Chapter 4
She was sitting on the couch like she was the lady of the house, while Caleb kept calling her “Aunt Verena” every other sentence, acting like they were best friends.[
When Verena saw Aurelia walk in, she jumped up with a bright smile.
“Oh hey, Mrs. Thornwell! Caleb got discharged today, and Cassian asked me to help bring him home…“]
Aurelia clenched her fists, rage building in her chest.
Was Cassian really being this fucking shameless? Cheating wasn’t enough–now he had to bring his mistress into their house?
Seeing Aurelia’s expression, Cassian quickly stepped in. “Yeah, Caleb wouldn’t let go of Verena at the hospital. He just got better, so I figured… why not?”
Aurelia stared at him with pure fury, her anger burning white–hot.
These two were absolutely shameless!
“Cassian, does Caleb not have a mother? Why the hell do you need some random woman babysitting him?” Her whole body was shaking, her eyes bloodshot with rage.]]
Cassian gave her a
guilty smile and walked over, trying to calm her dow
“Hey, don’t get upset.“]
“I thought you’ve been working so hard taking care of Caleb, maybe Verena could help out a bit. Give you a break, you know?“]
“But if you don’t like it, I’ll tell her to leave right now. Okay?“[]
Aurelia’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile as she stared at him.]
Jesus, he was Oscar–worthy.
So good that everyone believed Aurelia was his number one priority, that her feelings came before everything else.[]
Like right now–the second she got upset, he was ready to kick Verena out.[]
Too bad the best performance in the world couldn’t fool someone who already knew the truth.]
Aurelia was exhausted. She was done with this charade.]
She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she knew, but suddenly Caleb ran over and grabbed her dress.[]
“Mommy, please let Aunt Verena stay! I like her–she’s fun to play with!“]
The kid’s whining made Aurelia’s head pound.[]
She looked down at this little boy she’d raised for four years, her heart breaking all over again.[]
“Caleb, sweetie, you really want Aunt Verena to stay? Even though Mommy doesn’t like her?“[]
“Then maybe you should go, Mommy. I want Aunt Verena to stay and play
ith me.”
Wife’s Temptation Returns
Chapter
The words hit Aurelia like a sledgehammer to the chest. Her vision blurred, throat closing up so tight she couldn’t breathe.
She should’ve seen this coming. What the hell had she expected?]
She shoved past Cassian and bolted upstairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.]
Cassian was right behind her, pounding on the door like a maniac. “Aurelia! Come on, don’t be like this! I’ll tell Verena to leave right fucking now!“]
“Look, if you need space, just chill for a bit. We’ll talk when you’re not so upset, okay?“]
Aurelia slumped against the door, not making a sound.[]
She could hear Caleb giggling downstairs, and each laugh felt like someone twisting a knife in her heart.
The person who should leave wasn’t Verena–it was her. They were the real family here. She was just the fool who’d been played for four years.
She was so damn tired. Too tired to even keep her eyes open.[]
When she woke up, she was still on the hardwood floor, and Verena was standing over her like some evil queen.[]
“What the fuck are you doing in here?” Aurelia hauled herself up, shooting daggers at Verena. “Get the hell out of my room!“]
Verena’s smirk was pure poison as she sauntered closer. “Wow, such hostility. I just wanted to give you some news about your kid…“[]
Aurelia let out a harsh laugh. She knew damn well Verena wasn’t doing her any favors. “I’ll find my own child!Now get out before I throw you out!”
“Really? You don’t want to know if you had a boy or girl? What they look like now?” Verena pulled out her iPhone and shoved a video
in Aurelia’s face.
The scene
a
in c
face was so swollen she could barely make out
his features. Someone was holding his hair, forcing something disgusting
n his throat while he gagged and cried.
Aurelia’s world stopped spinning. She’d never laid eyes on her real child, but somehow–call it mother’s instinct–she knew this broken little boy was hers![]
“Jesus Christ, why is he so beat up? What are they shoving down his throat?!” Aurelia’s voice cracked, her knuckles white as bone.[]
“Oh, you know how it goes. Kids without mommy and daddy are basically walking
gtargets, “[]
Verena’s grin turned absolutely vicious. “As for what he’s eating… could be shit–who knows? It’s some kind of crap, and they make him swallow it multiple times a day. Kid’s got quite the appetite!“]
That was it. Aurelia completely lost her shit.]
She lunged forward and slapped Verena across the face hardly.]
A second later, Cassian came charging through the door.]
Verona immediately ran behind him, crocodile tears streaming down her cheeks. “Cassian! I just came up to apologize, and she attacked me for no reason!“]]
Cassian’s eyes darted between both women.[]
Then he roughly yanked Verena out from behind him. “Say you’re sorry to Aurelia! You obviously did something to set her off–that
Chapter 4
slap was probably deserved!“]
Verena gaped at him like he’d grown a second head, still holding her red cheek.
Cassian’s voice boomed through the room. “Apologize!Now!“]
Aurelia just shook her head and let out the most broken laugh.[]
Aurelia shook her head with a bitter laugh. []
She was done watching them perform, then she shoved both of them out the door and slammed it shut.[]
