'No! No! No! Absolutely not! There's no way I'm going to that party. She's Bianca Warners, and as if she's not popular and rich enough, her soon-to-be husband is Carl O'Neill, a well-known billionaire. Only the crème de la crème, the elite of society, will be there. What are the chances that... that... Bruno or my family will be there too?' I thought, and their faces flashed in my mind. The air in my lungs turned hard like gravel, breathing was like running on knifes and my stomach lurched. My head spun and the world turned grey and blur.'What if I meet them there? I don't know if Sebastian's family or the groom's family have anything to do with my ex or family but they were rich. There was a chance that they could be attend. And what if I go? What if I accidentally bump into any of them? What will they say after seeing me for the first time in five years? Will they mock me? Insult me? Humiliate me in front of Sebastian and everyone? Will they drag me down for their own pleasure lik
'Called it. I knew Bianca would tell him. What's he going to do? Force me to go? Threaten me? Kick me and Tiffany out because I— What was I thinking? For goodness sake, Sebastian isn't like that! Why is it so easy for me to think about him having a negative reaction to everything even after all he has done for me? My trust is—'"Hello? Aurora? Are you there?""Yes? Yes, I am." I coughed, reaching out to the lamp on my bedside table and switching it on. A small stream of light flooded out of it, illuminating the small area."It's night there, isn't it? Are you sleepy?" He asked, and I shook my head. Why did I do that? He was a thousand miles away from me."No, I'm wide awake. I want to put down a few sketches," I replied as I switched my phone from my right to left hand, and I grabbed my sketchbook and pencil on my table, setting them on my lap. The invitation fell to the floor, and I picked it up."Try not to doze off in your studio. It's bad for your back, and you won't be able to ge
'He's... How... Gosh, he's such a flatterer.' A soft pink hue dusted my face, and my stomach did that weird fluttery thing it usually did around him."You really have a smooth tongue. Is that why you're a successful businessman?" I retorted, biting my inner cheek as I tried to stifle a silly smile."It's one of my many charming traits." Sebastian chuckled, and my body warmed at the delicious sound. "So, I can get a gift, right? Anything at all because it's to welcome her.""Yeah, yeah. You won this round." I huffed, and a gust of cold breeze streamed into the room through the open windows.'Cold,' I shivered, rubbing my hands against my arms."I'm glad I did. I should let you concentrate on your work now. Try to get enough sleep.""I will and try not to overwork." I said as I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and threw my legs over the edge of the bed. I stood up from it and walked to the window."I will. Goodnight." "Goodnight." I replied and the call ended with a beep.'Eeh,
'What are the odds that I would bump into my ex or my family? I haven't accidentally crossed paths with any of them in five years; how will just one night change it? And who's to say they would even recognise me if we met? They think I'm dead anyway, and I'm no longer bearing my birth name. I could walk past them, and they wouldn't even know I did.' I thought as I bit my inner cheek. "You're getting it, aren't you?" Dorothy grinned and dropped her hand from my face. "It's not as easy as you think. What if that one night could make all the difference? What if it was the set day for everything to shatter?" I sighed and bowed my head. It was easy to think positively, but I had to be realistic. I hadn't seen my parents or Bruno in the last five years because I wasn't in their circle. I was in places where even their corpse wouldn't be caught dead in. But going to Bianca's engagement meant I was re-entering their world. They wouldn't have to go too far to see me. "I don't know how
*Ding ding*'A new message?' I thought as I slipped my phone out of my pocket and shut the door behind me. 'From Sebastian.'I bit my bottom lip, trying to muffle my silly smile, but I couldn't. Why was I smiling like an idiot because he was messaging me? If someone saw me, they would think I won the lottery or something.I replied as I headed to the kitchen. The leftover pizza suddenly seemed far more delicious than I thought a few minutes before I decided to eat it.*Ring Ring*My ringtone buzzed in the air, and I picked up the call almost immediately. I could have sworn I had won the record of the fastest person to pick up a phone call in history."Hello," I said, biting my inner cheek."What are you doing up this late in the night? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Sebastian chuckled, and I grinned."If you were expecting me to be asleep, why did you message me?" I giggled as I pushed open the kitchen door and I flicked the switch. Light flooded the room, and my stomach gurgle
'That was so mean of him. Why would he play with my feelings like that? Is this how he goes around serenading women he has no feelings for, making them have something for him, and then breaking their hearts when he tells them that he doesn't see them that way? That's so mean. How can he do that? It's disgusting. I—'*Ping*The microwave chimed, announcing my pizza was done and snapping me out of my thoughts.'Finally done. I'm starving.' I breathed, opening the microwave.'And maybe I shouldn't think that way about Sebastian. Do I really think he's the type of guy that would play with a lady's emotions like that? I don't think so. He hasn't given me a reason to.' I set the hot plate on the kitchen island and rushed to the fridge to get a can of soda. I dropped it beside the plate and plopped down on one of the kitchen’s stools. 'But what if that's what he wants me to think? He's doing it in a sneaky way so I doubt myself when I think of it, and I won't see the truth until I'm neck de
