Four
1809 Words
"Xavier Black!" exclaims his father, getting up from his seat.
"Do whatever you can, father." Xavier replies, "But leave Aurora out of your problem; she doesn't need to get involved." Xavier storms out of his father's office and heads back to his bedroom.
'That woman.' Xavier's father thought, 'If Xavier can't let go of her, then I will have to let her go on her own one way or another.'
On his way downstairs, Xavier encounters his mom. She has been waiting for him to come out of the office. "If you're gonna tell me that same thing," he proclaims, "then I don't—"
"I'm not against you, my son." she reassures, "I just think you'll need more help."
"From who?"
In the guest bedroom, Mrs. Alice and Aurora are putting clothes in the closet.
"M'lady..." Mrs. Alice spoke.
"Don't address me as m'lady, Mrs. Alice," Aurora replies, "Just call me Aurora."
"I was about to ask how you and his Highness met." she asks, "I'm a sucker for romance."
Aurora couldn't help but chuckle at her words and answers, "I'm a sucker for romance too, Mrs. Alice; but Xavier- and I met by accident."
"Why do you say that, Aurora?"
"Because it was a one night stand."
"A ONE NIGHT STAND?!" Mrs. Alice exclaims at the top of her lungs.
Aurora tries to calm down Mrs. Alice. Xavier walks into the guest bedroom and says, "What's so bad about our one night stand, Aurora?"
"Xavier?" Aurora asks, once she notices him. He gestures for Mrs. Alice to leave the room; after she leaves, Xavier closes the door behind him and began to walk up to Aurora. 'What did I do wrong?' she thought, as he gets closer and closer, 'I only told her the truth.' Without realizing it, she bumps into the bedside indicating that she has nowhere else to run. Xavier traps her in between his arms and the bed and looks in her eyes. "Xavier—"
"One kiss." he cuts off.
"One kiss?" she questions.
"I am in need of something sweet."
"Xavier—"
Instantly, he pulls Aurora into a fast hug. "W-what are you doing?" Aurora asks, attempting to break free, "W-what if—"
"No one is gonna burst in." Xavier reassures, "I can promise that."
"But—" Xavier leans in for Aurora's lips, raising her heartbeat and blood through the roof; however, the kiss is interrupted by a loud voice.
"Is it true that my beloved grandson is expecting!!" exclaims an elegantly dressed elderly woman, rushing through the front entrance, "Where is he?"
"Mother-in-law," Xavier's mom explains, coming to greet her, "he's helping—"
"I'm here, mom." Xavier replies, coming out from the corner with Aurora.
Xavier's grandmother serenely walks up to the two, took a good look at Aurora from head to toe and asks, "Are you the one?"
"Y-yes." Aurora answers, hesitantly.
"How much longer until the baby is born?"
"Six to seven more months." Xavier answers.
"Grandmother, if you are upset with Aurora, then you have to be upset with me too."
"Who said that I was upset?" she asks.
"Huh?" they all asked.
"I've been praying for another child in this household." Xavier's grandmother explains, with joy, "And it's finally coming true."
'What a relief.' Aurora thought.
"Grandmother," Xavier replies, "there you go...again."
"An old lady can wish, can't she?" she jokes, "I begged for your parents to have another sibling, but they decided to stick with you." From the second level, Xavier's father is watching the happy gathering below.
'If Xavier can't let her go,' he comtemplates, 'then I'll have to force her to leave on her own.' Xavier's father eventually gestures Mr. Edwin and whispers something in his ears before sending him off to do business.
Moving into the courtyard, Xavier, Aurora and his grandmother decide to take a short stroll.
"Aurora-ah," replies his grandmother, "you are my answer from the heavens; my Handsome grandson is finally settling down."
"Grandmother, are you tired yet?" Xavier replies, as the three come near a bench in the courtyard. "Don't worry about me." she replies, "Worry about your wife and baby more than me." "Grandmother~," Aurora answers, out of embarrassment, "I'm fine and so is our baby." Xavier's grandmother lets out a heavy sigh and immediately sits on the bench without any hesitation.
At that very moment, Mr. Edwin rushes over and says, "Xavier, there is a special guest waiting for you in the main living room."
"I didn't invite any guests over though." Xavier replies, "Who is it?"
"Xavier!" exclaims the mystery guest, from inside the mansion, "Xavier!"
The mysterious guest comes out to the courtyard. Her appearance is almost as beautiful as Xavier's own appearance and her aura gives off a sign that says, "Don't even think about talking to me unless you are on my level of class." Let's talk about features, though. She has silk-like black hair that reaches down to her chest, a slim body type and a small, yet gorgeous face. She is dressed in a white dress, only reaching her kneecaps, paired with five-inch heels and carries a Gucci brand Handbag. "Xavier!" she exclaims, running up to him and wrapping her arms around his right arm, "I called you and you didn't come running to me."
"Elizabeth...I mean I-Ashleigh...." he stutters. "Ashleigh." she replies, "I hate being called Elizabeth. Such a boring name." Xavier's grandmother purposely clears her throat, in order to catch Ashleigh's attention that she isn't his only guest. "Oh grandmother!" Ashleigh replies, once noticing, "I didn't see you there; why are you here?"
