Aurelia: The Exquisite Rose With Thorns

The betrayal

　　As she reflects on her life, Aurelia can't help but wonder what lies ahead. Her childhood memories are hazy, and she feels lonely. At the onset of adolescence, her mother, Jiah, was in a severe accident where she lost her identical twin sister, Juni. The responsibility of raising her niece Regina fell on her shoulders as she held herself accountable for her sister's demise.

Since the accident, things have changed between her and her mother, Jiah. Aurelia couldn't help but feel like her mother's affection for her had faded away. Instead, Jiah directed all of her love towards Regina - her step-cousin. It was evident that her mother was trying to make Regina feel at home and loved, but it left Aurelia feeling neglected and unloved. She longed for her mother's love and care, but it disappeared daily. The distance between them grew, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy about the future.

As she enters adulthood, the thought of the arranged marriage her parents had made for her at 13 with Jordan, the heir to the wealthy Adams family, fills her with excitement. Having been in a relationship for two years, she knew it was just a matter of time before they tied the knot. When their parents announced the wedding day, the anticipation of a future with Jordan overwhelmed her joyfully. She was head over heels in love with him and was willing to do anything to make him happy.

Even before they married, she was already going above and beyond for him. Whenever she wasn't attending school, she would take the time to prepare delicious meals for him and bring them to his place. She would also take care of his apartment, ensuring it was clean and tidy and doing his laundry so he wouldn't have to worry about it. She was fully committed to understanding everything about him, his likes, dislikes, and habits, so that she could be his best wife. Her dedication to their relationship was unwavering, and it showed in every little thing she did for him.

Aurelia Mayers was a true socialite. Being the only heiress of the Mayers family, she was well-known both at school and in the upper-class cycle. Her beauty and charm attracted everyone, and she never failed to impress, whether at parties or meeting friends. But her closest confidante was her cousin Regina. The two were inseparable and shared everything.

Aurelia made a conscious effort to make Regina feel at ease and welcome in her home. She went out of her way to introduce Regina to her friends, ensuring that she had a fulfilling social life. However, Aurelia's mother was not always supportive of her choices, mainly regarding her social life, and often favored her cousin instead. Despite this, Aurelia continued to treat her cousin with kindness and love, and their relationship remained firm despite her mother's favoritism towards Regina.

Tomorrow would be her wedding day to the love of her life. She was delighted, so she let Regina talk her into going to a party to celebrate the last day of being single. So here she was at the hotel lobby, an hour late to the party. She knew Jordan would be attending, too, so she made more efforts to look more beautiful to impress him.

As she hurried along, she failed to notice the piercing gaze of two deep eyes that followed her every move. Oblivious to her surroundings, she carelessly collided head-on with an obstacle she initially thought was a wall. With gritted teeth and a low curse of "Darn it!" she quickly took two steps back and realized that there was more to her current situation than met the eye.

Nate was in a hurry to leave the place, trying his best to avoid the old craftsman, who was trying to get him drunk. Despite his urgency, he managed to maintain an air of strength and mystery. His face was a work of art, every feature perfectly crafted. The bespoke designer suit he wore hugged his long legs, and the shimmering wolf-head diamond cufflinks on his sleeves added to his charm. As he walked towards the exit, his piercing eyes suddenly caught sight of her, and time seemed to stand still.

Her aura was gentle yet captivating, and as she walked, it was evident that she knew the effect she had on others. With her celestial beauty, she was the epitome of grace and elegance. He couldn't resist being drawn to her and discreetly signaled his men to head out first. He slowly and confidently made his way toward her, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of getting closer to this enigmatic beauty.

Her eyes were fixated on her phone screen as she walked urgently, disregarding her surroundings. It was evident that she had somewhere important to be. As the alluring woman approached him, he felt his heart skip a beat. It was impossible not to notice her stunning beauty; every eye in the room is down to her, including his. He couldn't resist the growing urge to possess her. He was transfixed when he saw her biting her lips. It was an understatement to say she looked highly sexy without even trying.

Their bodies collided, and he felt the warmth of her skin. His heart raced. There she was, so close, yet so far. He longed to hold her, but before he could react, she took two quick steps back. As he watched her look up, he couldn't help but feel drawn to her, eager to know more about the mysterious woman who had just crossed his path.
Aurelia wasn't any better, either. She gawked foolishly at the wall she had bumped into. He looked elegant and superior, even the most hailed models paled in comparison. His skin was fair, almost pale white. He had Broad shoulders outlining his challenging facial features. He had a perfectly sculptured jawline and pink, pale lips that looked soft.

Her jaw dropped when she looked at his blue/gray eyes. She desperately wanted to tear her gaze away from his, but her body had a mind. It was like his eyes kept her in a trance. He had a smile that could light up a room. He was the perfect definition of tall, dark, and handsome. He was the man who made you hold your breath, afraid to make a sound when he walked into the room. Yes, he was attractive enough to make you forget your name, even for her, who never thought she could see a man more handsome than Jordan. His perfect complexion and chiseled features could make anyone weak in the knees.