"What do you mean?" I asked and downed what was left of my can of soda. "My food is here." Sebastian announced, and I smiled. "Finally. I was beginning to think you lied to me. Hope it isn't coffee and a PB&J sandwich?" I joked. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea, but that's not what I'm having. It's saffron mushroom risotto." He laughed, and small hushed talking sounded in the background. "That sounds yummy. Make sure you eat enough; you need the strength." I advised as I picked up my phone, putting it in my pocket, and I picked up my used dish. "If it makes you happy." He teased, and I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Should I end the call and allow you to eat?" I asked as I washed the plate. "Of course not. If you do, I'm not going to eat any more." "Why? Won't it be more convenient for you to eat without distraction?" I frowned as I wiped the clean dish and placed it with the others in the cupboard. "No. You forced me to eat, so you're going to entertain me while I do
"What!" I gasped as my eyes flung open, and I sat up straight. My phone fell from my face just as fast as I moved, landing on my lap and then bouncing to the ground. "No, no, no." I winced, picking it up and scrutinising every inch of it. "Is anything wrong? Are you hurt?" Sebastian asked, his voice full of worry. "No, I'm fine. My phone just fell. It's not broken or anything." I assured him as I stood up from the bean bag and began placing up and down the studio. "Could you repeat what you said earlier? I didn't hear it." Oh, I heard it alright. I heard it loud and clear but I wanted to believe that it wasn’t a trick of the mind or my brain wasn't braining. He didn't ask what I think I heard, did he? "Oh, I offered to be your date to Bianca's engagement party. Are you interested?" He asked, and I stopped dead in my tracks. 'Oh... Oh! Oh! Oh! He had really asked that! He's really asking me to be his date!' I squealed, pressing my hand to my face. 'Calm down. Calm down. Why am
"What!" I gasped as my eyes flung open, and I sat up straight. My phone fell from my face just as fast as I moved, landing on my lap and then bouncing to the ground. "No, no, no." I winced, picking it up and scrutinising every inch of it. "Is anything wrong? Are you hurt?" Sebastian asked, his voice full of worry. "No, I'm fine. My phone just fell. It's not broken or anything." I assured him as I stood up from the bean bag and began placing up and down the studio. "Could you repeat what you said earlier? I didn't hear it." Oh, I heard it alright. I heard it loud and clear but I wanted to believe that it wasn’t a trick of the mind or my brain wasn't braining. He didn't ask what I think I heard, did he? "Oh, I offered to be your date to Bianca's engagement party. Are you interested?" He asked, and I stopped dead in my tracks. 'Oh... Oh! Oh! Oh! He had really asked that! He's really asking me to be his date!' I squealed, pressing my hand to my face. 'Calm down. Calm down. Why am
"What do you mean?" I asked and downed what was left of my can of soda. "My food is here." Sebastian announced, and I smiled. "Finally. I was beginning to think you lied to me. Hope it isn't coffee and a PB&J sandwich?" I joked. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea, but that's not what I'm having. It's saffron mushroom risotto." He laughed, and small hushed talking sounded in the background. "That sounds yummy. Make sure you eat enough; you need the strength." I advised as I picked up my phone, putting it in my pocket, and I picked up my used dish. "If it makes you happy." He teased, and I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Should I end the call and allow you to eat?" I asked as I washed the plate. "Of course not. If you do, I'm not going to eat any more." "Why? Won't it be more convenient for you to eat without distraction?" I frowned as I wiped the clean dish and placed it with the others in the cupboard. "No. You forced me to eat, so you're going to entertain me while I do
'That was so mean of him. Why would he play with my feelings like that? Is this how he goes around serenading women he has no feelings for, making them have something for him, and then breaking their hearts when he tells them that he doesn't see them that way? That's so mean. How can he do that? It's disgusting. I—'*Ping*The microwave chimed, announcing my pizza was done and snapping me out of my thoughts.'Finally done. I'm starving.' I breathed, opening the microwave.'And maybe I shouldn't think that way about Sebastian. Do I really think he's the type of guy that would play with a lady's emotions like that? I don't think so. He hasn't given me a reason to.' I set the hot plate on the kitchen island and rushed to the fridge to get a can of soda. I dropped it beside the plate and plopped down on one of the kitchen’s stools. 'But what if that's what he wants me to think? He's doing it in a sneaky way so I doubt myself when I think of it, and I won't see the truth until I'm neck de
