Ch. 241..245: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 241-245
Chapter 241: Ready for Clubbing
The scent of braised pork and honey-glazed ribs filled the dining area as Aurora and Abigail enjoyed their dinner together. The ambiance was peaceful, the occasional clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates breaking the silence.
Then, just as Aurora took another bite of her meal, Abigail dropped the bombshell.
"I’m going clubbing tonight," she announced casually, stuffing two pieces of braised pork into her mouth.
Aurora blinked, fork suspended mid-air. "What?"
Abigail swallowed, looking at her with an arched brow. "Aura, today is Friday. You don’t expect me to stay home when I’m not buried in work."
Aurora narrowed her eyes. "I thought you came to spend the weekend with me?"
"I did," Abigail nodded, flashing her a sweet smile. "And that’s why we’re going together."
Aurora nearly choked on her water. "You want to take me—a pregnant woman—to the club?"
"What’s wrong with that?" Abigail questioned, stuffing another bite into her mouth like she had just suggested something as simple as going for an evening stroll.
Aurora set her fork down. "I’m not going anywhere with you. Good luck partying all night."
Abigail groaned dramatically. "Come on, Aura! We’re not going to party; we’re just going to get some fresh air. We’ll have our own private booth, no one will disturb us, and I promise to protect you because I don’t want your husband to break my legs."
Aurora remained unimpressed. "Still no."
"Mrs. Scott," Abigail pouted, her hands clasped together as she leaned closer. "Please? Just this once?"
Aurora sighed heavily, her resolve beginning to crack. "Fine," she finally said, lifting a finger, "but only if my husband approves."
Abigail groaned, but she knew there was no winning against that condition.
Midway through their meal, Aurora picked up her phone and typed a message to Xander.
Aurora:Abby wants to take me to the club tonight. What do you think?
Two minutes later, Xander’s reply came.
Xander:If you want to go, take Asher and three bodyguards with you. That’s the only way I’ll approve.
Aurora stared at the message, slightly surprised. She had expected him to shut the idea down immediately. Especially, since she was pregnant.
Abigail, seeing the reaction on her face, leaned in. "Well? What did he say?"
Aurora turned to her. "He said I can go, but only if we take Asher and three bodyguards with us."
Abigail clapped her hands together, grinning. "Perfect! That’s not a problem at all. I’ll call Asher right now."
As Aurora was replying to Xander with an "okay," Abigail had already whipped out her phone and shifted away to start dialling Asher’s number.
A few moments later, Abigail returned to the dining table, beaming. "Asher will pick us up at 7 PM."
She rubbed her hands excitedly. "Aura, you’re going to love this night out."
Aurora rolled her eyes. "I hope so," she said, though doubting it.
---
Two hours later, both women stood in front of Aurora’s walk-in closet, a serious disagreement unfolding.
"I refuse to let you wear any of these boring knee-length dresses to a club," Abigail declared, arms folded in protest.
Aurora, on the other hand, pointed at three different outfits in her wardrobe. "These are perfectly fine for a club," she countered.
Abigail scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. "Aura, you’re dressing like you’re going to an evening dinner, not a club. I should just lend you one of my dresses—"
"No," Aurora cut her off immediately. "You know we don’t have the same taste in clothes. Besides, if I even dare wear one of your skimpy outfits, Xander won’t let me take an inch out of this house tonight."
Abigail sighed in frustration. "Ugh, fine." She rummaged through the wardrobe one last time and finally pulled out a sleek black sleeveless body-hug dress that stopped just above Aurora’s knees.
"This," Abigail said through gritted teeth, "is the only acceptable option from your conservative collection."
Aurora smiled in triumph, taking the dress from her. "I knew I had something suitable."
Abigail rolled her eyes before moving to the jewelry section, selecting a few simple gold pieces. Then, she picked a pair of matching heels and a shoulder bag.
