When His Wife Return

Chapter 3

{Aurora's POV}

When my mother told me that I was attending an event with my husband, I thought it was just a charity or some social gathering and not the prestigious annual Heritage Ball. The ball that has everyone preparing a year before the actual event even happens, while I only realized where I was walking into when I was already inside and seeing the beautiful dresses and faces of people from different wealthy and influential families.

The Heritage Ball was considered as The Ball of the year. It was the biggest event of the year for socialites like my family. Every known name and personality never misses a year, that is, if they were given any invitations at all. The committee had certain qualifications that were too high for any average person, so it is safe to assume that everyone invited here is big time in the industry.

Well, except me. I was only here because my parents are invited.

This is where people expand their connections by networking with one another.

My parents would never miss a year, especially after I heard that this year could be their last time invited for some understandable reason. I may have been closed off with other people, but I wasn't naive enough not to observe my parents' societal status. I know that their influence was already running short, as well as our company's. The main reason why they forced me into an arranged marriage with Lucas—to build a long-time alliance and connection, but sadly, that wasn't enough to maintain their invites to the Heritage Ball. This could be considered their last shot to strengthen their networks, and that is where I would enter the picture.

"Do not embarrass me, Aurora. You have to make a lasting impression on these people," she reminded me as we made our way through the mass of rich people mingling with each other.

They had specific people in mind, which I've heard them counting in the limo as if memorizing to keep in mind.

Lucas would attend together with his family since they had to take care of an emergency this morning, while my mother didn't waste a second to fetch me at our house to give me a pep talk about how I should act.

"Tell them that you are interested in our business and that you have been helping Lucas run the company. People here are into topics like that," she continued.

Soon after, my father joined us, and that was how I spent the past hour—mingling with the people that my parents shoved my way and pretending to be interested in everything that they were saying like stocks, assets, shares, you name it. But of course, not all were interested in business.

Some were still in for gossip.

"You're Lucas's wife?" A tall ginger asked. I've seen her in some magazines but didn't remember her name.

Uncertainty washed over me after hearing the tone she used, but I still answered.

"Yeah."

She arch an eyebrow, sweeping her eyes on me from head to toe before plastering a fake smile.

"Oh, so you must be the girl I've seen him with at some bar."

I tried to hide my surprise as I felt my mother casting a look my way.

"Oh, that must be a mistake, Hanna. Aurora has never been to a bar and I don't think Lucas would take her there, especially without my consent."

I gritted my teeth.

If my parents found out about my miserable marriage, I'm sure my mother would go to great lengths just to make it right, not for my sake, of course, but for other people's opinions to be pleasing enough for her.

Hanna blinked innocently, feigning surprise. "Really? But I really thought it was her since Lucas was sucking the girl's face's off and even smooching his hands all over her body. Well, my bad." She chuckled, looking very pleased with my horrified expression, then left as if she didn't just drop a bombshell, well, at least for my mother since I already knows about it.

I shut my eyes tightly.

Hearing it from Lucas was painful enough, but having someone, especially someone like Hanna, tell me that face-to-face was another kind of pain and embarrassment.

It was as though she was slapping it to my face— that I might have the right to call Lucas my husband, but that's just about it. That was all I could ever claim. A title as his wife.

I felt a strong grip on my elbow.

"What is the meaning of that, Aurora?" My mother hissed at me, making sure not to draw any attention. "Is your husband sleeping around?" she scoffed. "Don't tell me he isn't satisfied with what you gave him? My gosh, Aurora. How many times do I have to tell you? You need to give Lucas an heir. Is that too difficult to give? How could he do that if he would rather prefer humping on another woman than his own wife?"

I shook my head, biting my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. It's not that easy, my mind screamed at me to say it out loud, but I didn't.

She continued. "You only have to open your legs and take him. Like it's not too hard for you." People start to look in our direction, so she lowered her voice. "Fix your mess, Aurora. You wouldn't want me to meddle with it myself."

And then she walked away.

I felt so ashamed.

