Chapter 46 - Arrival Of Chaos
[SATURDAY · RAVEN MANSION— LATE MORNING]
Aurora padded downstairs slowly, one hand unconsciously pressing against her lower stomach. The cramps weren’t stabbing anymore… just annoying.
A dull, clingy ache that made her move like she hadn’t fully woken up yet.
The house felt like a typical Saturday in the Raven mansion, quiet, but not silent.
Soft footsteps from staff somewhere around, the faint clatter of a pan from the kitchen.
Gemma was seated at the long dining table, brunch already laid out, fresh croissants, eggs, fruits, everything arranged with the kind of effortless wealth she didn’t even think about.
Her laptop was open beside her glass, her phone pressed to her ear as she talked, a rare relaxed smile on her lips.
Aurora slowed her steps the moment she recognized that tone. Her mom was happy. Which meant the call was family.
“…Yes, yes, Aimee, I heard you the first time,” Gemma said with a soft laugh, brushing her sleek hair behind her ear. “If the twins want to come, let them. America isn’t going to swallow them.”
Aurora blinked. Aunt Aimee. Her mom’s twin. UK-based. Loud. Dramatic. And mother to the two most chaotic cousins on the planet.
Gemma continued warmly, “They miss Aurora, I know. She misses them too—”
Aurora froze mid-chair-pull.
Miss them?
Does she?
Gemma caught sight of her daughter and gave her a bright little wave, then mouthed, one minute.
“…And yes, they can stay with us. There’s more than enough space in the house. Besides, it’ll be good for Aurora to have them around. You know how quiet she’s been lately.”
Aurora’s expression didn’t move, but inside she felt her soul drop straight through the marble floor.
The twins.
Her cousins.
Her loud, overly-touchy, always-in-her-room cousins.
Chaos was coming.
Great.
She sat down silently, stabbing a strawberry perhaps a bit harder than intended.
Gemma finished the call a moment later, her cheerful voice floating through the last few sentences, “Alright, darling. Send me their flight details… yes, love you too. Bye.”
She set her phone down, exhaling contentedly. “You’re up late, sweetheart. Still uncomfortable?”
Aurora gave a tiny shrug. “It’s fine.”
Gemma closed her laptop a little, she was clearly working from home today, but she looked like she didn’t mind pausing. Gemma goes to work sometimes on Saturday when she has a tight schedule to handle.
“I’m staying in to keep an eye on you. And, I have news.”
Aurora stared at her plate. “I heard.”
Gemma smiled sympathetically. “It won’t be that bad. They adore you.”
“They’re loud.” Aurora muttered.
“And you need loud right now,” Gemma said softly, reaching over to smooth a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear.
“Besides, they’re starting your college soon. It’ll be good for you to have family around.”
Aurora didn’t argue. She just sighed and started eating slowly, resigned but too tired to fight.
Gemma poured her a cup of tea. “Eat. Your cramps will get worse if you don’t.”
She went back to the living room.
Aurora obeyed, though her mind was already spiraling.
Cousins. Chaos. Noise.
Exactly what she didn’t have the energy for.
But the chapter had officially begun…
Melvin came down the stairs tying the belt of his robe, still looking half-asleep but awake enough to want food. He nodded at Aurora as he walked past her chair.
“Morning,” he said, pulling out a seat beside her.
Aurora hummed back, focused on her plate.
The butler stepped out briefly. “Sir, your brunch will be ready in a moment.”
“Alright,” Melvin replied.
Gemma walked in a second later, her phone still in her hand. “Melvin,” She said, sitting down, “Aimee called earlier.”
He looked up. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. We talked about the kids.” Gemma poured herself water. “She wants them to start college here with Aurora. I told her it’s fine. Their flight gets in tomorrow evening, and they’ll start on Monday.”
Melvin nodded once. “Good. I’ll let the staff know.”
Aurora stabbed her pancake a little too aggressively.
Gemma gave her a look. “It’ll be fine, Aurora.”
Aurora didn’t argue. She just kept eating, slower this time.
★★★★★
Aurora dropped onto her bed and dialed Oma. It didn’t even ring twice before Oma picked up.
“Babyyyyy!” Oma’s voice burst through the speaker.
Aurora sighed. “Guess who’s coming tomorrow.”
“Who?”
“My cousins. The twins.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Oma squealed. Loud.
“OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! AURI, STOP— I’M SO HAPPY— FINALLY! I’VE MISSED THEM!”
Aurora rolled her eyes, staring at her ceiling. “Of course you have.”
