Ch. 86..90: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 86-90
Chapter 86: Playing Stella’s Game
In the quiet that settled after the last of the police cars and the ambulance departed, the Swift family remained frozen in their grief. Stella sat crumpled on the couch, rocking back and forth as she clutched her face, her wails filling the air.
"Adam... no... Adam!" she cried, her voice hoarse with desperation. She seemed oblivious to her surroundings, her eyes glazed with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Aurora leaned heavily on Xander’s shoulder, her face buried in the fabric of his suit, her tears flowing nonstop. Xander gently rubbed her back in soothing circles, his own expression clouded with concern as he held her close.
After a while, he lowered his voice and asked softly, "Will you come home with me tonight?"
Aurora shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper, "It feels so wrong to leave... not after my dad just..." Her words trailed off as a fresh wave of grief overtook her. Xander nodded in understanding and continued to comfort her, feeling a sudden urge to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Just then, Asher entered the room and walked over to them, placing a hand on Aurora’s shoulder. "Aurora, I’m so sorry for your loss," he said quietly, his gaze sympathetic. "I know there’s nothing I can say to ease this, but we are here for you."
Aurora managed a small nod of gratitude, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Thank you, Asher." She clutched Xander’s hand a little tighter, seeking the strength to get through each trying moment.
Xander leaned closer to Asher and whispered, "Call Abigail and let her know what’s happened. Ask if she can come here to be with Aurora tonight."
Asher nodded, stepping outside to make the call. The phone rang a few times before Abigail’s voice came through, indifferent but slightly groggy.
"You have been calling me a lot lately. How can I help you today, Mr. Moore?" she asked, releasing a soft sigh.
Taking a deep breath, Asher replied gently, "Good evening, Miss Miller. Aurora’s father just passed away."
There was silence on the other end, and then Abigail’s voice broke through, tinged with shock. "What?" She immediately jumped out of bed. "What on earth are you talking about? But didn’t Olivia have her wedding today?"
Asher sighed, his own voice laced with disbelief. "He was... murdered. It happened right after the wedding party."
There was a gasp, and then Abigail’s voice became tense. "Aurora... how is she? How is she holding up?"
"She’s here, but..." Asher paused, glancing back at Aurora and Xander through the doorway. "She’s trying to stay strong, but she needs you here tonight if you can make it. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Xander to stay, given the circumstances surrounding their marriage."
"I’m already on my way," Abigail replied briskly, the determination clear in her tone. Asher murmured his thanks before ending the call. Although he didn’t give her the full details of the tragic incident, he thought that she would find out when she came over.
---
Back in the sitting room, Stella’s dishevelled figure remained seated, her cries filling the silence. Her makeup was smudged, strands of hair falling out of her updo, adding to her unkempt appearance. She barely glanced up as Owen entered the room.
Seeing him, her voice wavered as she asked, "Owen... how’s Olivia?"
Owen ran a hand through his hair, looking as exhausted as everyone else. "She still hasn’t regained consciousness," he replied quietly. "The doctor is on his way to check on her." Only after hearing this did Stella’s gaze drop, her hands clenching in her lap as she took a shuddering breath.
Moments later, hurried footsteps approached, and Abigail burst into the room, her face tight with worry. Spotting Aurora, she crossed the room in a flash, and sank next to her on the sofa.
Aurora pulled away from Xander’s embrace just as Abigail wrapped her arms around her, gently shushing her as her cries grew louder.
"Oh, Aurora... I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry," Abigail murmured, rocking her softly. Aurora clung to her, finding comfort in her familiar scented embrace.
As Aurora’s sobs gradually quieted, Abigail looked up, her gaze meeting Stephanie’s and then Stella’s, her expression masked with sympathy. She offered her condolences to the family, her voice laced with sincerity. Both women nodded gratefully, though neither was in the mood for it.
Shortly after, Xander rose to his feet, his hand resting gently on Aurora’s shoulder as he looked at her, his expression tender. "I should go," he said, his voice soft. Turning to Stephanie, he added, "I’m sorry for your loss once again."
Stephanie rose, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Scott, for everything." She extended her hand, and Xander clasped it firmly before giving Aurora’s shoulder a final comforting squeeze.
