THE AURA KING

NO

Ryan's POV

On my way back to the hotel, I passed by Claire’s company. I did not plan to stop, but something caught my eye through the wide glass windows.

She was there.

Claire stood outside with a man I had never seen before. They were talking or no, they were gisting, laughing, leaning too close.

His hand brushed her arm, then her hair, and she did not flinch. She smiled. She had a banquet of fresh flowers in her hands, white lilies and red roses, tied with a satin ribbon. The kind of flowers you give to someone you are close to.

I sat on my bike, watching from across the street, the engine rumbling beneath me.

*It has not even been a day.*

Less than twenty-four hours ago, she was in a room with me, signing divorce papers, accusing me without proof, throwing away four years of marriage like a broken pen. And now she stood there with him with flowers in her hand.

I wanted to look away, but I could not. The thought pressed against my skull. Has she moved on already? Maybe she had moved on a long time ago and I just never saw it.

I pulled my gaze away and rode off.

When I got to the hotel, I parked in the basement and went straight to my room. To be honest, my mind was rumbling, I didn't know what to think or do.

I sat on the bed, thinking. I still had shares in her family’s company. I could withdraw them now and watch the empire tremble, or I could wait until it grew bigger and take them then. That would hurt more. That would be the kind of wound that bleeds for years.

My phone rang, it was my guardian. I let it ring. I was not ready to hear his voice, not ready to think about the man lying in that coffin.

I laid down. Maybe a nap would clear my head.

Thirty minutes later my phone rang again as it woke me up. The same name on the screen. I almost ignored it again, but the ringing stopped before I could decide. Instead a message came through.

It was from my guardian. A location pin. Which was for the burial ceremony.

I stared at it, closed my eyes, and willed myself to sleep again. But sleep would not come.

I got up and headed downstairs to the lounge. The bar was quiet and dimly lit with a few people scattered across the room. I sat at the counter and ordered a drink.

Halfway through my second glass, I heard voices behind me.

“Did you hear? The old mafia king was a legend,” one of them said.

“Of course. A real man. Protected his people, built half the charities in the city,” another replied.

I scoffed before I could stop myself.

*A good man? My father? All those charities were not kindness. They were laundromats for slush funds. Every smiling photo in a newspaper was just a mask to hide the rot underneath.*

Nothing was wrong with my statement, but I realized I was not only talking to myself, but also to the two men gisting themselves.

One of them heard me. “You got something to say, friend?”

I did not turn around. “Just wondering if you are talking about the same man who abandoned his family.”

Immediately, I heard the chairs scraping the tiled floor and I could feel their eyes on my back.

“You do not know what you are talking about,” one of them muttered.

“Time will come when you will see or maybe not,” I gulped down the remains of my drink in one go as I was not in the mood for a fight.

I left money on the counter, and walked out without looking back.

“Hey friend! Would you mind coming back, let's talk!” One of them yelled, but I just kept walking till I got to my room.

In my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall.

I knew I should act with facts and not emotions.

What my father owned is a lot times bigger than what I have built at DuneForge.

Maybe I can use that to my advantage to really find out what happened with the death of my mother.

***

The next morning, I dressed simply, wearing my dark jeans, black shirt, nothing that stood out. I rode to the location my guardian had sent.

The place was already crowded when I arrived. High walls, black banners, and the sound of murmured voices.

I saw Claire and her family.

Now, I know why they were all arrogant. Why didn't I know my father knew them? And not once did they tell me they would be here. Not even a message.

Claire saw me and her eyes widened slightly. “Ryan,” she said, walking over. “I am sorry. I forgot to invite you.”

Forgot…

“We are divorced, why are you sorry?”

Before I could answer, another man joined her. The same man from yesterday. He thanked her for inviting her.

“Thank you for inviting me to the mafia king’s burial,” he said.

I stared at him.

I hadn't noticed him before, but now I do. It is the same man she once told me not to worry about. The same man whose name she would not let me speak in our house.

