Chapter 94
$5 vouchers
“You must be really silly,” Elara said, her voice rising as disbelief mixed with rage. “Like, actually insane. Co-wife? Are you hearing yourself right now?”
Aurora was already sitting comfortably on the couch, examining her perfectly manicured nails like this conversation was boring her. “I don’t know why you’re piping up like this. Marc invited me to stay, and I’m staying. It’s really that simple.”
“It’s Marcus, and you showing up at six forty in the morning banging on doors like a lunatic is not what he agreed to….”
“Oh please, don’t act like you’re the victim here….”
“I’m not acting like anything, I’m telling you that you need to respect boundaries…..”
“Boundaries? You want to talk to me about boundaries when you trapped him into this marriage.”
“Trapped him? Are you out of your fucking mind….”
Their voices kept climbing over each other, getting louder and sharper with each exchange. Neither one was listening to the other anymore, both too focused on getting their own words out. The living room echoed with their argument, the sound bouncing off the high ceilings and expensive art on the walls.
“You show up here unannounced acting like you have some claim to this house”
“I have more claim to this house than you do, I was here first”
“Being here first doesn’t mean shit when he married me”
“A marriage that’s clearly fake, everyone can see it”
“Fake? You don’t know anything about our marriage”
“I know plenty, People have been talking.”
“Stop calling him that!”
“Why? Does it bother you? Does it remind you that I know him better than you ever will?”
Elara took a step forward, her hands clenched into fists. Aurora stood up from the couch, meeting her energy with equal aggression. They were face to face now, both breathing hard, both ready to escalate this beyond words.
“You need to leave,” Elara said, her voice dangerously low.
“I’m not going anywhere. Marc wants me here.”
“Marcus doesn’t want you here at six in the fucking morning acting like you own the place”
“He gave me permission to stay, which means I can come and go as I please”
“Like hell you can.”
15:02 Mon, May 11 d
Chapter 94
“What’s going on down here?”
Both women froze. Marcus’s voice cut through their argument like a blade, immediately silencing them
both.
He was standing at the top of the stairs in nothing but pajama pants, his hair messy from sleep, his expression confused and irritated. His eyes moved between Elara and Aurora, trying to piece together what was happening.
“Aurora?” His brow furrowed. “You’re here early. You didn’t say you were coming this early.”
Aurora’s entire demeanor shifted instantly. The aggression melted away, replaced by something softer and more vulnerable. She smiled up at him, her voice taking on a sweet tone that made Elara want to vomit.
“I’m so sorry, Marc. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I just wanted to get settled in before the day got too busy. I didn’t realize it would be an issue.”
Marcus came down the stairs slowly, his eyes still moving between the two women. “It’s fine, but next time maybe text first? Let us know you’re coming?”
“Of course. I’m really sorry.”
He walked over to the living room, and Elara could see him taking in the situation. Aurora’s luggage by the door. Elara in her robe looking furious. The tension in the air so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“Anyway,” Marcus said, his voice becoming firmer now. “Since you’re here, let me make something clear. Your quarters aren’t in this main house. You’ll be staying in the guest house, which is separate from where Elara and I live.”
Aurora’s smile faltered slightly. “Oh, I thought”
“And you need to respect my wife,” Marcus continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. “If you can’t do that, you won’t be allowed to stay here at all. Are we clear?”/
The air went cold. Aurora’s face tightened, her jaw clenching as she processed what he’d just said. For a moment, Elara thought she might actually snap back, might show Marcus the same venom she’d been directing at Elara all morning.
But Aurora was smarter than that. She knew when to retreat.
“Of course,” she said quietly, her voice strained. “I understand completely. I’ll respect your wife,”
The way she said “wife” made it clear she didn’t believe the marriage was real, but at least she was agreeing to behave. For now.
Marcus nodded. “Good. Let me show you to the guest house so you can get settled.”
“He started walking toward the door to grab her luggage when another knock came. Sharp and
authoritative, completely different from Aurora’s aggressive banging,
Everyone froze. Marcus and Aurora both turned to look at the door. Elara, who was closest, moved toward it automatically.
“Who else is coming here this early?” Marcus muttered, running a hand through his hair.
15:02 Mon, May 11 J
Chapter 94
65 vous
Elara reached the door and opened it, expecting maybe a staff member or security with a question.
But the person standing on the other side made her breath catch in her throat.
It was a woman, in her early fifties or late fifties, dressed in a cream-colored Chanel suit that probably cost more than a car. Her hair was styled in a perfect bob, her makeup flawless, her jewelry understated but clearly expensive. She carried herself with the kind of confidence that came from decades of wealth and
power.
Her eyes were cold as they landed on Elara, assessing her in a single glance that made Elara feel suddenly small in her silk robe.
Behind her stood a man in a black suit, clearly security or a driver.
The woman’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice smooth and cultured. “I’m here to see my stepson.”
Elara’s stomach dropped.
It was Penelope.
AD
Comment
