When His Wife Return

{Aurora's POV} "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Claps erupted around the small garden. Cheers from people I barely knew. Smiles that didn't reach their eyes. Hundreds of people just watching, but I have never felt more alone and...empty. I could only close my eyes as I felt the soft flesh of my husband's lips crashing against mine. It wasn't gentle. It wasn't full of love either. It was stiff and cold. He pulled away too soon, as if my lips were coated with poison. The gesture was enough to send sharp threads of daggers right through my heart. I blinked several times to clear the blurriness in my vision, and when I adjusted to the surroundings, I realized that my husband was no longer by my side. People smiled at me, but I could see the pity behind their eyes. They knew. They could see. My husband doesn't love me. He never did. And this wedding was merely a show; he was only forced to take part. If it weren't for our parents insisting on having a traditional wedding, we would have gone through a civil one without all these people instead. Because that's what he wanted. There was no reception, as per his request. He agreed to have this grand wedding in exchange for not going through the whole reception and honeymoon thing. "Aurora," my mother's cold voice cleared the fog of the memory of yesterday. Lydia Summers. A woman graced with sophistication and class. My ever-so-demanding mother, who did nothing but dictate how I should live my life. We were outside our house. The place where I'd spent the last twenty-three years of my life. Homeschooled. Friendless. Often scolded despite doing nothing wrong. Men were putting my luggage in the car for my supposed move-in with my husband to a house I barely knew. But I suppose the time of the stay didn't matter considering that I'd never considered the house I'd lived in my entire life a home. "Be a good wife. Please your husband as best as you can." I bit back all the words threatening to spill out of my tongue and merely nodded. "I expect you to bear his child in a few months. Lucas needs an heir, and that is your duty as his wife," she added mercilessly. My throat thickened as my knuckles tightened from gripping the strap of my clutch tightly. My...duty? Aren't babies supposed to be made out of love...and not out of duty or responsibilities? Then, what would my baby become? Just an offspring meant to be the heir? The one to carry the burden of their responsibilities? I clenched my fist. I won't let my child grow up as a tool to continue their legacy. I won't let them be surrounded by these kinds of people. My baby doesn't deserve to experience what I had to go through to earn any place in this family...and yet, still remain lost. And I don't think Lucas was anywhere near interested in giving me a baby. Duty or not. But still, I bit back all the words threatening to spill from my mouth and nodded my head. There was nothing I could say that would make her listen to me. I might as well be mute to her. All my life. "Of course, Mother." She looked satisfied with my answer. "And where is your husband? He's supposed to be with you right now. You're about to move into your new home, for goodness sake." Home How I wish I could call it like that. A place of warmth and comfort. I place where I belong. Where I am heard, seen, and understood. But I knew better than to hope. I've long accepted that I wasn't blessed enough to have that luxury. "He must be busy, though I'm sure he'll be there to accompany me later." The lie lingered on my tongue, bitter and coaxed with feigned softness I had mustered for so long. "He better be. How are you supposed to get along, let alone produce an offspring, if he's always busy with work?" She exhaled. I forced a smile, trying to calm her down. There was no point in staying here. I'm sure she was merely present to make sure I left nothing behind. My father couldn't even bother to send me off, but there was nothing new about it. I was even more surprised to see my mother. "I shall go, mother," I finally said before she could even say anything more. Her strict eyes were quick to sharpen, and I was at the receiving end of her glare in no time. "So excited to leave, aren't you, Aurora?" All the kindness in her face—not that there was anything in the first place—vanished. My pulse quickens. I aggressively shook my head. "N-no...It w-wasn't like that, mother—" "You think this is freedom?" She taunts, pertaining to my marriage. "If you think that you could finally do whatever you want just because you are no longer living under my roof, then think again, Aurora." She took a step closer and gripped my jaw, causing all the muscles in my body to stiffen. "I can still control you no matter where you are or whatever your surname is. Always remember that." She hissed before pushing me away. "Leave." With shaky hands, I bowed my head, afraid to meet her angry stare. "S-see you around, m-mother." The car awaited me in the distance with a bodyguard already opening the door for me, but before I could make it far, I heard my mother's voice again. "I shall visit soon." I shut my eyes tightly and kept going, trying to force myself to believe that there was still a place in this world where I could be welcome. I no longer wish for happiness, for I have long accepted that it was nothing but a fleeting feeling. It vanished just as quickly as it came. I just want to be accepted, that's all. But alas, it seemed like nothing was ever in my favor. It seemed like being unwanted had been a part of my identity. That is a curse I have to live with forever. "Lucas." I quickly stood up when the front door burst open, revealing my husband in slacks and a black button-down. It was past midnight, and I'd been waiting for him since I arrived earlier. I had to force myself not to flinch when his cold, hard stare met my eyes. He continued walking, as if he hadn't seen or heard me at all. I followed him. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you since this afternoon. I called your secretary, but she told me you weren't at the office—" He slammed the door right in my face, causing me to flinch, and stopped right outside the master's bedroom. Our supposed shared room. I stared at the now closed door, partly shocked and hurt at the same time. I was still recovering from the shock when the door suddenly whipped open, revealing him...with my suitcase. He pushed it towards me without saying anything. "Lucas, we need to talk—" "You will sleep in the guest bedroom—the farther, the better—and we'll pretend to be strangers forced to live under one roof, do you understand? You don't exist to me, so don't try to pull off anything stup/d." I faltered. "But—" But he didn't wait for my reply and harshly slammed the door right in my face again, creating a banging sound that shattered not just my pounding ears but also my heart. You don't exist to me... I let out a shaky breath and looked up at the ceiling, blinking back all the embarrassing tears trying to escape. This was only our first night together...only that we were apart. I'm sure there will be changes once we'd grown comfortable with each other's presence. I'm sure Lucas isn't that cruel...I'm hoping that he could at least treat me like a human with feelings. He wasn't the only one forced into this. After taking a few deep breaths, I gripped my suitcase and dragged it with me towards the end of the hall. You will sleep in the guest bedroom. The farther, the better. If this is what you want, Lucas, then I guess this will do.