Chapter 76
My brow arched as I saw Margot's message just as I was about to get out of the car. I leaned back, unbuckled my seatbelt, and grabbed my phone. Reading her text, I almost chuckled.
Sloane, do you want me to grab something for you?
I typed back: Just grab me my usual fresh milk, please. I'm on my way to the mall too—you could wait for me there.
I re-read the message before pressing send.
Stepping out of the car, I shut the door and walked toward the mall entrance. I headed straight for the supermarket, scanning each aisle for Margot.
"Where is she?" I muttered under my breath, checking aisle after aisle until a familiar voice caught my attention.
"Ow!"
My body froze. Turning to my left, I saw Margot clutching her arm. "Ro!" I called out, hurrying forward. I brushed past Aurora and reached for Margot, helping her steady herself.
"Are you alright?" I asked, examining her arm. When I saw she was fine, I let her go—and turned to my wife standing in front of me. "Ro. Apologize. Now."
Aurora raised an eyebrow, disbelief flashing across her face. "Excuse me?"
Crossing my arms, I met her gaze with a stern look. "Shouldn't you apologize when you're the one who hurt her?"
She let out a laugh—dry, disbelieving, almost mocking.
"Sloane, it's fine," Margot said gently, reaching for my wrist, though I didn't move. "I guess Aurora just doesn't like seeing me with you."
Aurora laughed again, sharper this time.
"Oh my God," she clicked her tongue. "You really have the nerve to play innocent?
Wow. Just, wow." She shook her head, clapping her hands once, twice—taunting.
"You should audition for an acting workshop, Margot. Do better."
"Aurora," I cut in, glaring at her.
"You want me to apologize to your business partner? Fine," she said, stepping toward Margot.
I immediately stepped between them, blocking her path. The last thing I wanted was for this to escalate into a public scene.
Aurora scoffed, looking down at me before turning her gaze to Margot.
"Alright then," she said with a cold smile.
"I'm sorry, Margot. I'm sorry you're so weak you can't even stand on your own two feet.
I'm sorry you keep pretending to be a victim when I didn't even touch you. "
She paused, eyes flicking back to me. "Satisfied, Sol?"
Before I could even respond, she turned on her heel and walked away.
I sighed and hurried after her. "Ro!" I caught up, grabbing her arm, forcing her to face me. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Aurora narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly. "What's wrong with me? Nothing. What's wrong with you, Sol? Why would you force me to apologize like you're her lapdog?"
My jaw tightened. "What did you just say?"
"I said," Aurora stepped closer, her tone sharp, "you're acting like Margot's lapdog. Can't you—"
Before I could stop myself, my hand shot up, and I slapped her. The sound echoed louder than I expected. Gasps followed from a few bystanders.
Aurora stared at me, stunned as if she hadn't expected I'd actually hit her. "Really, Sol?"
Biting my lip, shame pooled in my chest. "I'm sor—"
"No," she cut me off, her voice suddenly flat, drained of any warmth. "Keep it."
She shook her head once and turned away.
"Ro!" I called out again, but she ignored me completely. I couldn't bring myself to follow. Not after what I'd just done. Because deep down, I knew—I'd crossed a line I couldn't easily undo.
I ran my hand through my hair, groaning in irritation. My gaze followed her retreating back despite myself. Why do you keep messing up, Sloane?
"Sloane," Margot's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked and turned toward her, forcing a faint smile as I walked back.
"You know what? I actually don't want the milk," I said, turning away. "Let's just go to the company and investors' party, Margot." I added, striding toward the supermarket exit.
My hand went to my phone, unlocking it with slightly trembling fingers. I typed a message for my wife.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to slap you. What are you doing at the mall, anyway? Is Dione with you?
I hit send and slid the phone back into my pocket. Beside me, Margot looped her arm through mine as we walked. "Are you mad at me?" she asked softly.
Humming under my breath, I shook my head. "I'm not mad at you," I reassured her. "I'm just... not in my best mood right now."
