Ch. 41..45: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 41-45
Chapter 41: Receiving from Behind
"What?" Stella’s heart skipped as she stared at her chauffeur.
"There is a dead man in the trunk," he repeated, his forehead dripping with cold sweat.
Almost immediately, Stella rushed over to the back of the car and almost lost her nose to the wave of rotten air that hit her. She also missed a step when she saw the dead body and fell on her butt.
A yelp escaped her lips as she winced in pain. She struggled to get up from the floor and had to be assisted by her chauffeur.
Stella was barely able to steady herself after her chauffeur stepped aside. Her palm quickly flew to her nose to cup it as she instructed, "Turn his face around, I want to see it."
The chauffeur blinked repeatedly. He didn’t want to touch a dead body but after he met her death glare, he quickly moved to turn the body’s face to her.
Stella’s heart rate increased three paces when she recognized the man. He was the one she contracted to disrupt Aurora’s launch last night, but look at him dead and his body in her car’s trunk.
Who the hell killed him and sent his body to her?
Stella was frightened, knowing there was someone dangerous out there who knew what she did.
’Perhaps, could Adam have done this?’
She thought about Adam, but gauging from his reaction last night after she fired back at him on his accusations, she ruled him out.
This dead body was sent to her as a warning. She didn’t think her husband was capable of that.
"Get rid of the body!" Stella instructed, slamming the trunk shut so she could resume breathing properly again.
"But Ma’am, shouldn’t we inform the police about this?" the chauffeur suggested, deeply afraid of their encounter.
As soon as those words reached her ears, Stella’s gaze darkened. "You idiot! Do you want a rumour about me to spread across Wing City? Do you want the sales if my daughter’s launch to topple?!" she scolded.
But then, her blood runs cold aware that that there was someone out there keeping watch.
’Who the hell is he?!’ Stella screamed in her head on her way to the hospital. She knew for sure that she had shifted a bone on her hip.
---
Xander returned home around 5 PM with a bouquet of fresh pink peonies.
As soon as Aurora’s gaze hit them, she made a run for them.
"OMG! This is beautiful." She stared longingly at the bouquet. She didn’t even need to be told the bouquet was for her before snatching it right out of Xander’s hands.
Her thoughts were filled with the soft pink fresh flowers that she absentmindedly accepted a kiss from him. She also didn’t think of offering to grab his jacket for him, only the bouquet.
"How was your day?" Xander inquired amusingly as he watched her lean in to sniff the flowers for the third time in a row.
Aurora returned to the bed and picked up her phone from the nightstand to take a picture of the bouquet. "It was fun. I worked from a place of rest today."
"Would you like me to set up a workstation for you?" Xander asked, draping his jacket on the armrest of the couch before proceeding to undo his cufflinks.
As soon as she heard his question, she lifted her gaze. "In your home office?" she inquired, looking interested.
"No. You are going to be a huge distraction." He shook his head. "There are so many rooms in this house, you can pick one and I will decorate it for you."
Aurora lost her smile. "I bet you just want an opportunity to continue keeping more secrets from me."
"Sweetheart, you are taking this too seriously. And we don’t even have the same career," he said as his fingers worked on his shirt buttons.
Aurora was a little distracted catching a glimpse of his chest muscles that peeped from the gap in his shirt. She quickly shifted her gaze to his face, realizing what she was doing.
"It doesn’t matter," she said, dropping her phone and putting the bouquet on the lamp stand.
A deep sigh escaped Xander’s lips. He couldn’t believe he was getting into another fight with her, or rather being compelled into a fight with her after his efforts recently.
Xander took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body which attracted Aurora’s eyes in the end.
"Sweetheart, I don’t mind us sharing a study if that’s what you really want," he said as his hands went for the belt around his waist to undo it. "But be prepared to get fucked twice a day on your table while you’re on it, and from behind."
"What the fuck, Xander!" Aurora’s gaze grew wide in shock at his statement. Heat immediately crept up her cheeks as she stared at him.
It was even harder to be mad at him with him standing in front of her with nothing but his briefs. She could also make out that little bulge between his legs.
Fuck! He was going to drive her crazy!
"That’s what I’m talking about," Xander said as he picked up his clothes and draped them on his arm as he looked back at her. "So, do you still want to share a home office space with me?"
"No, thank you!" Aurora laid down on the bed and covered her entire body with the duvet. She wasn’t mad at him, but pretending to be wouldn’t hurt.
