Ch. 101..105: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 101-105
Chapter 101: Aurora Learns the Bitter Truth
Aurora and Xander showered together, got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast together. As soon as breakfast was over, Xander turned to her.
"Sweetheart, I have something important to speak to you about. Do you mind joining me in my study?"
Aurora held his gaze for a moment as she put the napkin down on the table. Gauging his facial expression, she understood it was a serious matter he wanted to talk about and slowly nodded.
"That’s okay. We can go now," she said to him, wondering what it was. She was done with receiving enough bad news and just wanted to live the rest of her life in peace.
Xander instructed Nene to bring tea for them before leading the way to his study. He gestured for Aurora to sit with him on the two-sitter couch in the sitting area and waited until Nene had served them some tea and left.
"Sweetheart, I know this conversation is going to bring back painful locked-up memories, but believe me it’s better you know about this," Xander said, meeting Aurora’s gaze.
Aurora nimbly grabbed her teacup and took a sip before putting it down. "I doubt I’m going to like what you are about to tell me, but since you put it this way, let’s hear it."
Xander paused for a moment before revealing, "I think your stepmother might know the identity of your biological father." Meeting her slightly furrowed brows, he added, "I thought about this for a while before coming to this conclusion."
Aurora inquired, feeling a stir within her, "And what makes you think so?" It’s not like she didn’t trust Xander, rather she was interested in knowing the details that led to this conclusion.
"Weeks back, you mentioned that you were that waiter’s target, so while wondering why a random person would want you dead, I made some investigations and learned something more about it that you wouldn’t want to know," he said, peering into her eyes. "I discovered that you were actually his target and that someone had paid him to have you killed."
Instantly, the light in Aurora’s eyes dimmed. The teacup in her hands shook, so she slowly put it down on the table. In her heart, she could already tell where this conversation was going, but she just didn’t want to believe it.
Xander waited and watched patiently as Aurora took in and released deep breaths. He knew that she had already understood the rest of the story and wasn’t taking it lightly.
"Let me guess, Stella wanted me dead and contracted that waiter to get the job done but my father saved me and died in my stead. Is that it?" Aurora inquired with a shaky breath.
Xander slowly nodded, watching her eyes turn teary. "She didn’t want you learning about your biological father and from the look of things, he is someone with a high profile."
As Aurora listened to Xander speak, she couldn’t help recalling the scene where Stella had accused her of killing her father, and also when she denied knowing her biological father’s identity, claiming that she would have sent her away if she knew who he was.
Aurora sank into a deep thought and began to understand a lot of things as more scenes from the past began to replay in her mind. She remembered how Stella suddenly appeared and took her father away right as he was about to mention her biological father’s name to her.
She had thought it was pure coincidence but realizing now that it was a deliberate act shattered her heart into a million pieces.
"I can now see why she never revealed that I wasn’t my Dad’s biological daughter," Aurora said breathlessly. "And she continues to Hurd further information about my birth father. What did I ever do wrong to her?" she asked, meeting Xander’s gaze.
"You don’t have to offend her for her to treat you badly. Stella is threatened by your mere existence. As long as she didn’t give birth to you, and you continue to be a stumbling block to her daughter, she will continue to fight you," Xander sighed.
Aurora’s eyes burned with painful tears that begged to be released, but she refused to cry for anyone, especially Stella, so she tipped her head backwards to stop the tears from flowing.
Sniffing, she faced Xander and said, "Olivia might know about this too. I will ask them."
"Sweetheart, you know you will be asking those questions in vain. They would never tell you, not especially how far they had come. Your stepmother made a big mistake trying to get rid of you, do you think she will give up on her plots now?"
Xander went on to reveal how Stella got rid of the waiter and how she’s using Victor, the playboy to keep an eye on her.
"Victor’s be the one sending those bouquets to you every Wednesday. He did it out of his own will but after finding out, Stella wants him to continue, and also find the one that saved you from his hands that night."
Xander also reveals every necessary information about Victor, including the fact that he is now working for them.
"So, Stella knows you were the man from that night?" Aurora inquired. "I didn’t realize she was after you."