"Alright, now that your look is sorted, it’s finally my turn to get ready," Abigail announced, stretching. "I’ll be back to do your makeup after I’m done with mine."
"No need," Aurora waved her off. "I’ll handle it myself. I have another dressing room downstairs. There are many makeup products there."
Abigail’s eyes widened in betrayal. "You’ve had a massive dressing room downstairs this whole time and didn’t tell me?!"
Aurora chuckled. "Now you know."
Abigail huffed dramatically before dashing out.
---
At exactly 6:50 PM, Asher arrived at Xander’s residence. Dressed in a crisp black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark jeans, and sleeked-back hair, he exuded effortless charm.
Leaning against his car, he glanced at his wristwatch before lifting his head. That’s when he saw them stepping out of the house.
Aurora looked elegant in her black dress—a safe, yet flattering choice. Meanwhile, Abigail looked wild in a hot pink skimpy dress that barely covered her thighs, with an exposed back and a dangerously plunging neckline.
Asher shook his head but quickly recovered, walking towards them.
He first greeted Aurora with a warm smile. "Congratulations on the baby, Aurora," he said, pulling her in for a light hug.
Aurora returned the gesture. "Thank you, Asher."
Then, turning to Abigail, Asher did not offer a hug. Instead, he stepped back and greeted her warmly. "Good to see you, Abby."
Abigail frowned. "Wait—so you hug Aura but not me?"
Asher stood in front of her with a smug smirk, hands casually tucked into his pockets. "I mean, look at your outfit. Where exactly am I supposed to place my hands?"
Aurora stifled a chuckle while Abigail rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered, grabbing Aurora’s hand and dragging her toward the car.
Asher smiled in amusement before quickly walking ahead to open the car door for them. After they settled inside, he shut the door, then got into the front passenger seat of the same car.
With five cars total—including the one carrying the trio—their convoy consisted of Asher and Xander’s assigned bodyguards.
As the vehicles pulled out of the driveway, Abigail turned to Aurora with a smirk. "I told you this would be fun."
Aurora shook her head, exhaling. "Let’s just hope you don’t get us into trouble tonight."
Abigail grinned mischievously. "No promises."
Aurora sighed.
What had she just gotten herself into?
Chapter 242: Running into Someone She Knew
Aurora, Abigail, and Asher had barely reached the VIP entrance of the exclusive club when they suddenly bumped into a group of men laughing loudly amongst themselves. Their conversation halted almost instantly, and the air around them grew tense.
Aurora’s gaze swept over the group and landed directly on him—Owen Scott.
His previous smirk vanished the second his eyes met hers. Silence hung thick in the air for a brief moment, charged with an unspoken history neither wanted to acknowledge.
However, Aurora felt nothing—not hatred, resentment, or even anger. There was no longer a reason to harbour emotions toward a man who had already buried himself in the wreckage of his own mistakes. Olivia had been the karma she didn’t even have to lift a finger for.
She didn’t need revenge—he was already living it.
Abigail, on the other hand, stiffened beside Aurora. She could tell Aurora was deep in thought, and the last thing she wanted was for this unexpected run-in to make her change her mind about going inside.
Clearing her throat, Abigail took a step forward, her voice sharp enough to break the awkward silence. "Owen, aren’t you going to greet your Aunt?"
Owen blinked at her, momentarily thrown off by the reminder that Aurora was now his uncle’s wife. A trace of hesitation crossed his face before he finally straightened his back and gave a reluctant bow.
Aurora didn’t acknowledge him. She simply turned her gaze away, lifted her chin, and walked into the club without sparing him another glance. Abigail, flashing Owen a mocking smirk, quickly followed behind her. The bodyguards trailed after them.
Owen exhaled sharply as he watched them disappear inside. His fists clenched at his sides, but he quickly masked his emotions before shifting his gaze to Asher.
"Mr. Moore," he greeted, this time with proper respect.
Asher studied him for a second before giving him a slight nod. "Owen." Then, without another word, he followed Aurora and Abigail into the club.
