The arrangement

Chapter four

He closed his briefcase.

“I will come back tomorrow.”

“Don’t you dare walk out of here!”

Aurora tried getting out of bed.

Pain immediately shot through her body.

“Ah!”

Mr. Wilson rushed forward.

“Miss Rux!”

Aurora pushed his hand away.

“Don’t touch me.”

He stepped back.

Aurora slowly sat back down.

Her breathing was heavy.

“I don’t understand anything.”

“I know.”

“Then explain it!”

“I can’t.”

Aurora looked at him.

For the first time, she saw something in his eyes.

Fear.

Whatever this secret was…

It was serious.

Mr. Wilson slowly walked towards the door.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Aurora didn’t respond.

She was too angry.

Too confused.

Too tired.

The lawyer opened the door.

“Mr. Wilson.”

He stopped.

Aurora looked at him.

“Can I say no?”

He didn’t turn around immediately.

Aurora swallowed.

“Can I refuse this marriage?”

The lawyer finally turned around.

His face said everything before he even opened his mouth.

Aurora’s heart dropped.

“It is complicated.”

Aurora let out a humourless laugh.

“Of course it is.”

The lawyer left.

##############################

Aurora stared at the documents for hours.

She wanted to burn them.

She wanted to tear them into pieces.

But her body was too weak.

So she just stared.

Alexander Luther.

The name kept repeating itself in her mind.

Who was he?

What did he know?

And why did her grandparents believe marrying her off to his family would protect her?

Aurora was still lost in her thoughts when she heard another knock.

She looked towards the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Aurora expected the nurse.

But it wasn’t the nurse.

A man walked into the room.

Aurora immediately frowned.

He was tall.

Very tall.

He wore a black suit.

His dark hair was neatly styled, and his face looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine.

Aurora blinked.

Then blinked again.

Okay.

He was definitely real.

The man closed the door behind him.

Aurora stared at him.

“Can I help you?”

He looked at her.

For some reason, he didn’t seem surprised to see her.

“Hello, Aurora.”

Her entire body became tense.

“How do you know my name?”

He slowly walked closer.

Aurora’s eyes immediately moved towards the door.

Should she scream?

Maybe.

The man noticed.

“Relax.”

Aurora stared at him.

“Don’t tell me to relax.”

He raised one brow.

“Okay.”

Aurora frowned.

She didn’t expect that.

The man pulled a chair closer to the bed.

“Who are you?”

He sat down.

Aurora waited.

The man looked directly into her eyes.

“My name is Alexander.”

Aurora froze.

Her eyes slowly widened.

“No.”

Alexander raised a brow.

Aurora pointed at him.

“You.”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

“You’re Alexander Luther?”

“Yes.”

Aurora looked around the room.

“Where is the camera?”

Alexander frowned.

“What?”

“This has to be a joke.”

“It isn’t.”

Aurora looked back at him.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“The man I’m supposed to marry.”

Alexander leaned back.

“Apparently.”

Aurora grabbed her pillow.

Alexander’s eyes moved towards it.

Aurora stared at him.

“I have a good aim.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Is that a threat?”

“Yes.”

Alexander looked amused.

Aurora hated that.

“Why are you here?”

“To meet you.”

“You’ve met me.”

“I have.”

“So leave.”

Alexander didn’t move.

Aurora stared at him.

“Are you going to leave?”

“No.”

She groaned.

“Great.”

Alexander looked at the documents beside her bed.

“Mr. Wilson has already spoken to you.”

Aurora’s eyes narrowed.

“So you knew he was coming?”

“Yes.”

“And you just decided to come here afterwards?”

“Yes.”

Aurora shook her head.

“You people are unbelievable.”

“What did he tell you?”

Aurora laughed.

“Nothing useful.”

Alexander frowned slightly.

“He told you about the contract?”

“Yes.”

“He told you why?”

Aurora immediately stared at him.

“No.”

Alexander’s expression changed.

Aurora noticed.

“So you do know.”

Alexander didn’t answer.

Aurora pointed at him.

“You know everything.”

“I know some things.”

“Then tell me.”

“No.”

Aurora’s mouth fell open.

“Excuse me?”

Alexander leaned forward.

