Untangling a Heart From the Past

Agony seized Aurora, its fiery grip unrelenting. She licked her chapped lips, her expression bitter.

So, the pictures of her that had spread like wildfire online and the press that had harassed her earlier were all Xavier's doing. And he didn't even plan on letting her pay her last respects to the orphanage director who'd watched her grow up.

Xavier truly never loved her at all.

A short while later, Xavier entered the room again. He put on a look of relief when he saw that Aurora was awake.

"Oh, thank goodness!" he exclaimed. "I thought we'd miss out on getting our marriage license if you didn't wake up in the next two days."

Aurora's head dipped slightly as she snorted inwardly. Xavier wasn't worried that they'd miss out on getting their marriage license; he was worried she'd screw up his 100th attempt to avoid getting married.

She slid the engagement ring off her finger and placed it in Xavier's hand. "This is the ring you gave me when you proposed. I'm returning it to you now… You can put it on for me tomorrow after we get our license."

Xavier froze, then smiled as he said, "Sure. Whatever you say, Rory."

Taking a deep breath, Aurora asked, "Do you still remember how happy you were when I said yes to your proposal? My feelings for you never changed, but I wonder if your love for me is still true."

"My love for you is true, Rory. Until death," Xavier answered solemnly without hesitation.

Aurora couldn't help but find all this rather pointless. She gave him a curt hum in response, then scooted back under the covers. "I'm tired. You can go home now. I'll be fine on my own."

"Sleep well, Rory. I'll meet you at the courthouse tomorrow." Xavier tucked her in and set a glass of lukewarm water on the bedside table, his gentle indulgence almost like a farce.

…

The next morning, Aurora woke up to a bucket of freezing water splashed over her. The water was so cold that it made her bones freeze, and she sneezed three times in a row. Panicking, she looked up and saw Ethan standing before her, and her body went rigid.

"I'm giving you away today," Ethan said imperiously, regarding Aurora as if she were his charity case for the day. "Think of the water as a way to wash off your sins. As long as you're kind to others from now on, you'll always have a place in the Bowman family."

He beckoned for two stylists to enter the room, then brought out a clean, ivory wedding gown. "An older brother is like a father to his younger siblings. I had these prepared for your big day. A driver will take you to the courthouse after you've done your makeup."

Aurora went still. Ethan knew this would be Xavier's 100th attempt to get out of marrying her, yet he had come and offered to give her away as if he were doing her a huge favor.

"What, are you so happy that you can't speak?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Stop gawking and get your makeup done already. Xavier's waiting for you at the courthouse so you can get your marriage license together. Violet and I will drop by later to witness your special day, too."

Aurora nearly scoffed. She doubted they would swing by to witness her special day. They only wanted to witness her downfall and make a laughingstock out of her.

"Alright. Thank you… Ethan," she said slowly and quietly. She didn't bother calling Ethan's bluff. She'd be leaving Nordura later anyway.

Ethan's brow furrowed.

In the past, he would have been loath to refer to himself as Aurora's older brother. He might have even snapped at her for addressing him by his first name, just because.

But today was different. He had to get her hopes up now so that he could crush them later. Such was the sweet taste of revenge!

"Sure." Suppressing his disgust, Ethan nodded and turned to leave the room.

Aurora waited until Ethan had disappeared around the entryway before she got out of bed, shivering. Drenched from head to toe, she wrapped her arms around herself and said to the two stylists, "How much did he pay you? I'll pay you double to leave, but you have to promise me to keep this a secret."

After Aurora had paid the stylists to leave, she grazed her fingertips on the pristine, intricately made wedding gown. "How soft. Too bad I won't be wearing it."

She grabbed the wedding gown and bundled it up in her arms, then mercilessly tossed it into the trash. She then wrote an official estrangement announcement and had an attorney publish it in the papers.

Finally, she sent Xavier a text, scheduled to be sent in several hours: "Consider your revenge a success. You've got seven years of my youth and a stillborn baby to show for it."

When Aurora was done, the person whom the Winston family sent to escort her to Elmstead arrived.

A lively young woman with short hair stepped out of the car. She didn't comment on Aurora's pathetic state and only shrugged off her jacket, draping it over Aurora's frame. "If you're ready to go, Ms. Bowman, follow me."

Aurora nodded, quietly thanked the young woman, and got into the car after her. She didn't look back or feel reluctant to leave. After all, she didn't have anyone worth loving in Nordura anymore.