Owen stood frozen for a moment, jaw tightening before he turned back to his friends. The tension in his chest refused to ease.
---
Back in his private room, Owen sat slouched in his chair, fingers tapping restlessly against the glass of whiskey before him. His frown had yet to disappear as his friends kept talking about their encounter with Aurora.
"I still can’t believe it," one of them muttered, shaking his head. "You used to date her, and now you have to greet her like she’s royalty."
Another scoffed. "And she’s married to your uncle, of all people? Damn, man, that’s rough."
Owen’s grip on his glass tightened. The more they talked, the heavier the weight in his chest became. He grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured himself another drink, but before he could take a sip—
BANG!
The room jolted as Owen slammed his fist onto the table.
"Guys!" His voice was sharp, cutting through their murmurs. The room fell into silence as all eyes turned to him.
He inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm brewing inside him. "I didn’t come here to listen to any of this," he muttered, taking a long sip of his drink.
One of his friends raised a cautious brow. "Then what did you come here for?"
Owen exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "To think."
His friends exchanged glances before someone finally spoke. "Is this about the divorce battle with Olivia?"
Owen’s expression darkened instantly. He downed his whiskey in one gulp before slamming the glass back onto the table. "That woman is a damn swindler," he spat. "She’s demanding half of everything I own just because she claims I caused her mental stress."
"Nonsense!" One of his friends scoffed. "If anyone was stressed in that marriage, it was you, not her! You were never happy with her!"
The rest quickly jumped in. "She’s nothing but a manipulator."
"She’s just a pretty face with a rotten core."
"Don’t let her get a dime, Owen. She ruined your family name, dragged you through the mud—you owe her nothing."
Owen refilled his glass and sighed. "She lost it a long time ago. You guys wouldn’t believe what she did after disappearing for two days."
"What happened?" someone asked.
Owen smirked bitterly. "She came back, furious I had locked her out. She started breaking all the windows at my family’s house while screaming for me to come outside and face her."
Two of his friends gasped. "She’s mentally unstable," one whispered.
Owen nodded. "And I wasn’t about to put up with that anymore. I threw her out of the house that same night and sent her stuff back to the Swift residence the next morning."
Another friend leaned forward. "Didn’t she also go to your grandparents’ old house to cause trouble?"
Owen nodded, taking another sip. "She did. But she was driven away before she could embarrass herself further."
"You should bring this up in court," one suggested. "Your lawyer needs to use this against her."
Owen exhaled and nodded, though deep down, he knew Olivia was a viper who wouldn’t go down easily.
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted them. A second later, the door swung open, and a few more of Owen’s friends entered with loud greetings.
As the room filled with noise, someone leaned toward Owen. "By the way, is Juliet coming?"
"Yes." Owen glanced at his watch before nodding. "She might be running late because of traffic."
---
Meanwhile, at the west wing of the club, Aurora, Abigail, and Asher settled into their private room. Three bodyguards stood outside, ensuring no one disturbed them.
Inside, Abigail poured juice into a glass and handed it to Aurora.
"I was so afraid you’d change your mind about clubbing after running into Owen," she admitted. "Thank God you didn’t."
Aurora sighed, taking the glass. She didn’t have anything to say.
Asher smirked. "Why would she run from Owen? He should be the one uncomfortable, not her."
Abigail grinned. "That’s true." She poured herself a glass of whiskey, took a sip, then crossed her legs elegantly. "That cheating bastard should be the one scared of seeing Aurora instead."
Then Asher turned to Aurora. "You comfortable? Need anything?" Aurora shook her head. "I’m fine. Don’t worry."
"Let me know if you want something different from what we ordered," he said to her.
Aurora nodded, sipping her juice.
Just then, her phone chimed. She reached for her bag, pulled out her phone, and smiled instantly when she saw the sender.
Xander.
