Chapter 6

Aurelia's POV

After the house tour, I was informed that Kael had left for a meeting.

I wasn't surprised, but my mind was still on what I had overheard earlier between him and Zack. There was clearly something going on, and I couldn't understand why everyone seemed to be hiding it from me.

As I walked back into the living room, I saw the head staff arranging a few things.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

She turned to me politely. "Of course, ma'am."

"What is Kael's family like?"

She became quiet for a moment, and I noticed the change in her expression.

"I mean his parents or anyone else in his family. I haven't heard him talk about them."

She looked slightly uncomfortable before answering, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't think I'm in the position to discuss Mr. Walter's family."

I frowned slightly. "Why?"

She only smiled politely. "I'm sorry."

I nodded, even though her answer didn't satisfy me.

I decided to stop asking questions for now and return to the Ashwood mansion to collect my belongings. I had only brought a few things with me, and I didn't want to leave the rest of my clothes behind.

I informed one of the guards that I wanted to leave, but he immediately stopped me.

"Ma'am, please wait. I need to arrange transportation and security before you leave."

"I don't need security. I'm only going back home to get my things."

"Mr. Walter instructed us to make sure you're accompanied whenever you leave."

I almost rolled my eyes.

"I haven't even been married to him for two days, and he's already assigning me bodyguards?"

The guard looked slightly embarrassed. I eventually gave up arguing and let him arrange the car.

When I arrived at the Ashwood mansion, I heard raised voices before I even stepped inside.

Richard was standing in the living room, arguing with my parents.

"I want my money back. "

My father looked pale. "Richard, we can discuss this,"

"I've already discussed it enough The marriage is off, and Aurelia is already married to someone else. I want the dowry returned."

I paused at the doorway. At least he had finally understood the situation.

I walked inside. Richard's eyes immediately landed on me. His jaw tightened. "Tell your parents to return my money."

I glanced at my father. "That's probably the easiest solution."

My mother's face changed. "Aurelia, you can't just, "

"You accepted the money. Richard wants it back. What's the problem?"

My father looked away.

I didn't need an explanation. They had already spent it.

Richard took a deep breath, clearly trying to control his temper.

"How soon can I get it?"

"As soon as they have it," I replied. "I'll make sure they return every penny."

He gave my parents one last warning look before turning toward the door.

Then he stopped beside me. "You've made your choice. Don't come looking for me when you regret it."

I almost laughed. "I won't."

He left without another word.

I went upstairs to pack my belongings, leaving my parents to deal with the mess they had created.

By the time I came downstairs with my suitcase, the front door opened.

Damien and Selene walked in.

"You're still here?" I ignored her and reached for the door.

"Wait." Damien's voice stopped me.

I turned around.

He was staring at my suitcase. "You're really leaving?"

"I got married, Damien. Where exactly did you think I'd be staying?"

His expression tightened.

"You expect me to just accept this? You suddenly get married to another man, and I'm supposed to pretend it doesn't matter?"

"It has nothing to do with you, Damien."

"It has everything to do with me!"

Damien dragged a hand through his hair, his chest rising and falling heavily.

"I'm not over you," he said, "I tried to be, but I'm not. I can't stand seeing you with another man."

Selene went completely still.

"What?" Her eyes moved from Damien to me.

"You're still in love with her?"

"Selene,"

"No!" she snapped. "So this is what you wanted all along? You deliberately married another man just to prove a point?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You knew he still had feelings for you!"

I could barely process Damien's confession myself. Hearing the words I had once desperately wanted from him should have meant something.

And a part of me hated that it still did.

I had loved Damien once. More than I should have.

But whatever feelings remained could never erase what he had done to me.

I looked directly at him.

"Whatever feelings I once had for you do not erase what you did, Damien."

His jaw tightened with anger.

"Is that why you subjected yourself to a fake marriage?"

I stared at him in confusion. Where is this coming from? I wondered.

I knew he was only saying all of this to get to me. He knew it was too late and that he couldn't have me anymore, so he was simply trying to comfort himself.

He continued. "You made it up," he insisted. "You only invented this marriage to get revenge on me. You wanted to make me jealous, and now you're pretending this man is your husband."

My anger surged.

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"You expect me to believe you suddenly got married to some stranger?"

"I don't care what you believe!"

Damien stepped closer, refusing to let the argument end.

But before he could say anything else, the doors opened again.

Kael walked in.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

His eyes swept across the room before settling on Damien, who was standing far too close to me.

Kael's expression hardened. He walked straight toward us and stepped between Damien and me.

"Back away from my wife."

Damien scoffed and didn't move.

Kael's gaze sharpened.

"Did I stutter?"

"I know your marriage to Aurelia isn't real," Damien said. "She's only doing this to get back at me."

In the moment I didn't know what I was thinking I just wanted to prove Damien wrong, so I pulled Kael close before he could even ask what I was doing. I stepped forward, reached up, and pressed my lips against his.

It was quick, barely lasting a moment, but it was enough to convince Damien that our marriage was real.

When I pulled away, Damien's expression changed instantly.