The sound of laughter and cheerful voices filled the grand hallway as Aurora descended the staircase. She had spent most of the morning trying to make sense of Damian’s confession, but there was no time to dwell on it now. Something was happening downstairs-something loud and unsettling.
As she stepped closer, she froze. There, standing in the middle of the living room, was Lina. She looked smug, her lips curled into a triumphant smile, and beside her stood Raphael. Aurora felt a pang of irritation. She had met Damian’s brother before, but his presence here, alongside Lina, was enough to send alarm bells ringing in her head.
Aurora felt her chest tighten as Lina’s gaze landed on her. The other woman’s smile widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Ah, there she is,” Lina said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “The maid turned favorite.”
Aurora didn’t respond, keeping her expression neutral as her eyes flickered to Raphael. He had the same smug air about him as before, his gaze lingering on her with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
“This is Raphael,” Lina said, placing a hand on his arm as if introducing him for the first time. “Damian’s brother. He’s here to… assist me with some things.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “I know who he is,” she said flatly.
Lina’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered, her tone turning saccharine. “Oh, of course, you do,” she said. “You’ve been around long enough to meet all the important people, haven’t you?”
Before Aurora could reply, Damian entered the room, his presence instantly shifting the atmosphere. His gaze swept over Lina and Raphael, his expression darkening. “What are you doing here?” he asked Raphael coldly.
Raphael smirked, his confidence evident. “Nice to see you too, brother,” he said smoothly. “Though your manners seem to be as lacking as ever.”
“I don’t remember inviting you,” Damian said, ignoring Raphael’s jibe. His voice was sharp, his body language radiating tension.
“I don’t need an invitation,” Raphael replied, stepping forward. “I’m family, after all. And Lina here was kind enough to extend an offer.”
Damian’s gaze shifted to Lina, his jaw tightening. “You had no right to bring him here.”
Lina stepped closer to Raphael, linking her arm with his. “Oh, come now, Damian,” she said, her tone overly cheerful. “Raphael is family. He’s here to help me settle in and… support us as we plan for the future.”
Damian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “There won’t be any future with you, Lina,” he said firmly.
Lina’s smile faded, replaced by a flash of anger. “You can’t keep denying this forever,” she said. “Raphael understands the value of family alliances. Something you seem to have forgotten.”
Aurora, watching the exchange, couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped forward, her voice firm. “Family alliances?” she said, her eyes narrowing at Lina. “Or is this just another one of your schemes to get what you want?”
The room fell silent, everyone turning to look at her.
Lina’s expression hardened, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. “How brave of you to speak out of turn,” she said, her voice dripping with venom.
Aurora didn’t flinch. “Someone has to,” she said. “You can parade Raphael around all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re out of place here.”
Raphael chuckled, stepping between the two women. “Ladies, let’s not make this personal,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. He turned to Damian. “We’re all adults here, aren’t we, brother?”
Damian didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on Raphael. “You have one day,” he said. “Then you leave.”
Raphael’s smirk widened. “We’ll see about that.”
As Damian turned and walked out of the room, Aurora followed, leaving Lina and Raphael behind. But the uneasy feeling in her chest didn’t go away. Something told her this was far from over.