_________________________...~ ROWAN KELLER ~"What could have I said wrong?" I thought out loud as I iced my nose."You must have said something really really dumb if a pacifist like Rory went and head-butted you." Ashton could not help but snort out loud at the end.My dumb best friend had been trying to be supportive about the situation. But he could not help but crack jokes and laugh like a hyena every time he looked at me.It was not funny. But I knew that me getting riled up would only have him laughing harder."Well, you are not telling me exactly what happened. You both had sex. That's progress. But what else did you talk about?"I did not want to tell him about Aurora's feelings for me. Not when she had gotten that mad about me wanting to give our marriage a chance even though she had admitted to loving me. Could I blame her? Umm... No. I was the biggest dick to her for the longest time. It was a wonder why she had even agreed to go on with this farce with me for this lon
___________________________..."I don't want to be here." Ashton hissed."Why? You hate us or something? You hate my sweet Rory?" Zoe gasped dramatically as she threw both her arms around me."Funny." Ashton huffed and then turned to me. "Don't believe a word your husband tells you. He is a liar. Pathological liar."He turned to stick his tongue out at a glaring Rowan and then quickly turned back to me."Except what he told you in the morning. About the marriage. Trust me, he meant every word."Zoe chuckled and I gave her a look. As if my life was not complicated enough, I was being subjected to this right now."So Zoe, what do you do for a living?" Ashton asked after clearing his throat."I am a travel vlogger." Zoe shrugged. "I have a Youtube channel with my ex-boyfriend.""On and off boyfriend." I corrected."It's done for real this time." Zoe insisted."Sure." I nodded.She gave me a look which I returned with a sugary sweet smile."So Zoe, you must take great pictures right?"
___________________________..."Rule number fifty-six in life - When you are trying to woo your wife, do not ditch her for your ex-mistress." I gave Ashton a look. "Mistress?""It was an extra-marital affair. You may call her ex-girlfriend all you want but she was nothing more than your mistress." "Okay I get your point. But hear me out, I did not see it coming and Rory just left without saying anything, trapping me with that woman." "You could have run for your life." Ashton rolled his eyes. "I would have."I didn't have anything to argue with that. He was right, I should have run for my life. But I waited behind to hear what Ophelia had to say. First, it was about how hard her life had been lately and how much of a douchebag her present boyfriend was. I saw no reason to leave. She was keeping me and Rory out of the conversation and I sat there just checking the entrance over and over again wondering when Rory would reappear with Ashton and Zoe in toe. They never did. They had
_________________________...The bright light of the early morning sun filtered into the room through my curtains.I moaned as I tried to get my hands on the string that would close those blinds but my movements were restricted by strong arms. Again.What?I wriggled in his arms, dread filling the pit of my stomach.Did we do it again?"Relax. We did not have sex." He murmured not opening his eyes."You sure?" I asked, just to be safe.All I got in return was a chuckle. He pulled me closer to himself and placed his lips on the side of my head."Just sleep.""What time is it?" I asked."Why does it matter?" He asked finally opening his eyes."We need to go to work.""Honey, we are the bosses. We determine the time of our work."My face heated up immediately. Honey?"Yeah honey, what else am I supposed to call my wife?" Did I say that out loud?"You don't have to say it out loud for me to know what you are thinking." He replied to that as well. I squirmed under his arms, trying to
____________________________..."Rowan?""Rowan!""ROWAN!!"I let out a deep breath of exasperation as I watched the worker Rowan was talking to point in my direction, telling him that I was calling him. But Rowan paid no heed and continued to pretend I had not called him.I tried to calm myself as I walked over to him."So yeah, that will be all." I heard him say to the worker and he walked away."Rowan!" I called again, from five feet away and he still did not pay heed.I let out another breath before looking around and saying, "Cupcake?""Yes, honey?" He turned to me with a triumphant smile on his face."You are such a man-child!" I groaned."Only for you." He winked at me.I rolled my eyes though inside, I felt something flutter in my stomach.No!Bad, Aurora, bad!This is so bad. What do I do with myself?"Can you oversee the catering?" I asked. "I need to go look at the decorations on the deck."The cruise event started this evening. It had been a week of crazy planning and p
_______________________________...Rory stepped out of the bedroom in a beige bodycon and a sparkling purse. And she looked so ethereally beautiful that I had my breath stuck in my throat. I was wearing just a black tuxedo - I was never brave enough to experiment with my style, despite all the courage and grit people usually associate me with. You look as beautiful as the first time I set my eyes on you. That's what I wanted to tell her. But I knew I would end up with a broken nose for sure this time if I went as corny as that."You look absolutely gorgeous." I went with it instead. I expected a blush, a glare, or at least a flat look. But all I got in return was a murmured "Thank you." Did something happen again? "Honey?" I called out to her. "We are running late." She said, not meeting my eyes. "As I said, we are the bosses. We-""If you plan to be late, then I will take my car." She cut me off and it did not look like she was joking around."Did I do something?" I asked.
_______________________________...I felt restless and fidgety the whole night. Shannon, Ashton and Rowan were watching me like hawks. As if they knew that I was upto something. I just hoped that Rowan didn't know that Gabriella was coming back home."I hope you have a great week with us." I shook the hand of Mr. Davidson before finally excusing myself for the night.It had been a long day.It had been a long two months.Gabriella had been distraught so I had no choice but to make her come back. But my prior worries still remained and I did not know what to do about the situation when Rowan would get to know that Gabriella was back.Would he again try to get a upper hand on me and make me dance to his tunes or would he still continue to try to make this marriage work like he had been trying to make me believe all these days?My mind told me he would do the former but my treacherous heart wished with all its might that he would do the latter."Aurora!"I turned to the source of the
______________________________..."And you believe him? Rory, don't be so naive!" Eric said on the phone.I stood at the deck watching the sun rise. It was a peaceful and beautiful morning and no one was up after yesterday's celebrations. So I had the deck all to myself.I knew the peace would not last for long because the morning event was supposed to take place at the deck so the organizing team would be here in a few more minutes."I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, Eric. After all, he too has a lot to lose here.""You think it's worth the risk?" He asked solemnly.I loved how protective he was of my younger sister. It made me feel at ease."We did not have any plans to begin with, Eric. Obviously we will not let our guard down but yeah, I think we can at least be at a bit of ease right now. He seems to be preoccupied with other things."He seems to be preoccupied with me. I wanted to say this. Especially after last night. We had had sex twice before but both tim