Three Wedding Jokes, I Said No To Him

Chapter 3

As Aurora got up to return to her room, a sound from the kitchen made her stop.

Valentina was crouched on the floor, carefully picking up shards of a broken ceramic bowl.

Sebastian stood over her, looking down with a mocking smile.

"Valentina, you can't even handle something this simple? When you kicked me aside to chase a rich husband, you were willing to do anything. So why can't you manage it now, right in front of me?"

Valentina's hand paused over the shards. She didn't look up or defend herself. She only gathered the pieces into her palm one by one.

A soft hiss broke the silence. A shard sliced her fingertip. Blood welled up instantly, stark against her pale skin.

Aurora saw it clearly. Sebastian's pupils contracted. The mockery vanished from his face, replaced by unmasked panic.

He stepped forward on instinct, reaching for Valentina's hand. Then he froze. He forced his hand back and clenched it into a fist.

Valentina looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. She cradled her bleeding finger and said nothing.

Sebastian stared for a few seconds. In the end, he couldn't stop himself. He grabbed her and pulled her up.

"You can't even take care of yourself. What use are you here?"

He muttered angrily, but at the same time, he fished a bandage from his pocket and wrapped it gently around her wound.

They stood close, breaths almost mingling.

Valentina sniffled and spoke in a small, soft voice. "Do you really... hate me that much?"

Her voice broke. "Can't you love me one more time?"

Sebastian went completely still. Aurora saw the struggle flickering in his eyes with painful clarity.

Something seized her heart and squeezed. The pain made it nearly impossible to breathe.

She had watched them love each other wildly and hate each other bitterly. She knew better than anyone how hard it was to cut someone out of your heart completely.

That was why, when she had offered help back then, she had never expected anything in return. It was Sebastian who had told her he loved her. He had opened his heart and let her in.

But once she was inside, she understood. The deepest room had never been unlocked for her. It had always held Valentina. The one he couldn't touch. The one he couldn't let go.

She couldn't watch anymore. She turned and fled.

The next morning, Aurora called a moving company.

She wanted to leave this place as fast as possible and cut every last tie with Sebastian.

She had just sealed the last box and was carrying it down the stairs when she nearly ran into Valentina coming up with a tray. Fresh scones, a small pot of jam, a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

They stopped a few steps apart. The air stilled.

Valentina spoke first, her softness clearly rehearsed. "Aurora. Last night, by the kitchen door. You saw, didn't you?"

Aurora's breath caught. So Valentina had known she was standing there all along.

"Then I won't pretend." Valentina set the tray aside and folded her arms. "Sebastian can act like he hates me all he wants, but you've seen what's really there. He's never let go of me. Not once. He and I have years together that you can't touch. It's only a matter of time before he forgives me. Walk away now, before you make a fool of yourself."

Aurora's grip on the box tightened. She had no intention of engaging. She stepped sideways to pass.

She had barely moved when Valentina's hand closed around her arm.

The next moment, the mug of scalding chocolate lurched straight toward her.

At the same instant, Valentina threw herself backward.

"Valentina!"

Sebastian's voice tore through the hallway. He was already in motion, shoving past Aurora. He knocked her aside hard as he lunged toward Valentina, who collapsed on the floor.

Aurora's temple cracked against the edge of a step. Pain burst white behind her eyes. Something warm began to drip down her forehead.

Valentina lay cradled in Sebastian's arms. Her lip trembled. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I only wanted her to try the hot chocolate I made... I didn't think she'd push me..."

She broke off with a choked sob. Anyone watching would have believed Aurora was the one mistreating her.

Only then did Sebastian remember Aurora. He abruptly released Valentina, his face twisted with disgust.

"Valentina! You're here as a maid. Even if Aurora targets you, you just have to take it!"

Aurora's head throbbed. Her vision swam. And now she had been branded as the one doing the targeting.

She opened her mouth to explain. Valentina cut her off.

"Yes. It was my fault!"

She struggled to her feet, deliberately exposing the red burn on her arm. Tears streamed down her face. "I shouldn't have bothered Aurora. Don't blame her..."

Before she could finish, her body swayed, and she fainted dramatically.

Sebastian panicked. There was no room left for explanations.

He scooped Valentina up, turned, and ran. As he went, he shouted urgently.

"A doctor! Get a doctor!"

As for Aurora on the floor, he never once looked back at her.

"Sebastian..."

Blood kept trickling from her temple. Through her blurred vision, all she could do was watch Sebastian's back grow smaller and smaller as he carried Valentina away. Then he disappeared through the door.

She lowered her hand numbly. Only a dull, hollow ache remained in her chest.

So this was her place in his world. Even a single glance from him was a luxury she could never hope for.