Xander reclined in his seat. "She is interested in everyone around you."
Aurora was quiet for a while. She thought for a bit and wiped her tears with the back of her hands before adjusting her sitting position.
"Xander, how do I get the information I need? I can’t take this lying down after knowing that my Dad died because of that woman. I want to know who my biological father is and make Stella pay for her crimes."
"Rest assured that Stella will surely pay for all her crimes, but she is not as easy to deal with as I thought. Left for me, I would have dealt with her my own way but knowing that you would want her to face justice in court, I started investigating the waiter to see if he left some kind of evidence behind that links her to your father’s murder," Xander explained.
Aurora nodded at that and inquired about sounding Olivia out.
"Stella might be difficult to handle, but Olivia is an easy bait. I can try to sound her out, maybe she might say something about my biological father."
Xander smiled meaningfully and leaned in to say, "I have a way to do that."
Chapter 102: Staying Out All Night
"I learnt that your sister has been asking about you," Xander suddenly said as he picked up his teacup along with the saucer, relieved that they were long past the grieving section.
"Me?" Aurora squinted her eyes as she watched him drink his tea expressionlessly before setting the cup down.
Xander nodded in response. "Yes. She wants to meet Alexander Scott’s wife, and has been asking about her." He said, the corner of his lifting into a smirk. "Let’s see what she’s up to."
Aurora shifted out of her seat, seemingly interested in the conversation. "What are you planning?"
"My wife will throw a masquerade ball party and invite them," Xander revealed. "Your real identity won’t be revealed, so let’s see why your sister is looking for you. From their reactions and actions, we will know the next step to take."
Aurora shook her head. "Xander, this is crazy. Olivia and Stella have known me all my life. They will immediately guess I’m the one behind the mask."
"Not if we plan it well," Xander said, staring into her eyes without an opportunity to be refuted.
---
Some minutes later, Aurora and Xander relocated to the living area and invited Nene to their conversation.
Xander informed Nene all about the masquerade ball party that would be held next weekend and the hidden concept and immediately, they began to work towards it.
"I will meet the party planner this afternoon but for now, we can curate the guest list," Nene said before fixing her gaze on Aurora. "Ma’am, are there some names you would like to add to the list?"
"I want my best friend invited, but as Aurora’s best friend, Stella and Olivia will find it weird if she comes, so let Mr. Moore come with her as his plus one if he doesn’t mind," Aurora said, shifting her gaze to Xander.
A small smile appeared on his lips. "I will speak to Asher." Aurora nodded with a smile. "Thank you,"
Xander mentioned to Nene about changing Aurora’s style and aura which might be a little challenging. And to Aurora’s surprise, she learned that her scent, gestures, style of dressing and a few other things about her would be changed.
"You are really going all out for this aren’t you?" she questioned Xander.
Xander shrugged. "Well, your stepmother isn’t the only one who knows how to play games. I know how to do that, but the only difference is that I’m more professional and I plan things down to the smallest detail."
Aurora spent a few hours with Nene deciding on a few things concerning the party. Towards evening, her stylist came over to talk about her looks for the party. Since Aurora would have to change her style entirely, a list of the few reputable brands was made.
In the end, she ended up choosing to wear Amani dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Cartier jewellery pieces.
---
The next morning after the guest list had been curated, Aurora went over them before approving for them to be printed and sent out.
While Aurora was having a good time with the party plans and enjoying her peaceful home, Olivia was somewhere in the Scott family’s residence, fuming as her mother-in-law asked about Owen at the breakfast table.
"Child, where is your husband?" Patricia asked as she used her cutlery to cut a piece from the toasted bread smeared with blueberry jam on her plate.
Olivia had just picked up a waffle from her plate and was about taking a bit from it when that question was suddenly thrown at her. Instantly, her gaze darkened. She paused for a moment before replying, "I don’t know."
"You don’t know?" Patricia’s brows furrowed, not expecting that response.
Olivia took two bites from her waffles and met Patricia’s questioning gaze. "I had dinner in my room and slept immediately after. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t see him on the other side of the bed, so I’m assuming he didn’t come home last night."