Owen, watching Xander prepare to leave, stepped over to Stella and Stephanie, saying, "I’ll leave as well. With everything that’s happened, it wouldn’t be right for me to stay tonight."
Stella managed a nod, though her tear-streaked face remained tense and distant. Owen offered a final word of condolence, then quickly followed Xander out of the room.
---
Outside, Xander and Owen exchanged a quiet nod before parting ways. Each climbed into their respective cars, their expressions heavy with the weight of the night’s events.
Once they were on the road, Asher turned to Xander in the back seat, his expression serious. "I got some intel from Victor’s interrogation. Seems Stella’s been hunting for the man behind Aurora all along," he said and proceeded to give him all the details.
Xander’s jaw tightened, a calculating look crossing his face. "So, she wants to know who’s looking out for Aurora..." He narrowed his gaze thoughtfully. "Good. Let’s give Victor my name."
Asher raised a brow, surprised. "And what exactly do you intend to accomplish by doing that?"
A glint of cold determination flickered in Xander’s eyes. "Now that I know her game, I’ll play along. I want to see just how far she’s willing to go with this information. Let her believe she’s getting what she wants."
After a beat, Asher’s expression grew more thoughtful, his tone dropping. "Do you think Stella had a hand in what happened tonight?"
Xander’s gaze grew dark immediately, his voice hardening. "I wouldn’t put it past her. Although..." He paused, his jaw clenching. "I doubt she wanted her husband dead. But if Aurora was the target, then her involvement can’t be ruled out."
Chapter 87: Too Late for Regrets
A heavy sorrow settled over the Swift residence as each family member retired to their rooms, overwhelmed by grief. Abigail followed Aurora up the grand staircase, her heart aching as she watched her friend struggle to walk, eyes vacant, still reeling from the tragedy.
Silently, Abigail helped Aurora slip out of her blood-stained dress, guiding her into a warm bath scented with lavender. As Aurora closed her eyes, absorbing the water’s comfort, Abigail knelt beside her, her voice soft and soothing. "Aurora... everything will be alright," she murmured, though she struggled to believe it.
Aurora managed a nod, though she felt anything but hopeful. When she finished, Abigail helped her into a plain silk pyjamas and tucked her under the duvet, watching as her breathing steadied.
After a pause, Abigail spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Aurora... I know this might sound insensitive, but... could you tell me what happened if you feel like talking about it now?"
Aurora’s face crumpled, fresh tears spilling as she recounted the attack, her father’s final moments, and his ultimate sacrifice.
"It should have been me in the morgue right now, but my Dad’s there because he saved me." Her voice trembled, dissolving into sobs as she buried her face in Abigail’s shoulder. Abigail’s own eyes misted over, and she hugged Aurora tightly, whispering, "I’m so sorry, Aurora. Your father loved you so much and wanted to protect you until the very end."
Then, Aurora’s phone vibrated. Abigail pulled away gently, brushing away a tear from the corner of her eyes before answering it and handing it over. "It’s Xander."
Aurora’s hand shook as she answered. "Xander..." she whispered.
Xander’s voice was warm and filled with concern. "Sweetheart, I’m home now. I feel horrible leaving you alone in this state when I should have been with you. Are you okay? I couldn’t stop thinking about you."
Aurora’s throat tightened, her words a fragile whisper. "No, Xander. I’m... I’m not okay. I can’t ever be okay for the rest of my life. The scene of my Dad getting shot right in front of me and taking his last breath in my arms is etched deep in my memory, and it’s going to hunt me forever."
"Do you want to switch to video?" he asked gently. "Let me see you."
Aurora approved, and soon, Xander’s face appeared on her screen, his gaze steady and comforting. "I’m right here, sweetheart," he murmured. "Don’t ever condemn yourself or feel unworthy of your father’s sacrifice otherwise, he would be unhappy. Your father played his role by saving you, which is what any parent would do for their child. Just know that your father is in a better place and would want you to be happy now."
Xander’s words washed over Aurora, bringing her warmth and comfort until her sobs faded, and her breathing steadied. She managed a faint smile before saying goodnight, his presence giving her enough peace to finally close her eyes.
---
Elsewhere in the mansion, Olivia stirred awake in her bedroom and as she blinked, the memories returned—the sight of her father’s lifeless body. She gasped, sitting up and reaching for the IV in her arm as she cried hysterically.