*Ding ding*'A new message?' I thought as I slipped my phone out of my pocket and shut the door behind me. 'From Sebastian.'I bit my bottom lip, trying to muffle my silly smile, but I couldn't. Why was I smiling like an idiot because he was messaging me? If someone saw me, they would think I won the lottery or something.I replied as I headed to the kitchen. The leftover pizza suddenly seemed far more delicious than I thought a few minutes before I decided to eat it.*Ring Ring*My ringtone buzzed in the air, and I picked up the call almost immediately. I could have sworn I had won the record of the fastest person to pick up a phone call in history."Hello," I said, biting my inner cheek."What are you doing up this late in the night? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Sebastian chuckled, and I grinned."If you were expecting me to be asleep, why did you message me?" I giggled as I pushed open the kitchen door and I flicked the switch. Light flooded the room, and my stomach gurgle
'What are the odds that I would bump into my ex or my family? I haven't accidentally crossed paths with any of them in five years; how will just one night change it? And who's to say they would even recognise me if we met? They think I'm dead anyway, and I'm no longer bearing my birth name. I could walk past them, and they wouldn't even know I did.' I thought as I bit my inner cheek. "You're getting it, aren't you?" Dorothy grinned and dropped her hand from my face. "It's not as easy as you think. What if that one night could make all the difference? What if it was the set day for everything to shatter?" I sighed and bowed my head. It was easy to think positively, but I had to be realistic. I hadn't seen my parents or Bruno in the last five years because I wasn't in their circle. I was in places where even their corpse wouldn't be caught dead in. But going to Bianca's engagement meant I was re-entering their world. They wouldn't have to go too far to see me. "I don't know how
'He's... How... Gosh, he's such a flatterer.' A soft pink hue dusted my face, and my stomach did that weird fluttery thing it usually did around him."You really have a smooth tongue. Is that why you're a successful businessman?" I retorted, biting my inner cheek as I tried to stifle a silly smile."It's one of my many charming traits." Sebastian chuckled, and my body warmed at the delicious sound. "So, I can get a gift, right? Anything at all because it's to welcome her.""Yeah, yeah. You won this round." I huffed, and a gust of cold breeze streamed into the room through the open windows.'Cold,' I shivered, rubbing my hands against my arms."I'm glad I did. I should let you concentrate on your work now. Try to get enough sleep.""I will and try not to overwork." I said as I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and threw my legs over the edge of the bed. I stood up from it and walked to the window."I will. Goodnight." "Goodnight." I replied and the call ended with a beep.'Eeh,
'Called it. I knew Bianca would tell him. What's he going to do? Force me to go? Threaten me? Kick me and Tiffany out because I— What was I thinking? For goodness sake, Sebastian isn't like that! Why is it so easy for me to think about him having a negative reaction to everything even after all he has done for me? My trust is—'"Hello? Aurora? Are you there?""Yes? Yes, I am." I coughed, reaching out to the lamp on my bedside table and switching it on. A small stream of light flooded out of it, illuminating the small area."It's night there, isn't it? Are you sleepy?" He asked, and I shook my head. Why did I do that? He was a thousand miles away from me."No, I'm wide awake. I want to put down a few sketches," I replied as I switched my phone from my right to left hand, and I grabbed my sketchbook and pencil on my table, setting them on my lap. The invitation fell to the floor, and I picked it up."Try not to doze off in your studio. It's bad for your back, and you won't be able to ge
'No! No! No! Absolutely not! There's no way I'm going to that party. She's Bianca Warners, and as if she's not popular and rich enough, her soon-to-be husband is Carl O'Neill, a well-known billionaire. Only the crème de la crème, the elite of society, will be there. What are the chances that... that... Bruno or my family will be there too?' I thought, and their faces flashed in my mind. The air in my lungs turned hard like gravel, breathing was like running on knifes and my stomach lurched. My head spun and the world turned grey and blur.'What if I meet them there? I don't know if Sebastian's family or the groom's family have anything to do with my ex or family but they were rich. There was a chance that they could be attend. And what if I go? What if I accidentally bump into any of them? What will they say after seeing me for the first time in five years? Will they mock me? Insult me? Humiliate me in front of Sebastian and everyone? Will they drag me down for their own pleasure lik
"Hello. It's good to see you again, Aurora." Bianca smiled the moment the door opened."It's good to see you too. Please come in." I replied, ushering her into the foyer, and I slid the door shut."Where is my pesky brother? He hasn't left, has he? He told me he wasn't flying till evening." She asked, sashaying to the living room like she owned the place. What was I saying? Her brother owned the place, so she could sashay however she wanted—not that I minded."He has. Something came up, so he had to leave earlier." I explained, walking behind her."It must be serious if he forgot to tell me." She mused as she sat on the couch."Can—""Oh, what's this?" She smiled, grabbing the teddy bear by her side and holding it to her face. "Aw, so cute.""Oh, that's for my daughter, Tiffany." I replied as I sat on the other couch."I had teddy bears like this when I was—""M back." Tiffany announced, skipping into the living room with her crayon and paper in hand. Her gaze fell on Bianca, and she