DIVORCE CHAOS: BACK TO MY EX'S BED.

Aurelia's eyes slowly blinked open as bright sunlight poured through the large windows. The warmness of the blankets on her skin felt oddly familiar, but something felt off. Suddenly, her eyes snapped wide open. Her gaze darted around the room, looking at the disaster. The pillows lay tossed to the floor, the sheets tangled around her bare legs. Her underwear, her dress, and his shirt were carelessly on the carpet. The scent of his cologne still lingered in the air. Her heart pounded. This room, with its towering curtains and cold floors, was all too familiar. The navy walls, the king-size bed she now lay in, her old bedroom. Her ex-husband’s mansion. But why was she here? And why did the evidence of last night make it impossible to deny what had happened? The sound of water stopped, and the bathroom door creaked open. Lucien stepped out, steamrolling in behind him. A white towel hung low on his hips, clinging to the sharp V of his waist. Drops of water slid slowly down the lines of his bare chest, tracing the ridges of muscle across his torso. His broad shoulders flexed with each step. His body is impossible to ignore. Aurelia's breath stopped in her throat. Her eyes voluntarily followed the slow trail of water dripping from his collarbone, slipping over the sculpted lines of his abs, disappearing beneath the edge of that towel; she swallowed hard, heat blooming in her chest and spreading lower, twisting in her stomach. He was sinfully handsome - maddeningly so. The only reason she had fallen in love with Lucien Auden. His hand raked through his damp, dark hair, pushing it back, and the muscles in his arm flexed smoothly. That simple and thoughtless gesture sent a jolt through her, awakening something she thought she had buried. Aurelia tore her eyes away, but it was too late. Her pulse quickened, and her skin tingled with awareness. Memories of last night flashed in. His hands gripped her waist, his mouth against her skin, the sound of his low, ragged breath in her ear. Damn him. Her legs slammed tightly to stop the ragged breathing between her legs. Lucien's green eyes flicked to her, slow and deliberate, catching her staring. A knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he took another step forward, closer. Her body betrayed her in ways her mind screamed to resist. He was her ex-husband. The same cold and arrogant bastard. Her heart took a skip because right now, all she could think about was how badly she wanted to feel his hands and mouth on her again. "You're up?" His voice cut through the air, thick and deep. "Why?" Her eyes darted around, trying so hard to avoid his piercing gaze. "Why.... why am I here?" She gulped hard as she finished her sentence. Lucien scoffed in a mocking tone. "Don't you remember? You came home, threatening me to be responsible for you..." A smile curled his lips, "I didn't know my wife was a first-timer." Aurelia's eyes flew open. That was right. Her sole purpose for going to the club last night was to lose her virginity. A FEW HOURS AGO BEFORE THEIR MEETING. The door crashed against the wall with a thud, echoing through the quiet apartment as Fay Thomas stormed in. Her chest rose and fell with urgency, and her sharp eyes scanned the dimly lit room. A pang of worry hit her as she spotted Aurelia, her cheeks soiled with tears. “How long are you going to keep saying no to everything, Aurelia?” Her tone held frustration. Aurelia reached for her laptop in front of her and paused her drama mid-scene. She sized Fay worriedly. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice soft. "I mean," Fay said, stepping closer. "I heard you turned down that blind date. After you agree to it, Aurelia. Why? How long are you going to let him keep you trapped like this?" Her voice cracked slightly as she spat the words. "Your ex-husband didn’t love you. You know that, right? He didn’t deserve you!" Aurelia’s face hardened, her jaw tightening as she shot Fay a glare. "That’s enough," she said firmly but her voice low. "I’m not stuck on him. In fact, I’ve forgotten all about him. Who is he again?" She forced a laugh. Fay’s eyes softened. "You can’t lie to me, Aurelia," she said, crouching down to meet her friend’s eyes. "You’re hurting. And I can’t sit here and watch you drown in this pain anymore. That’s why I brought backup." She stood as the door creaked open, revealing Susie Kiley, Aurelia's younger sister, walking in with two cocktail dresses over her arm. "Tonight, we’re going out. And by out, I mean clubbing." Aurelia groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Susie, no. I just got divorced, in case you forgot. The last thing I want is to see, talk to, or even think about men." Susie’s grin only widened. "Oh, honey," she said, tossing one of the dresses onto Aurelia. "Tonight isn’t about men. It’s about you. You’re almost 30, and you’ve never been to a club. Never let loose. Never had a wild night to remember. We’re changing that." "25," she corrected. Fay crossed her arms and smirked. "And while we’re at it, let’s not forget you were married for two years and still, excuse my bluntness, a