She opened the message and found his response to the outfit picture she had sent him earlier.
Xander:Beautiful. Just don’t drink.
Aurora chuckled and quickly typed back.
Aurora:I promise I won’t.
Then, an idea struck her. "Abby, Asher, let’s send Xander a video."
Abigail grinned. "Let’s do it!"
Asher chuckled but didn’t object.
Aurora turned on her camera, recorded a ten-second clip of them smiling, and then reviewed it before sending it to Xander.
A few seconds later, his reply came.
Xander:Eat whatever healthy thing you crave. Take care of yourself and the baby. Let me know when you get home.
Aurora’s heart warmed at his message. She typed back an ok with a smiling emoji before putting her phone away.
When she looked up, Abigail was already on her feet, an excited glint in her eyes.
"Oh no," Aurora muttered, already knowing what was coming next.
Abigail smirked. "It’s time to really enjoy the night."
Chapter 243: Giving Him a Lap Dance
"Abby, you only had one glass of whiskey, and it’s already time for you to whisk us away?" Aurora groaned, shaking her head.
Abigail giggled mischievously, grabbing the remote from the centre table and increasing the volume of the upbeat music playing through the sound system. The bass thumped through the room, shifting the atmosphere.
"It’s time to dance!" she declared, twirling around dramatically before rolling her hips to the rhythm.
Aurora and Asher exchanged quiet glances. Asher lifted his shoulders in a lazy shrug, clearly unbothered, while Aurora groaned again, sinking deeper into the plush couch.
"Abby, we came to relax remember, not attend a dance marathon," Aurora muttered.
Abigail ignored her and started swaying her hips, her movements fluid and captivating. She turned toward Aurora and pointed a perfectly manicured finger at her. "You, my dear best friend, need to loosen up. We are not at a funeral!"
Aurora lifted her brows. "Says the woman who just drank one glass and is already acting like she owns the club?"
Abigail scoffed and strutted toward her. "Don’t be a buzzkill, Aura! Let’s dance!"
Aurora lifted a hand in protest. "I’m feeling a little dizzy."
Abigail’s shoulders slumped. "Ugh! Fine. I’ll leave you alone—for now." Then she turned to Asher.
His lips parted slightly as he prepared an excuse, but before he could utter a single word, Abigail smirked and shook her head. "Nope. You have to dance with me."
Asher’s expression turned wary. "Abby—"
"No ’Abby’ me!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him up.
Aurora chuckled and mouthed a sorry to Asher, who sighed in resignation before flashing Aurora a quick smile. "It’s fine."
With no other option, Asher let Abigail lead him onto the dance floor. As the music pulsed, their movements started off casual—light sways, a little footwork. They occasionally picked up their whiskey glasses, taking sips in between steps. But as the music shifted to a slower, sultry beat, so did the mood.
Abigail’s dancing transformed. Her movements became more fluid, her body rolling to the rhythm as she traced her fingers lightly over Asher’s chest.
Aurora’s brows shot up. "Abby," she called warningly, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "Don’t play with fire."
Abigail chuckled and cast her a mischievous glance over her shoulder. "Where’s the fire in this room, Aura?"
Aurora said nothing, simply shaking her head as she picked up a skewer of lamb kebabs from the plate in front of her and took a bite, chewing slowly while sipping her juice. But her interest in the scene unfolding before her was undeniable.
As she watched, a thought formed in her mind. Does Abby have a thing for Asher or is this just a fling?
---
Loud laughter filled Owen’s private room as he and his friends drank whiskey and cracked jokes. A few women had joined them, their presence adding to the lively atmosphere.
Then the door opened, and in walked Juliet.
Dressed in a short red dress that hugged her curves, she was a vision of temptation. The moment Owen laid eyes on her, his mood visibly lifted. A smirk curved on his lips as he welcomed her with open arms.
"Finally," he muttered, pulling her into a tight hug before planting a kiss on her lips. "What took you so long?"
