Chapter Four: Is there no other way out?

An aggressive knock on the door woke Mia up. Taking her time to bathe properly, she came out feeling refreshed.

Perhaps the person on the other side of the door was persistent in disturbing her peaceful morning.

Abruptly opening the door, Aurora didn't have much time to change her ugly expression and it was caught by Mia.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" Flashing a sweet smile, she found a comfortable spot to sit.

"I saw everything on the internet yesterday. They don't know much about you yet their tongue is vicious".

At this point, Mia had no choice but to burst into tears and seek comfort in the arms of Aurora.

"It's alright little cousin, we know you are not half as bad as they think '', rubbing her hair, Aurora's lips arched mysteriously.

Mia almost had the urge to think about what she had said. Nevertheless, she tossed it to the back of her mind. It sounded pleasant but something was missing.

"Shopping for some dinner gowns can lift your spirit. Come on, get dressed, and let's grab some food on our way".

It took them barely thirty minutes to get there. The shop attendants were particularly attentive towards Aurora. This is because she owned a gold membership card for their store.

She strolled around the exclusive part of the shop and forgot about Mia. The latter walked aimlessly because she wasn't interested in getting anything.

At the moment her gaze was fixed on a certain dinner gown, some other person snatched it away suddenly.

"Wrap it up for me", a skinny and haughty lady flipped her thin hair to the side.

Mia shook her head and went away. Why do these people attack her every time they meet her? 

Thankfully, she was covered with a face cap and mask so one would easily recognize her.

The lady felt humiliated by Mia's calm demeanour and decided to teach her a lesson.

This brat made her look like a shrew. So what if you feel like some big shot? I will teach you a lesson.

"Hey, who do you think you are?" the lady's sharp nails dug into Mia's shoulders and she winced in pain.

Shoving her away, the lady slammed into mannequins and some delicate jewellery cases.

Seeing that a huge box full of priceless jewellery was about to fall, Mia sprinted and used her body to cushion the effect of the fall.

During this period a big commotion broke out, and the top managers of the store came out.

Mia's forehead dripped with cold sweat as she searched for Aurora in the crowd.

"What? Did she push the other lady away?"

"Can she afford to pay for these clothes and jewellery?"

"Are we sure she came to shop?"

"Sometimes we need to be careful of who we let into our business places"

"No, no, I didn't intentionally push her. She had hurt me", Mia couldn't stand their accusations.

"Don't try to shirk responsibility. You have to pay for these damages", a lady sneered.

Despite her protests, the crowd continued to capture the scene with their phone.

Someone took away her cap and another ripped off her mask but Mia wasn't fast enough to cover her face.

Her frightened look was captured by the camera.

"Hello, please make way. That's my cousin you all are bullying". Aurora stood in a defensive stance in front of Mia.

"That's Aurora Arturo, quickly capture her sweet smile. Omg! I finally get to see my idol".

"She had just debuted as a runway model".

"Why is there such a huge difference between the two of them?"

"Perhaps you didn't know this. They are cousins. One is vicious, the other is an angel".

"Aurora, we all support you and look forward to your next show".

"Thank you everyone for your compliments. I promise to do my best. Can you promise, you all will delete the videos?"

"Of course. We are deleting it right away".

Hearing the excited voices of her fans, she was over the moon with joy.

Taking that opportunity, Aurora crept out of the mall with Mia. The latter felt something was wrong with the situation that took place.

"Mia, I suggest you keep a low profile these days. It won't be unusual if you are hit with rotten eggs", she looked out of the car window.

"Can you take me to KPZ? I want to see Alessandro right away".

"Do you want to get yourself killed? Alessandro doesn't love you anymore. You need to move on".

"I need an explanation from him. How dare he treat me in that manner? We are engaged".

"Verbal or written? Who were the witnesses? Has he held your hands before? Has he ever professed his love to you?"

Mia shook her head in a dazed state. Aurora gave her a look that said she was nothing but a stupid person.

"This weekend, there is a socialization party and we are going together. You may be lucky, a young man may be interested….. Promise me that you will come to the party".

Mia bobbed her head like a child who is promised candy to stop him or her from crying.

Alessandro called at that moment and Aurora had a look only women in love have. Mia felt stifled in her heart and breathed out slowly.

"Your boyfriend?"

Aurora nodded in a shy manner and her smile stung her cousin's eyes.

"But I thought I heard Alesaandro's voice".

"What? No way!" her voice was shrill and she panicked visibly.

"Well, maybe it's my thoughts and I heard wrongly", Mia shrugged and laughed.

"Yes, you miss him so much. That's why you thought it was him".

Aurora's eyes darted to and fro as she observed Mia's expression. When it looked normal and without suspicion, she heaved a sigh of relief.

………..

Mia opened the door to see her uncle Carlo Arturo having dinner with her grandmother. 

Her uncle had not been coming home often for as long as she could remember.

"Here she comes, quickly tell her the outcome. She knows how to make me angry to death", the old lady hit her walking stick on the ground.

Carlo avoided meeting his niece's eyes. Instead, he wiped his hands and out some documents from his briefcase. Calling her to come over, he patted a seat beside him.

"Mia, there is so much trouble in the company right now. The shareholders are threatening to get their shares back. If that happens the company won't exist anymore".

Mia's heart skipped a bit and she stared at her uncle without saying a word.

"Well, if you want to keep your parents legacy, you have to let me manage your shares from now on. Also, we have to let the public know that you are no longer part of the Arturos. This is a ploy to turn the public opinion around to favour the company".

Mia felt like she was struck with lightning and her heart was filled with unease. She clenched her fist and looked at her uncle with red watery eyes.

"Uncle….. Is there no other way out? Must I give up my shares and my position in the family?"

"I……I…. have tried my best to keep the company together. If it falls apart then there is nothing I can do. These arrangements are temporary. Once everything is over. You get your shares and position back".