She knew just how to push him over the edge, how to get him to truly despise Aurora.
Aurora, that maid turned favorite, had already stirred Damian’s interest, something Lina couldn’t stand. She had seen it for herself, how Damian’s eyes softened when he looked at Aurora, how he cared in his own twisted way. But that would change. It had to.
Lina needed to make sure that Damian never saw Aurora in the same light again, and she had just the plan to do it. The idea came to her in a flash, and a smirk spread across her face. It wasn’t the most noble of plans, but it would certainly work.
She found Raphael in the study, reading through some documents as if nothing were out of the ordinary. He looked up when she entered, his expression unreadable.
“I need your help,” Lina said, her voice soft but firm.
Raphael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of help?”
Lina stepped closer to him, her voice low, almost a whisper. “I need you to help me trap Aurora. She needs to be in a compromising situation. One that Damian can’t ignore.”
Raphael’s expression hardened for a moment, then he smiled slowly, as if understanding exactly what she was getting at. “You’re sure about this? It could backfire.”
“I don’t care,” Lina replied sharply. “Damian’s already starting to notice her too much. He can’t. He won’t.”
Later that evening, Lina’s plan began to unfold. Aurora had been helping with some of the household tasks when Lina approached her with an offer.
“Aurora, darling, why don’t you join me for a drink tonight?” Lina asked, her tone sweet but with an edge to it. “You’ve been working so hard, and you deserve a little relaxation. I promise it will help you unwind.”
Aurora was hesitant, but Lina was so insistent that she couldn’t say no. After all, what harm could there be in a simple drink?
Lina led Aurora to the sitting room, where a decanter of wine awaited them. She poured them both a glass, her hands steady as she filled the glasses.
“Here, drink up,” she said, her voice smooth like honey. “I’ve had this imported from France. It’s supposed to be excellent.”
Aurora took the glass, her eyes lingering on Lina for a moment before she took a sip. It was warm, and the wine slid down her throat smoothly. It felt good, and for a moment, Aurora felt herself relax.
But the feeling didn’t last long.
Lina kept refilling their glasses, always with a bright smile, but Aurora began to feel lightheaded, the room spinning just a little. She wasn’t used to drinking this much, and her mind started to feel fuzzy.
“Feeling okay?” Lina asked, feigning concern as Aurora swayed a little.
“I… I think I’ve had enough,” Aurora murmured, but Lina insisted, urging her to drink more.
Soon, Aurora could barely keep her eyes open. The alcohol had taken its toll. Lina quickly took advantage of the situation, guiding Aurora up the stairs, where Raphael was waiting in one of the guest rooms.
Raphael greeted them with a nod, his expression neutral. He had been told to play his part, and that was all he intended to do.
Lina helped Aurora onto the bed, her voice sweet and soothing. “You just lie down here and rest. I’ll be right outside, making sure everything is in order.”
But Lina had other plans. She closed the door behind her and waited just long enough for Aurora to fall asleep, her breathing shallow and slow.
The next morning, Aurora woke with a headache, the remnants of the alcohol still clouding her mind. She groggily looked around and froze. She was in a guest room, and the last thing she remembered was sitting with Lina. She looked down, and her heart stopped. She wasn’t alone.
Raphael was lying beside her, fully naked but clearly in the same bed. Aurora scrambled out of the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. What had happened? Had she no, it couldn’t have. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. She felt violated but could remember nothing that would explain the situation.
Panicking, she quickly stood up and rushed to the door, nearly tripping over her feet as she fled from the room.
Meanwhile, Lina had been waiting outside, her heart racing with excitement. She knew exactly how to play this. She’d go straight to Damian, pretending to be shocked and hurt by what had happened.
When she saw Aurora exit the guest room, her eyes wide with confusion, Lina’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. She walked up to Aurora, feigning concern.
“Oh, my dear,” Lina said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “I didn’t think you were like this. I thought you were better than this.”
Aurora’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Lina gave her a look that mixed disgust with pity. “Damian’s brother, Raphael… You really thought you could get away with this? Sleeping with him, like a common whore?”
Aurora felt her stomach turn. “I didn’t” she began to protest, but Lina interrupted her, her tone sharp.
“I’m going to call Damian,” Lina said, her voice cold. “He deserves to know what kind of woman he’s living with. I’m sure he’ll be just as shocked as I am.”
Aurora stood frozen, her face pale. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
A few minutes later, Damian burst into the hallway, his eyes scanning the room before they landed on Aurora. He could see the confusion and fear in her eyes, but Lina’s words had already done their damage.
“Damian, you need to know,” Lina said, her voice trembling as she approached him. “Aurora, your precious maid, she… she’s been with Raphael. I don’t know how far things went, but it’s clear she’s been sleeping around.”
Damian’s eyes flicked to Aurora, his jaw tightening. He took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “Is this true?”
Aurora could only shake her head, her mind a blur. “I didn’t-”
But Lina was relentless, cutting her off. “Don’t lie to him,” she spat. “You’re nothing but a slut.”
Damian looked between the two women, his expression unreadable. Aurora could feel the weight of his gaze on her, and for the first time in a long time, she felt small and vulnerable.
Damian stormed out of the room, his anger radiating off him in waves. But Lina watched him go with a twisted smile, knowing she had planted the seed of doubt. Whatever Aurora had hoped for, whatever bond she thought she had with Damian, was over now.
At least, that’s what Lina thought. She would just have to wait and see if Damian would fall for her game or if Aurora would prove her wrong.