Hanna wouldn't hesitate to spread the news around, and in this kind of society, it is very easy to put the blame on the woman instead of the man. It is always us that's lacking and not the fault of the latter for not knowing how to feel contented.

The way my mother reacted was a strong testament to that.

Not long after that, Lucas arrived with his parents, who immediately drifted away after greeting me. We stood side by side, smiling and mingling with people, pretending to be the ideal husband and wife that we are not. I was even surprised that he even played along instead of ditching me like what happened on our wedding day.

Then, I remembered the parting look his mother gave him. Right. Put a leash on the dog, and he shall submit to the master.

What a coward.

When we were finally alone, I told him what had been keeping my mind occupied.

"My mother knows." I never wasted a second and told him straight to the point. Swallowing hard, I looked down, fidgeting with my fingers. "Remember Hanna? The model? She told her." My lips thinned. "If you want to play around while being married to me, make sure not to do it where people can see."

I felt him stiffen beside me.

"Fvck. My parents are going to hear about this." He muttered a curse, not even bothering to deny the issue.

My heart clenches.

I spun around to face him. He looked taken aback.

"Is this really how our marriage is going to be, Lucas?" I asked, my voice small. "I've been trying to understand you because I know that you're angry, but...can't you at least try? Is it really that hard to..." love me "...accept us?" I settled with something safer instead.

He scoffed, gone was the surprise on his face. "You should've thought about the consequences first before caging me in this marriage—"

"Then why didn't you tell your parents no? If you really hated it, why didn't you stop them?" He grew silent, averting my gaze. I leaned closer. "Admit it, you are angry not because I said yes to this. No. You are angry because you couldn't say no to your parents, and you are directing your frustration at me. You are angry that you are as voiceless as I am, and it pisses you off because you can't do anything about it."

He looked shocked. I was shocked with myself too. I didn't know where all this backbone was coming from. I just know that I couldn't keep tolerating him all the time.

Lucas needs to see that I am not his enemy and that both of us were just a product of our parents' dictations.

His parted lips moved as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how. I waited, hoping that I was finally able to knock some sense into him, but before he could even utter a word, a graceful yet firm hand shamelessly clasped around his arm as if stating a claim.

Then, a voice purrs.

"Lucas, I've been looking for you." A familiar tall blonde girl kissed his cheeks right in front of me. I remember her. She was in Hanna's circle.

I could only gape at the two as the girl acted as if there was no person in front of them. Me. His wife.

The audacity of this...

"A-Abigail, what are you—"

"I've heard there's plenty of empty room here," The invitation rang in her silky whisper—clear and obvious. "Your wife wouldn't mind if I stole you for a few minutes, would she?" Finally, she looked at me and raised a brow. A fake smile was plastered on her glossy red lips. "Would you?"

I clenched my jaw and was about to speak when my mother's hiss interrupted what I was going to say.

"Aurora, what the hell is this?"

Behind her were Lucas's parents, who were looking at Lucas disapprovingly. Meanwhile, I try not to gape at my mother.

Really? Her daughter is being disrespected by her husband's mistress, and yet, she finds an excuse to still put the blame on me?

"Lucas," my husband paled, hearing the warning in his mother's voice. He quickly stepped away from his mistress and stood next to his parents. His mother looked like she wanted to say something—scold her son or something—but then shook her head. "We'll talk about this at home. Stand next to Aurora. We're going to introduce you to someone important," she said, emphasizing the word "important" while looking at Lucas, who had now forgotten his mistress, who quickly flitted away.

I felt a tight grip on my elbow.

My mother gave me a glare. "Stand up straighter, Aurora. This person is no joke. We've been trying to get his attention all night despite the people lining up to talk to him, so don't mess this up."

I just gave a small nod and bit the inside of my cheeks to keep myself from saying anything.

Lucas stood next to me as per his parents' order, and we just followed where our parents would lead us.

This night had been so stressful, and we weren't even close to the end of it yet. I'm even surprised that we weren't the center of the people's gossip after what Lucas and his mistress had pulled in front of this many guests.