Just then, her mother rushed in, eyes swollen from crying. She wrapped her in her arms, and Olivia crumpled against her, body jerking with silent sobs.
"Mum... why?" Olivia whispered, her voice breaking. "Why did this have to happen? What did Dad do so wrong to deserve this?"
Stella’s heart twisted with guilt and grief as she held Olivia close, brushing her hair back. "Your father didn’t do anything wrong, Olivia," she murmured. "He didn’t deserve any of this wrong done to him right under his roof."
Olivia broke into another round of sobs, prompting Stella to be by her side, soothing her until exhaustion pulled her back to sleep.
After making sure Olivia was settled, Stella returned to the empty master bedroom she had once shared with Adam. His absence filled the room, tangible and suffocating. Immediately, she felt a pang of regret as her fingers brushed over the side of his bed, the weight of her actions pressing down on her.
Unable to stay still, she began pacing, her heart pounding as dread clawed its way through her thoughts. The waiter, now in police custody, threatened everything. She slumped into a chair, her hands pressing against her face as guilt gnawed at her.
"I didn’t give that order! How could he make such a terrible mistake?" she murmured, her voice breaking. Her mind drifted back, reliving the moment her plan had been set in motion.
---
Flashback
After Adam had stormed off, Stella approached the waiter, watching as he picked up broken glass from the floor. She commanded him to look at her, her voice cold and steely. "I have a proposition. Are you interested?"
The waiter hesitated, studying her face. "Depends on the risk. What kind of job are we talking about?"
Stella’s expression was stone-cold. "If you’re caught, you’ll go to prison for life. But if it’s done right, no one will ever trace it back to you."
The waiter’s expression hardened. "As long as my family is taken care of... as long as my wife gets $300,000, I’ll do it."
"Good." A thin smile touched Stella’s lips. "I need you to make sure my stepdaughter doesn’t learn about her real father. Follow her and my husband as soon as they leave the hall, and take care of it."
The waiter nodded, his gaze steady as he replied, "Fine. I’ll get it done."
Stella dialled her phone, arranging the transaction. A minute later, she held up the screen, showing him the confirmation. "The funds have been transferred. Now, it’s your turn. And remember, we never spoke to each other. Am I well understood?"
"Yes." The waiter glanced at the phone before looking back at her. "And the weapon?"
"You will get it soon," Stella said to him. "No mistakes."
---
End of Flashback
Now, back in her empty room, Stella’s hands trembled as the full weight of her actions sank in. She collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face, words falling from her lips in a broken whisper. "Adam, I’m so sorry... I didn’t mean for any of this... I was after Aurora, not you."
But regret, no matter how deep, couldn’t change what had already been done.
Chapter 88: A Badluck
The next morning, Aurora woke up with puffy eyes. While the rest of the family gathered in the dining room to have breakfast, she stayed cooked up in her bedroom. But thanks to Abigail who persuaded her that she needed some air, she finally agreed to go downstairs.
"But I’m not hungry," Aurora stated weakly as she descended the stairs. "It’s fine if you are not hungry, just staying amongst others will help your mental state. You didn’t even catch enough sleep last night," Abigail said, guiding her with their arms linked.
Soon, Aurora arrived at the dining room. She greeted Stella and Stephanie, but as her gaze landed on the empty head table where her father used to sit, she whimpered, palming her mouth shut immediately.
A deep sigh escaped Abigail’s lips as she escorted Aurora to her chair, before sitting beside her. "It’s fine," she whispered, rubbing her back in a slow circular motion.
Aurora nodded, fighting back her tears. Olivia on the other hand wasn’t any good. Silent tears kept flowing down her cheeks as she remembered how much trouble she used to bring to her father and how he used to scold her. Now that he was gone, she regretted being a handful of problems to him.
"I’m sorry...forgive me," she cried silently before stuffing her mouth with a piece of bread. But she had only chewed on the bread twice before a nauseous feeling overpowered her. She immediately covered her mouth.
"Daughter, are you alright?" Stella asked as soon as she saw her. Olivia took a moment to calm her nerves before nodding in response. She took her hand away from her lips and picked a glass of water.