virgin. Like, who does that?" Aurelia groaned again, her cheeks flushing red. "He is gay! What did you expect?" "Exactly my point," Fay said, shrugging. "Two years, Aurelia. Two years wasted on someone who is gay! He deceived you and didn’t love you the way you deserve to be loved. It’s time to move on." Susie chimed in, her voice teasing. "Isn't it weird? If he was gay how come you don't even know his boyfriend? The secrets." "That's enough. I'm not going, I don't want to." Three hours later, a sleek black Range Rover pulled up in front of Garnet Club, its glossy exterior gleaming under the neon lights. Aurelia stepped out hesitantly, her heart pounding in her chest. Her outfit was simple yet striking an off-white long-sleeve top that hugged her figure and framed her collarbones elegantly, paired with a flowing black mini skirt that swayed with every step. A bold red handbag hung over her shoulder. She turned back to Fay and Susie, who strutted toward her confidently. Fay’s tight black dress sparkled faintly under the club’s lights, while Susie’s signature grin lit up her face. "Wait, what?" Aurelia exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in the glowing sign above the club’s entrance. "Garnet Club? You got us VIP?" "Of course," Susie said, flipping her hair dramatically. "I know the owner. We went to college together. You’re welcome." Aurelia couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. Despite her nerves, she felt a spark of excitement, an excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her friends flanked her on either side as they made their way to the entrance, the bass from the music thrumming through the ground beneath their feet. Aurelia took a deep breath and straightened her posture as they headed towards the bar to grab a drink. Susie nudged her, sitting beside her. "You're ready for tonight?" She asked with a flushed smile. Aurelia giggled, "Maybe!" Her voice was loud, but Susie had a gaze somewhere else. As Aurelia looked behind her, following her gaze, she found a man sitting and smiling at her. "Take your time. I invited him," Susie whispered. Before Aurelia could turn around, Susie had disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor with Fay. "Hi, I'm Linley Parker. Can I buy you a drink?" He asked, Aurelia turned in his direction, forcing a smile. "Oh, sure... although I have one," she said awkwardly, lowering her gaze to the drink in front of her. She glanced around and found Susie and Fay watching her from the dance floor, but it wasn't for long; Susie was off with a guy, leaving Fay alone. "So, your friends tell me you need a man," He said, "going through a breakup?" Linley's loud and deep voice shuddered her. "I wouldn't say that, but well, similar," she said with a smile. A few minutes later, Aurelia found herself on the dance floor, her breath uneven, as Linley closed the space between them. The crowd pressed them closer. Linley leaned in, his voice grazing her ear. "Relax. Just feel the music." His words were smooth with confidence. However, the closeness of his body sent a tremor down her spine. Aurelia swallowed hard. She didn't know how they'd ended up here, but now his hand hovered near her waist, so close enough that her skin prickled. She inhaled slowly and let the music guide her. Her hips moved first-hesitant but fluid-as she melted into the rhythm. Linley followed his movements perfectly in sync like he already knew how her body wanted to move. His hand finally settled on her waist, fingers curling with just enough pressure to send a spark up her back. It wasn't innocent. Every inch of space between them became suffocating, electric. Linley's eyes locked onto hers, a slow, knowing smirk tugging at his lips. He leaned closer, their faces barely apart, the heat of his breath brushing over her cheek. "You're tense," he murmured. "Loosen up." His words shouldn't have affected her, but they did. Her hand moved, sliding up his chest, fingers grazing the firm lines beneath his shirt. She felt him tense under her touch. "Like that?" she whispered back, her voice softer. Linley's grip on her waist tightened, pulling her flush against him. Their bodies moved in perfect sync. The music faded around them. All Aurelia could hear was the pounding of her heart and the rush of blood in her ears. Something was wrong, her head began to spin slowly. "Sweetie, I want to go home," she heard herself say, but her words were barely heard. His hand slid up the curve of her back, fingers grazing bare skin just beneath the hem of her top. Her skin burned where he touched. Linley leaned in closer, his lips near her ear. Aurelia turned her head slowly, her mouth barely a breath away from his. Their eyes locked, Linley tried to close the space between them, but instead, she smiled, a dangerous smile and pulled back. "Don't get ahead of yourself," she purred, slipping from his grip. Linley's smirk faltered for only a second before his eyes darkened. Aurelia walked away, her heart hammering in her chest. As she stepped out of the club. She hailed a taxi. "Aven's Estate," she said, getting in. Her head rested on the leather.