Our parents stopped in front of a table where people tried but desperately failed to get someone's attention.

A man.

Not just any man, but the reason why the people here couldn't be bothered to gossip about us even if our parents paid them a hundred bucks.

Because he was the center of their attention. He was the talk of the night; he was the one my mother was talking about, and he wasn't even doing anything yet people couldn't help but flock around him.

Who...was this man?

"Excuse us, gentlemen." My father cleared his throat and forced himself through the swarm of people who, I must say, looked less pleased by the interruption.

My mother glanced at us.

"Come. Quickly, Aurora." She glared.

I hurriedly followed, standing closely behind her, and vaguely heard my father speaking to someone.

"It's good to see you here. How long has it been again since you last attended the Heritage Ball? Three years? Four?"

Andrew Summers. The epitome of ego and arrogance that I sometimes felt ashamed when people remembered me as his daughter. He barely talks to me, let alone throws a glance my way, so to say that we were as distant as two strangers thrown under the same roof for twenty-three years was an understatement.

"Mr. Summers."

A chill went up my spine when a rough voice greeted my father back. All the hairs at the back of my neck rise, and I suppress a shiver.

I looked past my mother's shoulder and saw a man standing in front of them. He was dressed in a nice black suit that flexes his broad shoulders and biceps. He stood around six feet and three inches tall with dark hair and green eyes that held no humor. It was far from cold. It glinted in the most deadliest way but managed to look uninterested at the same time.

After they exchanged formalities, my father started introducing Lucas's parents and then my mother before he looked at me as well as the rest of them, including...him.

My heart skipped a beat when our gazes collided for some unfathomable reason. I could hear it pounding against my ears, sending tendrils of electricity throughout my body.

"And this is my daughter Aurora." He gave me a look, so I stepped closer to confirm my identity. "Aurora, this is Kael Gavriel Russo, the CEO of Summit Group, the leading real estate company and market-leading residential in over ninety-five countries." My father's voice drifted as I extended my hand, which the man wasted no seconds to take.

My eyes widened and my lips parted in surprise when he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, not even taking off his burning gaze from me.

His lips felt soft against my skin. The tickling sensation caused by his slight stubble sent jolts of pleasure through the pits of my belly. That simple gesture should've been innocent, but nothing in the way it had made me feel was innocent at all. It was sensual and almost...intimate.

I swallowed hard.

There was something about him that made everyone in his line of vision feel...burned. His green eyes held such intensity that were very hard to miss.

"I'm Aurora. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Russo." I didn't stutter, but my voice sounded almost breathless.

I bit my bottom lip, not taking my eyes off him.

His eyes darkened, and I felt his hand tighten around mine. "Trust me, the pleasure is all mine, Ms. Summers."

I faltered. That must've broken the spell.

"Oh, I—"

"She's Mrs. Saunders," Lucas corrected, suddenly butting in. "Mr. Russo, my Mrs. Saunders."

Kael's eyes snapped towards Lucas, and just like that, the intensity vanished, replaced by something almost deadly. He was forced to let go of my hand when Lucas wrapped his arms around my waist, too tightly to my liking, might I add. He then kissed the top of my head.

"Lucas Saunders, Aurora's husband." He emphasizes the last word with conviction.

Kael's eyes followed Lucas's arms around my waist, and I saw something flicker in his eyes, but I must have imagined it because after I blinked, it was gone.

They shook hands, gripping the hands of one another too tightly, though it's very easy to miss since it only lasted for a second, unlike earlier. Our handshake felt like it happened for hours.

"Oh, apologies for my mistake." He doesn't sound apologetic at all. In fact, he sounded almost...pissed, but the man was quick to conceal it. "Nice chat, but I shall go."

My parents panicked. "But Mr. Russo—"

But Kael continued walking, not looking at anyone as he turned to the hall, but before he could disappear from our line of sight, he looked back, and his eyes caught mine.

My breath hitched.

His jaw was tightly clenched, and there was hidden fury behind his cold emerald orbs. I blinked...

And he was gone.