AURORA: The Stepmother's Forbidden Desire

Chapter 3. A Warning

There were many ways for Aurora to escape Ethan's inappropriate actions, but she couldn't escape her own desires. As if carried back to the past when she loved Ethan as a charming young man, Aurora once again allowed the man to destroy her dignity as Mrs. Valenstein.

Just like before, this time Aurora only regretted everything after Ethan crushed her lips, touching every inch of her body that he could reach. And she finally realized it, and managed to push Ethan's chest away when he started to touch her most sensitive parts.

"Enough, stop..." Aurora said hoarsely. Her eyes were red. Desire and anger mixed together there.

"Why? Don't you want it too?" Ethan grinned. "You don't have to lie, Aurora. You enjoy it too. Be honest with yourself, because I know very well that you will never get all this from your paralyzed husband."

Smack!

A very hard slap landed on Ethan's cheek.

"And my paralyzed husband is your father," Aurora replied with a fierce gaze.

Ethan seemed quite surprised by Aurora's reaction, but then the man smiled coldly. "Didn't I just ask you to run away if you didn't want my touch?" he asked.

"Why should I run away?" replied Aurora. "You should be the one to watch your attitude. Like it or not, I am your stepmother. I wouldn't be here with you now if your father hadn't asked me to."

"Is that so?" Ethan asked, staring intently at Aurora.

Aurora returned his gaze sharply, refusing to be intimidated. She realized that she was being toyed with by her husband's son.

"I hope this is the last time you've been rude to me. If you do it again, I'll have no choice but to tell Leonard everything," Aurora threatened.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, then laughed heartily, as if Aurora's threat was a joke to him.

"Do you think my father will believe that? What if I deny it and tell him that you were the one who seduced me?" Ethan fired back with a threatening tone and a mocking look in his eyes. "Do you want to try it? We'll see if my father believes you or me."

"If I really had the potential to seduce his son, wouldn't he have made me Mrs. Valenstein from the start?"

This time, Ethan fell silent and his expression turned serious. "Do you think my father really gave you that position?" he asked.

Aurora swallowed, unable to answer. She herself was not sure whether she was really important in the Valenstein family or not. Everyone called her Mrs. Valenstein, but she never felt that the title was her true identity.

As if not really waiting for Aurora's answer, Ethan drove the car they were riding in again, passing through their family's vineyard.

"All right, let's continue our journey," he said casually, as if nothing had happened.

Aurora looked out the window. The vast, seemingly endless expanse of vineyards she saw now no longer looked beautiful as before, but rather a little frightening. She was struck by the reality that the Valensteins were not just a wealthy family. They were a business empire.

In addition to owning the largest vineyard in the region, the Valenstein family also controls a legendary wine factory whose name is known throughout the European market. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the wine business, Valenstein also owns logistics companies, properties, and energy investments—all managed with Leonard Valenstein's steady hand. The man built everything on one principle: complete control.

Aurora knows she lives within that system. Since Leonard married her, she has been required to be the perfect, flawless companion. So Ethan's constant flirting with her is certainly a serious threat. She cannot falter. She cannot tarnish Leonard's honor and trust, not because she loves her husband, but for the sake of everyone else.

Not only herself, but her parents would also be destroyed if she were involved in a scandal, especially if it was a scandal with her own stepson.

Fortunately, Ethan had returned to his cold demeanor. Although it felt unfriendly, the trip that day went smoothly until they returned to the mansion.

In the dining room that night, Leonard was waiting, like someone ready to pass judgment.

Aurora entered with hesitant steps. She smiled awkwardly, as if she was about to face an evaluation for a task that had been given to her.

"Sit down," Leonard said briefly.

Aurora sat down near Leonard, while Ethan entered after her with perfect posture. His face was expressionless, as if the man who had previously flirted with Aurora had never existed.

"How is the vineyard?" asked Leonard.

"Beautiful," Ethan replied briefly. "This year's harvest will definitely break records. The quality of the grapes is even better than the production team expected."

Leonard nodded in satisfaction. "The wine factory will start the fermentation process next week. I want the best results, just like Valenstein has been doing all this time."

"Of course," Ethan replied calmly.

"Aurora." Leonard turned to Aurora, who looked lost in thought.

"Yes?"

"What do you think?"

"Me?" Aurora seemed flustered. She didn't know what Ethan and Leonard had been talking about because she hadn't been listening.

Leonard looked at her. "You look tense and nervous. What are you thinking about?"

"No," Aurora replied reflexively, then immediately realized her mistake. "I mean, I think I'm a little tired."

Leonard stared intently at Aurora for a few moments. He knew something was unusual about his wife.

"I didn't know that looking at the vineyard would be too tiring for you," he said.

Aurora fell silent. She knew she had given the wrong answer.

"Let's eat first, Dad." Ethan interrupted casually, too casually for someone who was the cause of Aurora's current uneasiness.

Dinner was awkward, at least for Aurora. She even made a small mistake that she didn't usually make: she dropped her fork. Something Leonard hated very much.

Leonard placed his spoon down softly, but it was enough to make Aurora tense up. "Is something bothering you, Aurora?" he asked.

"No, Leonard. I just—"

"You've never been like this before," Leonard cut in. "And I don't like it when someone in this house starts being careless."

The word "careless" sounded like it had another meaning to Aurora's ears.

She bowed his head. "I'm sorry," she said.

Ethan ate his meal calmly, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him. He only glanced with the corner of his eye, unaware of what he was thinking at that moment.

After dinner, Leonard asked Aurora to accompany him to his study. The door closed slowly and silence immediately fell.

Leonard turned his wheelchair slightly, facing Aurora fully. The old man's gaze was sharp and piercing, clearly showing that he was currently unhappy.

"Do you know why I chose you to be my wife, even though it cost me a fantastic amount of money?" he asked suddenly.

Silence.

Aurora stood stiffly, unsure of how to respond. Leonard had never asked such a question before.

"It's because I think you are worth it," Leonard continued calmly, but emphatically. "I rate you very highly among the other women who were offered to me."

"Therefore, show me that I was not wrong in my assessment. Valenstein does not need a lady of the house who is only good at dressing up. You know that." Leonard added. "Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes." Aurora nodded. She understood very well that Leonard was giving her a stern warning. All because she had been careless, even though it was only this once.

"I hope that from now on you can fulfill your role as Mrs. Valenstein properly," said Leonard.

Aurora nodded, then was invited to leave Leonard's office. However, just as she was about to leave, Leonard spoke again.

"Don't play with fire. You could get burned."

Aurora turned and looked at Leonard in surprise. Her heart immediately began to beat erratically.

Did her husband know what Ethan had done to her?