THE DE SANTIS HEIRESS: RECLAIMING THE LIFE THEY STOLE

AURORA'S POV The front door swung open. The smell of whiskey reached me before he did. Julian staggered inside. Behind him… Evelyn Brooks. My smile disappeared. I forced it back, trying to ignore her presence. “Congratulations, my love.” I stepped toward him. “I’m so proud of…” He took one step backward. “Don’t you dare come near me!” He sounded drunk and angry. I shouldn’t be surprised after all he had been coming home this way for weeks now. “That’s no way to talk to your wife, Julian,” Evelyn said, stepping into the house, her gaze mocking. “A title I’ll be stripping her of soon enough.” My heart broke at the cruelty in my husband’s voice. “What do you mean, my love?” “Exactly what you heard, and don’t you dare “my love” me.” His eyes burned with disgust. “I’ll give you one last chance to tell me the truth. Maybe then I’ll spare you.” I stared at him, unable to understand where all this hatred had come from. Just minutes ago… Everything had been perfect. The aroma of rosemary, butter, and freshly baked bread had filled the kitchen as I placed the last dish on the dining table. Candles flickered softly against the crystal glasses, casting warm light across the room. White lilies… Julian’s favorite flowers… rested in the center beside the bottle of wine I had been saving for tonight. I had made sure nothing could go wrong. Not tonight. Because tonight wasn’t just about celebrating his newest award. It was about our future. My hand drifted instinctively to my stomach. I had planned to tell him. Eight weeks. The doctor’s smile flashing through my mind. “Congratulations, Mrs. Hayes.” A tiny life. Our baby. I had reached into my pocket for what must have been the hundredth time that day, unfolding the ultrasound photograph. “So tiny,” I had whispered with a smile. “I wonder if you’ll have your father’s eyes…” Hidden beneath the dining table was a small gift box. Inside rested a pair of tiny knitted baby booties I’d bought two days ago. “You’re going to be a father.” I had imagined Julian’s face lighting up. I had imagined tears. Laughter. A hug. Instead… He looked at me as though I disgusted him. I looked to Evelyn, wondering what lies she had fed my husband this time. Her self-satisfied smirk only made me more nervous. “Are you cheating on me, Aurora?” Nothing could have prepared me for that question. “How dare you, Julian?” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “How dare you question my fidelity?” “Then explain this!” I was startled by the venom in his voice as he threw several photographs onto the floor. I staggered in disbelief as my eyes landed on them.. Pictures of me. In bed. With a man I had never met before. My gaze flew to Evelyn. Her satisfied smile told me everything. “It’s not true, Julian. Whatever Evelyn has told you, you have to believe me. I don’t know that man. I have no idea where these pictures came from. I’ve never cheated on you, Julian, please believe me.” The words poured out as I desperately tried to make him understand this was all a lie. “There you go blaming it all on Evelyn as usual.” The look on his face told me he had expected exactly that. “Evelyn didn’t tell me anything, Aurora. She didn’t have to. These pictures are enough proof of what a despicable person you’ve become.” My heart bled at the hatred in Julian’s eyes. Evelyn had finally succeeded. “This is a lie, my love. It’s obviously a ploy to ruin us, and you’re falling for it.” “Do you know what this did to me? I trusted you.” “And you should, this is all a lie, I promise.” “A lie?” Julian laughed bitterly. “He said he was your lover. That he has been your lover long before we ever met.” My gaze snapped to Evelyn. That b***h was smiling. “Were you only using me all this time?” “Julian no. Of course not. How could you think that? You know I love you.” “No, Aurora, I don’t know anything anymore. Maybe I was nothing more than a stepping stone for you and your lover.” Julian spat the words at me. “Julian, I’ve never cheated on you. You have to believe me.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m not a fool, Aurora. Do you really think I would believe you with all this evidence right in front of me?” It was obvious nothing I said was going to convince my husband. Julian walked to the table and dropped a document. “That’s the divorce papers, Aurora. I’ve signed them, and I expect you to do the same. Our marriage is over.” My knees grew weak at his words, and I gripped the banister to remain standing. “Don’t do this, Julian, please,” I pleaded. “It’s already done.” His tone was final. His eyes cold. My hand drifted instinctively to the necklace around my neck. I hadn’t even realized I had done it until Julian’s eyes followed the movement. “I’ve always wondered why nothing I bought you… no matter how expensive… could replace that necklace your supposed brother gave you.” A chill swept through me. “Now I know why.” His lip curled in disgust. “It wasn’t from your brother at all. It was from your lover.” “Take that back!” My voice cracked. “Don’t you dare bring Lorenzo into your lies!” “There's no reason to keep up the pretense.” I couldn't believe this was the man I had married. “I don’t expect to find you here when I return.” And with that, he headed out of the house. “Julian, take that back!” I cried out desperately. “Oh don't bother,” Evelyn cut in with a smirk. “Nothing you say will change his mind, Aurora. And I suggest you leave before he gets back, if you don’t want him to do something worse.” “How could you, Evelyn? How could you make such accusations?” “You only have yourself to blame, Aurora. Julian was never yours to begin with. It’s high time you accepted that,” she countered, walking toward the dining table. “Such a pity this delicious dinner is all going to waste. You should eat it, you’ll need the strength to pack your bags and leave this house.” She didn’t even try to mask the glee in her voice. “I’ll take very good care of Julian. Like I always have.” My legs failed me and I collapsed to the ground as her footsteps faded. Tears poured uncontrollably from my eyes as I tried to make sense of the fact that my husband had just divorced me, all because of a lie. The man I had loved for almost four years didn’t trust me. He chose to believe someone else over his own wife. My tears gradually ceased as the pain in my heart transformed into anger. Anger that Julian could throw away our marriage just like that. Standing up, I walked to the table where the divorce papers were. He wanted to divorce me? I would give him what he wanted. I, Aurora Ines De Santis, would never beg for a man’s love. And Julian Hayes would regret this day. My hand caressed my stomach, the beautiful, growing life inside me. Julian didn’t deserve this gift. I would make sure my child had every good thing life had to offer, and I didn’t need his help to do that. Decision made, I signed the papers. My fingers closed around the gold necklace resting against my chest as I took one last look at the document that made me a free woman. “You were right, Lorenzo,” I whispered. “Love isn’t always enough.” I reached for my phone, scrolling past recent calls, past unread messages, until I stopped at a number I hadn’t dialed in years. One name: Papà. I released a breath, then tapped “Call.” It barely rang once. “Stellina?” The voice sounded rough, breathless. I shut my eyes. That name. His voice. The same warmth, the same softness that used to carry me through everything. Time collapsed in on itself. My throat tightened, but my words came out clear. Steady. Resolute. “Papà… sto tornando a casa.” (Dad… I’m coming home.) A beat. “Oh, stellina… Ti aspetto. Sempre.” (I’ve been waiting. Always.) I lowered the phone slowly, my fingers trembling around it. My marriage had ended. There was no reason for Aurora Leone to continue to exist. It was time for Aurora Inez De Santis to come home.