Aurora stepped into her family's mansion, her shoulders stiff, as she was still processing the weight of the Veyron meeting. The long drive back had been mostly silent, so she thought: her sisters were whispering under their breath like they were plotting world domination—or maybe just criticizing her. Either way, it wasn't comforting.
Her mother appeared in the foyer, arms crossed, and her eyes were sharp. "Well?" she asked, her voice calm but loaded with expectation. "How did it go?"
Aurora's father cleared his throat. "The… arrangements were finalized. Lorenzo has made his point clear, and the contract is set."
Aurora's mother glanced at her daughters, then waved a hand. "Excuse me, children."
All three daughters—Aurora included—exchanged glances and then nodded. "Yes, Mother," they said, as they retreated toward the stairs.
Once the hallway cleared, Aurora's parents then entered the study. As her mother closed the door behind them, the rich wood clicked with finality. The room smelled faintly of leather and polished oak, the air heavy with gravity. Her father leaned against the edge of the desk, hands folded.
"This is serious," her mother began, her tone measured. "We need to make sure Aurora fully understands the expectations and consequences; we can not afford any loopholes."
Her father nodded. "Agreed. She will be married for five years. During that time, she must obey the rules set by Lorenzo and his family. Public appearances, loyalty, discretion… all of it."
"And if she refuses?" her mother asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her father's gaze darkened slightly. "Defiance will not be tolerated. There are… repercussions. She will be monitored, and any actions against the contract will reflect badly on our family. The Veyrons are not known for leniency."
Aurora's mother sighed. "We cannot shield her completely, but we can prepare her. Make sure she knows the risks and expectations. This isn't about choice—it's about survival and duty. We need to be very clear on that."
Her father leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing, voice calm but firm. "And you know the reason we are doing this…"
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Aurora closed the door to her room and then leaned against it for a moment, as she exhaled slowly. The walls of her room were familiar, with the soft pastel curtains, neatly arranged books, the faint scent of her mother's favorite lavender candle. But even that comfort couldn't erase the weight pressing down on her chest.
Her maids, who had followed her up, exchanged nervous glances, whispering behind their hands.
"Miss Aurora… are you sure you can handle… him?" one asked, as her voice trembled slightly.
Another nodded, her cheeks pale. "I've heard stories… the Veyrons… Lorenzo… he's… dangerous. You shouldn't have to go through this."
Aurora tilted her head, and then a gentle smile formed despite the tension. "I appreciate your concern, really. But it's not like I had a choice in this." Her tone was soft, almost wistful, but there was a quiet strength behind it. "I never wanted to be part of this… my parents' arrangement, their.... let's call it a twisted game. I just… have to survive it."
Her hands were folded neatly in her lap as she spoke, her words calm and measured. There was a maturity to her innocence, a clarity in the way she accepted reality even when it wasn't fair.
The maids shuffled closer, as worry was written across their faces. "But Miss Aurora… it's Lorenzo. He's…"
"I know what I'm facing," she said, voice steady but gentle. "I can't change what's about to happen, but I can choose how I meet it. That's all I can do right now."
A heavy silence filled the room, the kind that only comes when words fail to bridge the gap between fear and understanding. Aurora's gaze drifted toward the window, where the sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the floor.
Finally, with a faint sigh, she whispered to herself, a small touch of frustration hiding beneath her composed exterior:
"I can't wait for this to be over already… and it hasn't even started."
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The moment Aurora's door closed, her two older sisters, Celeste and Marina, exchanged sharp glances.
"You know," Celeste began, her voice low but dripping with venom, "I can't believe she's actually going through with this. Married off to him… the Veyron monster."
Marina huffed, arms crossed. "Don't sugarcoat it. Lorenzo isn't just a mafia heir. He's… well, let's just say anyone who gets near him… doesn't come out the same. I mean can Aurora survive? And I'm not talking about his standards, I mean after their wedding night? And to think she'll be with him for God knows how long, she won't even survive after the wedding night! The wedding night!"
Celeste leaned closer, lowering her voice like she was sharing some forbidden secret. "I've heard… rumors, and they aren't good rumors, they're horrible rumors. About him in bed. That monster knows exactly how to break someone… and they like it."
Marina's lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowing. "I can't believe Mother and Father just… handed her over. And she—she actually looks like she's taking it all in calmly. So naïve, it's maddening and somewhat irritating."
Celeste smirked. "Naive, yes… but she is disturbingly mature at the same time. She has that innocent thing going, but I believe she knows better than to fight back too early. I'd almost respect it if I weren't so furious."
Marina shook her head. "I just… I can't imagine her surviving him. If she dares defy even a single order…"
Celeste's eyes darkened, voice dropping to a whisper that carried ice. "You know, in fact we all know what happens when you defy Lorenzo's orders."
"I hope mother and father have an escape route when things go wrong..... eventually" Marina added.
"I hope so too" Celeste said, almost like she was bracing herself for the worst.
The words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken, and for a moment, both sisters were silent—each imagining the consequences, each quietly simmering with jealousy at Aurora's role, and at the monster she was about to be bound to.