"Look, I'm sorry," Margot mumbled, lowering her head as she stopped walking, forcing me to stop too. "I didn't mean to make your wife mad at me. Maybe she just doesn't like how close we are."
I turned to face her and sighed, giving her a light pat on the head. "Aurora may seem cold, but she wouldn't act rashly over something like this, Margot. Besides, we both know we're just friends."
She nodded with a small smile. "A friend your wife gets jealous of," she teased, clicking her tongue. I couldn't help but laugh softly.
When we arrived at the resto bar where the investors' party was being held, most of our colleagues were already there, settled in the private room Margot had reserved.
I took an empty seat, and Margot sat beside me. Letting out a deep sigh, I pulled out my phone again to check if Aurora had replied or called—but there was nothing.
My thumb hovered over the screen before I started dialing her number. Standing, I leaned toward Margot. "I'll just step out to make a call," I said, not waiting for her reply before heading out of the room.
I pressed the phone to my ear, waiting. It rang, then went straight to voicemail. I tried again. And again. Still the same.
Exhaling, I leaned against the wall and stared at the glowing screen.
"Is she mad at me?" I whispered, glancing at the last message I'd sent—left on seen. "Maybe I'll just talk to her once I get home."
With that, I pocketed the phone and headed back inside.
Just as I was about to sit down, I noticed Margot standing in the corner, wiping at something on her blouse. Frowning, I walked over to her. "What happened?" I asked, realizing her cream blouse was now stained red across the chest.
"Well, clumsiness gets the better of me," she said with a soft laugh, still dabbing at the fabric.
I sighed and shrugged off my blazer, draping it over her shoulders. "Use my blazer for now," I said with a small smile before heading back to my seat.
But my mind couldn't stay where my body was.
No matter how much I tried to focus on the meeting, everything blurred.
My thoughts kept drifting back to Aurora—her silence, her eyes before she left, that sting of guilt I couldn't shake.
I wanted nothing more than to go home and talk to her.
A tap on my shoulder made me flinch. I turned to find Margot looking at me with one brow raised. "You're spacing out, Sloane. What's wrong?"
Swallowing hard, I looked at her—maybe a little too long—before forcing a faint smile.
"You know what? I think I should leave," I said, glancing around at the others.
Standing, I cleared my throat. "Everyone, thank you for tonight," I announced, offering a polite nod.
"Something came up, so I'll have to head out early.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. "
I didn't wait for their response. Grabbing my things, I walked out of the private room.
Just as I was about to step into the parking lot, a firm hand caught my wrist.
"Sloane."
Margot's voice. I turned to face her, her hand still gripping me. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Well..." I exhaled. "I just want to check on my wife. I can't stop overthinking things, and I need to clear something up with her. So... I'll go ahead first."
She studied me for a moment, then let out a small chuckle, rubbing her brow. "Right," she said softly. Clicking her tongue, she slipped my blazer off her shoulders and draped it back over mine. "Of course, you'll prioritize your wife first."
Her smile was small but knowing. "Have a safe trip home, Sloane," she added, leaning in to press a brief kiss on my cheek. Straightening, she gave me a little wave. "See you when I see you, I guess?"
And just like that, she turned and walked back toward the resto bar.
I stood there, frozen. My hand instinctively touched the spot where she'd kissed me. "What the hell just happened?" I muttered under my breath, staring after her.
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The moment I walked past Aurora, I felt her body lean closer to me. I paused when she stepped back, her gaze lingering on me. Tilting my head, I raised a brow, trying to understand what she was doing.
She pointed at me—no, at my blazer. "Did you get a new perfume?" she asked, her tone calm but her eyes sharp.
"What?" I frowned, shrugging off my blazer and lifting it to my nose. The scent wasn't mine—it was floral, unfamiliar. "Ah," I said, forcing a faint smile. "Must be Margot's perfume."
Without waiting for her response, I walked toward the bedroom, hung the blazer on the coat rack, and headed straight for the bathroom.
I took a quick half bath to wash off the day—and maybe the guilt clinging to me. When I stepped out, wrapped in a robe, Aurora was sitting at the edge of the bed, arms crossed.
