Chapter 62
Shaking my head, I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh as Margot pulled me by the wrist when we entered the supermarket. She picked up a grocery basket with one hand while her other hand held onto my wrist as we walked side by side.
"Margot, you know I'm not going anywhere. You're holding my wrist like I'm about to escape from you," I teased, laughing at my own words.
She giggled, looping her arm through mine instead and pulling me closer. "Well, I'm just making sure you won't escape me since you're going to teach me how to cook, right?"
I hummed, nodding. "I did say I'd teach you how to cook, but you don't need to cling to me like the needy kid you are."
Margot only shrugged, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Should I just start practicing calling you mommy instead? Since you've been treating me like I'm some sort of kid instead of someone trying to pursue you."
My lips twitched at how cringey she sounded.
"Jesus, Margot," I groaned, rolling my eyes.
"Don't you dare call me that. Are you trying to make me look like some sort of sugar mommy?
" I raised both hands in surrender. "That's definitely not on my bucket list." I laughed softly.
She only smiled and stood straighter as we stopped in front of the meat section. "T-bone would do for the steak, right?"
I nodded.
"Yeah, that would be perfect," I said, scanning the display of meats.
"After that, let's go to the vegetable section—get some potatoes for mashed potatoes, and oh, asparagus would be nice.
" I turned to face her with a small smile, but my gaze drifted past her.
My eyes blinked as I tried to make sure I was seeing right—whether it was Aurora standing by the ice cream freezer or just someone who looked like her.
My brows furrowed when I realized it was her.
What is she doing with Selene? I thought to myself.
"Who are you looking at?" Margot asked, about to turn around, but I pulled her back before she could see Aurora.
"Nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew," I said, glancing down at the basket. "Now, ready to head to the vegetable section?"
She hummed and nodded. We finished the groceries and paid before heading to her place. Margot carried the bags to the kitchen while I followed behind.
"Why do you want to learn how to cook, Margot?" I asked, helping her lay out all the ingredients.
Margot grinned. "Well, I just want to learn because I want to cook something for you."
I couldn't help but raise a brow at her. Just as I was about to respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked the screen. "Hold on, I just need to reply to these people," I said to Margot as my eyes darted to the group chat.
Oxford Tennis Reunion.
Familiar pictures from the account popped up. I saw the previous captain—before Aurora—mention both my account and Aurora's.
"Hey guys, a reunion this weekend in Oxford. I'm currently in Europe and got some time, so if you're free, it would be great," the message from Taylor read.
I scoffed, typing a quick reply. Oh, count me in, Tay.
"Nice one, Sloane! @Maychelle, have you tried contacting Rory?" Taylor's message popped up again.
I noticed Maychelle's chat bubble flashing that she was typing.
"I'll ask her if she could join," I sent, before realizing they didn't know that I'd married Aurora.
Almost immediately, the group exploded with notifications—questions flooding the chat.
"Wait, you guys have contact again?"
"Are you two talking to each other?"
"You sure you can talk with your ex? It's been so long, right?"
My face flushed as I smacked my forehead, shaking my head.
"You good, Sloane?" Margot's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
Humming, I nodded and gave her a small smile. "Yeah, just chatting with some college friends, you know." I shrugged, turning my attention back to the screen.
You guys, relax. I'm living in Monaco, and technically, we run into each other every now and then. I'll just ask her if she's joining. That's it. I reasoned out in the chat, not planning to tell them that I was married to my ex—at least not yet.
Locking my phone, I set it aside and walked toward Margot. "Now, Margot, where were we?" I asked, glancing at the ingredients laid out on the counter.
Margot pointed at them. "Which one should I cook first?"
"Wash the potatoes first, then peel them," I said, stepping in to help.
She stayed focused the entire time, eager to learn as if she genuinely wanted to impress me. After about an hour or two—and nearly turning her kitchen into chaos—we managed to finish cooking a simple steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes.
"Well," Margot said, planting her hands on her hips as she looked at the plates, "I hope it's edible enough not to poison you during the taste test." She giggled.
I laughed softly, reaching over to poke her nose. "I helped you cook it, of course it's edible." I said, walking over to check my phone again. Notifications were flooding in from the same group chat.
"Oh, Margot," I said, glancing at her. "Mind if I use your bathroom?"
Margot shrugged. "Go on, feel free," she said, waving me off.
I smiled and headed toward the bathroom. After a few minutes, I stepped back out and returned to the kitchen. Margot was setting the plates on the dining table.
"Come on, Sloane. Let's eat this together," she said, lifting a bottle of wine. "Oh—and your phone's still on the counter. Just grab it from there."
I hummed as I walked toward the counter, picked up my phone, and slipped it into my pocket. Glancing at my wristwatch while heading to the dining area, I realized it was already past seven in the evening.
"It seems I've spent hours in your place already," I said, taking the seat across from her.
Margot tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"I don't think your wife would wait for you to get home," she said, pointing at my plate.
"Come on, just eat with me. After that, if you want to leave, you're free to go.
Besides, it's not like we're doing anything wrong—it's just dinner. "
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I sighed softly. The food was good, but I barely tasted it. My thoughts kept drifting back to Aurora. Come to think of it, we'd been married for months, yet we'd barely shared a single quiet meal together.