Xander exhaled deeply as his gaze watched that solid bump under the duvet for a while before he invited her for a bath.
"Come join me for a warm bath before dinner. Fifteen minutes max."
Aurora quickly pulled the covers away from her face and peeped at him. "If you don’t mind soaking in a pool of waste blood for fifteen minutes, I’d be happy to join you."
"No, thank you." Xander’s entire face scrunched up in disgust at her response. He didn’t know why she had to irritate him when there were better ways to ’kindly’ remind him about her period.
On the other hand, Aurora watched him triumphantly at having gotten back at him.
Chapter 42: Shifting the Narrative
Aurora joined Xander for a candlelight in the dining room after he had finished freshening up.
She didn’t think he would continue with his pampering after she got a little under his skin an hour ago.
"You know," Aurora said to Xander while gesturing with her fork, "If you continue to treat me this way, I don’t think you would be giving me any reasons to be mad at you. And let’s hope you stay on your best behaviour longer than expected."
Xander raised his wine glass to her. "Believe me, Princess, I would hate to offend you." She was a handful and dealing with her would require you to pull on your tendons first before making progress. That was a hard one.
But something Xander did not understand was why Aurora chose to take the other end of the table if she was impressed by his efforts.
"Why did you choose to sit over there?" he inquired, forking a piece of steak into his mouth.
Aurora replied and proceeded to cut a piece of the meat with her cutlery, "I only feel like lowering my gaze to my food and lifting my head to you. I don’t want to snap my gaze to the side and sitting right next to you will cause that."
Before Xander could process her ridiculous excuses, she asked, "At my champagne launch last night, the lights came back on and the fire alarm ceased within fifteen seconds after hell broke loose. That has something to do with you, right?"
"Right," Xander admitted but unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the interrogation. Aurora was just getting started.
"What did you do to the person who tried to ruin my night?" she asked without meeting his gaze. She seemed to be more interested in her delicious steak and proceeded to eat it fervently. "In fact, forget I asked. I don’t want to know what happened."
Xander exhaled deeply as soon as he heard the second part of her statement. He had been worried about what kind of response to give to her that would make her less mad. Thankfully, she changed her mind.
A minute later, Aurora threw another question. "Xander, how did my sister know you were married? I was really shocked when she congratulated you about it."
"Believe me, I was surprised as well." Xander gulped some water and set his glass down. "Owen must have told her. He was at the old house when I revealed it to my parents."
"What about Abby and Asher? Do you know the story behind their animosity?" Aurora inquired. "They wouldn’t even say ’hello’ to each other last night."
Xander suddenly dropped his cutlery and palmed his face. When he uncovered it, he met with Aurora’s curious gaze.
"Baby, I think you are very curious tonight. And no, I don’t know anything about them. I am not interested in their story."
He was worried about her piqued curiosity as he had no idea of what other crazy question she had next. And as if his fears heard him clearly, they came running.
"What’s your relationship with Major Walker?" Aurora asked, pinning her gaze on him.
Gauging from her reactions, Xander felt that she had deliberately started with lighter questions just for this particular moment.
He couldn’t believe that woman tried to trick him.
"I think I’m done with dinner," Xander said, standing up and pushing his chair with the back of his legs.
Seeing that he was running away, Aurora drank the last of her water, grabbed an apple from the fruit bow and quickly followed after him.
"I promise, this is my last question tonight."
Xander raised a brow. "Does that mean you will continue in the morning?"
"Not necessarily," she answered, following him up the stairs. When they walked into their bedroom and shut the door, she grabbed his arm, forcing him to look her way and stop in his steps.
"General Walker is the commandant of our special squad. Are you satisfied now?" he asked and then proceeded to get into bed. "Also, I will be going away soon to enjoy the sea view for a month.
Aurora quickly rushed to the side of her bed and got in under the covers. "You are going on a secret mission, right?"
"Sweetheart, what happened to ’I promise, this is my last question’ you just said?" Xander asked, completely baffled by her curious nature.
He just noticed that she loved to ask a load of questions she especially didn’t need to concern herself with.
Aurora shook her head. "I’m sorry I forgot to add that I-I D-Don’t usually keep my promises."
"I see," Xander nodded solemnly. "You only give promises to get what you want. You are not trustworthy."
"So, tell me, what task were you given? Where is the location? When do you—?"
Xander immediately captured her mouth with his, kissing her fiercely and refusing to let go until she was out of breath and tapping his arms. Only then did he release her and turn off the lights.
