Chapter 10.Luther's POV. A Master's Control. The car finally stopped. "Sir, we have arrived," Luke's voice cut through the fog in my head. I wasn't really asleep, more like… numb. Today had been a shitshow dealing with those two-bit thugs.Luke hurried to get my wheelchair, helping me settle into it. I hated this chair, but it was my reality now, A show I have to always put on for people. As he pushed me towards the entrance, I heard voices, Mom and Maya, and a third, softer voice. Arguing. Always freaking arguing."... How are you even still breathing?" Mom's voice dripped with venom. "After Luther found out you weren't the woman he thought he was marrying, he still let you stay? Unbelievable!"Aurora. Damn it. I forgot she was here. This was going to be a disaster. She hadn't met Mom yet."Luke, you can… go take care of something else," I said, flicking my hand dismissively."Okay, boss!" He saluted and disappeared.Taking a deep breath, I shoved open the doors and rolled insid
Aurora's POV. 11. The weight Of Luther's Name.I hurried into the bathroom, splashed some water on my body, and quickly changed. I could feel Luther's eyes on me the entire time, a heavy, unsettling gaze that followed my every move until I was finally done.I grabbed the purse he bought me, the one sitting on the bed, and saw him fiddling with his drawer. He took off the necklace he always wore and shoved it into a locked compartment within the drawer. "Was he always this secretive?" I wondered. Then he wheeled towards me, holding a small velvet box.He flipped it open, revealing a necklace that glowed under the light. It looked expensive, and… personal. Then it hit me. I’d seen it before. That's the necklace in the photograph, the one adorning the woman's neck in that framed picture on the wall."Take this and put it on," he ordered, his voice flat."No," I blurted out. The word escaped before I could even think."What?" He snapped, visibly angered. His eyes hardened.I rushed t
Aurora's POV. 12. Aurora's Rebellion."Well, well... look who’s the latest bride around here!"Maya's voice was dripping with hatred. I just turned a deaf ear to her and kept strolling over to the sink to wash my hands.Suddenly, she grabbed my hand, yanking me back. It was like she had a metal clamp around my hand. I stumbled, almost falling, but caught myself."I don't like you," she spat, her eyes narrowed."I know." I shot back without even thinking. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. She clearly wasn't expecting me to be so blunt."I don't get why you're even here. From the moment I saw you, I knew I didn’t like you. You're not good for my brother," she continued, her voice sharp."Oh, really? I'm not good for him? Who could possibly be good for your crippled brother, Maya?" I said, a little smile playing on my lips. It was a low blow, I knew, but I was tired of her attitude. I turned to the washing sink to wash my hands.Her face twisted. "What?""What in the world did yo
Aurora's POV 13. Aurora's Hidden Desires. Finally, we reached home. Maya and Mom weren't back yet. I figured Luther was just tired; that's why he rushed us out of the event. Now the whole world knows Luther Hawthorne is married. I really hope I don't have to attend another one of those things.Luther practically rolled into the house, while I was still stuck at the doorstep, snagged my heel on something. Frustration was bubbling up inside me."Brother, you're back!"That voice... it sounded so familiar. I looked up, shut the door behind me, and there he was. Richard.I've been trying to see that foolish son of the Hawthorne family for a while now. It's ridiculous that I ever loved him, and now look at where it's led me.His arms were wide open as he walked towards Luther, ready for a brotherly greeting. My face twisted. I quickly moved to stand next to Luther."Brother, congratulations! I had prior business plans, which is why I missed the wedding." Richard rubbed his hand over h
Luther's POV. 14. The Game of Cat and Mouse.The sound of my wheels grinding to a halt on the marble floor echoed in the silence. She’d stopped me. Aurora. My Aurora. God, even thinking the word “my” felt like a dangerous indulgence."If you can't spill what's eating you, why'd you stop me?" My voice came out harsher than intended, a gravelly growl born of built-up frustration and carefully constructed distance. I continued without giving her a chance to answer. "And don't even think about offering to help me bathe. I can damn well manage myself." Each word was laced with ice, a warning shot across her bow.I knew. I knew what she wanted. The way she fidgeted in the doorway, the almost faint tremor in her voice... It all screamed of a desire she couldn't quite express, a hunger for something she knew was forbidden. That awareness, that powerful mix of her desire and my own restless craving, ignited a fire in my veins. I wanted to punish her. For wanting me. For tempting me. And