"Is something wrong?" Margot's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I blinked at my plate before meeting her gaze.
"Huh?"
She reached across the table and gently took my hand. "You've been quiet the whole time. Did I fail my first attempt at cooking steak?"
I scoffed, shaking my head. "What? No, no—everything's fine, Margot. Just... thinking about something." I smiled faintly, pulling my hand free before lifting my wine glass and taking a sip.
After dinner, I helped her wash the dishes before telling her I had to leave.
"Drive safe, Sloane," she said, leaning toward the car window as I started the engine.
I waved at her with a small smile. "Yeah, go on, get inside. I can manage," I said, honking lightly as I pulled out of her driveway.
The drive home didn't take long. When I pulled into the garage, I noticed Aurora's car already parked in her usual spot. I shrugged, turning off the engine before heading inside.
"Is she in her study? Or her room?" I muttered under my breath as I walked down the silent hallway.
Entering the bedroom, I quickly went through my nightly routine before heading back to the living area.
I brought my laptop, phone, and their chargers, setting them on the center table.
Then I made my way to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out a box of chocolate truffles and a bottle of sparkling water.
When I got back to the living room, I plopped down on the couch, opened my laptop, and set it on my lap. My eyes focused on the report my brother had submitted, though my mind drifted in and out of concentration.
I wasn't sure how long I'd been working when I heard Aurora's voice—soft, hesitant—just as I was mid-bite into a chocolate truffle.
"Sol?"
My gaze stayed fixed on the laptop screen. "What is it?" I asked, my voice muffled by the bite of chocolate.
"How long have you been home?"
I tilted my head slightly, glancing at the time on the screen before looking at her. "Since eight-thirty. I came home late. Why?"
She looked... uneasy. Pulling out her phone, she checked something on the screen. "Well, I sent you a message. Quarter to eight, I think. But maybe you didn't get it."
My body went still. She texted me? I blinked, picking up my phone. "You did?" I pressed the button, but the screen stayed dark. "Oh, right. Forgot to charge it—it's dead." I shrugged and showed it to her.
"Ah. Is that so?" She let out a small laugh, but there was something hollow in it—something that made my stomach twist.
"Did I miss something? Did you need me to pick something up?" I asked while plugging the phone into the charger.
"No, nothing like that. Just..." she trailed off, then forced a small smile. "It's nothing."
My brows furrowed. When the screen lit up, I realized my phone wasn't actually dead. Seventy percent battery. My throat tightened as I powered it on.
"Anyway, Sol, I'm going to sleep," Aurora said, her tone clipped. "Rest once you're done." She turned and started to walk away.
Just then, her messages came flooding in. I swallowed hard, guilt rushing through me as I read them. Setting my laptop aside, I stood up. "Ro," I called out.
She stopped, glancing over her shoulder.
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't know you texted. What did you want to talk about?"
She shook her head and gave a faint, dismissive wave. "It's nothing important."
She reached out first, and you didn't even notice, I scolded myself silently.
"Ro, wait," I said, rushing toward her.
She turned halfway, her expression unreadable. "Something you need?"
Clearing my throat, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You've been added to the Oxford alumni tennis group chat. Did you see it? They're planning a reunion this weekend."
Aurora shrugged lightly. "If you want to go, you should."
My brows knitted together. "Wouldn't you like to come with me? You were the top player back then. They've all been asking about you."
A faint smile touched her lips, distant and polite. "I can go with you if you'd like. We can take the plane—bring our own cars."
"Alright," I said softly. "I'll let them know."
She just nodded. "Then... I'll head to bed." She didn't wait for me to respond before turning away, her footsteps fading down the hallway.
My hand tightened around my phone as I bit the inside of my cheek. I smacked my forehead lightly, groaning under my breath. "You're an idiot, Sloane."
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Touching down in Nice, I raised a brow when Aurora offered her hand to me. I gave a faint smile before accepting it as she helped me out of the helicopter. We walked toward the staff who greeted us the moment they saw us.
One of them approached. "Ms. Aurora, Ms. Sloane, the cars are loaded into the cargo. Your belongings are already aboard the plane."
My gaze drifted to the private jet nearby while Aurora spoke with the staff. I wasn't really listening—my eyes stayed fixed on the sleek, personal plane that Aurora owned. "...back to Monaco once you're done. We'll be back—"
"We'll be back by Monday," I managed to chime in, smiling at the staff. "Thank you," I said as I wrapped my arm around Aurora, leading us toward the plane.
Once inside, I immediately let go of her hand and moved to one of the seats. Aurora plopped down near the window, her gaze landing on me. "Since when are we staying until Monday? I thought we were returning tomorrow."
I sat beside her, shrugging.
"I figured we could take some time. It's been forever since I last visited Oxford.
" I gave her a faint smile. Oxford was where everything about us began—and sadly, where it ended.
I was hoping maybe this trip could be a way for us to reconnect somehow.
Even if we wouldn't get back together like before, I still didn't want us constantly fighting.
Aurora looked out the window. "Okay," she mumbled.
