The cold bedroom floor seemed to pierce right through to Aurora's bones, yet that chill was nothing compared to the emptiness crushing her chest. Richard stepped out of the bathroom with a black silk kimono loosely draped over his body. His hair was still wet, leaving traces of hot steam rising from his skin. He knelt in front of Aurora, looking at her face, which was now swollen and flushed.Richard's large, warm hand reached up, brushing away the traces of tears on Aurora's cheek with his rough thumb. "Why is my wild girl crying? Hmm?" he asked in a low, soothing voice. "Does it hurt badly?"Aurora could only give a small, stiff nod. Her mind was screaming. *Yes, it hurts, Richard. But not there—it is my heart that has already rotted because of this lie,* she wailed inwardly. She could not bear to look at the spark of sincerity in Richard’s eyes, as he assumed her tears were the fears of an innocent girl about to surrender her crown.Richard sighed, his fingers now stroking Aurora's
Read more