"The lawyer will be here in around fifteen minutes to brief us, and after that, we will go down to the station together," Stephanie informed as her gaze moved past everyone. "And as for you my dear," she said, her gaze landing on Abigail. "Your presence is not needed at the station, so you can either choose to wait for us here or return home and then come back later to keep your friend company."
"I will go home and come back after you have returned from the station," Abigail replied, clasping Aurora’s hand under the table.
Stephanie nodded at her response and picked up the napkin to wipe her lips before standing up and leaving the dining area.
Aurora glanced at the breakfast before her and didn’t feel like eating anything except drinking a glass of water. From time to time, her gaze would land on the empty spot her father used to sit every morning. She missed him so much, especially after witnessing his tragic end and experiencing it with him.
Soon, the lawyer arrived and only then did Abigail agree to take her leave. "Text me as soon as you finish from the station and I will come back to your side, okay?"
"Okay," Aurora nodded solemnly before hugging her. Abigail released her from her embrace and patted her left cheek gently. "Don’t cry," she said to her. "Your father died a hero, and you will remember him for that only."
Aurora nodded, fighting back a tear as Abigail embraced her again. When she finally released her this time around, she squeezed her hand gently in a comforting manner before walking out through the door.
Aurora returned to the sitting room to join in the briefing from their family’s lawyer.
"Giving a statement is only a formality, so there is nothing to be worried about, and I will be there with each of you... Before Mr. Swift’s passing, he arranged his will which will be read out to you a day after his funeral..."
The meeting lasted only for five minutes before they all stepped outside in their all-black outfit. They got into their cars and drove to the police station in a five-car convoy. Aurora sat with Stephanie in one car while Olivia sat with Stella in a different one. The lawyer left in his own car while the Swift’s family bodyguards came along in the remaining two cars.
Stella glanced at the paper bag in Olivia’s hands with slightly furrowed brows and couldn’t help asking, "Since when did you start having car motion sickness?"
"With what happened to us last night, I won’t be surprised if I develop high blood pressure," Olivia replied with puffy eyes.
"You fainted yesterday from the shock of your father’s death which is understandable. But since this morning, you have wretched three times already," Stella noted. "We will visit the hospital on our way back from the station."
Olivia rolled her eyes and dumped the paper bag in the car bin next to her feet. "Mum, I don’t care what you are thinking, but marrying Owen brought bad luck to our family. Maybe Dad wouldn’t have died."
"Don’t mention your father," Stella cautioned, her gaze turning serious.
"How can I not mention him?" Olivia asked, her eyes turned teary. "He died on the night of my wedding. Tell me, how can I ever be able to erase this incident from my history, how?!"
A pang of guilt hit Stella immediately and at the same moment, she brought Olivia into her arms, her gaze turning teary equally.
Realizing she made a very big mistake last night fuelled her guilt. Even thinking of taking Aurora’s life on the night of Olivia’s wedding was evil, but it never occurred to her that she would be ruining her own daughter’s history with her plan.
In the end, she not only did that, but she made a mistake and also ruined her family’s life with Adam’s accidental tragic murder.
"You are right," Stella mumbled under her breath. And learning that they were only five minutes away from the station, her heartbeat accelerated. She wondered if that waiter had gone back on their agreement and mentioned her name as the master minder behind her husband’s death.
But Stella did have the confidence that even if the waiter mentioned her name, she would always get out of it because there was no evidence of their meeting. The CCTV footage had long been taken care of, and there was no one who saw her chatting with the waiter. She made sure of that.
Chapter 89: Interrogation
As the five cars pulled over in front of the police station, Aurora stepped out of the car with her family members and their lawyer.
While their bodyguards stood their ground outside, they went inside the building and were welcomed by the detective from yesterday. They exchanged greetings, and he was introduced to their lawyer by Stephanie.
"I’m sorry for making you all come down to the station this morning despite your mourning, but it’s all part of the protocol," the detective said, leading the way into his office.
"We understand you are doing your job," Stella said immediately, beating Stephanie to a response.
As they all settled down in the detective’s office, he asked them what they would like to drink and when they all declined, he moved on to the business he had with them.
"Detective," Stella said, drawing his attention to her. "Has that waiter said anything, for example, the motives behind killing my husband?"