Juliet smiled sweetly and smoothed her hands down his chest. "Traffic was terrible, and the cab I booked took forever to arrive."
Owen hummed in understanding before pulling her to sit beside him. His arm draped possessively around her waist as he resumed talking with his friends.
Juliet greeted everyone politely, earning nods and smiles in return.
One of Owen’s friends smirked. "Man, you were sulking the whole time, and now you suddenly look like a man who just won the lottery."
Owen didn’t respond. He simply smiled and pulled Juliet closer.
Another friend chimed in, "Juliet is way better than the one we shall not name."
A round of snickers followed.
"We all know a certain someone who used to walk around like the air we breathed belonged to her."
"Thank God she’s no longer part of our circle."
With shared amusement, Owen and his friends clinked their glasses in a toast before downing their drinks.
Juliet, ever the attentive companion, refilled Owen’s glass with practiced ease. He finished that one within seconds. But just as she was about to pour him another drink, Owen took the bottle from her and poured a separate glass for her.
He slid it toward her. "Drink with me."
Juliet hesitated. "Owen...erm..."
His brows furrowed. "What?"
Juliet leaned into his embrace and placed a gentle hand on his chest. "I took some pills for a stomach ache before coming here. Alcohol wouldn’t be good for me."
The tension in Owen’s expression faded. He exhaled sharply and nodded. "Fine."
But to soothe his ego—especially in front of his friends—Juliet picked up the glass meant for her and brought it to Owen’s lips instead.
"Then let me feed you," she purred.
Owen smirked, clearly pleased, and took a long sip as Juliet tilted the glass for him.
His friends cheered and clapped, fuelling his pride.
Once he finished, Juliet set the glass aside and pressed closer. She whispered in his ear, "Are you coming to my place tonight? I missed you."
Owen hummed in response, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "Of course."
---
Back in the other private room, Aurora and Abigail sat close together, chatting and laughing at something ridiculous Abigail had said. Asher, now back on the couch, joined in with the occasional chuckle.
After a while, Abigail, having regained some energy, picked up her half-filled glass of whiskey and sauntered back to the open space, moving her hips to the music as she chewed a piece of meat.
Aurora and Asher remained seated, watching as she danced freely, her movements full of confidence.
"You’re a great dancer," Asher couldn’t help but compliment,
Abigail flashed him a playful grin. "I know."
Then, suddenly, the song changed. The new rhythm was deeper, sexier. Without hesitation, Abigail downed the rest of her whiskey, slammed the glass onto the table, and threw her hands into the air.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
Aurora sipped her juice, shaking her head fondly. "She’s hopeless."
Abigail turned toward Asher with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Then, to Aurora’s horror, Abigail backed into Asher’s lap and started giving him a lap dance.
Aurora’s jaw dropped. "Abby!" she gasped.
Asher, who had been caught completely off guard, sat frozen. His hands hovered awkwardly, unsure of where to place them.
Abigail, however, was having the time of her life. She smirked over her shoulder at him, rolling her hips as if she wasn’t just violating his personal space.
"I thought we came to have fun," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.
Aurora covered her face with one hand. "Oh. My. God."
Asher swallowed thickly, clearly torn between stopping her and not offending her. His gaze flickered to Aurora, silently screaming for help.
Aurora, between disbelief and laughter, knew one thing for sure—This night was far from over.
Chapter 244: Naughty Abigail
Aurora woke up to the soft rays of morning light peeking through the sheer curtains. Stretching her limbs, she sighed, already feeling the emptiness of Xander’s absence. She missed waking up to his warm presence beside her.
Shaking off the thought, she got out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she pulled on a pastel pink matching gym outfit, tied her hair into a loose ponytail, and slipped on her white running shoes.
A slow morning jog seemed like the perfect way to clear her mind.
Stepping outside, Aurora inhaled the fresh morning air as she started a light run around the estate, keeping her pace steady. The rhythmic pounding of her feet against the pavement grounded her thoughts.
