DIVORCE CHAOS: BACK TO MY EX'S BED.

TO BEG OR...

"You." She muttered, unable to process her words, her eyes danced in his. "Aren’t you gay?" The words finally slipped out in a soft whisper.

"Aurelia, is that a problem? I said I want you..."

"How dare you go back to my house asking my grandfather for my hand in marriage?" Aurelia shot death and glared at him.

Lucien took a deep breath at the same time, letting a smile curve his lips. "Isn't that proper?"

"I don't think you get it. I'm not the one to cover up your s*x life. Maybe you should find someone else to do it; I already have a lot on my hands," she said, about to walk away when Lucien's hands reached out to her, gripping her wrist in a tight squeeze.

"Can you hear me out?"

"No, Lucien, I'm not marrying you; stay away from me! Did you forget how you let me go so easily after two years? How you refuse to touch me? How did you abandon me in a marriage that involved two people? Dream on..."

She finished, glaring in his eyes.

"I know I was wrong. I need a chance—"

"You should have said that to me before going to my family. What am I? Garbage or something you can get and use whenever you're bored, you toss her out, getting a new companion to please you... or have you forgotten?" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "A chance? Never."

Lucien’s grip on her wrist tightened just enough to make her breath rise for a second. His eyes burned into hers. "Aurelia, don’t twist this," he said, voice low, dangerous. "I never tossed you aside."

She let out a sharp laugh, bitter and laced with fury. "Oh? Then tell me, Lucien, what exactly would you call it? You married me, you kept me away, you made me feel like I was nothing, and when I finally accepted that you didn't want me, you came running?" Her chest rose and fell with each word.

Lucien exhaled, running a hand through his hair before locking eyes with her again. "I was a coward." His voice softened, but there was no weakness in it. "I was scared of what I felt. And when I realized I couldn’t live without you, it was too late. But not now, Aurelia. Not yet. I can still fix this."

She yanked her wrist free, stepping back as if his touch burned her. "Fix this?" Her lips trembled, but her glare remained firm. "You went behind my back, Lucien. You went to my family like I was some prize to be bargained for. You don’t get to act like you love me when all you’ve ever done is push me away and hate me."

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t retreat. He took a step closer, eyes dark, voice thick with possession. "Tell me, did you ever stop loving me? You love me, don't you?"

She scoffed, shaking her head. "I stopped a long time ago when I signed those divorce papers. Do you think you deserve my forgiveness?"

Lucien didn’t answer immediately. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and for a split second, something like guilt flickered in his gaze.

But then, his hand reached for hers again, gentler this time, almost pleading that it was maddening how quickly he changed. "I know I don’t deserve forgiveness. But I’m not letting you go this time."

Aurelia’s breath seized. She could feel everything at once. The anger. Annoyance. Pain, but most of all. Longing, the one she didn't want to feel for him. She wasn't a fool to love Lucien again or let herself love him. She would only get hurt this time again and again. Unlike her, he had no emotion warring inside him towards her, but she did, and it left her feeling breathless every damn time.

"You don’t get to decide that," she whispered.

"Why don’t I?" Lucien’s lips curved into something that wasn’t a smirk or a smile, almost as if he could read through her. "You loved every bit of last night... Tell me, why did you come back to me? Why did you react to my every touch when you don't love me? You think I’d ever let you walk away from me again?"

Her heart slammed against her ribs. The sheer intensity in his gaze was terrifying like he wasn't going to stop.

"Stay away from me. I'm done having this stupid conversation with you," she hissed, though the shake in her voice betrayed her.

Lucien’s smirk faded. He reached out, his fingers ghosting over her cheek before she turned her face away.

"I’ll give you time," he murmured.

"You're insane..." she spat out, glaring at him. Aurelia clenched her fists.

"I just want you back, princess... you are all I want," his voice faded as he walked past her.

As soon as he was gone, Aurelia exhaled; her breathing was uneven, and her heart raced in her chest. Her eyes settled on the peonies on the table.

The evening came as Aurelia arrived back at her parent's mansion. She parked her car, staring at the mansion covered in lights. She was in trouble; Lucien had lost it, but why did it feel like everyone was siding with him and no one for her? Almost as if no one was hearing her shout in a quiet room.

She got out of her car, locking it as she walked into the mansion. As soon as she got inside, her mother sighted her, and her eyes lit, but Camille remained where she was; beside her was her grandfather—Leon Kiley—and stepfather—Max Kiley.

"You're back?" Camille said, her voice came out light, and her eyes darted to her grandfather. He didn't look too surprised seeing her, almost as if he was expecting her.