Luther's POV. 15. Aurora's Punishment.I slammed my hand on the bedside, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. Rage choked me. "Wake up!" I barked, my voice raw.Aurora jolted, her eyes wide with what she probably hoped looked like innocence. "L-Luther?" she stuttered, her voice thick with fake sleep. The sight of her play-acting made my stomach churn.I leaned over her, my shadow swallowing her face. "Don't play dumb with me, Aurora," I growled, each word a threat. "I saw you outside the door. I know you were eavesdropping. I know you saw me... moving. Walking"She quickly looked away, a knowing blush spreading across her neck. Busted. She knew she was caught, and now she was scrambling for a way out. Pathetic."Look at me, Aurora," I demanded, grabbing her chin and forcing her face up. "Look me in the eye and tell me the truth."Her eyes met mine, a mix of fear and resistance churning inside them. I could practically taste her panic."Tell me, Aurora," I pressed, my grip ti
Luther's POV. 16. The Dark Side of Desire."Come on," I growled, yanking her up from the table. Before she could react, I had her pinned. My hand tightened, not enough to crush, but enough to let her know I was in control. A possessive anger throbbed in my gut.Then I was kissing her. Her damned lips were soft, softer than anything she deserved. A dangerous kind of soft that made me want to ruin them, bite them, claim them as mine.She actually kissed back, a flicker of defiance in her eyes and it ignited something rough and demanding inside me. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, tasting her, invading. My fingers tightened on her throat, just a little."Mmm... mmm..." she mumbled, trying to pull away. Not a chance. I pressed my hand harder against the back of her neck, forcing her lips back onto mine. She choked, a tiny, desperate sound.I released her, dropping her to her knees. My hands were shaking slightly, a mix of fury and something else I didn't want to name. I fumbled wit
Aurora's POV. 17. Price to pay for desire. "Luther... it's money that I want" My voice was shaky, barely a whisper.It was as if the words turned to dust on my tongue..He was still gripping the bathroom door handle, back to me. I couldn't read him. Would he even consider it? My heart hammered against my ribs. This whole plan felt flimsy, desperate.He finally turned, his voice was rough, demanding. "How much?"I rushed it out, before I could chicken out. "One hundred million." My voice sounded too sharp, too greedy. I tried to sound confident, but I was anything but.His eyebrows furrowed. "One hundred what?"He let go of the door and turned to face me fully. A wave of heat washed over me, but it was mixed with dread.One hundred million... it was a ridiculous amount. But he had it. He was worth more than that. And I was his wife, wasn't I? Shouldn't that count for something? But god, who was I kidding? He didn't love me. Who was I to ask for anything? I was just a pawn in his gam
Aurora's POV. Aurora Is Pregnant!I stood frozen, my heart thudding in my chest, eyes locked on Mia as she stumbled toward the exit with mother guiding her like a disgraced dog being dragged out the house.It should’ve felt like a victory. It didn’t.My fingers gripped the edge of the couch, knuckles white. My breath wasn't stable. The silence in the room wasn’t peaceful—it was dangerous. Sharp. Like walking barefoot on broken glass.I watched them walk… one step… two steps…And then something inside me snapped.“Stop!”My voice came out lower than I expected—firm, deadly calm.They both stopped immediately, right at the middle of the hallway, inches away from the front door.Mother turned her head halfway, not fully, just enough to let me know she heard me but didn’t think I was worth turning around for.I rose slowly, arms folded over my chest. My heels clicked against the floor as I walked toward them. I wasn’t rushing. No. This moment needed to be felt.I moved like a ticking tim
Aurora's POV. Unmasking The Truth!I leaned by the wall in the sitting room, sipping from the same bottle Mia had knocked out of my hand earlier. My lips still tingled from the cold water. My fingers wrapped tighter around the bottle as I scrolled through my phone. I chuckled at a meme. Not because it was that funny, but because I wanted to. Because my laugh, like my hum, was mine to control.I started humming again. Not sweet. Not soft. Just loud enough to cut through the silence.That’s when I heard the heavy footsteps of Luther.He came downstairs, files in his hand—the ones he had demanded from Luke earlier. His presence was heavy, like always. The way the floorboards responded to him, the way the air shifted—."Where's Mia?" he barked.I didn’t answer.I didn’t flinch.I wasn’t going to show him where to find her. Not because of how she tried to humiliate me. Not after she touched me. Because I wasn't ready to speak to him yet. I stayed leaning, kept sipping, kept scrolling.
