Aurora’s POV
“Harder, baby.”
“f**k, your cunt is so tight.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, sucking in a sharp breath as the moans surrounded me in the hallway. I gulped and exhaled a shaky breath, not wanting to think about what my ears had just picked up. Maybe my head was playing tricks on me, but the breathless voice came again.
“You feel so f*****g good.”
“Ah!”
It couldn’t be; I shook my head in denial. He could never do that. I knew he always cheated on me, but he never brought his flings home. Never. That was the only self-respect and dignity I had managed to keep, and I had prayed every time that he wouldn’t take that too.
My step faltered as the moan drifted out louder this time, and I bit my lower lip, clenching my dress at my side as I walked to the door. I told myself I was going to confirm that tiredness was making me hear things, that I was going to open that door and find nothing and feel foolish and go to bed, but my hands were already trembling on the knob.
“f**k!” A loud groan followed, and that was Knox’s voice.
I wanted to turn back and pretend it wasn’t really happening, yet I couldn’t bring myself to do that. The door was ajar like it was intentionally opened for me to witness whatever was going on at the other end. My hand trembled on the knob as I opened the door wider; Knox’s cologne assaulted me and suffocated me.
Then I saw her. A familiar red head was bobbing over my fiancé.
My heart beat wildly as the air in the room seemed to suck out of me, my knees feeling weak while my bag slipped from my hand to the floor with a loud thud. The rolling of her hips stopped the moment the sound was heard.
She released a shocked gasp as her eyes widened with guilt or shame. She wanted to scramble away, with precum trailing down her thighs, but Knox just smiled and pulled her back onto his c**k before releasing a satisfied groan.
“Let her watch,” he breathed, unbothered, as he continued to thrust into her while still staring deep at me.
My lungs burned as I blinked repeatedly, my ears ringing.
The heart I thought had already been made familiar with Knox’s betrayals, the heart I thought had already gone numb from the years, broke all over again.
“Y-you—” I stammered, pointing shaky fingers at both of them, my voice breaking. This was Leila, the same friend who always told me to endure everything; the same friend who always comforted me was now moaning wantonly on my fiancé.
“How could you, Leila? I trusted you.” My voice was shaky, yet the accusation and betrayal were clear.
Leila didn’t even look at me as her eyes were closed in pleasure, her head tipped back, and her body kept moving against Knox.
I sniffed and quickly wiped the lone tear trailing down my cheek. “f**k you, Knox,” I yelled and turned to leave before my legs gave out, but Knox’s voice boomed across the room and I froze. My body stilled before my mind could catch up. Years of conditioning had made my brain automatically respond to Knox’s voice.
“Turn around and look,” he ordered. I wanted to defy him, but my body couldn’t. Fear had been programmed deep in me for what would come from defying him.
I gripped my side tighter; I could feel my fingers digging into my skin. I redirected my focus to the pain of my fingers digging into my flesh because it was still better than looking at what was in front of me, but the moans kept echoing in my head, mocking and taunting me even as I tried to find somewhere else to put my attention. I wanted my brain to shut down.
“You should be grateful I want you.” Knox grabbed Leila’s breasts while she leaned against him. He removed his c**k from her as his c*m spurted out of her.
He wasn’t even wearing a condom.
I didn’t know why, but I lost it at that moment. Leila wasn’t even feeling remorseful, and a humorless laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it — hollow and empty, like my insides.
Knox looked shocked at the sound. He glared at me, but that didn’t stop me. “I should be grateful?” I asked incredulously.
I think my heart had gone numb to his cheating for a while, but I think this was the last straw, and all the pain I had been holding onto had finally spilled over. “I should be grateful that you cheated on me,” I gestured to myself before waving my hands around the room, “in our room, on our bed, with my friend?” I pointed directly at Leila and she whipped her head away.
A dark glint flashed in his eyes for a moment, but I was already past caring; my chest was full of pain, and my anger was long gone.
“Yes,” he responded calmly, putting on his shorts as Leila smiled sheepishly at me, picking up her bra and discarded dress. I snapped and wanted to jump on her.
“You psycho!” I reached for Leila, but before I could grab a fistful of her hair, Knox was on me and shoved me hard onto the ground before the familiar blows followed. My body curled into the same defensive position, my hands on my head, shielding it from his fists.
Pain erupted everywhere he hit — my ribcage, my hands — and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying. Crying only egged him on, but God, I was so pathetic. My fiancé cheated on me, yet I was the one getting hit. He tore the front of my clothing, and I immediately covered my chest and curled into a small position.
“You are so annoying,” he said, his breathing ragged as he looked down at my body with disgust, yet I could see the lust in it, and I scrambled to hide my breasts. He smirked, his tongue darted out, but Leila’s voice cut in and he looked away for a moment.
He threw the duvet at Leila and began to walk out of the room, leaving my battered body on the floor, but paused at the door. He hummed to himself, rubbing his jaw slowly, and my breathing went shallow as his gaze hardened. I swallowed against the tightness in my throat.
“It’s like it’s been a long time since I’ve given you a proper lesson, and that makes you forget your place.”
“My place?” I asked, my voice barely coming out.
“Yes,” a dark glint in his eyes as my breathing hitched and my chest tightened. “Stay in the room and reflect. When I get back, we will relearn that lesson.” He reached down and took my phone, “I’ve given you so many privileges,” then my car keys and my bag.
My chest started to hammer; I couldn’t be in this room when he came back. My body shivered, already knowing what would happen, my mind registering the past pain and what the future pain would be.
I scrambled after him on my hands and knees, quickly grabbed onto his legs before he could close the door. “Please, I’m sorry. Don’t. I’m sorry — I’ll be good.” I begged, tears streaming down my face. I hated the trembling of my voice, hated how my body coiled in anticipation of a slap, the fear of knowing.
His gaze softened, a sad smile spread across his face. “Reflect on your actions, my sweet Bella.” He bent down a little, his cold hands grabbed my chin, and his thumb brushed my cheek softly as he pressed his lips to my cheek, then smiled.
I felt a tiny flicker of hope that he would forgo it, but that was just wishful thinking, because he kicked me hard in my stomach and banged the door in my face.