The thorn in silk
620 Words
Lila arrived two days later—uninvited, as always.
Aurora was in the drawing room, flipping through old architecture magazines, when the front doors flew open. The clicking of high heels on marble echoed like gunshots, followed by that familiar voice drenched in fake sweetness.
“Aurora!” Lila sang. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already?”
Aurora stood slowly. “You’re not easy to forget.”
Lila twirled into the room, her lilac dress hugging her curves and her smile practically glowing. “Oh, I love what they’ve done with the place. So regal. So... out of your league.”
Before Aurora could respond, Mrs. Moore entered, her expression tight but polite.
“You must be Miss Hart,” she said. “Aurora’s... sister?”
“Stepsister,” Aurora corrected gently.
Lila’s eyes gleamed. “Only by marriage, of course. But we've always been so close.”
Mrs. Moore offered a cold smile. “Well, we don’t usually entertain visitors without notice.”
“I just couldn’t resist,” Lila said, brushing past Aurora. “I had to see my dear sister’s new home... and her charming husband.”
Aurora flinched inwardly.
As if on cue, Adrian rolled into the room, eyes instantly narrowing when he saw the unfamiliar guest.
“And this is...?” he asked, his voice flat.
“Lila,” Aurora said calmly. “My stepsister.”
Adrian’s eyes flicked from Lila’s painted smile to Aurora’s composed face. “Of course. I should’ve guessed.”
Lila swept forward with exaggerated elegance. “Adrian Moore. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“And yet, I can’t say the same,” he replied, his tone as sharp as glass.
Lila’s smile tightened. “I suppose I’ll just have to make an impression.”
“Oh,” Adrian said smoothly, “you already have.”
Aurora bit back a smile. Watching Adrian disarm Lila with nothing but words was oddly satisfying.
---
Later that evening, Aurora found herself alone in the guest wing where Lila had been “graciously” offered a room. She stood in the hallway as Lila emerged in a silk robe, holding a wine glass like she belonged.
“You’re quiet in this house,” Lila said. “Like you’re waiting for someone to give you permission to breathe.”
“I don’t need permission.”
Lila tilted her head. “Still pretending to be strong? You married a cripple, Aurora. Out of desperation. You’re just a pawn in their game.”
Aurora’s chest tightened, but she refused to look away.
“And yet here you are, uninvited, digging your claws into a house that was never meant for you.”
Lila’s eyes flashed, but her voice remained sugary. “I’m just visiting. Besides, I’m worried about you. You were never good at playing pretend.”
Aurora stepped closer, her voice low and firm. “I’m not pretending, Lila. This is my life. My marriage. My fight.”
“For what? Love?” Lila scoffed. “He’ll never love you. Not really.”
Aurora’s gaze didn’t waver. “We’ll see.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Lila alone in the dim hallway, her smile finally slipping.
---
Downstairs, Adrian watched the security monitor from his study. He’d seen the entire exchange—no sound, just movement. But Aurora’s face said enough.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his jaw.
“She’s different,” he muttered.
Not fragile. Not helpless. Not the kind of woman his parents had expected when they arranged this deal. There was something buried in her—steel beneath softness. And he wasn’t sure yet if that scared him… or fascinated him.
---
End of Chapter Three
- Writer