Aurora’s brows furrowed slightly. She felt that Stella was asking the wrong question. She was the waiter’s target, but her father blocked her and took those bullets to save her, so the right question should be, ’What was the waiter’s motive for wanting to kill her?’ and not that one.
"We will talk about that after taking your statements, separately," the detective answered, emphasizing the last word as his gaze moved about, taking in everyone’s reaction. "We are interested in knowing the incidents that took place the last few hours leading to Mr. Swift’s death."
Stephanie and Stella exchanged glances before nodding in acceptance, and only then did the detective rise from his feet.
"Mr. Detective, we know that this is only a formality, but we insist on having our lawyer with us during the questioning session," Stephanie said, meeting the detective’s gaze head-on.
"You have the right to your lawyer," the detective said before calling in his men. Three of them came in, and he asked two to stay in his office and stay with the Swift family before asking to follow him, but before then, he turned his turned to Stephanie to ask a question.
"Who is the bride?"
Olivia lifted her hand, her gaze wary.
"We will start from you then," the detective said before leading the way out, and Olivia and the lawyer followed after him.
In the interrogation room, the detective asked the necessary questions, but there was nothing peculiar worthy to note from Olivia’s response, so he took her statement down and released her within five minutes.
Stephanie was next. The detective asked about her relationship to Adam and after she mentioned that she was his sister, he went on to proceed with the questions. Just like Olivia, there was nothing much that the detective was able to get from her except for the fact that she and Adam had a meeting immediately after Olivia’s wedding ceremony.
"May I know the details of the meeting?" the detective asked.
"I’m sorry, I can not mention that since it’s confidential information," Stephanie refused.
The detective nodded as another detective next to him, noted Stephanie’s response down.
A minute later, Stephanie left and Stella was brought in. After confirming that she was Adam’s wife, the questions started.
Detective: "A witness spotted you in a heated argument with your husband in the hallway while the wedding reception was ongoing. Can you tell me what the fight was all about?"
Stella: "Detective, the person saw wrong, there was no heated argument. My husband and I only had a slight disagreement over the wedding guest list."
Detective: "If I may ask, what was his reason?"
Stella: "He just didn’t approve of a few faces."
Detective: "Did you notice anything weird during the wedding, for example, that waiter?"
Immediately, Stella’s eyes turned teary. She brought out a white handkerchief from her bag to wipe her tears. Guessing that the detective had already interrogated the waiter and probably had nothing on her, she decided to play her role properly.
Stella: "That waiter bumped into my husband in the hallway and spilt drinks on his shirt and out of anger, my husband fired him. I think this might have been the reason that waiter took revenge on my husband."
Detective: "Did you speak to the waiter after your husband left?"
Stella: "Mr. Detective, I can’t remember much, but I think I did scold him before returning to the reception hall."
Stella’s questioning took some time and after they were done, she left and Aurora was invited in.
Detective: "Yesterday, you gave a statement, saying that the waiter had intended to shoot you, but your father blocked you, receiving the bullets instead Is that correct?"
Aurora: "Yes."
Detective: "But the waiter confessed that he had aimed for your father and not you. What do you think about that? Do you think you might have made a mistake?"
Aurora: "I didn’t make any mistake. I know what I saw. My Dad had to jump in front of me to take those bullets to save my life."
Detective: "Why do you think the waiter wanted to kill you?"
Aurora: "I have no idea."
Detective: "Did offend him, or do you think you did wrong to anyone that would warrant you being a target?"
Aurora: "I don’t remember offending anyone."
Aurora spent more time in the interrogation room before returning to the detective’s office with the detective and her family’s lawyer. One thing she didn’t reveal was the content of her conversation with her father, regarding matters relating to her biological father.
As everyone settled down in the room, the detective cleared his throat and leaned into his table. Taking in everyone’s facial expressions as he started a conversation.
"We interrogated the waiter and the rest of his colleagues from the catering company last night... The waiter confessed to killing Mr. Swift with the motive of taking revenge for firing him after making a small mistake which wasn’t his fault... But Miss Aurora here says that the waiter had aimed at her instead which is contrary to his confession."
The detective stared at Aurora for a moment before continuing, "As far as our interrogations have gone, the waiter has no motive to want you dead, but he did confess to taking the wrong aim as it was his first time handling a gun."