Less than a day since the divorce, and she was bringing him to private occasions.

Yeah, I was angry. She'd divorce me without thinking it through and yet, she couldn't dispose of someone I clearly didn't like.

The guards of the mafia king had not yet arrived, so the guests still chatted with themselves. I heard whispers about the hidden son of the late mafia king from Benita, my ex mother-in-law.

“Do you think the rumoured mafia's son would be here today?” She asked Caleb.

“There is no hidden son. It is all just a rumour.” One of the attendants replied.

“I heard from a very reliable source that Mr. Lennox had a son, but he kept him away since his wife died.” Benita replied.

“If he is really alive and real, maybe, he would come because today is his father's burial ceremony, so he should be present.”

“I hope he is and sees my beautiful Claire. At least we will be more secure with our company.”

I scoffed as I stared at them. They didn't know I had been the one securing their company all along. Dumb people.

“What are you laughing for? What's funny?” Caleb asked, staring at me.

Immediately, my face became blank. “I wasn't laughing.” I responded.

“Wait… Who invited you?” He turned to Claire.

“I didn't.” Claire raised her hands up in the air.

“What are you doing in this prestigious burial ceremony of Mr. Lennox? Security! You're not doing your job here!” He yelled.

“I was —”

“Guards!” Caleb yelled, cutting me off.

Then I noticed a more familiar but strange face walking through the entrance. Immediately I noticed her, the woman I had helped repair her car when I was clearing my head.

“At last! You came!” She said loudly as if she wanted everyone to hear.

I was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do, but instinctively I played along. She pulled me in her arms and I didn't struggle.

“Thanks for accepting my invite.” She said without letting go.

If I had been with my father all these while, I would have known which family she is from. But from what I learned, only wealthy families are allowed in this place.

Soon enough, everyone forgot about me and I thanked her for saving me.

“I didn't get to ask for your name the last time we met. I was deeply troubled.” She lamented.

“Ryan,” I responded.

“I'm Sarah.” She replied, smiling sheepishly at me and I couldn't help but smile too.

Such a sweet soul…

Curiously, I asked. “Why is this looking like a party instead of a funeral?”

Sarah smiled, stared at an elderly man I presumed was her dad. “That's what Mr. Lennox wants. He doesn't want anyone crying at his funeral.”

I nodded my head as I stared at the people in groups. Their whispers continued around me, the hidden son becoming the center of every hushed discussion.

Then it happened.

One of Claire’s relatives, a woman I resented more than Benita herself looked at me and said, “Go get me a glass of wine.”

I hesitated. My pride bristled, but I thought of Claire. This was not the first time we had signed divorce papers. In the past, we had torn them up, pretended nothing happened. A part of me still loved her, foolish as it was.

So I turned to go.

Sarah’s voice halted my footsteps in surprise. “Does she not have hands to get her own wine?”

The crowd went still.

Claire’s relatives glared silently as I watched Benita's lips thinned.

Sarah’s father stepped forward quickly. “Sarah, enough. You can't do that! It is none of your business! You don't poke your nose into everything! It will get you killed!”

But she did not stop. “What? We are at a burial, not a palace. He is not your servant.”

Her father begged her to calm down, but she wasn't listening.

Is this what I think it is? Is she standing up for me?

I watched as Claire just watched. Typical Claire.

Then Claire’s secret boyfriend stepped forward, smirking. “Old man, if you do not shut your daughter’s mouth and make her kneel and apologize, I will ruin your company.”

Sarah’s father paled and he panicked, but something distracted me immediately.

Claire finally moved and she walked towards me. “Control this. You caused it. Now go pick up the wine my nephew asked for.”

I looked at her... Really looked at her.

The woman I had once defended against the world now stood beside the man she told me not to worry about, asking me to fetch wine for her family like I was still chained to her.

What audacity…

And for the first time in four years, I looked into her eyes and said…

“No,”