"Your husband didn’t come home last night and you are so comfortable having breakfast without trying to find out what happened?" Patricia raised a questioning brow, her mood darkening along with it.
She was dissatisfied with Olivia’s laze affair attitude and couldn’t help showing her reaction.
On the other hand, Olivia was annoyed at Patricia for her reaction. Was she expecting her to keep tabs on a grown-ass man who had a family and wouldn’t inform them of his whereabouts, especially if he was staying out late?
"Aunty, Owen should have informed me if he wasn’t going to come home last night if he had an ounce of respect left for me, but he didn’t. This isn’t his first time doing this, but I’m expected to wait on him and condone his bad behaviour," Olivia sneered.
Almost immediately, Patricia put her hand up to stop her from continuing. "Don’t complain about your husband to me. You kept quiet all these while, so I didn’t interfere. Now, after breakfast, you will call your husband and find out where he is. I will be waiting for a feedback."
Olivia lost her appetite and excused herself. As soon as she got to the bedroom she shared with Owen, she slammed the door shut, seething in rage.
"You can’t even raise your son properly, but I’m expected to put up with his nonsense behaviour!" she said, staring angrily at the door. The next moment, she walked to the bed and grabbed her phone. Finding Owen’s contact, she dialled it.
The phone rang a few times before disconnecting, so she tried it again. This time around, it connected at the third ring.
Olivia placed the phone on her ear and was about to give Owen an earful when she heard a woman’s voice at the other end.
"Hello?" the woman’s soft voice greeted.
Olivia’s gaze darkened immediately as her tone turned sour. "Who are you and where is Owen?"
"I’m no one interesting. Owen is in the shower. I can pass your message to him if you’d like," the woman said, her tone casual, much to Olivia’s fury.
Chapter 103: He Simply Didn’t Care
"Are you crazy?!" Olivia barked, totally losing her cool. "What are you doing with my husband?"
There was a pause at the other end as the woman waited for Olivia to finish reigning down the insults on her before she finally spoke.
"Please, don’t insult me. If you want to know what I’m doing with your husband, ask him yourself."
Olivia scoffed in disbelief at the audacity the other woman had to respond to her so confidently. Her chest rose and fell rapidly and for almost a minute, her mouth couldn’t form any words. But finally, when she was ready to speak, she overheard the conversation between Owen and the other woman he was it.
Mistress: "Babe, I think you should come and take this call."
Owen: "What’s the caller ID?"
Mistress: "The number is not saved, but the woman claims to be your wife."
Owen: "Drop the call. I will meet her when I get back home."
Olivia couldn’t believe her ears as the call dropped in her ears. She was more shocked at the conversation she just overheard and what she learnt.
Owen had unsaved her contact, and he was currently with his mistress not only that, he disrespected her in front of the other woman by telling her to drop the call without showing any feelings of remorse or any other significant emotion apart from indifference.
Olivia slowly sank into her bed as the shock from what she just experienced clouded her mind. It’s not like she didn’t know Owen was cheating on her since their marriage ended before it even began, she was only shocked by his shameless and inconsiderate actions and how little he made her look in his mistress’s eyes.
"That bastard!" Olivia cursed, clenching her fists as the rims of her eyes turned red. She felt a painful pang in her heart as one of her hands slowly moved up to rub her belly.
---
Owen returned home in the afternoon, looking to be in a good mood but just as he stepped foot into the sitting room, his mother called for him.
"You didn’t come home last night and you didn’t inform your wife about it. Where were you?" Patricia asked, lifting her gaze from the invitation card in her hands.
"I was out hanging out with my friends and I forgot to inform her even though it’s not like she would care to know anyway," Owen shrugged, a stubborn frown etched deep in his brows.
Patricia closed the invitation card and uncrossed her legs, her gaze turning serious. "Owen, you are now a family man who has responsibilities and should be accountable to his wife. Might I remind you that are no longer single and there are some situations you should never be caught in. I hope what happened yesterday doesn’t repeat itself."
