It was a quiet afternoon at the mansion, the kind of day where the sun was shining brightly outside, but everything inside felt thick with anticipation. Aurora was walking down the hallway when she heard the sound of the front door opening. She paused, her mind immediately jumping to the reason for the sudden noise.
Damian’s father had mentioned that someone would be visiting, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. Aurora took a deep breath and continued walking, her steps slow and deliberate. She wasn’t exactly sure how to feel about the arrival of this visitor. She didn’t know who she was, but the way Damian’s father had spoken about her made her uneasy.
As Aurora rounded the corner, she saw Damian standing in the living room, not paying attention to anyone or anything around him. His back was turned to the entrance, and it seemed like he was lost in his own thoughts. The visitor, a woman who looked to be in her late twenties, was standing by his side, speaking to Damian’s father. She was dressed in an elegant, formal gown, her posture perfect, and her eyes gleamed with a certain kind of confidence.
Aurora watched them carefully from the doorway. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but the woman’s body language was enough to make her feel uncomfortable. She seemed like the kind of person who expected things to happen her way, the kind of woman who had always gotten what she wanted.
Damian’s father caught sight of Aurora and waved her over, his voice filled with a strange kind of excitement. “Aurora, come here. This is Miss Lina, Damian’s wife to be.”Aurora wondered why he said that.
Miss Lina turned her head toward Aurora, a smile stretching across her lips. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but there was something in the way she looked at Aurora that made her stomach twist.
Aurora felt a knot form in her throat. She was trying to keep her cool, but the tension in the room was thick. Miss Lina’s eyes narrowed just a little, and Aurora could feel her studying her, sizing her up.
Damian didn’t even bother to look up when his father introduced her. He stood with his arms crossed, his expression neutral, but there was something about his body language that made it clear he wasn’t interested in this woman at all.
“Nice to meet you,” Aurora said, forcing a smile. She didn’t want to come off rude, but she couldn’t help the feelings bubbling inside her.
Miss Lina’s smile faltered for just a moment before it returned, wider than before. She took a step forward, her eyes locking onto Aurora’s.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said smoothly, her tone colder than the smile she wore. “But I’ve also heard that you’re a bit of a distraction to Damian. I’d suggest you stay away from him. He’s going to be my husband soon, after all.”
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. Her chest tightened, and for a second, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She looked at Damian, but he still wasn’t paying attention to any of them. He had his back turned, completely ignoring the conversation happening right behind him.
Aurora didn’t know what came over her, but she felt her anger rise. Who did this woman think she was? Telling her to stay away from Damian as if she had any right to do so?
“Why would I want to stay away from him?” Aurora finally snapped, her voice coming out sharper than she meant. “You don’t even know him. You’re just here because his father wants it. You don’t even care about him, do you?”
Miss Lina’s smile tightened at the edges, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she took a step closer to Aurora. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice low and almost threatening. “I’m here because I’m the one Damian’s father has chosen for him. I’m the one he’s meant to be with. You don’t belong in this world.”
Aurora felt the heat rise in her cheeks, but she didn’t back down. She was getting sick of this woman’s attitude.
“And who says I belong in your world?” Aurora shot back. “Just because you’re some rich lady with a pretty smile doesn’t mean you know everything. Why would you want to marry someone you don’t even know? Just because his father told you to? It’s pathetic.”
Miss Lina’s eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her composure. “You should be careful, Aurora,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “I don’t care how strong you think you are, but you’re nothing compared to me. You’ll never be the one Damian truly wants.”
Aurora’s chest tightened, but she didn’t let Miss Lina’s words affect her. Instead, she straightened her posture and met the woman’s gaze with as much confidence as she could muster.
“I’m not trying to be something I’m not,” Aurora said, her voice firm. “But I won’t let anyone talk down to me, especially not you. If you think Damian is yours, you’ve got another thing coming.”
For a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped. Miss Lina stood there, her mouth slightly open, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The room was still, except for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Damian’s father looked between the two women, his face unreadable.
And then, Damian spoke.
“You know, Aurora,” his voice was calm, almost like he was amused, “I’m really impressed. I didn’t think you’d actually stand up to her like that.”
Aurora looked at him, surprised. She hadn’t realized he had been listening to the conversation the entire time. She couldn’t read his expression, but something about the way he said those words made her feel… something. It was a small victory, but it meant a lot to her in that moment.
Damian turned to Miss Lina, his eyes colder than before. “I don’t need anyone telling me who I’m supposed to be with,” he said, his voice carrying an authority that made everyone in the room fall silent. “I make my own choices. And right now, I don’t want anything to do with you.”
Miss Lina’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing in anger. She opened her mouth to say something, but Damian didn’t give her the chance.
“You’ve overstayed your welcome,” he added, his voice sharp.
Miss Lina’s lips pressed together in a thin line, and without another word, she turned on her heels and stormed out of the room, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.
Aurora stood there, still trying to process everything that had just happened. She didn’t know if she had won or lost, but for a moment, it felt like she had finally found her footing. She had stood up to Miss Lina, and that alone gave her a sense of power she hadn’t known she had.
Damian turned back to Aurora, his eyes softer now. He walked toward her, a small, satisfied smile on his face.
“I’m proud of you,” he said, his voice warm. “You didn’t back down. I knew you were strong, but I didn’t know you were this strong.”
Aurora didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t sure if she was proud of herself or just relieved that it was over. But one thing was clear: Damian was on her side, and for now, that was all that mattered.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice a little softer than usual.
Damian nodded, his smile widening slightly. “Anytime.”
Aurora didn’t say anything else. She just stood there, her thoughts swirling around everything that had just happened. She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time, she felt like she was ready to face whatever came her way.