“They were my babies,” Oma insisted. “Do you know how fun that house was when they were around? The noise? The chaos? The memories?”
Aurora groaned. “Exactly. Loud. Both you and them. My peace is dead.”
“Oh please,” Oma laughed. “You love them.”
“Sure,” Aurora muttered. “From a distance.”
“Stop it,” Oma said. “I’m coming early tomorrow. I need to be there when they arrive.”
“Great. Even more noise.”
Oma gasped dramatically. “You’ll live.”
Aurora let out a tired breath but smiled a little. “Whatever. Just don’t make it a circus.”
“No promises.”
They stayed on the phone a few more seconds before Aurora finally hung up, already bracing herself for the chaos that tomorrow would bring.
★LEONARD'S DARK VILLA★
He stood on the balcony, a cigarette burning slow between his fingers as the wind brushed over his bare chest.
The breeze pushed his hair back from his sharp brows, making the tattoos on his right arm shift like they were alive.
The ink on his bicep caught the afternoon light, bold, dangerous, beautiful.
Onyx lay stretched out at his feet, tail flicking lazily. Every few seconds, the tiger lifted his head, watching the smoke curl upward like he was trying to decode Leo’s thoughts.
Leonard exhaled.
He hated how his mind kept dragging him back to her.
Aurora.
He missed her in that obsessive, possessive way he couldn’t hide from himself.
He missed her sharp looks, the icy stares she gave him like she was trying so hard not to feel anything.
He missed the tiny frowns she made when he irritated her.
He missed the way her breath hitched when she got frustrated with him, short and stubborn and always defiant.
He missed all of it. Too much.
Her eyes, her lips, her little unintentional m???s.
His jaw tightened, irritated at himself for wanting her with this intensity.
The house felt so null. Empty. He kept replaying the sound of her voice.
And when he closed his eyes, he could almost feel the last time she had stood close to him, like her presence had branded itself into his skin.
Onyx nudged his leg,as if sensing the storm in him.
Leo dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his heel.
“Yeah,” he muttered, running a hand over the tiger’s head. “I know. I’m losing it.”
Another cold gust of wind swept past, but it didn’t distract him.
He stared out at the estate, eyes dark, expression unreadable.
He wanted her back in his space.
He wanted her where he could see her.
He wanted her where no one else could get close to her.
Wanting her this much was dangerous.
But he didn’t care.
Pretty sure he never did.
★[KIARA'S PLACE]★
Kiara’s room looked like a battlefield of clothes, glitter palettes, and open shoe boxes.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her tablet with a tight jaw, every swipe harder than the last.
Valentine’s rave party.
The biggest event of the semester.
And she had to own it.
She wasn’t letting Aurora Raven, “the gloomy girl who magically stole Leonard’s birthday spotlight”, pull that stunt again.
Not twice.
Kiara huffed and tossed the tablet aside. It bounced on her bed.
Whatever. She’d already saved twenty outfits, twelve makeup looks, and three different hairstyles. None felt right yet. None felt powerful enough.
She stood and walked to her mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her: gorgeous, polished, but not unforgettable.
Not yet.
“Not good enough,” She muttered.
She grabbed a sequined dress from her chair and held it against her body.
Too basic.
She threw it aside. Then another. Then another. Her room slowly became a pile of “nope” and “hell no.”
Her thoughts spiraled.
If Leonard shows up… he’s definitely going to look at Aurora first. They all do.
But not this time. Not this party.
Kiara pulled out her phone and opened her notes app, where she’d titled a new list:
VALENTINE’S TAKEOVER PLAN
She smirked.
“Perfect.”
She clicked her tongue, imagining the lights, the music, the cameras. Imagining turning heads the moment she walked in, like the main character she believed she was.
Aurora wouldn’t win this time.
Not when Kiara was planning like hell.
She strutted back to the mirror, lifted her chin, and whispered to her reflection:
“You’re stealing the night, babe. Watch.”
★HENDERSON MANSION★
Kimberly lounged on her chaise, one leg tucked under her, the other dangling lazily.
Her dresses were strewn across the room, but she barely glanced at them. She didn’t need a plan, she had instinct, presence, and patience.
Valentine’s Day was coming. Monday. She let the thought sink in, slow and deliberate.
Everyone would be there, but she would stand out. Not with noise or theatrics. Just with her.
The tilt of her head, the calm in her smile, the way her eyes caught the light like they were holding secrets nobody else could touch.
Her fingers brushed over a sleek black gown, soft velvet warming under her touch.