Owen heaved a sigh. The only thing he understood from his mother’s admonishment was that he should always inform his wife whenever he wouldn’t be able to make it home, so he easily agreed with her.
"Your uncle, Xander sent this invitation. His wife is throwing a masquerade ball party this Saturday. Seems like he is finally ready to introduce her to everyone," Patricia said, passing the invitation to him without an expression on her face.
Owen took the card from her and glanced at the details in it before a smile resumed on his lips. "Finally, I will get to meet this young Aunt of mine."
"Tell Olivia to come down to have her measurements taken for her outfit to the party," Patricia instructed.
Owen passed the invitation card back to her and went upstairs excitedly. When he came up to his bedroom, he met Olivia sitting in front of her dresser, putting makeup on her face.
She glanced at him through the mirror and looked away, carrying on with her activity, so he had no choice but to break the silence.
"My uncle is throwing a masquerade ball to finally introduce his wife to the society, and my Mum wants to go downstairs to have your measurements taken for an outfit."
Olivia’s hands paused in mid-air as soon as she heard that. Finally, she was going to meet Xander Scott’s wife after a month of being married into the Scott family. But she hid the excitement she felt, refusing to give Owen the reaction he wanted.
"You finally remembered you have a pregnant wife and left your mistress to come back home," she said to him.
"Don’t act like you are not aware that I don’t care about you," Owen stated as he worked on his shirt buttons. "You also shouldn’t concern yourself with my affairs and next time, I will inform you if I can’t make it back home."
"Like I give a fuck about that!" Olivia sprang up from the stool and turned to face him with a glare. "You feel you can do whatever you want and get away with it while I watch, but believe me, you will lose your mind when I get started with my revenge."
Owen glanced at her with a small smirk as he took off his shirt. "I’m not holding you, or am I?"
Olivia felt like slapping the smirk off his face. Her chest burned with anger as she watched his careless attitude. He didn’t even care about her or her emotions, and she could no longer stand it.
As soon as Olivia got some time alone, she picked up her phone to call her mother and after two rings, the call connected. Immediately, she heard her voice on the phone, she started complaining about Owen.
"Mum, I know he doesn’t love me anymore, but what about the child? He has never talked about taking me to the hospital or asking how his child is doing. Owen doesn’t care about me and the people associated with me!"
"Who told you he doesn’t care about you? He is only after getting back at you, maybe if you show him the value of his son which you are carrying, you will get his attention back," Stella replied confidently.
Olivia was too infuriated by her response and didn’t want to continue the conversation, so she mentioned the invitation to her.
"Finally, I will get to meet Mr. Xander’s wife this Saturday. Would you be able to make it?"
"This is good. Finally, we have some progress on that end." Stella smiled, her eyes lighting up like a mega-watt bulb. "I haven’t gotten an invitation yet, but let us hope that I do."
Chapter 104: Taking Her for A Fool
Stella finished her conversation with Olivia, went downstairs to have some tea, read her magazine, and almost bumped into Stephanie.
"I was just coming up to you now," Stephanie said, presenting the invitation carefully to her just as she was about to ask why she was looking for him rudely.
"What invitation is that?" Stella inquired, her eyes sharp.
"Alexander Scott’s invited the Swift family to a masquerade ball he’s throwing for his wife this Saturday," Stephanie said, presenting the invitation card to her.
Almost immediately, Stella snatched and read through its content. Her face contoured in a smile as soon as she finished reading it. She handed the invitation back and said happily, "This is a good thing."
Stephanie didn’t say anything in return and turned to walk away, but she stopped her.
"Don’t let Aurora know about this invitation. I suspect that she is Mr. Scott’s mistress. After all, we can’t afford for a member of our prestigious family to offend his wife."
Stephanie heard her instruction and turned to face her. "Aurora seems to be on very good terms with this Mr. Scott. I’m sure that he would invite her if we don’t." As soon as she finished saying her piece, she turned and left.
Stella released a deep breath while thinking that Aurora shouldn’t be present at that party where she and her daughter would try to establish a relationship with Xander’s wife and ruin her reputation.
---
Xander’s Residence.