The pilot announced that we were about to take off, so I buckled my seatbelt and leaned back against the leather cushion. Aurora shifted, turning to me. "Oh, right, you can go to the venue first."
I raised a brow, glancing at her. "Why's that?"
She shrugged, closing her eyes. "Maybe you don't want them seeing us together. They all know we broke up twelve years ago. A reunion... I don't know."
I swallowed a lump, humming in agreement as I pulled a book from my shoulder bag.
Flipping to the page I had bookmarked, my eyes caught on Aurora's hand—her wedding band was missing.
My brow furrowed, my breath hitching. "You removed your wedding ring?
" I asked quietly, unable to hide the disappointment in my voice. Didn't she want to wear it?
"Ah." Aurora shifted, pulling something out from beneath her shirt. She held up a necklace where a ring and a small locket dangled. "I had to take it off in the ER. So I kept it here."
I had thought she'd removed it completely because she no longer wanted it.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I looked at her.
"Oh." Then I snapped my fingers, remembering the hotel booking.
"I booked us two separate rooms. I wasn't sure if you'd even want to share one with me.
You don't even sleep in the master bedroom at home. "
It wasn't like I'd ever told her to move out of our room. Despite how often we got on each other's nerves, I still loved having her beside me when I slept. I mean, we were married—wasn't that how it was supposed to be? Or... maybe it was just me.
My body went still when she reached out and took my free hand. I didn't pull away—I couldn't. Somehow, her warmth felt grounding, calming. I just let our fingers intertwine as I shifted in my seat, crossing one leg over the other while balancing the book on my knee.
I noticed how Aurora tried to sneak a peek at what I was reading, so I moved the book closer to her.
"What's it about?" she asked.
I flipped to another page.
"It's a romance. Girl's love." I tilted the cover toward her, showing her the title: Moonlight Melancholy.
"Written by Tonnie Collins—the famous former astrobiologist. Millie recommended it.
She said it's basically Collins' own story with her wife, Anne Montgomery. "
"Is that so?"
I didn't respond, just focused on the words again while our hands remained intertwined.
Aurora didn't press further—she simply stayed silent.
Fully immersed in the story, I found myself sniffling when the climax hit.
I felt Aurora shift, and instinctively, I turned away, trying to hide my face.
"Were you crying?"
"No," I said quickly, wiping my blurry eyes before glancing back at her.
Aurora smiled softly, brushing something from my cheek. My throat tightened at the gesture. "Uh-huh, you're not."
I sniffled again but didn't snap back like I usually did. Instead, I sighed and looked back down at the book. "Maybe I should write a novel about how you left me."
A low chuckle escaped her as she tightened her hold on my hand. "Then maybe I should write one about how you took revenge after twelve years."
I let out a soft laugh. "How petty," I remarked.
"Sol," she called, shifting once more in her seat.
I paused, slipping a bookmark between the pages before closing the book. I looked at her. "What is it?"
"About you... dating someone else."
My throat bobbed. Was she seriously overthinking what I'd said earlier?
"Can you reconsider it?" Aurora asked, making me blink at her.
I raised a brow, chuckling faintly. "Why?"
Aurora shifted, her thumb brushing over my hand. "Can't we just try again? If it doesn't work, then fine—you're free to date someone else. But right now... can you reconsider and give us another chance? Please?"
While she spoke, her gaze never left mine. It was steady, unwavering—she was serious about this. But I needed her to prove it, not just say it.
A low, weary laugh escaped me as I rubbed my temple. "I don't even know how to answer that."
"I'll give you time," she said, offering a faint smile. "If you agree or not, just let me know. I'll wait."
Knowing Aurora, she would wait. But would she just wait for me to decide... or actually fight for me?
"How is it revenge if you're asking me to start over with you? That doesn't make sense," I said, my tone sharper than intended. "And what would you even do if I don't agree—if I just decide to date someone else?"
"Then I'll step back," she said simply, like it was the only option she knew. "If you want, I'll sign the divorce papers. You can have the company. I'll step out of your life completely."
I knew it. That was always her way—leaving instead of fighting. I looked at her, frustration rising in my chest. Why couldn't she ever just fight for me?
My brow furrowed as I met her eyes. "But what if I don't want the divorce?"
There was a no-divorce clause in the prenup for a reason. So why did she keep bringing it up? How was she so sure I'd agree if she initiated it?
Aurora frowned. "Why wouldn't you? That would only make your new one... the sidepiece."
Her words made me laugh softly, though it came out colder than I meant.
"Are you sure they'd be the sidepiece?
Because if I date someone else, I'll make time for them—focus on them.
I could even live with them, leave you behind, while you're still bound to a marriage that's nothing but paper. Who's really the sidepiece then?"
She should have known by now how I loved. She had experienced it firsthand—how devoted I'd been to her through everything.
Aurora paused, then gave me a faint, broken smile. "You're right. Maybe I'd be the sidepiece after all."
She turned away, her gaze falling to the window. I didn't respond. I couldn't. The silence between us grew heavier by the second.
Did I hurt her with my words? Was she really thinking that I'd move on... that I'd love someone else?