“You’ve just woken up after being involved in an accident.”

“So?”

“You’ve lost your grandparents.”

Aurora’s face changed.

“You don’t know anything about me.”

Alexander went quiet.

Aurora continued.

“You don’t know what I’ve lost.”

“I know enough.”

“No, you don’t.”

Her voice started shaking.

“You don’t know what it feels like to lose the only people who ever loved you.”

Alexander stared at her.

“You don’t know what it feels like to walk into a room and find out the two people you trusted the most have been lying to you.”

His expression became serious.

“And you definitely don’t know what it feels like to wake up and find out your grandparents apparently signed your entire life away.”

The room became silent.

Aurora wiped the tears that had escaped.

She hated crying in front of strangers.

Especially him.

Alexander slowly spoke.

“I never wanted you to find out like this.”

Aurora laughed bitterly.

“Oh, how did you want me to find out?”

He didn’t answer.

Aurora looked at him.

“Why did you agree?”

Alexander’s eyes moved to hers.

“What?”

“The marriage.”

Aurora swallowed.

“Why did you agree?”

Alexander looked away for a few seconds.

Then back at her.

“Because I had no choice.”

Aurora frowned.

“What do you mean you had no choice?”

He stood up.

Aurora immediately became annoyed.

“No. Sit down.”

Alexander paused.

“What?”

“You came into my room. You sat down. Now you’re standing up like you’re about to leave.”

Aurora pointed at the chair.

“Sit.”

Alexander stared at her.

Aurora stared back.

Then surprisingly…

He sat back down.

“Good,” Aurora muttered.

Alexander raised a brow.

Aurora ignored him.

“What do you mean you had no choice?”

Alexander was quiet.

Aurora sighed.

“Here we go again.”

“The contract affects both families.”

“And?”

“If it is broken, there will be consequences.”

Aurora’s heart started beating faster.

“What consequences?”

Alexander looked at her.

“That is what I am going to explain to you.”

Aurora waited.

But then Alexander stood up again.

Aurora’s eyes widened.

“You are joking.”

He almost smiled.

“Rest, Aurora.”

“Alexander.”

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Alexander Luther!”

He walked towards the door.

Aurora grabbed the pillow.

Alexander turned around.

Aurora threw it.

It hit the door beside him.

Alexander looked at the pillow on the floor.

Then at Aurora.

Aurora smiled sweetly.

“Told you I had good aim.”

For a few seconds, Alexander just stared at her.

Then he laughed.

Actually laughed.

Aurora’s smile disappeared.

“Don’t laugh.”

Alexander shook his head.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Aurora.”

“Don’t come back.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Alexander!”

The door closed.

Aurora stared at it.

She fell back against her pillow.

“What the hell have I gotten myself into?”

She turned towards the documents.

Then slowly picked up the file again.

There had to be something.

Some explanation.

Some clue.

Aurora began going through the papers.

Her eyes moved through signatures and legal words she barely understood.

Then she saw something.

A letter.

Her heart stopped.

The handwriting.

Aurora knew it immediately.

Her grandmother.

Her hands started shaking as she opened it.

My darling Aurora…

Aurora immediately covered her mouth.

Tears filled her eyes.

If you are reading this letter, then your grandfather and I are no longer here.

“No,” Aurora whispered.

I know you must be confused. Angry, even. And you have every right to be.

Aurora wiped her tears.

But please know that everything we did was because we loved you.

Her breathing became shaky.

There are secrets about your family that we kept from you.

Aurora’s eyes widened.

And there are people who would do anything to find you.

Her heart started racing.

The Luther family is not your enemy, Aurora.

Aurora read that sentence again.

Then again.

Please listen to Alexander before making any decision.

Aurora lowered the letter.

Her entire body felt cold.

What did her grandmother mean?

Who was looking for her?

Why was the Luther family involved?

And most importantly…

Why did Alexander seem to know everything?

Aurora looked towards the door.

For the first time since Alexander entered the room…

She wanted him to come back.

Not because she wanted to marry him.

Absolutely not.

But because she needed answers.

And tomorrow…

Alexander Luther was going to give them to her.

Whether he wanted to or not.

Because Aurora Rux was done being kept in the dark.