She smirked, just slightly, thinking of Aurora, the glow, the whispers, the attention she’d managed to draw before.
Nicole's death crossed her mind.
Damn, whenever she remembers… she can't help but smile like a fool. No one to always compete with her anymore.
Nicole had bigger brè?st, hips and butt than her. All thanks to surgery. So she was so confident.
But who's dèad now?
Kimberly laughed out.
She rose slowly, spinning in front of the mirror. Perfect. Effortless. Cold. Every movement measured. Every glance, intentional.
She imagined Monday: people noticing her first, talking about her, not the others. That small, sweet satisfaction filled her chest.
Kimberly let out a quiet, almost amused sigh. She didn’t need to rush. She didn’t need to compete. The room would remember her. Because it always did.
She's Kimberly fucking Henderson for fuck's sake.
★RAVEN MANSION★
Aurora sat on her bed, books spread in front of her, pretending she cared about the words on the pages.
But her mind kept wandering.
Leonard. The MF.
She rolled her eyes and shoved the thought aside. Not now. Not today.
She flipped a page and scribbled some notes, though half of them didn’t make sense.
Numbers blurred, words slipped away, but she kept writing anyway. Anything to keep her hands busy and her mind off him.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, half-expecting his name. But it wasn’t him. Just a reminder about Monday's class schedule.
Good.
She set it face down and focused again. She had to. She needed to.
Aurora pressed her palms to her eyes and took a deep breath.
She repeated it to herself: study, focus, move on. Not Leonard. Not Leonard.
The pen scratched against the paper, her thoughts scattered across paragraphs she didn’t care about. But at least it kept the pull of him out of her head, at least for a little while.
She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. She hated that he lingered, even when she tried to push him away.
But for now, she had her books, her notes, and a silent promise that she wouldn’t let him invade her space today.
Her phone buzzed again. She ignored it. She wasn’t ready. She wouldn’t let him in.
She grabbed her pen and wrote faster, harder, anything to drown out the thoughts of him. And for a moment, just a small one, it worked.
Or maybe that's what she assured herself with.
★NEXT MORNING★
The next morning, the front doors of the Raven Mansion swung open, and Oma practically flew inside, arms wide before she even saw anyone.
“Auri!” She yelled, running across the hall, and immediately wrapped Aurora in a tight hug.
Aurora stiffened, letting her be held but not returning the energy. “Oma,” she muttered flatly, hands hanging by her sides.
“I can’t believe it! I’m so happy, your parents actually let them come!” Oma squealed. “I missed them so much!”
Aurora stayed still, expression neutral. “Uh-huh,” She said, clearly done with the excitement.
Oma didn’t notice, or didn’t care. She spun around, flinging herself into Gemma’s arms and then giving Melvin a quick, enthusiastic squeeze.
They just came out.
“You guys are the best. Seriously. Aurora’s cousins are coming! Today! I can’t wait!”
Oma pecked Gemma's cheek.
Gemma chuckled softly. “I’m glad you’re excited, Oma.”
“Excited? That’s not even the word!” Oma said, bouncing slightly on her heels.
Aurora just raised an eyebrow and remained seated at the table, nibbling on her toast. She didn’t care. She really didn’t.
“Come on, upstairs!” Oma grabbed Aurora’s hand, tugging her toward the stairs. “We need to plan everything for their arrival!”
Aurora let herself be dragged along, expression unchanged. “I said I don’t care,” She muttered.
“Don’t care? Don’t care? That’s not how this works! You’ll survive, I promise. By the time your cousins get here, you’ll—ugh, never mind. Just follow me!” Oma said, practically bouncing with energy.
Aurora sighed, shoulders heavy with annoyance, and didn’t speak.
She followed, silent and completely done, letting Oma’s chaos carry the weight of excitement alone.
The Raven Mansion buzzed with Oma’s energy, while Aurora remained the calm, disinterested shadow in the storm.
Aurora’s room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the soft ticking of the clock. Oma sprawled herself on Aurora’s bed, legs crossed, eyes bright with curiosity.
“So… tell me,” Oma began, leaning forward. “What have you been up to this weekend? Any fun? Any drama? Did you… talk to Leonard?”
Aurora’s eyes snapped to her. “I don’t want to hear anything about Leonard,” She said sharply, voice flat, tone warning.
Oma raised her hands in mock surrender, grinning. “Geez, take it easy. What happened again? You two are always at each other’s throats.”
“I blocked him,” Aurora said, voice tight. “Completely. Everything. Number gone, messages gone. I don’t want him anywhere near me.”