Chapter 90: He Was Here There With Her
While Aurora was shocked and confused by the waiter’s confessions, Stella released a deep sigh of relief.
It was good that the waiter didn’t sell her out, but she couldn’t help but feel surprised at how smart he was to say that aiming at Aurora was a mistake.
Stella knew that if the waiter had confessed otherwise, a deeper investigation would have been made and at that time, she wouldn’t be able to escape the punishment for her ruthless actions.
"Mr. Detective, I want to meet the man who killed my husband," Stella said, wiping away the stream of tears on her cheeks. "I refuse to believe he would do something so evil because he was fired from his job. There has to be something more. I want to speak with him."
Stephanie wiped a tear from her eyes and turned to the detective. "Mr. Detective, you have to bring justice to my brother and punish his killer," she said
Half an hour later, the Swift left the police station. While Stella and Olivia branched at the hospital, Aurora returned to their family residence with Stephanie.
Aurora was embittered as she stared out the window in the car. She felt she had been plunged into a deep dark pit and left to die.
The thought of having lost her father forever without the chance of ever reuniting with him hurt her in ways she never knew what was possible. And thinking of the conversation they never completed, and the truth she never got to know was a whole other level of grief on its own.
As Aurora was lost deep in thought, replaying her father’s last moments, her ringing tone went off, calling her attention back to the present. Immediately, she dipped her into her bag and brought out her phone. Seeing Xander’s name displayed on her phone screen, she hurriedly swiped to take the call.
"Sweetheart, how are you?" Xander inquired, his tone, gentle and comforting to the ears.
Aurora shook her head, then remembering he couldn’t see her, she replied, "I don’t know." She honestly didn’t know what to feel.
She was more confused than ever, especially after the visit to the police station. She couldn’t help thinking that something was wrong somewhere. Unfortunately, she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
"Everything is going to be fine, Sweetheart, trust me," Xander said comfortingly and took a short breather before asking, "Are you back from the police station?"
Aurora turned her head to the side, and meeting Stephanie’s gaze she quickly said to him, "Still on our way home."
Xander, being smart, picked up the discomfort in her tone and guessed that she wasn’t alone in the ride, so, he decided not to put her in a spot.
"Call me as soon as you get home. We will continue our conversation on video call."
Aurora nodded in understanding. "Okay. Bye."
As soon as the call ended, she slipped her phone into her bag and turned to face the window, not wanting to meet her Aunt’s gaze.
On the other hand, Stephanie, who wasn’t able to hear anything from the other end, still guessed the identity of the person, but she didn’t say a word. And her reasons for being silent were best known only to her.
---
Stella took Olivia to the hospital and was immediately taken to the doctor’s office a few minutes after their arrival.
They didn’t need to book an appointment to secure a time, only a call of notification was enough.
Sitting in front of the doctor’s desk, Stella spoke, "My daughter has been sick since yesterday, and I’m deeply worried about her health."
The doctor glanced at Stella before shifting her gaze to Olivia. "Can you tell me the symptoms you have been experiencing?"
"Nausea, vomiting, headaches, depression, pains, restlessness, sleep deprivation. The list can go on if I think more about it," Olivia said, gesturing with her hands.
Stella was calm initially when she started off with her symptoms, but towards the middle, her gaze darkened.
The doctor looked between the mother and the daughter and let out a soft sigh. She could tell there was some unspoken incident that happened.
Seeing the doctor’s confusion, Olivia leaned towards the table, "Something tragic happened yesterday which is enough to kill me. That’s why I’m sick, but my Mum has refused to understand it."
"Doctor, look at her face," Stella said, pointing at Olivia. "She looks so pale. She also fainted yesterday. This can’t be from stress alone. In fact, I think she’s pregnant."
The doctor let out a soft sigh as she intertwined her fingers on the table. Not wanting further arguments, she decided to settle the case and go on with her next patient.
It’s not like she was unfamiliar with Stella Swift, but she was in fact, a part of their family’s group of doctors. "We will run a few tests. And if you can wait for the next thirty minutes after it, you will have the results but if you can’t..."
"We will wait," Stella said immediately, cutting off the remaining part of her suggestion.
"Okay," the doctor said and picked up the telephone on her desk. "Please come and take Miss Olivia to run a few tests."