The way he stared at her was full of warmth and care, but she was pretty sure this was their first encounter. Still, she couldn't deny the instant connection between them. “Woman, are you done undressing me with your eyes? You can take a picture. It will last longer?" A deep but seductive voice said low enough for only her to hear. His voice could impregnate the ears for sure, she thought.

She snapped back to her senses and quickly shook her head in denial. She thought he was arrogant and cocky. Her gaze was clean as she feigned calmness before clearing her throat. She wanted to say something when she saw someone snapping a picture of them before hurrying away. She wanted to know who it was, so she said to

The stranger "I'm sorry for bumping into you. I was in a hurry.” He watched as she turned and left in a hurry.

He walked to his business partners and agreed to their offer to get a drink. He needed something to distract himself from the girl he had just met. In his heart, he also hoped for a chance to meet her again if he stayed. He followed the man to the club in the hotel, where they had a private lounge. They could see all the happenings on the ground floor.

On the other side, Aurelia had just made it to the rest of her friends and fiancé. They partied in the club till midnight. Aurelia suddenly felt hot and bothered. It was odd because she had only drunk two glasses of wine since she arrived under Regina’s persuasion. Aurelia knew her tolerance for alcohol wasn't as bad as she was used to drinking at gatherings. She realized then something wasn't right with her drinks. Someone spiked them, but who? Regina wouldn't do that knowing tomorrow was her big day, so she never suspected her.

She looked around for either Regina or Jordan so she could tell them what she had found out so they could take her to the hospital. She was a medical engineering student, so she knew that this kind of drug would harm her if she didn't sleep with a man or get an antidote. She had always been celibacy, and she kept her virginity intact for her husband. So she needed to get a remedy fast, or she could give herself to Jordan tonight if it became too late.

With her mind made up, she asked a girl sitting next to her if she had seen her fiancé or cousin, but the girl shook her head. But after a moment, she seemed to have thought of something: ”I saw them making their way towards the room on the second floor. Regina said I should escort you to room 10; after 20 minutes, she said she had a surprise for you.” Instantly, Regina filled Aurelia’s heart with warmth at how thoughtful her cousin was. She was happy.

She stood up and made her way in search of the two since she couldn’t wait due to her condition. As she climbed the stairs, her heartbeat echoed in her ears. When she reached the top of the staircase, she couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation coursing through her veins. The tension grew more robust with each step she took down the hallway, her mind whirring with possibilities of the surprise.

With excitement and curiosity, she reached the door of Room 10 and pressed her ear against it, hoping to catch a hint of what awaited her on the other side. Suddenly, she heard a faint, muffled sound and rushed breath coming from within the room. Her heart skipped a beat, and her hand trembled as she reached for the doorknob. As she turned the knob, adrenaline shot through her body, fueling her determination to uncover the mystery within. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a dimly lit room. In it were her cousin and fiancé rolling in the sheets like long-lost lovers. Shocked and unable to comprehend what she was witnessing, she gasped and stumbled back, the weight of betrayal hitting her like a tidal wave.

Just then, she heard her cousin’s sweetly shrill voice: “Jordan, everything was going according to our plan. When I left, I had already drugged her, only left for the men we hired to take her and have fun. I booked this room for them, so we should move out soon and go to your room to finish what we started.” She feigned sadness as she continued to say, “Honey, ain't this going too far? Those three men will ruin her reputation after tonight?”

Jordan heaved a sigh. “Regina, you are too kind and innocent. That kind of person doesn't deserve your kindness and pity. I will teach her a lesson since she loves sleeping around. I am only doing her a favor by getting a few men. She never let me touch her, pretending to be pure. We will see how she acts tomorrow. We will have the tapes as evidence. Don't forget how she treats you like her maid. She isn't even related to your family by blood, yet she acts all mighty and arrogant. She is just an unwanted adopted daughter. Besides, your mother said everything will belong to you after we get rid of her. Her adopted mother is already dead anyway, and your father despises her. No one will find out, babe, so chill.”

“Crash.” They all glanced at the door wide-eyed before panicking. “Quickly catch her, we mustn't let her leave!” shouted Rigina, panicked as they hurriedly put on their clothes, by the time they started the chase, Aurelia was already far ahead, but she wasn't as fast due to the drug taking effect. Aurelia felt excruciating pain in her lower abdomen, but it was nothing compared to the pain she was feeling in her heart. How could I have been a fool not to notice? The signs were there, so why couldn't I see them? She had no time to process all the information she had learned as she heard Jordan's instructions to his man to block all foyers, which would leave her with no way out. She had to think fast, so she did the only thing that came to mind. She scrambled into the presidential suite she found with the door slightly open and locked it, afraid they would barge in and see her. She was vulnerable, and the drug was making her dizzy and uncomfortable.