Xander stepped out of his study with his phone placed on his ear and one hand in his pants pocket.
"Where is my wife?" he asked the house help he met in the hallway and immediately, he was told that Aurora was in the sitting room with Nene, so he went there.
As soon as he walked into the sitting room, he said to Aurora with a smile, "Sweetheart, Asher wants to speak to you."
"Oh..." Aurora drawled, lifting her gaze with a smear of confusion in her brows. Xander handed the phone to her and sat next to her as Nene stepped back.
"Hello, Mr. Moore," Aurora greeted enthusiastically.
"Good evening, Mrs. Scott, it’s Asher," Asher reintroduced himself before letting out a chuckle, and only then did Aurora understand what he did.
A smile that her eyes turned up on her lips as she said into the phone, "My bad. How is it going, Asher?"
"Great. Thanks for asking," Asher replied. "I got your invitation for the masquerade ball. I will be there, but your husband said something regarding your best friend. I wanted to confirm it."
Aurora didn’t need any more proof to know how reluctant Asher was about speaking to Abigail, talk more of taking her to her party as his plus one, but she needed his help, and she had to convince him.
"Everything Xander said is correct. I really need your help with this one. I promise that my reasons are genuine and I have nothing cooking behind your back. If you don’t have a girlfriend or a partner, please do this for me," she requested, sounding a bit desperate.
Xander watched Aurora from the side and shook his head. He can already see his best friend agreeing to her request even though he had refused him earlier.
He didn’t know if it was just Aurora or women in general, but his wife knew how to ask for something and get it. If he didn’t know any better, he would have tagged her as an emotional manipulator.
"All right, I will do this for you because you asked, but be aware that your girlfriend is going to think otherwise and I wouldn’t want that," Asher said, finally giving in, but he couldn’t help growing weak at the knees at the thought of Abigail’s arrogance when she sees his call. It irked him badly.
"I will speak to her," Aurora promised, sounding excited to show her appreciation. "And thank you for doing this for me."
"You’re welcome." Asher sighed.
Aurora handed the phone back to Xander and leaned in to accept the soft kiss he placed on her cheek before watching him leave. Then she turned her gaze to Nene
"When will the outfits get to me?" she inquired.
"Tomorrow," Nene answered. "You will try the full outfit along with the masks to see which one fits. We will also work on your poise from tomorrow."
~***~
MONDAY.
The next day, Aurora showed up at work on time and reviewed the market data analysis for her champagne with her team.
"Keep these results hidden until the last day," she instructed her team members before dismissing the meeting.
The stability of the sales was doing a lot more than she bargained for, and that was enough to put a smile on her face for the entire day until Olivia showed up in her office with a cocky smile during lunch break.
"Sister, you seem unhappy to see me," Olivia said as she picked a set for herself and settled down with a confident look on her face.
"Is there anything good your presence brings?" Aurora retorted with a small glare. "I don’t know why you can’t sit in your office for an entire week without coming to mine. Perhaps, did you leave something behind that is always attracting you?"
Olivia took no offence with her comments and leaned into the table. "You are my sister, of course, we should see each other often, and I don’t mind making the sacrifices since you obviously don’t care."
"Cut the crap and tell me why you are here," Aurora said, sounding uninterested.
"I guess you haven’t heard, but Owen’s uncle, Xander is throwing a masquerade-themed ball for his wife and a lot of influential people were invited including me."
Instantly, Aurora’s brows furrowed. "Where did you hear this one from?" she asked, looking curious and pretending to be surprised as if she wasn’t the one who approved her invitation.
"I guess you haven’t heard of it." Like a doll being controlled, Olivia rose to her feet with a triumphant smile while exuding arrogance. "It seems like Mr. Scott values his wife and only sees you as a plaything since you don’t know about this party."
Aurora’s gaze moved from Olivia’s head to her knees and then back to her face before scoffing, "Just the way your husband sees you."
Instantly, Olivia clenched her fists as the light on her eyes dimmed.
Chapter 105: A Little Surprise
Asher had been mulling over ways to contact Abigail all day, but every scenario he imagined ended in her sharp retorts. Finally, with no better option, he decided to call her after work.