What a successful way to shut her up.
"Goodnight, my love," he said and didn’t even bother when Aurora didn’t respond. The poor woman must still be in shock by his actions.
~***~
Today has to be one of the most horrible days Aurora had to wake up to. Her champagne launch had kept her trending for all the right reasons, but Thursday morning’s Tea Time gossip bombshell flipped the script, casting her in a less flattering light.
"BOMBSHELL ALERT!
In the escalating power struggle between half-sisters Aurora and Olivia Swift, it seems Aurora has seized the upper hand. Her meticulously planned launch event and strategic guest list have left industry insiders buzzing.
But whispers of a scandalous romance threaten to upend her momentum. Sources close to Tea Time reveal Aurora’s involvement with Alexander Scott, her ex-boyfriend’s wealthy and influential uncle. The catch? Xander’s marital status.
At the launch, Olivia’s congratulatory words were met with a shocking revelation: Xander’s secret wedding. The question on everyone’s lips: what’s the true nature of Aurora and Xander’s relationship?
As the drama unfolds, we can’t help but wonder: will this potentially explosive scandal overshadow Aurora’s savvy business moves? Stay tuned for more updates!"
Chapter 43: Getting Revenge for His Wife
Aurora stared breathlessly at the gossip page, her lashes blinking repeatedly. She was at a loss for what to do or say.
"I almost thought whomever this person behind Tea Time must be my fan or something. What in the world are they insinuating?" Aurora asked Nene, repeatedly tapping her tablet’s screen with her finger.
Nene stared at her for a moment, her lips parting a few times, but Aurora just went on complaining until she got tired and dumped the tablet on the breakfast table.
Today, she was having breakfast alone as Xander had to leave for another city to catch up with an important meeting.
"Mrs. Scott," Nene called Aurora’s attention. "I’m afraid that there is worse news from another tabloid."
"What?" Aurora’s brows dipped immediately, her gaze narrowing as a stubborn found etched on her face. "What does it say?"
Nene picked up the tablet and searched up something on the internet before passing it to her.
"Tea Time is better and more lenient, but the other bloggers directly called you a mistress," Nene revealed.
Aurora’s brows furrowed further as her eyes captured every degrading comment made about her by other gossip blogs.
"Seems like Tea Time is more decent after all," she mumbled.
Nene tilted her head to one side. "Are you not bothered?"
Aurora passed the tablet back to her. "I figured that they want me to be bothered, so I’m not going to be worried anymore."
Nene was stunned at Aurora’s ability to recover and become so cool-headed. It was stunning.
On the other hand, Olivia and Stella were having the best time of their lives at the breakfast table alone while reading the latest gossip news.
They had been initially annoyed and disappointed that the Tea Time gossip blog didn’t use the title they wanted to be tagged on Aurora. But after seeing that the other blogs they paid off directly called Aurora a mistress, they celebrated.
"Mum, I wonder what Aurora must be feeling now." Olivia chuckled heartily. Finally, Aurora can get a taste of what it feels like to be targeted by the media for the wrong reasons. "I bet her Champagne sales will drop."
"Who wants to associate themselves with a mistress?" Stella sniggered as she used a pen knife to apply butter on her toasted bread.
Olivia handed the tablet to one of their domestic staff and carried on with their breakfast. "I bet Dad is going to be very furious knowing the kind of dangerous impact this gossip will have on the company."
"It would be even better if he disqualified her, unfortunately, he won’t do that. Your father is very stubborn, but that’s fine. I know what to do." Stella said.
Hearing that, Olivia’s interest was piqued. "Mum, you are going to continue fanning this flame, right?"
"Of course, I will only if Xander refuses to keep his distance from her," Stella replied, enjoying her meal. Then she added, "It’s time for your sister to get married. And I’m quite sure your father will agree on this with me to kill if the rumours."
"What if he doesn’t?" Olivia asked, raising a brow.
Stella didn’t look bothered as she spoke with confidence thanks to the plan she had already hatched, "It seems like I will have to invite your Aunt Stephanie over this weekend."
"Mum," Olivia called, all smiles. "I’m looking forward to this weekend."
---
Xander squinted his eyes as he read the gossip blog Aurora showed him. "Since when did my wife become my mistress?"
"This is what happens when the wrong people learn you are married. Now they are taking it out on me using underhanded means." Aurora stared at him. "How are you going to take care of this?"
She was worried about her champagne sales being affected but luckily it hasn’t yet, all thanks to her target market. But she still had to do something regarding the rumour.
