Contract Marriage with my Amnesiac Billionaire

Chapter 6

AURORA

My ears were ringing. The whole hall just went dead quiet after Eleanor finished yelling at me like I was some kid who broke her favorite vase. Everyone staring. Mouths open. I stood there like a total i***t holding the empty tray, orange juice still dripping off my dress, feeling my face burn so hot I wanted the floor to eat me.

Then outta nowhere someone grabbed Eleanor’s wrist mid-sentence. I looked up and it was Aunt Lila. My aunt Lila who literally told me two hours ago “don’t even breathe in my direction tonight.”

“Let go of me!” Eleanor snapped, trying to yank her arm back.

“No,” Aunt Lila said calm but loud enough everyone heard. “You don’t get to scream at my niece in front of the whole pack because of a spilled drink. It’s juice, Eleanor, not blood.”

You could’ve heard a pin drop. I just stood there with my mouth open like a fish. Eleanor’s face went redder than mine.

“How dare you—” she started.

Some waiter and a couple old ladies jumped in quick, pulling Eleanor away, whispering stuff like “calm down” and “not here.” She stormed off still muttering, heels clicking loud. Aunt Lila let go of her arm, smoothed her dress, and walked back to her little corner table like nothing happened. Didn’t even look at me.

But I knew. She just saved my ass in front of everybody and pretended she didn’t know me so nobody would connect us later. My chest felt all tight.

For the next half hour it was hell. People whispering behind hands, fake smiles, side-eyes. “Did you see that?” “Poor girl.” “Who even is she?” I wanted to disappear. My stomach was doing flips. Dress sticking to my legs. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore. Mumbled excuse me and basically ran to the bathroom.

Locked myself in a stall, sat on the toilet lid fully clothed, and just breathed. Hands shaking. Felt like I was gonna puke.

Door opened. Heels clicked. Knock on my stall.

“Aurora open up it’s me.”

Aunt Lila.

I came out slow. She was leaning on the sink looking pissed and tired at the same time.

“I’m sorry,” I said quick. “I didn’t mean for any of this—”

“You should’ve told me,” she cut me off. “Before you went and got yourself engaged to Richard freaking Vale. You think this is a game?”

“I didn’t know it would—”

“You don’t know anything!” she snapped, voice low but sharp. “I told you stay away from them. I told you they’re dangerous. And I just stuck my neck out screaming at Eleanor Vale in front of half the pack. You know what that means for me? For my job? I risked everything tonight because you didn’t listen.”

I swallowed hard. “Why do you hate them so much? What did they do to you?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. Looked away. “Not your business.”

Before I could push, the door banged open again. Grace, one of the servants, looking panicked.

“Miss Aurora, ma’am said the deal’s off. Family revoked everything. They want you and your people gone. Now.”

My stomach dropped to my shoes. Aunt Lila just stared at me like I was the biggest disappointment ever, shook her head, and walked out without another word.

I stood there alone for like five minutes just hating myself. This was my fault. All of it. Ruined everything for everybody because I thought I could play in their world.

Finally I wiped my face, fixed my stupid wet dress best I could, and marched back into the hall. People still whispering but I didn’t care anymore. I was done being quiet.

Went straight to the corner where Nathaniel was standing with his friends, grabbed his sleeve.

“We need to talk. Now,” I said.

He looked down at me surprised. “Aurora what—”

But before he could finish, someone clapped loud from the stage. Eleanor again. Smiling all sweet now like she didn’t just rip me apart twenty minutes ago.

“Everyone, everyone can I have your attention please!” she called, voice all sugary. “Earlier I was a bit harsh with our dear Aurora. Heat of the moment. I’d like to make it right the traditional way. Aurora sweetie come up here!”

The whole room turned to me. Smiling. Clapping like this was cute. My feet moved on their own. Nathaniel tried to grab my hand but I shook him off.

I walked up the steps feeling like I was going to a funeral. Mine.

Eleanor hugged me big and fake. “We have a tradition,” she announced loud. “When someone new joins the family we welcome them properly. Ladies?”

Bunch of older women swarmed me giggling, pulling me to the center where there was a fancy chair and a big shiny bowl on the floor. Warm water, rose petals floating in it, the whole pretty thing.

“It’s foot washing,” one lady whispered excited. “Symbol of humility and service. You’ll wash the family’s feet and they’ll bless you as the new bride.”

Another one squeezed my arm. “It’s an honor sweetie. Means you’re really one of us now.”

They sat me down. Someone took off my shoes. Bunch of them lined up smiling. My stomach was in knots but I smiled back because what else could I do?

Eleanor went first. Lifted her foot all dainty, put it in the bowl. I picked up the cloth like a good little girl.

That’s when I saw her smirk.

Next thing I knew the whole bowl tipped. Warm water, petals, everything came crashing over my head. Drenched me. Head to toe. Ran down my face, my dress, pooled on the floor. The hall went dead silent then burst into laughs and gasps.

I sat there dripping, hair sticking to my face, makeup running probably looking like a drowned rat.

Eleanor put a hand over her mouth all fake shock. “Oh no the bowl slipped! How clumsy of me!”

The ladies around her were trying not to laugh. Some weren’t even trying. I just sat there. Soaking wet. Smelling like roses and total humiliation.

Welcome to the family.