Meanwhile, Abigail was curled up on her couch, enjoying a lighthearted comedy show. When her phone buzzed and Asher’s name lit up the screen, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly grabbed the remote, muted the TV, and answered the call.
"Hello, Mr. Moore," she greeted, her voice tinged with curiosity and urgency.
"Hello, Miss Miller. I hope I’m not disturbing your peace?" Asher replied, his tone polite but carefully measured.
"No, you’re not," Abigail said quickly, but suspicion crept into her voice. "Is Aurora, okay?"
Asher frowned lightly, caught off guard by her question. "Um... yes, your best friend is perfectly fine. Why would you think otherwise?"
Abigail let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against her couch. "Well, you only call me when there’s bad news, so forgive me for being cautious," she said with just a hint of sass.
Asher’s lips twitched into a faint, frustrated smile. "Fair point, but no bad news today, I promise. Actually, I called because Aurora asked me to take you as my plus one to her masquerade ball this Saturday."
Abigail raised an eyebrow and stretched her legs across the couch. "She didn’t mention that to me. Is this some sort of matchmaking attempt? Because if it is, it’s not going to work."
Asher rubbed the bridge of his nose, already regretting the call. "I think you should ask Aurora about her plans," he said wearily. "I’ll pick you up at your doorstep at 7 PM on Saturday. Have a good evening."
Before Abigail could respond, the line went dead. She stared at her phone in disbelief. "Wow! He couldn’t even last five minutes in a conversation with me." Shaking her head, she tossed her phone onto the couch and grabbed the remote.
"I was just starting to have fun," she muttered, turning the volume back up on her comedy show.
---
Xander’s Residence.
Aurora returned home looking drained. Her steps were slow and uneven as she pressed her palm against her temple, trying to ease the pounding in her head.
Nene spotted her immediately. An alarm flickered in her eyes. "Ma’am, are you having headaches again?" she asked, rushing to take Aurora’s bag.
"Yes," Aurora murmured, her tone barely above a whisper. Her usually bright eyes were dull, and she leaned slightly against the wall for support.
Nene quickly took her arm, guiding her toward the living area. "I’ll prepare some peppermint tea for you right away. Please, just rest for a moment."
Aurora collapsed onto the couch, sighing deeply as Nene hurried off. Moments later, her phone buzzed. It was Abigail.
"Aura, what’s this about me being Asher’s plus one to the masquerade ball?" Abigail asked without missing a beat.
Aurora rubbed her temple. "I’m sorry, Abby. It slipped my mind to explain." She took a slow breath, then continued. "The ball is a chance to sound out Olivia and Stella about my biological father while keeping my identity under wraps as they might know about it. I want you at my party, but your presence might blow my cover, so I need Asher to bring you."
Abigail hummed thoughtfully. "I thought you had a different plan in mind."
Aurora chuckled softly but winced immediately. "Abby, I’ll explain more later. I need to rest. I have a migraine."
"All right, but don’t forget to take something for it. You’ll feel better," Abigail replied, her concern evident.
After the call, Nene returned with a steaming cup of peppermint tea. "Here, ma’am. This should help."
"Thank you, Nene," Aurora whispered, cradling the warm cup in her hands.
As she sipped, Nene stood behind her, gently massaging her temples. "Would you like a bath after this, ma’am?"
Aurora nodded. "A cold shower will do."
By the time Xander arrived home, Aurora was seated at the dining table, the headache dulling thanks to Nene’s care. They shared dinner together, catching up on their day.
"I have a little surprise for you for the masquerade ball," Xander said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Aurora’s brows shot up. "What kind of surprise?"
"You’ll see after dinner," he teased with a grin.
The anticipation made Aurora rush through her meal. Xander led her to his study and handed her a flat box. She opened it eagerly, only to find a skin-like face mask.
She blinked at him. "A mask?"
"Not just any mask," Xander said, his grin widening. "It’ll ensure no one recognizes you. Perfect for blending in."