When she finally returned, slightly breathless, Nene was already waiting for her at the entrance with a towel in hand.
"Good morning, Ma’am," Nene greeted, passing her the towel.
Aurora took it and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Morning, Nene."
Next, Nene handed her a glass of water. Aurora gulped it down in a few sips before sighing in satisfaction and handing the empty glass back.
"Has Abigail woken up yet?" Aurora asked.
"No, Ma’am. She’s still sleeping," Nene replied.
Aurora chuckled. "I expected that. She drank so much last night. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wakes up with a splitting headache."
Nene nodded knowingly.
"Give her some hangover pills when she wakes up," Aurora instructed before heading inside.
"Understood, Ma’am," Nene responded.
Aurora opted for a cool shower instead of a bath, letting the water wash away the remnants of her jog. Feeling refreshed, she threw on a white short shirt dress and styled her hair into a messy updo.
---
Sitting in the dining room, Aurora munched on a sandwich when a disoriented Abigail finally made her appearance.
"Morning," Abigail mumbled, rubbing her forehead as she dragged herself to the table.
"Morning," Aurora replied, eyeing her friend’s sluggish movements. "Head still aching?"
Abigail groaned, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Yes. But I just took some hangover pills your secretary offered me. Bless her soul."
Aurora shook her head and went back to eating. Then as Abigail sat down, she said, "I’m surprised you even managed to wake up this early after a long night despite being pregnant."
Aurora shrugged. "I’m not the one who drank alcohol and misbehaved last night."
Abigail narrowed her eyes, lifting the coffee cup to her lips. "Did I do anything crazy last night?"
Aurora arched a brow and set her sandwich down. "Are you asking about the 18+ rated remarks you made to Asher or the lap dance you gave him?"
Abigail nearly choked on her coffee. "What?! I did what?"
Aurora gave her a deadpan look. "Oh, you did much more than that."
Abigail’s mouth hung open in pure horror. "I... I don’t remember any of that!"
Aurora rolled her eyes. "Abby, you were literally doing him. You went from giving him a lap dance to literally fucking him through the clothes."
Abigail slapped a hand over her forehead. "Oh my God." She let out a long groan. "I must have been really high on something. Maybe... maybe blame it on my hormones. I was ovulating yesterday."
Aurora shook her head, unimpressed. "Don’t just sit there drinking coffee. Eat your sandwich and stop making excuses."
Still mortified, Abigail reluctantly picked up a sandwich and started eating. But after a few minutes, she cautiously asked, "How... how did Asher react to all that?"
Aurora smirked. "What else could the gentleman do other than politely stop you?"
Abigail groaned again, covering her face. "I need to apologize to him."
"You really do."
---
After breakfast, Abigail stretched lazily and sighed. "My body aches from all that dancing. I need a full-body massage."
Aurora took a sip of her juice before nodding. "That actually sounds nice. Let’s go to the spa in two hours."
Abigail clapped her hands excitedly. "Perfect."
Returning to her room, Abigail plopped onto the single couch and grabbed her phone. She scrolled through her contacts until she found Asher’s name.
With a deep breath, she typed:
"Good morning. Aurora just told me that I gave you a lap dance last night. I can’t recall any of it happening. I’m sorry."
A few minutes later, Asher replied.
"Good morning. I’m not surprised you don’t remember. You were pretty much out of it."
Abigail hesitated for a second before smirking to herself and typing:
"Did I leave you with a boner after the lap dance?"
Asher’s response was immediate. "Are you asking because you want to apologize for that as well?"
Abigail grinned mischievously and typed back: "No. It’s so that I can help you get off next time."
A pause. Then Asher replied: "There won’t be a next time."
Abigail smirked and typed her final message.
"We’ll see about that."
---
Aurora and Abigail arrived at the luxurious spa, accompanied by Nene and two bodyguards.
