she needed.

Without another second of hesitation, she hurried across the garden toward me.

Involuntarily, I took a nervous step back, my eyes darting to Jonas.

He gave me a small, encouraging smile, silently reminding me that everything was going to be okay.

I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was really home when Mum suddenly pulled me into her embrace, her breaths coming out in choked gasps.

“My baby girl,” she cried into my neck, holding me as though she was afraid I might disappear again. She inhaled deeply, as if trying to make up for all the years she had been denied this moment. “How long I have dreamt of this.”

She reluctantly pulled away and cupped my cheeks, studying every inch of my face.

“You look so thin.” Her brows knitted together with concern. “What has that boy been feeding you?”

Boy?

I almost laughed.

They had never referred to Ethan as a man. Back then, it had irritated me to my very bones. I used to think they were deliberately refusing to acknowledge him simply because they didn’t approve of our relationship.

Now…

Now I could finally understand why.

“Don’t worry,” Mum continued before I could respond. “That is going to change. I am going to make sure you are properly fed from now on.”

She took a step back, her eyes slowly travelling down the length of my dress.

Jonas snickered behind me.

Mum tilted her head, genuinely puzzled as she continued examining the outfit.

“I have never seen this on any runway or in any catalogue,” she mumbled thoughtfully. “Who are you wearing, honey?”

“Why don’t you let the young lady sit?” Dad growled from the table, setting the iPad in his hand aside.

Mum barely acknowledged him.

“I mean… the stitching is kind of odd…” she muttered, still studying my dress with narrowed eyes, clearly unable to let it go.

“Okay,” Jonas chimed in, placing a hand on my shoulder and gently steering me away from her. “Don’t overwhelm her. Let her sit first.”

“I wasn’t overwhelming her.”

“You were interrogating her wardrobe.”

“I was appreciating fashion.”

“You were judging fashion.”

Mum huffed, crossing her arms.

“I was doing both.”

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

Honestly, I have missed this, I have missed them.

I had spent years pretending I didn’t miss my family, convincing myself I was happier without them, all because I didn’t want Ethan to feel guilty.

“I see you are wearing no wedding band.” My father, Richard Wells, pointed out in his usual deep baritone voice. “Did he make you sell it just so you could afford to eat?”

I bit the inside of my cheek at the subtle insult directed at me.

Some things, apparently, never changed.

Jonas pulled out a chair for me, and I quietly took a seat while he settled into the one beside me.

I glanced sideways at him, wondering if he had failed to mention the divorce after telling them I was coming home.

“I didn’t think it was my place to tell them.”

“Tell us what?” Dad demanded, his gaze moving between the two of us.

Taking a slow breath, I lifted my eyes to meet his. “Ethan and I got divorced.”

Mum’s hand flew to her mouth as a soft gasp escaped her. “When did this happen, honey?”

I shrugged, forcing a tight smile that never quite reached my eyes. “A few weeks ago.”

“Good radiance to bad rubbish.” Jonas mumbled.

“What happened?” Dad asked, his gaze probing mine.

There is no way I am discussing that with my father.

“You don’t have to worry,” I assured him. “I didn’t do anything that would bring disgrace to this family. The reason for our divorce is entirely on him.”

“Good,” he rasped. “Marrying him was enough disgrace.”

“Dad,” Jonas hissed, shooting him a warning look. “Can we not do this right now?”

Dad ignored him.

Jonas glared harder.

“Casting her away for five years is more than enough.”

The muscles in Dad’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin, angry line before he slowly shifted his attention back to me.

“Normally,” he began in his usual authoritative tone, “I would have wanted you to return to Wells Corporation.”

My heart skipped.

“But…”

There it was.

“…from my findings, you haven’t been using your degree for the past five years.”

Fuck Ethan! That is all I have to say.

“So, at this moment, I do not trust your decision-making skills when it comes to business.”

I lowered my gaze to the table. “I am open to being coached,” I mumbled.

Jonas nodded immediately beside me. “I don’t mind putting her through it.”

“Shut your mouth,” Dad snapped without even sparing him a glance. “I already have something mapped out for her.”

That caught my attention.

I looked back at him, unable to hide my curiosity.

“Oh…” I swallowed. “Okay…”

“Wells Logistics,” he stated. “I am going to leave Wells Logistics to her.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Jonas blurted out, staring at him in disbelief. “That business is bleeding.”

“Which is exactly why I am putting her there,” Dad shot back. “If she is able to revive it, then I will give her a spot at the headquarters.”

Jonas let out an incredulous laugh. “So this is another test?”

“It is an opportunity.”

“It is a sinking ship.”

“It is a company. I don’t see the problem.”

“It loses money every quarter.”

Dad simply shrugged. “Then she has a challenge.”

“It’s fine,” I chimed in before Jonas could continue arguing on my behalf. “I’ll do it.”

Both men turned to look at me.

Jonas blinked rapidly. “Are you sure about that, Rora?”

I nodded. “How bad can it be?”

He stared at me for a long moment before rubbing a hand over his face.

“Worse than you think.”

“Worse how?”

“Worse that you’ll be working hand in hand with Spencer.”

The small smile on my face disappeared instantly.

My eyes snapped back to my father. “What is he talking about?”

Dad folded his hands on the table.

“Spencer is the only reason that business is still breathing,” he explained. “He invested heavily to keep it alive. At this point, it is fair to say he is Wells Logistics’ biggest investor.”

Every word made the knot in my stomach tighten.

“And for that reason,” he continued, “you can also say he has the final decision-making power. You will need his approval for practically everything.”

I stared at him.

“He is my ex,” I deadpanned.

Dad didn’t look the least bit moved.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he rebuffed.

I opened my mouth, but he continued before I could speak.

“Besides, Spencer is a good businessman.”

Jonas scoffed under his breath.

“And the best coach you can get,” Dad finished. “Whether you like it or not, you’ll learn a lot from him.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me.

I had run away from one ex-husband…

Only to come home and find myself working under another ex.