Aurora's POV. I saw luke coming towards me. Definitely he didn't come to see me. He'd be heading towards Luther's Private room.I knew he was hiding something the moment I saw the folder.He was always too clean, too sharp, too... disciplined. Every time he came into the estate, it was always on strict business. No lingering. No chatter. Just yes ma’am, no ma’am.But today?Today, his hands were clenched around a thick brown file like it held the goddamn truth of the universe.And he didn’t expect to find me standing in the hallway.Our eyes locked. Brief. Intense. His expression shifted in less than a second, like he was trying to tuck away whatever he wasn’t ready to share."Going somewhere?" I asked smoothly, stepping away from the wall I’d been leaning against.Luke adjusted his collar. “Just here to see the boss.”My eyes dropped to the file in his hand. "What's in the file?"He didn't answer.I smiled, but there was no humor in it. “Let me guess. Evidence? Information? Somethin
Luther's POV. Filth and Fire. The night felt like a noose tightening around my neck.I couldn't sleep.Not because I believed Aurora and Not because I believed Mia either.But because something was fucking off.My steps were slow as I pushed Mia’s door open without knocking. She sat at her vanity, brushing her hair like she was waiting for me. Like she already knew I’d come.Her eyes met mine in the mirror. “Couldn’t sleep?”I didn’t answer.I stepped in, shutting the door behind me.She turned on the stool, legs crossed, lips curled.“Let me guess,” she said softly, “Aurora’s little tantrum got to you.”“Mia,” I said calmly, standing by the wall. “I need the truth.”Her smile barely wavered. “I told you the truth.”I stepped forward, stopping just a few feet from her. “Don’t waste my time.”She stood now, slowly, like she was performing for me. Her robe slid down her shoulder just enough to expose the curve of her breast. She walked closer, hips swaying, voice dropping.“Luther… do
Aurora's POV. Mia's Manipulation. (The Game Turned!)I didn’t plan to make a scene. But I couldn't let this go.Not anymore.I stood firm in the middle of Mia’s room, facing them both, my chest heaving. My voice came out sharp, cutting the thick air between us.“So all this time, you were faking it? You’ve been lying to Luther. To everyone. There is no baby.”Mia’s face twisted, caught between panic and rage.“You heard that?” Richard muttered behind her, like he couldn’t believe it either.“Oh, I heard every damn word,” I snapped.My fists clenched at my sides. My head spun but I forced my voice to stay strong. “I think it’s time the rest of the family heard it too.”“No!” Mia barked, lunging again, but I was already backing away toward the door.I turned and stormed down the hallway, then the stairs. My voice echoed through the Hawthorne mansion like thunder.“Everyone, come down here! Now!”I didn’t care anymore.Maya was the first to appear from the right hallway, heels clicking
Aurora's POV. Luther slowly pulled the kitchen door open, and there stood Richard—with an empty plate in hand and that same smug look dancing on his lips.“This place reeks of sex,” he muttered, stepping in like he owned the house. “And sex… damn.”My heart skipped. I adjusted Luther’s shirt around me, pulling the sides closer, but Richard’s eyes were already all over me.“And… um, Aurora,” Richard added with a sly smirk, “I didn’t know you looked this sexy when… undressed. I mean, look at you. In Luther’s shirt. And nothing else, huh?”Before I could even blink, the door slammed behind him.Luther.His face was unreadable—jaw tight, fists buried deep into his pockets, eyes locked on his brother like he was trying to keep from pouncing.“No offense, brother,” Richard said, as if daring him. “Just admiring the creation. After all, she put it on so all can see.”“Speak again,” Luther said, his voice low, controlled, dangerous. “Say one more fucking thing… and I swear to God, I’ll cut o
Aurora's POV. Eat Me Up, Fuck! “I want to fucking eat you, Aurora,” he said, his lips brushing my ear. “Here. Now. Hard.” I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the edge of the counter tighter. His touch was slow, teasing, but filled with fire. He pressed closer, the heat of his body swallowing me whole. I gasped, caught between the madness and the need. My legs tensed, heat spreading through me as his hands trailed my body with purpose. My voice was barely a whisper. “Luther…” He didn’t give me a chance to say more. All I knew was his hands, his mouth, his body—claiming me in a space that made my knees weak and my mind forget everything but him. His breath was hot against my neck as he bent down—Now on his knees, gripping my thighs with both hands. Suddenly, he lifted my legs and placed them on his shoulders, his face now buried between my thighs. I tilted back, my hands spreading out on the cold counter behind me for support, my chest rising and falling fast. “Luther... damn..
Aurora's POV. Suddenly, Luther walked in, tall, commanding, fresh from a call, his shirt a little unbuttoned and that cool shadow of danger resting on his face like always. I followed him straight into the dining room, too nervous to even breathe properly. My hands were shaking slightly as I placed the plate down in front of him. This was it. My first damn attempt at making breakfast for him. My first time ever holding a pan in this godforsaken house. And despite the insults, the sabotage, the mockery—I did it. Or so I thought. Luther sat down, glancing at the food once, then at me. His brows lifted slightly. "You cooked this?" I nodded, trying not to fidget. "Like you said...” A beat passed before he picked up the cutlery and took the first bite. I waited. His jaw stopped moving. Then it tightened. He swallowed hard—and not in a good way. His eyes lifted slowly, sharply locking onto mine. “What the fuck is this?” My stomach dropped. “What?” He picked up the fork agai
Aurora's POV. The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I regretted it.Not because of the chores I knew I was being forced into, or the fact that I hadn’t even touched a pan since Luther dragged me into his hellish palace. No. I regretted it because of the woman standing by the counter, arms folded, lips curled in that permanent sneer of disapproval.Mother in-law.She didn’t say anything at first. Just watched me—head to toe—as if the very sight of me gave her indigestion. Her gaze locked on the shirt I wore, Luther’s shirt, barely buttoned up to my thighs. I hadn’t bothered to change. Why should I? If Luther didn’t mind seeing me like this, why should she?But mother was already biting down on the opportunity. I could see it in her face.“What an entrance,” she said finally, her voice sharp as broken glass. “You parade around in my Luther's clothes like some... desperate whore in heat.”I stopped in front of the sink, refusing to look at her just yet. “Good morning to you too, Mother