As usual, their contrasting fashion senses were evident—Aurora looked effortlessly elegant in a simple yet stylish outfit, while Abigail was overdressed, turning heads as she strutted inside.
At the front desk, the receptionist smiled warmly. "Will you be having separate rooms or a shared one?"
"One room, two beds," Abigail said immediately.
Aurora had no objections.
"Would you prefer a male or female masseuse?" the receptionist asked.
"A woman," Aurora answered.
"A man," Abigail countered.
Aurora turned to her sharply. "Abby."
"What?" Abigail crossed her arms. "I want a strong pair of hands to get rid of the knots in my body."
Aurora sighed. "I refuse to share a room with you if you’re getting a male masseuse."
Abigail pouted. "You’re no fun."
"Then book a separate room," Aurora stated firmly.
After a moment of stubborn silence, Abigail sighed dramatically. "Fine. A woman it is."
---
Minutes later, the two women lay on separate massage tables as skilled masseuses worked their magic with scented oils.
Aurora’s body quickly relaxed under the gentle pressure.
Abigail, however, attempted to strike up a conversation. "Aura, so about Asher—"
"She’s asleep," the masseuse whispered.
Abigail blinked. "Already? That was fast."
Rolling her eyes, Abigail settled into the silence, scrolling through Instagram to pass the time.
---
Twenty minutes later, Aurora stirred awake. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms. "I fell asleep?"
Abigail smirked. "Yep. I told them to let you rest."
Aurora sighed, rubbing her belly. "I didn’t realize pregnancy would make me this tired all the time."
Abigail softened. "Well, your body is growing another human. You deserve all the rest you can get."
Aurora smiled as she reached for her robe. "I guess I do."
Chapter 245: A Check-in at the Lingerie Store
As they stepped out of the spa, Abigail stretched her arms above her head and inhaled deeply. "Aura, since we’ve already come this far, let’s visit the beauty parlour too. We might as well get our hair washed and our nails done."
Aurora narrowed her eyes. "You just want an excuse to spend more time outside, don’t you?"
Abigail placed a hand on her chest dramatically. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing? This is self-care, my dear."
Aurora shook her head but ultimately gave in. "Fine. Let’s go."
Minutes later, they arrived at the upscale beauty parlour. Aurora opted to have her hair washed and straightened, while Abigail decided to do a perm.
As stylists worked on their hair, Abigail kept chatting about random topics—celebrity gossip, fashion trends, and even conspiracy theories about Tea Time Gossip’s anonymous writer. Aurora simply smiled and listened, occasionally chiming in.
After their hair was done, they moved on to manicures and pedicures. Aurora chose classic French tips, while Abigail went for acrylic long nails, requesting them to be trimmed slightly before getting them painted a deep shade of red.
"This colour screams powerful and irresistible," Abigail smirked, admiring her nails.
Aurora chuckled. "I thought you were aiming for wild and reckless."
"That too," Abigail winked.
---
As they exited the beauty parlour, Abigail turned to Aurora with a gleam in her eyes. "There’s a lingerie store two blocks away. I need to grab a few things."
Aurora sighed. "Do I really have to go?"
"Yes, you do," Abigail said, grabbing her wrist and dragging her along.
Their two cars trailed slowly behind them as they walked to the boutique.
Inside the store, Abigail dived straight into shopping mode, picking out different sets of lingerie while Aurora casually browsed through the racks without real interest.
Abigail turned to her and asked, "Aren’t you getting anything?"
Aurora shook her head. "I’m in my comfy era."
Abigail scoffed. "Comfy? Aurora, being pregnant doesn’t mean you stop looking sexy for your husband."
Aurora rolled her eyes. "Xander loves me whether I wear lingerie or a potato sack."
Abigail folded her arms and gave her a pointed look. "Sure, but men love it when their wives seduce them. You don’t want to let the fire die out, do you?"
Aurora’s cheeks burned slightly, and she glanced around nervously. "Abby, keep your voice down. We’re in public."