"Do I need to tell you every single time to greet your elders before greeting others, Ashleigh?" his grandmother snaps.
"Can you just forgive this once, grandmother?" Ashleigh asks, in a child-like way, "I can take you out to one of your favorite cafés later this week."
With her full attention to Xavier, Aurora couldn't help but feel like a third-wheel.
'Would it be rude of me to leave on my own?' she thought to herself, 'I mean they are his guests, not my guests, so I don't think it really matters.'
"I'm heading inside first, grandmother." Aurora replies, whispering in her ears.
"I'll come along too, Rory." his grandmother whispers back, "I feel uncomfortable too."
"Grandmother," Ashleigh replies, pointing at Aurora, "who is this girl; is she one of your other granddaughters?"
"Ashleigh!" Xavier replies, "Can you not blurt out nonsense?!"
"Babe~" she replies, with a pouty face, "When will you stop being so serious?!"
"Ashleigh," replies Xavier's father, coming out to the courtyard, "I'm glad to see you here."
"Daddy-in-law," Ashleigh replies, "Xavier is being mean to me again; if you don't tell him to stop, then I will tell my mom to call off the engagement."
"Xavier, apologize to Ashleigh this instant."
"There is no need of an apology, child." Xavier's grandmother replies, standing up, "Elizabeth, if you don't stop acting like a child, then what's the point of you being my granddaughter-in-law?"
"Grandmother....I...." Ashleigh stutters.
"Besides that," his grandmother adds on, "I already picked the perfect granddaughter-in-law and she's standing right before your eyes." Aurora tries to calm her down, but she answers, "There's no need to stop me from talking, Rory. I'm going to put this spoiled brat in her place."
"That is enough, mom!" Xavier’s dad says.
"I am your mother and you dare to prove me wrong."
"Mom!"
Upset by the confusing situation, Ashleigh quickly runs inside, fake crying, with Xavier's father following behind her.
"Grandmother," Xavier replies, turning to his grandmother, "if Ashleigh's mom knows about this—"
"Sometimes you need to put your foot down, my grandson." she explains, "I can't stand your father being a puppet for Ashleigh and her mother." Xavier lets out a heavy sigh and glances at Aurora, who is looking back at him.
"Aurora, I—" Xavier states.
"I didn't know that you were already engaged, Xavier." Aurora replies, "I'm sorry for—"
"You don't need to apologize, my dear." Xavier's grandmother cuts in,
"You did nothing wrong to hurt him."
Aurora couldn't help but feel like she's the villain to Ashleigh. She ruined a girl's dream to marry a man that she loves.
"I'll have Mrs. Alice come and take you to your room, Aurora." Xavier replies.
"Have her stay in your room, Xavier." his grandmother insists, "It'll be better for her safety from Ashleigh's mom."
Half-an-hour later, Ashleigh's mom has arrived. "Mrs. Stone," Mr. Edwin replies, once greeting her at the entrance, "His Majesty is waiting for you in the living room; come this way." Mrs. Stone enters the living room, takes a seat beside her daughter and Xavier's parents before taking off her sunglasses and asks, "What's the issue with our children's engagement?"
"Mrs. Stone," Xavier's mom replies, "you have to understand that grandmother can say things without a thought."
"There's no need to defend that old hag!" Mrs. Stone snaps, "She is clearly trying to break the engagement."
"Mrs. Stone," Xavier's father replies, "I will—"
"I don't want to argue with you, child." Xavier's grandmother replies, entering the room with Xavier, "I rather face the devil herself."
"Grandmother...." Xavier's mom replies.
"Where's that other woman?" Ashleigh asks, "Where are you hiding her?"
"There's another woman?!" Mrs. Stone exclaims.
Under the care of Mrs. Alice and Malcolm in Xavier's bedroom, Aurora couldn't help but worry about the situation.
'I hope they can handle the situation.' she thought to herself.
"Everything is going to be fine, Aurora." Malcolm comforts Aurora, with confidence, "Xavier's grandmother knows how to get out of these sticky situations."
"How bad can Ashleigh's mother be?" she asks, "Why do Xavier's grandmother and her have a bad relationship?" Mrs. Alice and Malcolm looks at each other before looking back at Aurora. 'Did I say something wrong?'
Mrs. Alice sits down besides Aurora, "Mrs. Stone was His Majesty's first love before Xavier's mom."
"Grandmother," Mrs. Stone replies, "you can't be serious."
"I am serious, Mrs. Stone." Xavier's grandmother answers. Mrs. Stone scoffs at her words; how can a mysterious woman come into Xavier's life?
"I do agree that Elizabeth has great taste in being rich and all." she continues, "But she needs to learn proper manners."
"Ashleigh has proper manner, mom!" Xavier's father snaps, "Not that Aurora Red."
"Aurora Red is her name?" Mrs. Stone asks.
"Let her finish." Xavier's mom interrupts.
"Let's play a little game, Mrs. Stone." Xavier's grandmother provokes.
"What game?" Mrs. Stone asks, curiously.
"It's quite simple."
"How simple?" Mrs. Stone takes off her sunglasses.
"Xavier will have the chance to spend time with your daughter." she continues, "As well as Aurora Red."
"Grandmother...." Xavier spoke out.
"And he will be making the choice of who he will marry."
End of chapter 4
- Writer