Knowing that her half-sister and stepmother would want to take her down by any means, she was sceptical about her actions.
"I will take care of it," Xander promised. And right there in her presence, he phoned one of his lawyers. "I want to sue those tabloids reporting I have a mistress when I would never betray my wife."
Aurora’s lips twitched. She guessed that ’betrayal’ meant something different to him.
Xander listened to the comment from the other side before replying, "Verbal warnings do not carry weight. I don’t give a fuck about public opinion. Next time, they will know better than to mess with me."
Since all those crazy bloggers know how to do is to wake up every morning and foolishly write trash about someone without thinking of the consequences, he was going to use them as scapegoats.
Soon, Xander’s attorney released a public statement on his behalf and served the court papers for the bloggers he sued for defamation of character.
Even Aurora’s gaze went wide in shock when she saw the number of zeros those people were sued for. Xander didn’t pity anyone.
Soon, the bloggers started releasing statements claiming they were only joking to generate traffic to their page.
"Serves those hungry bloggers. Just pay them a cent and they can write trash about anybody."
"I know who is behind this, but I won’t call names."
"Someone wants to win by all means."
"Imagine trying to ruin an innocent woman’s reputation and cause a rift between her and her divine helper."
"I want to have a heart like this Xander. He just outrightly slammed a slander and defamation lawsuit with the highest amount of compensation on those foolish idiots."
"Honestly, if this Xander Scott wasn’t married, it wouldn’t be bad if we shipped him and Aurora. I guess they can only remain friends now."
As Olivia read through the comment section, her heartbeats increased by a few paces. Her eyeballs were almost about to burst out of their sockets.
Never did she imagine that Xander would make that move
She had seen rich people who do not bother to respond to measly bloggers or pay attention to their gossip even though they included their name in their posts so she had thought that Xander would be the same.
Shockingly, he just proved that he was a different breed. To think that he would directly sue those bloggers for a hefty sum of money to prove his anger.
Olivia was devastated as she called her mother to find out if she saw the lawsuit Xander filed.
Both mother and daughter lamented bitterly.
"My phone has been blowing up since this afternoon. The person I contracted to do this job now has a huge debt to pay in this lawsuit," Stella revealed through gnashed teeth.
If she wasn’t so strong-hearted, she would have been in tears right now.
She never imagined how difficult it would be to take just one person down.
But she admitted to her mistake by dragging Xander into the mess. She shouldn’t have thought about using him in the first place.
Unbeknownst to the mother and daughter, while it seemed like Xander was punishing the bloggers who tried to put a dent in his reputation, he was actually getting revenge for his wife who was disrespected and tagged as his mistress.
Chapter 44: A Clearer Vision
Later in the evening, Aurora stepped out to have dinner with her team members at a private restaurant she had reserved two weeks back to commemorate the launch of her product into the market.
They chatted a bit and spoke more about promotion strategies for the champagne to reach a wider audience.
Towards the end of dinner, Aurora handed out a customized bag containing a bottle of Fruit Punch champagne, a red packet with some cash and some chocolate bars along with a ’Thank You’ card to each member of her team. They were surprised and grateful for her considerate gesture.
Aurora returned home and went straight to the master bedroom, learning that Xander was in his study. She decided to take a quick hot shower as she couldn’t afford a bath yet. Once her flow stopped, she was sure to enjoy a romantic bath with the scented candle Xander got her.
Aurora stripped and got under the shower. With the water running, and her back to the door, she didn’t hear Xander come in until he called out to her.
"Sweetheart?" Xander cast his gaze on the transparent shower glass fogged with steam. Although he couldn’t see her body clearly, he could still make out her figure.
"What the—." Aurora quickly washed the foam off her face and turned off the shower. She also couldn’t see him clearly. "What happened to knocking before barging in?"
"You wouldn’t have heard me anyway," he said, taking a few steps forward.
"Alexander Scott, don’t you dare take another step forward otherwise I’m going to be very mad at you!" She warned.
"Did you just call me by my full name?" Xander paused for a moment, tilting his head to the side.
Ignoring him, she reached a hand out to grab a towel from the rail. She dried her body and wrapped the towel around her before stepping out of the shower area. "Why are you here?"
Xander’s gaze fell on her. He took in her wet hair and her enchanting facial features plus how the towel tightly bound her chest and announced, "I’m leaving tomorrow."
"Huh?" Aurora’s gaze widened in surprise.