Oma blinked, sitting up straighter. “Wait—wait, wait. Hold on. Blocked him? The entire thing?”
“Yes. Entire thing,” Aurora muttered, leaning back against her headboard.
Oma narrowed her eyes, hands resting on her knees. “Okay… so now I need the whole story. Start from the beginning. What the hell has been going on?”
Aurora groaned, running a hand through her hair. “Fine. But… sit tight.” And then, slowly, she spilled everything: the way Leonard had come in, the nights of tension, the games, the fights, and the moments that left her completely done with him.
Oma listened, wide-eyed, her mouth opening and closing, occasionally letting out a low whistle. “Wait! Hollup! This has been going on and k didn't know?! What version of yourself were you with him?!?! Kisses?! Balcony? Night?? Aurora Raven!”
Aurora placed her hand to Oma's mouth. “You wanna inform my parents? Go to them directly and tell them. Not like this, you sicko.”
She removed her hand.
“Why didn't you tell me?” Oma pouted.
“I didn’t want to,” Aurora admitted, shrugging. “He’s… complicated. Dangerous. Possessive. Obnoxious. Everything you think he is…he’s worse.”
Oma leaned back, letting out a low laugh, half disbelief, half exasperation. “Aurora… seriously? What version of you have you been giving him to let him touch you like that? You’re like… I don’t even…”
Aurora glared, cutting her off. “Don’t you dare. Don’t even start. I’ve handled it my way. And now it’s done. He’s blocked. I don’t care.”
Oma rolled her eyes, smirking, but her voice softened. “Okay… okay, I get it. But seriously, you’ve been carrying all of this alone? Aurora… you could’ve at least told me. You know I’d—ugh, never mind. I get it.”
Aurora leaned back, finally exhaling. “You get it. That’s enough.”
Oma smiled faintly, shaking her head. “You’re impossible. I swear. But… I’m here. Always.”
Aurora said nothing. Just let out the hundredth sigh this morning.
They're coming… Oh gawd.
Evening had settled over the Raven Mansion. The soft golden lights from the chandeliers reflected on the polished floor as Gemma and Melvin moved around the living room, double-checking the neatly wrapped gifts waiting by the door.
The scent of freshly baked pastries lingered in the air.
Oma bounced slightly beside Aurora as they slowly made their way downstairs.
She had changed into Aurora’s oversized pajamas, soft, cozy, and slightly too big for her, but still managed to radiate excitement.
Aurora, on the other hand, trudged down in her big t-shirt and joggers, hands lazily shoved into her pockets, her expression somewhere between “bored” and “here-we-go-again.”
A sudden sound of a car pulling up outside made Gemma clap her hands with a squeal.
Oma’s excitement was barely contained, her face lighting up like a child on Christmas morning.
Aurora let out a slow, regretful sigh, anticipating the chaos. Melvin, meanwhile, simply nodded, neutral as ever, watching the scene unfold with a quiet amusement.
The front door swung open, before Nanny Mira could open it and she stepped aside.
“Here they come!” Gemma exclaimed, practically bouncing in place.
First, a guy strutted in, shades on, chewing gum, arms wide, and a grin that could make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
“The king is back!” He announced proudly.
“My Xander.” Gemma cried, rushing toward him, scooping him up in a hug. “My baby! My baby is home!”
Oma rolled her eyes, muttering, “Here we go…” while Aurora groaned, wishing the ground could swallow her whole.
Then came the older twin, a girl; Elara.
She moved with effortless elegance, her casual-yet-rich outfit hugging her curves just right, her hair falling perfectly over her shoulders.
She smirked at her brother. “Dumbass, take off the glasses. It’s evening.”
Oma squealed uncontrollably, leaping forward to hug Elara. “Lara!! You’re gorgeous!!!”
Xander, ever the tease, went straight to Melvin, smirking. “Hey, old man, still surviving without me?” He ruffled Melvin’s hair lightly, and hugged him shortly, earning a disapproving glance, before making his way to Aurora.
“And you…” he teased, giving her a playful shove. Aurora groaned again, wishing for the floor to swallow her.
Elara and Oma exchanged a flurry of compliments, giggling, fussing over each other, and remarking how much they’d missed one another.
Their laughter filled the room like a whirlwind of energy.
Finally, Elara approached Aurora. She wrapped her arms around her, pulling Aurora in for a hug, and Xander joined in from the other side.
Aurora groaned even louder, feeling completely trapped between the two energetic twins.
The chaos had officially begun. The twins were home, and the Raven Mansion had just been turned upside down in the worst way possible.
TBC…