Chapter 1.

AURELIA'S P.O.V

Stepping out of the shower wrapped in my towel, I sit in front of my vanity table before pulling out my hair dryer from one of the drawers and then blow drying my hair. Staring back at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but think if I was doing the right thing. A part of me believed that I was but then another part of me knew that I wasn't, I wasn't ready for this next step. 

  Nevertheless, I style my hair after blow drying and then coat my face with just the right amount of make-up. Satisfied with my look, I step into my white body con strap dress and silver heels. Spritzing my perfume, I take in a deep breath as I try to alleviate my anxiety. 

"It's all gonna be okay Aurelia, you love Cooper...heck you've loved him since college so there should be no problem...yeah" I met Cooper when we were in College, he was a friend to my friends boyfriend. My friend Celia and her boyfriend Ralph, his friend Cooper who's now my boyfriend, and I all linked up in a bar/club get-together which Celia had organized. To be completely fair I really needed the fun as a stress relieve from all the hectic work which I had undergone for the past few weeks. During the course of the night, I had taken one-too many drinks which ended up with Cooper and I having a drunken one night-stand at my apartment. A few days later we happened to bump into each other when I had gone for my lunch break, he had stated that he was around the area for work and we just sort of hit it off. Took a few dates, a few kisses here and there and of course about two or three sexcapades before we finally became official. Cooper and I had been dating for roughly a year and a half and I love him or at least I think I do, but recently we haven't really been seeing things eye to eye and it's put a strain on the relationship, not to mention the fact that i'm keeping a secret from him...a secret which was my utmost shame.

Just then I hear the doorbell ding signifying that Cooper had arrived. Spritzing myself once more and doing a once-over, I walk over to the door and open it to be met with a smiling Cooper who looked handsome as always, God how did I get so lucky?

"Hey...um, wow...you look gorgeous." A blush rises on my cheeks at his compliment, he was the sweetest.

Tucking my hair behind my ear I reply, "Thanks, you too."

"Shall we?" He asks and I nod in response, accepting his outstretched arm as he walks me to his car. The journey is silent as he drives but I welcome it as it gives me more time to calm my antsy nerves as I watch the buildings flash by.

"You alright?" Turning my neck to look at him, I force a smile trying to hide my nervousness.

Offering a tight-lipped smile i nod, "Yeah, I'm fine I'm just....I guess I'm just looking forward to meeting your parents." Grabbing my hand in his, he raises it up to his mouth before kissing the back of my hand and then looking back at the road.

"I'm sure you'll do fine babe and they'll love you, I love you so don't fret okay?" His words bring me little comfort so I just smile at him gratefully.

 Within the next 30 minutes we pull up to the curb of a top-notch restaurant, a valet comes around collecting the car keys from Cooper before driving away after we step out of the car.

The inside of the restaurant is just as beautiful if not even more beautiful than the outside. As I continue to feast my eyes on the beauty if the room, I'm suddenly nudged on my side by Cooper who motions to a couple sitting at a table. 

"Those are my parents over there, c'mon." As we draw closer to them I could see how beautiful his mother was up close but i couldn't see his dad as he had his back turned to me.

"Oh there they are." His mother smiles as she gets up to hug her son before turning to me with a smile still on her face, she hugs me for a few seconds before pulling away, while Cooper greets his dad.

"And you must be Aurelia, my goodness are you a beauty. Cooper didn't do you any justice when he talked about how lovely you are." Her eyes held a twinkle and I just knew that we'd get along well. 

"You flatter me Mrs Milkaelson, I see where Cooper gets his flattery from. And allow me to say that you're absolutely stunning."

"Thank you sweetheart, and please call me Caroline. Come have a seat." She ushers me, just as Cooper pulls out a seat for me. All the while I had yet to meet his father. "Darling isn't she wonderful? Aurelia i'd like to introduce you to my husband Thorne." 

"It's a ple-" I freeze as my words get caught in my throat as I look at him. It can't be, it can't possibly be. What were the chances? 

"Babe you okay?" I could barely hear Cooper call out to me as I continue to stare at his father who also held my gaze, but it was bare, almost without recognition as if he didn't know who I was, or could I be mistaken?

Blinking rapidly, I shake my head as I put on a fake smile which I hoped looked sincere enough, "Yeah I'm sorry, I just uh...it's nothing. My apologies, it's a pleasure to meet you Sir." A few seconds later, he smiled warmly at me.

"Same Aurelia." Unconsciously, my tongue darts out to wet my lips as I listen to him speak while taking in his features, he was beyond handsome. 

"Well now that we've gotten the introductions out of the way shall we eat because I'm starving." Caroline says as the atmosphere becomes lightened by quiet laughter and talks. All through the dinner time I struggled to hold my composure as my eyes flickered over to Thorne one too many times and I just knew that I was in for a long night.