Chapter 3

Aurelia's POV

I woke up to voices around me, my head was pounding, it felt like someone was drilling holes in it. I winced and snuggled deeper into my pillow. Hold on, when did my pillow become so hard?

Cold water soaked my body and I opened my eyes immediately and let out a little scream and jerked up.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked in a groggy voice and rubbed my temples, my head's pounding increased.

Father, Lucia, and Owen stood at the foot of my bed staring at me with contempt, Father held the empty cup in his hand, he handed the cup to Owen and moved towards me, before I could react, a slap landed on my cheek.

I cried out in shock.

"Father, what's going on? Why did you do that?" I held my bruised cheek, in all my years my father had never laid a hand on me.

"How could you do this to your sister, you slut?" He yelled, I didn't understand what he talking about.

"I don't understand, I didn't do anything to Lucia." I cried, I tried to think about what I could have done but my mind was a blur.

"You're naked, in bed with your sister's fiancé. Why am I not surprised, you're just like your mother."

" Can all of you shut the fuck up and go settle your family dispute outside my room?" A deep voice growled by my side.

What! My head almost exploded, I turned to see Judah lying next to me naked. I couldn't hold back my scream this time. I screamed as loud as I could and almost fainted.

"Shut up, just fucking shut up. After this deceptive move that you've made, you have the guts to act innocent." Owen snapped at me. He grabbed me by my arm and dragged me out of the room and took me to my father's office, Father and Lucia followed.

" I'm not acting, I'm innocent. I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember was going to my room." I paused and suddenly remembered Lucia and the bottle of wine.

"Lucia!" I called out. " You were in my room, you brought a bottle of wine and asked me to drink it with you. That's the last thing I remember. Lucia, tell them that I was with you. I don't know how I got here." I looked at my sister, waiting for her to vindicate me.

Lucia burst into tears, " Dad, I don't know what she's talking about. I didn't have wine with her, I was with Owen all evening. She's lying. Dad, she slept with my fiancé." Father pulled her in for a hug and rubbed her back gently.

I couldn't believe Lucia's words, why did she throw me under the bus, I've never done anything wrong to her. Tears rolled down my face and I couldn't stop them, my heart split into a million pieces.

"You whore, you've broken your sister's heart. How could you do this to her? I'm going to throw you out on the street, I will make you suffer, no daughter of mine will do this. " Not caring that I was naked, I fell at my father's feet. I knew he wasn't bluffing, he could ruin my life with a word.

"Father, please don't do this. Father, please I'm so sorry, please forgive me." I grabbed his leg and he kicked me away causing me to fall on my buttocks.

"Get away from me, you can't change my mind. You're a disgrace, I want nothing to do with you. I don't even want to see your face. You will leave this house immediately." Father's face was red, he looked ready to kill.

"Daddy, please stop. It hasn't come to this, I might be hurt but I won't be able to sleep at night, knowing that my sister was alone on the streets, we can think of another punishment for her." Lucia rubbed Father's arm and he looked down at her like she was an angel who could do no wrong.

"Lucia, you're so kind. If it was me, I would toss her out like the stray cat she was." Owen snarled, I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I was embarrassed about the position I was in and I was also angry with him for not standing by me. It showed how little he trusted me.

"Owen is right, Lucia, you're too kind. Aurelia, you're lucky to have a sister like Lucia, she's your saving grace. Lucia, what do you want her punishment to be?" Father glared at me. I bowed my head low.

"Father, I don't think I would be able to make Judah, knowing fully well that he had slept with my sister. Anytime he touches me, I'll be wondering if he's thinking about her. Since she has already slept with him, it is only fair that she marry him."

Suddenly it all made sense to me, a bitter laughter escaped my lips. It was suddenly clear, this was all planned, this was Lucia's plan. She must have put something in my drink to knock me out unconscious and then put me in Judah's bed. She must have had help, who would help her to cry out her devilish plan. Owen's name popped into my head, of course it was him but why he helped her, I couldn't figure it out.

My sister had done this to me, she had degraded me and made me a cheap slut, I was never going to forgive her for this.

"Lucia, I get where you're coming from but are you sure? Judah is your betrothed, he belongs to you, you would be a far better wife for him than this slut." Father said.

Lucia sniffled and wiped a few fake tears away, ". Dad, you have to see it from my point of view, I don't want to be the other woman. She should marry him, she obviously wants him so much that she couldn't hold herself back. That's what I want her punishment to be."

Father sighed, " Okay, if that's what you want I'll do it. You know I can never refuse you."

" Thank you, Daddy." Lucia hugged Father tightly and beamed, he returned her smile before returning to his cold self as he looked at me.

"Get the fuck up, we're going to meet your new fiancé" I knew better than to argue, I was done begging and trying to defend myself.

I got up meekly and headed to the door with Owen leading the way. I paused at the door and turned slowly.

"Can I please go to my room and get dressed?" I asked. Broken and dejected, I was now aware of my nakedness.

Father glared at me, " Why? It's not like he hasn't seen it all already. It's too late to start acting like you're a saint."

" Please, can I at least wear your blazer?" His dark blue blazer hung on the armchair in his office, Father looked at me like I had just asked to drive his most expensive car.

"Of course not, you're not touching any of my belongings, you're filthy. Now, stop delaying us and move." I swallowed my shame and walked out of his office. Owen made sure I was at the front leading the way to the living room, my hands went to cover my privates but it was no use. Our servants and some of my father's men looked at me as I passed, some had the decency to look away while others looked at me to their fill.

In the living room, Father sat down, and Owen and Lucia did as well, I tried to but the sharp glance from Father stilled me, someone had been sent to call Judah, the servant returned and said Judah will be joining us soon.

Judah took his sweet time and arrived almost thirty minutes later, he barely spared me a glance and sat down. He had changed back into his suit and he looked devilishly handsome and unbothered.

"Judah, I apologize on behalf of Aurelia, I still can not wrap my head around what she did but the deed is done and we have to move on." Father's face is etched with regret and fear.

"I understand, no one should be held responsible for the actions of their adult children. Yes, we should move on. The wedding is still in two weeks right?" Judah waved dismissively. His focus was entirely on his phone.

How could he be so unbothered and why the hell was no one insulting him, he was also guilty as well, he must have known that I wasn't Lucia and he still got into bed with me. He also knew that we didn't do anything together, he could vindicate me by just telling Father the truth but he refused to. I hate him, I can't wait to be married to him, I would make his life hell.

Father cleared his throat, " Ahem, well, I've discussed it with my daughter, Lucia and she says that she can't get married to you after everything that has happened but don't worry, Aurelia will be your new bride, she was already eager to be with you so it's a win-win situation. I apologize for giving you someone substantial but what can we do." He sighed and shook his head sadly.

Tears gathered once again but I shook them off, willing myself not to cry. They didn't deserve my tears, they betrayed me.

I squared my shoulders and stared Judah in the eye, waiting for him to make his decision. A small hint of a smile graced his lips.

"Aurelia huh, I have no problem with which of your daughters I marry, even if she is substantial, she would have to do. See you in two weeks." Judah stood and walked out of the house, stomping all over the remaining shards of my heart.