I walked toward her, stopping just in front of her. Tilting her chin up gently, I checked the cheek I had slapped earlier that day. A wave of guilt hit me hard.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, my thumb brushing her skin. "I shouldn't have slapped you."
Aurora let out a quiet laugh and brushed my hand away. "Sol, how do you really see Margot?"
Her question made me frown. I looked at her—really looked at her—but her expression gave nothing away. "Ro, can we not do this again?" I asked softly.
The last thing I wanted was another fight. There were too many cracks between us already, and I wasn't sure I could handle another one tonight.
"If I die one day," she continued, standing up, "will you choose her? If I hadn't gotten you pregnant back then, if we never had Dione, would you rather be with her than be stuck with me for revenge?"
I froze. Her words landed like a knife. I had never thought about it that way—never questioned what might have been.
"Where is this coming from?" I asked, my voice tight. "What kind of question is that?"
She reached out, her hands gripping my arms. "Just answer me," she said, her tone low and trembling. Her grip tightened, making me wince, and she immediately loosened it. "Sol, if you had the chance... would you choose Margot over me?"
I hesitated. My mind flickered back to the brief kiss Margot had given me earlier. I hadn't felt anything—just shock. Nothing beyond that.
Letting out a slow sigh, I met Aurora's gaze again and cupped her face. "Ro," I said quietly, "are you asking me this because you're jealous of Margot?"
"And what if I am?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I couldn't help a small, disbelieving scoff.
My thumbs brushed her cheeks as I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips.
When I pulled back, I shook my head. "Don't be jealous of her, please.
She's my business partner—nothing more. We built a friendship through work. Haven't I told you that before?"
She sighed, her eyes softening for a moment. "But you still haven't answered my question, Sol," she murmured. "If I die one day, will you choose to be with her? Will you let someone else take care of Dione if I'm gone—Margot, perhaps?"
Her words twisted something deep inside me. I didn't know why she was asking these things, but I could feel unease crawling beneath my skin.
Letting out a short, uneasy laugh, I rubbed my temple.
"Ro, enough of this, will you?" I exhaled, resting my hands gently on her shoulders.
"Look, I'm sorry if my blazer smelled like Margot's perfume.
She spilled a drink at the resto bar, and I lent it to her for a while. That's all."
I let my gaze linger on her as I traced the faint mark on her cheek. Did I slap her a little too hard earlier? "And about the mall... I'm sorry. I lost my temper. I know I shouldn't have hurt you like that. It's just... Margot is younger than us."
A low groan escaped her lips. "She might be younger, Sol, but she's not a child anymore." She laughed softly, shaking her head. "And you standing in front of me like I was about to hurt her? Wow."
"Why?" I pressed, trying to stay calm. "Isn't that what you did? You shoved her. If you hadn't, she wouldn't have acted that way."
The way Margot's voice cracked back then still echoed in my mind—she had sounded hurt.
Aurora laughed again, this time sharper, pushing my hands away from her shoulders.
"See? You're not trying to make amends, Sol.
You're pointing fingers at me like you saw the whole damn thing.
" Her tone trembled between anger and disbelief.
"She grabbed my wrist—I shoved her off. I didn't even push her that hard.
But you know what?" She raised her hands in mock surrender, her voice cracking.
"None of it matters, because you've already chosen to believe the other side of the story. Sadly, that side isn't mine."
I swallowed hard as she turned her back on me. "Where are you going?"
"The guestroom," she said without looking back. She walked to the door, opened it, and slammed it shut behind her.
A sharp breath escaped me as I sat down on the edge of the bed, tugging my hair in frustration. "Not again," I whispered to myself. Then I lay back on the mattress, arms spread wide, staring blankly at the ceiling.
I lost track of time before I finally sat up again. "No," I muttered. "We shouldn't keep being like this."
Pushing myself up, I left the room and walked toward the usual guestroom where she stayed during our fights. I knocked once before twisting the knob. When I opened the door, I frowned—it was completely dark inside.
"Ro?" I called out, reaching for the light switch.