Later at night when they laid down to sleep, Xander brought her into his embrace, hugging her from behind.
"Why do you have to leave tomorrow?" she inquired as her body seeped the warmth from his, feeling safe in his arms.
"It’s urgent," he answered, snuggling closer. "I will be off the grid. Communication will be almost impossible, but I will do my best to reach out when possible."
"Oh." Aurora’s mood dampened. She didn’t expect him to leave that soon. "What time are you leaving?"
"In four hours." Xander pressed a soft kiss on her right shoulder and breathed in her scent.
Four hours later, Xander emerged onto the rooftop, his figure shrouded in darkness. Black attire enveloped him, accentuating the sharp angles of his face. His eyes seemed to absorb the faint moonlight, radiating an unnerving intensity.
Without a word, he climbed into the helicopter, Liam following closely behind.
"Sir, surveillance is in place. She will be protected," Liam reported.
Xander’s gaze lingered on the cityscape before his voice dropped to a low, icy tone, "See to it that she remains unharmed."
As he pulled on his leather gloves, the dim helicopter lights highlighted the sharp lines of his jaw, amplifying the aura of menace surrounding him.
The rotors whirred to life, and the helicopter lifted off, disappearing into the night, leaving an unsettling sense of foreboding in its wake.
Meanwhile, Aurora fell into another trance in her sleep. This time around, more depth was added to her lost memory.
---
Little Aurora sat on a small stool in the corner of the dimly lit room and watched the two adults having a heated conversation as she held the stuffed toy that she was gifted some minutes ago.
"Evelyn, our situation has been compromised. They have found out about you and Aurora," the tall man with his back to Aurora said.
Aurora’s mother gasped in shock, her hands flying to her mouth. "What are we going to do?"
The man released a deep sigh. "I can no longer see or visit you both again."
"W-What do you mean?" Evelyn stuttered, looking heartbroken. "Are you cutting ties with us? No, you can’t do this! Your daughter still needs you."
The man shook his head. "This is the only way to protect you both and the only way to make it up to them."
"N-No, Y-You C-Can’t do this. W-We can think of something else," Evelyn said desperately, trying to persuade him but instead, he turned his back to her.
"This is the only way. Please, accept it," the man said and glanced at little Aurora. He released a deep sigh and walked out of the room, stepping into the dim hallway.
Immediately, little Aurora dropped the stuffed animal and ran out of the room, panic in her eyes. "Daddy!" she called out but got no response.
"Aurora!" her mother called, quickly coming to her side and grasping her short arm.
Little Aurora’s chest heaved as she watched the man’s receding figure vanish into the distance. She still didn’t catch his face, only the broad shoulders and fading footsteps.
Her gaze shifted to her mother’s pale face, seeking comfort.
"Mummy, when next is Daddy coming to see us?" her little voice trembled.
Her mother’s eyes welled up, a single tear escaping. "He is never coming back to us."
"No! I want my Daddy!" she wailed. And without hesitation, she took off after the disappearing figure. "Daddy!" her shrill cry echoed through the hallway.
"Aurora, come back!" her mother’s panicked voice followed, footsteps pounding the floor as she chased after her.
---
Aurora jolted awake, her chest heaving. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She scanned the room frantically, her cheeks stained with tears.
It took a few minutes for her to calm down and really grasp the situation. Fear gripped her as she realized this wasn’t just a dream.
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Chapter 45: Deliberately Suppressed Memories
Aurora stood in front of the bathroom mirror, studying her reflection. The tears had dried, but the redness around her eyes told the story of the vision she had witnessed. No, it wasn’t just a dream. It felt like something far more real, more sinister.
Her mind replayed the moment Olivia had blurted out that Adam wasn’t her father, and the way Stella had reacted—shocked, then quick to silence her, covering it up like it had never happened. Now, as the weight of that possibility sank in, Aurora felt her heart plummet into her stomach.
Xander was gone, off on his mysterious trip, and Abigail was away on a shoot. She had no one to turn to, no one to help her untangle the mess in her head.
A few minutes later, she made up her mind. Grabbing her phone, Aurora booked an urgent appointment for 2 PM with a neuropsychologist at a private hospital. She dressed quickly and left for work without a second thought, skipping breakfast entirely.
Nene had noticed the cloud of sadness hanging over her but could only offer a packed lunch as comfort as there wasn’t much she could do.
"Let me see the data analysis," Aurora said, her tone distant as she reviewed the sales report for Fruit Punch Champagne.