Aurora’s lips quirked into a smile. "You always think of everything, don’t you?"
"Always," he replied, pulling her into a gentle kiss.
Aurora withdrew slightly, her gaze fixed on the skin-like mask in her hands. Her curiosity flickered across her face as she tilted her head, studying it intently. A second later, her eyes lifted to meet Xander’s. "Where did you even get the idea for this? Do you use it for... your secret missions?"
At her question, Xander’s posture stiffened ever so slightly. He stood up, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Something like that," he said in a roundabout manner, before quickly shifting the conversation. "You’ll need to try this on once your outfit for the ball arrives."
Aurora raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying his deflection, but she let it slide. Shaking her head, she glanced back at the mask. "Honestly, I thought this wasn’t necessary. It’s a masquerade ball—everyone’s going to be wearing masks."
Xander leaned against the desk, his arms crossed loosely as he watched her. "True, but everyone will end up taking off their masks for dinner. That’s when the skin mask becomes necessary."
Aurora’s eyes widened, her surprise evident. "Wait, they take off their masks? I didn’t know that."
"That’s the tradition," Xander explained, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "It’s to allow guests to engage with each other openly during dinner. The masks are only for the initial grand entrance and the mingling."
Aurora nodded slowly, the reasoning sinking in. It explained why he had gone to the trouble of arranging such an elaborate disguise.
As Xander reached out and closed the box, gently taking it from her hands, Aurora looked up at him with a faint crease of worry forming on her brow.
"But what about after the ball? How are we going to explain this to everyone when you finally reveal my identity as your wife? Won’t showing up with a fake face seem like we were deliberately deceiving the public?"
Her voice carried genuine concern, and Xander caught the flicker of unease in her expression. Setting the box aside, he leaned down, pulling her gently into his arms. His lips brushed hers in a quick reassuring kiss before he pulled back to meet her eyes.
"I’ve already thought about that," he said, his voice low and soothing. "When the time comes, I’ll tell them it was all part of the thrill and mystique of the masquerade theme. No one will bat an eye. It’s not like you will ever have to show up in front of them again wearing the mask."
Aurora studied his face, still not entirely convinced but feeling the edges of her worry soften under his steady gaze. "It’s just for Saturday," he added, his fingers lightly brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.
Finally, Aurora exhaled, leaning into his touch as a small smile tugged at her lips. "You always have a way of easing my mind, don’t you?"
"Always," Xander replied with a faint smirk, his eyes warm.
---
Xander held Aurora’s hand as they left his study, the hallway lights casting soft shadows around them. "Nene mentioned you had migraines earlier. How are you feeling?" he asked, concern evident in his gaze.
"I’m better now," Aurora replied with a faint smile. "Two cups of peppermint tea and a temple massage did the trick."
Xander’s expression remained tense despite her words. As they rounded a corner, he asked softly, "How’s the healing coming? Your doctor scheduled a session for tomorrow, but I might not make it."
Aurora’s steps faltered slightly at his mention of her therapy, but she recovered quickly, squeezing his hand. She had been dealing with a heavy psychological toll ever since her father’s death—the horrific memories and the traumatic circumstances surrounding it.
She had developed an aversion to the sound of gunfire, recoiling even at the distant crack of it in movies. Action films, especially those involving guns, became unbearable. They triggered panic attacks that left her breathless and trembling, and her inability to sleep soundly often led to stubborn, pounding migraines.
Xander had recognized the signs and insisted she see a psychologist. Though she was hesitant at first, she’d come to appreciate the sessions. Slowly but surely, she was making progress.
"I’m all good," Aurora said softly, breaking the silence between them. Her smile returned, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I just need a little more time. Once the migraines stop completely, I’ll feel like myself again."
Xander stopped, his steady gaze meeting hers. "The migraines will end soon," he said with quiet resolve before brushing his lips against her forehead, the tender gesture easing the heaviness in her heart.
"Thank you, Xander," Aurora whispered.
"You don’t have to thank me," he replied, guiding her forward again. "We’ll get through this together."
Aurora smiled faintly, finding comfort in his words and his unwavering presence.