"She just said she was coming here. Then where the hell is she?" I mumbled, turning the lights back off and closing the door.
As I made my way down the hall, I paused near Dione's room. Aurora was just stepping out.
Her expression shifted from surprise to guilt the moment she saw me.
I walked up to her and took her hand gently.
"I went to the guestroom, you weren't there.
Turns out you were in Dione's," I said, my thumbs brushing over her knuckles.
It was the same hand she had injured saving me, thinking I was inside my old car.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I traced slow circles over her healed skin. The scars might have faded, but the memory hadn't.
"Listen, Ro," I said softly. "I'm sorry for not hearing your side. That was my fault. Can we stop fighting about little things? Can we just..." I paused, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "Can we just make out?"
If we kept fighting, we'd only drift further apart—and I didn't want that.
"Sol," she murmured, licking her lips. Then she cupped my face and kissed me.
A soft gasp escaped me as I wrapped my arms around her. I pulled her closer, my back pressing against the wall as her kiss deepened. Her lips grew rough, hungry. Her hands slid down my waist, pulling me closer still.
We walked down the hall, not daring to break the kiss even as we nearly stumbled. Aurora's hand fumbled for something behind my back, guiding me deeper into the room. I couldn't help but rise on my toes, pulling her closer until I felt the air between us disappear.
The sound of the door shutting echoed softly before she urged me backward. I fell onto the bed, the mattress catching my weight.
"I love you," she whispered, her hands tracing the line of my jaw. "I love you, Sol. I love you."
My gaze lingered on her silver eyes. I swallowed hard, tugging her down to me. "I love you more," I murmured before our lips met again.
Her hands roamed over my skin, and I gasped when she suddenly bit my neck. "Ro—what the hell?!"
A soft laugh escaped her as she pulled back, bracing herself on the mattress. "Sorry. Couldn't help myself."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped out. Sitting up, I met her gaze. For a moment, silence settled between us—soft, fragile, yet heavy.
"Look," I began, breaking it at last. "I think it's better if we talk things out now. From the embezzlement to Dione's existence. Everything."
Aurora arched a brow and straightened; her eyes fixed on mine. I reached out, taking her left hand and holding it tightly, as if I could draw strength from the warmth of her skin.
"First of all," I said, forcing the words past the lump in my throat, "I'm sorry for ruining your trust, and for almost bankrupting your company."
I shut my eyes and exhaled shakily before continuing. "I only did it because I found out Marcello Bianchi was siphoning money from your accounts. I'd been watching him for months before I decided to confront him—and force him to play along."
When I opened my eyes again, I couldn't bring myself to meet hers.
My thumbs brushed over the faint scars on her knuckles—barely visible now unless you looked too long.
"I know it destroyed your trust in me. But I meant to return every cent that was stolen.
That was the only way I could think of to make you notice me again. "
A nervous laugh slipped from my lips, brittle and small. "I'm sorry if I used force just to be with you again. I understand if you still can't accept it, but—"
Before I could finish, Aurora silenced me with a kiss. My eyes widened, thoughts scattering as her lips pressed against mine. When she pulled back, I instinctively touched my mouth, still warm from her.
"W-what..." I stammered, cheeks flushing as she smiled faintly.
"Take all the revenge you want, Sol," she whispered. "I don't care. Just... be with me."
"Huh?" I frowned, confused. "Wait, what?"
She chuckled softly, patting my cheek before kissing me again. "I love you, Sol."
My breath hitched, and something in me cracked open. I pulled her into my arms—tight, desperate, grounding. Burying my face into her neck, I shut my eyes as her hand began rubbing slow circles on my back.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes. I tried to hold them back, but they spilled anyway, warm against her skin.
All this time, I'd thought only about revenge—about making her feel the same pain I once did. But I'd been wrong. None of it had ever truly been her fault. She hadn't tried to destroy me; I had destroyed myself in the process of trying to hurt her.
"I'm so sorry, Ro. I love you," I whispered again, still clinging to her, still hiding my face in her neck. "I don't want anyone else. I can't be with anyone else—especially not Margot. It's only you, Ro."