The numbers showed a 15% increase. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Aurora allowed herself a brief moment of relief. At least the rumours swirling around her supposed affair with Xander hadn’t dented her product’s performance.
Despite the scandal, Fruit Punch Champagne was still outselling Spraying Champagne in the market.
As the clock struck 2, Aurora gathered her things and headed out for her appointment. When she arrived at the hospital, a nurse confirmed her booking and led her to the neuropsychologist’s office.
---
Aurora sat in Dr. Lee’s office, her hands twisting in her lap, the familiar wave of anxiety creeping through her.
The neuropsychologist’s office was cozy, but no amount of warmth could ease the tight knot in her stomach.
Dr. Lee’s gentle smile softened the air between them. "Tell me about these visions, Aurora," she encouraged, her pen hovering above the notepad, poised and ready.
Aurora drew in a shaky breath. "It’s... strange. I see myself as a child in these visions, hearing my parents argue. But it feels like more than a dream. Olivia said something once...about me not being our father’s daughter. And her mother hushed her." Her voice trembled as she narrated the scenes in her visons.
Dr. Lee’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You’re wondering if these visions are tied to your past?"
Aurora nodded. She could feel her pulse in her throat, the tension growing with every word.
Dr. Lee scribbled briefly, then looked up with calm certainty. "Aurora, it appears you’re experiencing fragments of recovered memories."
"Recovered memories?" Aurora blinked, her brows furrowing. "I don’t remember losing any memories."
"That’s the nature of suppressed memories," Dr. Lee explained, her tone measured. "Sometimes, the mind locks away painful or traumatic events to protect itself. It’s possible these visions are your mind’s way of bringing them back."
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. "If that’s true, why wouldn’t my father have told me? Wouldn’t he have corrected me if I don’t remember things... clearly?"
Dr. Lee’s eyes softened with understanding. "It’s possible your memories were deliberately suppressed. Perhaps there’s something even your father may not have been able to tell you."
The word "deliberately" hung heavy in the air, and Aurora felt the floor tilt beneath her. Her breath quickened, shallow gasps filling the sudden silence of the room. Deliberately suppressed? Her mind spiralled, the weight of the possibility crashing into her like a tidal wave.
Seeing her panic, Dr. Lee calmly handed her a paper bag. "Breathe, Aurora. Slow and steady."
Aurora clutched the bag and followed Dr. Lee’s instructions, inhaling deeply, though her hands trembled slightly. After a few moments, the room stopped spinning, and her breathing began to slow.
Dr. Lee placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "This is a lot to take in, but it’s important to give yourself time. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. One step at a time."
Aurora stared ahead, her thoughts swirling like a storm. Her father—her protector... The only one who loves her in that house—how could he hide something so significant and life-changing from her?
The idea gnawed at her, leaving a bitter taste on her tongue. "Maybe it’s time to talk to him," she murmured, the uncertainty clinging to her voice like a shadow.
---
The weight of Aurora’s session with Dr. Lee pressed down on her like a physical burden. The drive home had been a blur, her mind so scattered she’d nearly gotten into an accident.
Aurora stepped into the house and headed for the stairs. Carried away by her thoughts, she didn’t notice Nene coming towards her, her eyes sharp with concern.
"You’re home early, Mrs. Scott," Nene remarked, studying her expression. "You left for work without having breakfast and now you look disturbed. Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine," Aurora replied quietly, continuing in her steps. "I’m just exhausted."
"Oh! I will have someone set the bath for you immediately," Nene replied. "The kitchen made some Ribollita, I will—."
"Nene, I will just have the bath," Aurora said, cutting off the rest of her words. "I’m going to back to my family’s residence today to spend the weekend."
Nene was stunned into silence as she watched her for a moment. "Are you sure you are okay?" she inquired, feeling the visit was too sudden.
"You have nothing to worry about," Aurora assured her and carried on.
Although she had said that to dismiss Nene’s concern, the latter still followed her into the master bedroom.
Nene went into the walk-in closet, pulling out a small travel bag. "Let me help you pack."
Aurora sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Nene efficiently gathered her clothes. The silence between them was comfortable, Nene’s presence a quiet reassurance.
After zipping up the luggage, Nene prepared a warm bath and emerged from the bathroom. "You’re sure you’ll be okay?"
Aurora gave a small smile. "I will."
"Just in case, Mr. Scott left his men to watch you. They will immediately intervene if your environment poses a threat," Nene said to her.