---
As soon as Aurora arrived at their residence, she stepped out of the car and went straight to her bedroom without saying a word to her Auntie.
Shutting the door to her bedroom, she sent a quick text to Abigail, informing her that she was back from the police station, before reaching out to Xander through video call.
"I was in the car with my Dad’s younger sister when you called," Aurora quickly explained after replying to his question of whether she was back home.
"Sweetheart, your eyes are still puffy, and you have dark circles under them. Have you been crying again?" Xander asked as he married his gaze with worry laced in his tone.
"I haven’t been crying much, but I wasn’t able to get enough sleep last night. That horrible scene keeps replaying in my head and I can’t seem to get it off."
Aurora’s eyes became teary again. Remembering her father’s death and the way it happened dealt with her in so many difficult ways. She couldn’t close her eyes and open them without seeing that bloody scene.
Even the sounds of gunshots were often heard in her ears when her mind drifted back to that scene. She wanted to erase that memory so badly that she couldn’t help asking Xander for help after telling him deep things about her thoughts.
"Erasing that memory is possible, but I think you need therapy first. You don’t sound and look good to me, and I’m no longer comfortable," Xander said with deeply furrowed brows.
He could no longer tolerate leaving her alone in this situation. It was already more than enough guilt for him to learn the heartbreaking moments she experienced while he was away on his secret mission but now that he was close to her during this special time of grief, what tangible excuse did he have fid leaving her all alone?
"Sweetheart, I will come pick you up this evening. I want to be with you in these trying times," he said with clarity in his tone without an opportunity to be refuted.
He could have asked for her consent, but understanding that she might not be in the best state to choose an option beneficial to her mental health, he decided on it.
"I can come home myself," Aurora said to him. "Abigail will return this afternoon, and if you are worried about me, she can bring me home. You know we can’t display our closeness because of the situation. Yesterday was an exception."
Even in her grief, Aurora was still rational and worried about her relationship with Xander and how others would perceive it seeing their closeness. But Xander didn’t care about it anymore.
"Sweetheart, I don’t care about any of that anymore. Anyone can think whatever they like, I just want to protect my wife and be with her," Xander stated, looking into her eyes, the ingenuity in his tone, as clear as day.
Aurora nodded before wiping the tears that slipped out the corner of her eyes. "Thank you, Xander. Really... Thank you," she said gratefully as more tears streamed down her cheeks. She was really grateful and relieved to have her husband by her side at this time.
The last time he wasn’t with her made her situation worse but thankfully, he was here with her now, ready to comfort her.
Aurora had no doubts that his presence would bring healing to her mind, heart and soul.
"Shhh... Don’t thank me, Sweetheart. I am your husband," Xander said and stared at her for a few moments, taking in her facial expressions.
Aurora shut her eyes, basking in his warmth as silent tears continued to stream down her eyes. When she opened them again, she sniffed and pinned a grateful gaze on him.
---
Back at the hospital, Olivia snatched the results of the tests from her mother. She simply couldn’t understand the result interpretation chart and went straight down to read the comments.
A few seconds later, she lifted her gaze to meet the doctor’s. "I’m pregnant? How??"
Stella shut her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed by Olivia’s outburst and crazy questions. Was she asking the doctor how she got pregnant or did she mean another thing by that question?
"Doctor, look, I think my daughter is going through a lot. She just got married to her long-time partner as you already know. So, I think she’s just shocked that she fell pregnant after taking precautions," Stella said to the doctor.
"I understand, the doctor replied and spoke to Olivia for a short while before recommending an ultrasound check.
Olivia had refused, but Stella gave her a warning glare. In the end, she got an ultrasound check and even two pictures from the scan before sitting in front of the doctor to listen to her advice.
As soon as Stella and Olivia left the hospital and got into the back of their car, Olivia flared up. "Mum, I don’t understand you. Why are you happy that I’m pregnant when I’m thinking of divorcing Owen?"
"Look, that divorce can no longer happen with this pregnancy," Stella said with a hard stare at her. "At least, until you have the child in your arms."
Olivia scoffed, meeting her gaze in disbelief. This wasn’t their initial plan, but it looked like she had changed her mind. "Mum, what are you talking about? I am not going to keep this child, and I am going to divorce Owen after three months."