Abigail waved her off and continued picking out lingerie. Finally, she selected three different sets for Aurora despite her protests.
"I don’t need these," Aurora insisted as they walked to the cashier.
Abigail rolled her eyes. "Just take them. Trust me, you’ll thank me later."
---
As they exited the store, Aurora and Abigail bumped into Olivia and her friends.
Olivia pretended not to notice Aurora, but her three friends immediately rushed forward, all smiles.
"Mrs. Scott, it’s a pleasure to see you," Ella gushed.
"Mrs. Scott, you look stunning," Caro chimed in.
Aurora raised a brow, her gaze shifting between the three unfamiliar women. Sensing her confusion, one of them quickly introduced themselves.
"We’re Olivia’s friends."
At that, Olivia had no choice but to acknowledge Aurora. She approached them, a forced smile on her lips. "It’s good to bump into you," she said, though her tone lacked sincerity.
Abigail smirked. "You don’t look happy to bump into your stepsister."
Olivia’s jaw clenched. She forced a small laugh. "I’m just exhausted from walking around shopping with my friends."
Abigail scoffed but didn’t push further.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s friends fawned over Aurora, attempting to invite her to a private party the following weekend.
Aurora politely declined. "I appreciate the invitation, but that’s not really my kind of thing."
Olivia’s eyes darkened as she watched her friends practically grovel at Aurora’s feet. Abigail used the opportunity to grab Aurora’s arm. "Let’s go."
As they left, Olivia turned to her friends, arms folded. "Why were you inviting her to a party when I didn’t even know about it?"
Ella gave a small shrug. "You were going to hear about it one way or another."
Caro added, "We planned to tell you after we were done shopping."
Rita sighed, linking arms with Olivia. "Your stepsister is Mrs. Scott now. It’s good to stay connected to people like her. You can’t blame us for trying to invite her."
Olivia’s expression twisted in annoyance. She jerked her arm away from Rita. "Are you trying to remind me that I’m divorced, because I was once married into the Scott family?"
Her friends exchanged awkward glances. "No, of course not," Ella said quickly.
Olivia didn’t buy their excuses. With a scoff, she turned on her heels and walked away.
"Olivia, wait!" Caro called after her as they hurried to catch up.
---
Back in the car, Aurora leaned her head back against the seat. "I’m hungry and tired."
Abigail turned to her. "What do you want to eat?" She pulled out her phone, ready to search for a restaurant.
Aurora didn’t even hesitate. "Ice cream, beef burger, and chicken nuggets."
Abigail snorted. "Pregnancy cravings are real." She quickly found a café nearby that had everything Aurora wanted and instructed the chauffeur to take them there.
Three minutes later, they arrived at the cozy restaurant. Aurora and Abigail found a secluded table while Nene went to place their order.
When the food arrived, Aurora eagerly dug in. Abigail, ever the troublemaker, took two quick shots of her.
Aurora raised a brow. "What are you doing?"
Abigail grinned. "Sending these to your husband. He should know what his wife is eating."
Aurora chuckled. "He’s going to scold me for eating junk food."
Abigail shrugged. "Tell him the baby demanded it."
Aurora laughed. "You’re ridiculous."
"Just stating facts," Abigail said with a smirk.
Aurora took out her phone and sent Xander the pictures.
A minute later, his reply came.
Xander:Sweetheart, I thought we agreed on healthy food?
Aurora smiled mischievously and typed back.
Aurora:The baby wanted chicken nuggets. I had no choice.
A few seconds later, Xander’s response came.
Xander:You’re lucky I love you.
Aurora chuckled, feeling warmth spread through her chest.
Abigail leaned closer. "What did he say?"
Aurora smirked. "That I’m lucky he loves me."
Abigail rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you two are disgustingly cute."
Aurora laughed and continued eating, feeling completely at ease. For the first time that day, she felt truly relaxed.