"I'll wash up," she said, Camille nodded with a smile.

As she took a step. Leon's voice cut through. "Are you going to marry him?"

"Dad!" Her stepfather, Max whispered.

"We need to know. He seems serious. You know... Lucien is who we need right now. The influence of the Audens could only boost our chances in business. Think properly. It's good you made him come back for you."

Aurelia’s head lowered. Leon Kiley had only accepted Susie, her, and her mother into the family after his sole heir died. They were more like replacements; he had been against Camille and Max's relationship mostly because of her and her criminal father.

Aurelia turned just to face him. Ten years ago, when he had decided to take them in, she promised to be useful to him, but she was tired, tired of trying. The only reason she had agreed to the marriage was because she was in love with Lucien, but ever since she found out he was gay. It had been a battle for her.

"Do I have to? Lucien is—" She froze, her gaze flickering to the floor as she summoned the courage to speak back to her grandfather. She couldn’t even look him in the eyes. Leon Kiley is a business freak. A workaholic.

The space fell silent, and in seconds, her mother's laugh echoed through. "Why don't you change and come back for dinner, Aurelia!" Her hands wrapped around her shoulders, pushing her upstairs. "Go! Don't provoke him!"

Steam curled around the bathroom as she sank deeper into the jacuzzi. Her body was weightless in the water, but not her thoughts. It was drowning in thoughts. The thoughts she shouldn’t be having. Thoughts of Lucien.

Her head fell back, lips parting slightly as the memory rushed in, vivid and so raw. His hands gripped her thighs, holding her open. The hunger in his eyes. The way he looked up at her, his mouth working between her legs so slow yet deep like he was savouring every second. Those sharp, maddening expressions softened beneath her.

Heat surged through her body along with the feel of his hands, but the moment shattered as his voice ripped in her head.

"I want you back, princess… You are all I want."

Her eyes snapped open, her breath shaky. What the hell was she doing? She sighed. She had made the worst mistake of letting him have her. If she had let Linley do it, would she be thinking about him like this? Would she want more?

She rubbed a hand over her face, frustrated. After discarding her. Now, he wants her back. Like it was that simple. Was she that simple?

Aurelia gritted her teeth, shaking her head. She refused to be pulled into his madness again. For the past three years, everyone knew she was obsessed with him, and she learnt she was getting married to him. It was a dream come true.

Her fingers curled into fists as she forced herself to breathe. She was done with Lucien. She had to be.

The next morning. Aurelia came down the marble staircase, her heels clicking softly against the steps. She frowned her face, ready to deal with her family, especially Leon. She had barely slept. Lucien’s words, his touch, his damn persistence, everything still clung to her like a second skin.

She took a slow breath. But as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, her steps faltered.

Lucien stood there, dressed in a crisp black suit, a lazy smile curving his lips beside him. Her grandfather, Leon, sat with a cup of coffee, and they were both smiling. Suddenly, his sharp gaze flicked to her.

Meanwhile, Camille stood by the kitchen, holding a basket of flowers. Aurelia’s stomach twisted.

"What’s going on?" she asked even though she could already guess the answer.

Her mother walked closer to her with the basket of flowers and tulips this time. Before, her mother could say anything. Leon beat her to it.

"Lucien offered to drive you to work this morning," he said simply as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Aurelia’s gaze snapped to Lucien, her eyes narrowing. "Offered? I own a car."

Lucien’s smirk deepened. "I figured you’d appreciate the company."

She let out a sharp breath, crossing her arms. "And I figured you’d understand the meaning of no by now. I don't need you to drive me. Why would you do that?"

Camille let out a small dry laugh, stepping in before the tension could rise. "Aurelia. Be considerate."

Aurelia turned to her mother, disbelief flashing across her face. "Considerate?" Her jaw tightened. Since when does my ex-husband showing up uninvited and forcing his way back into my life count as considerate? The one person who could understand this feeling the more was her mother, but she was supportive?

As Aurelia stepped out of the building, heading towards the black car that parked at the front of the mansion. She paused and turned back to Lucien.

"Do you not understand the word 'No'?" She asked.

Lucien took steps closer to her. "What do you need me to do? What do I need to do for you to give me a chance?" His brows furrowed, his piercing gaze glued to her. "Do I need to kneel? Do I need to beg? Mm, princess?" Those words stung at her heart.

Before Aurelia could say a word. Lucien fell to his knees, his imploring gaze holding hers. "Does this satisfy you? Can I have a chance now?"