Chapter 10

'What the hell is going on right now?'

Lexton's brow furrowed again. This time there were even more lines printed on the man's forehead than before, and his eyes were still glaring at the woman still in front of him.

"What nonsense did you just say?!" snapped Lexton impatiently.

Somehow his temper was so easily provoked tonight. Descending the stairs from the second floor to meet this uninvited guest was already draining his energy and wasting his time, especially since he had been in a puddle about Gama earlier.

And now the woman was saying things that were beyond reason, successfully sprinkling gasoline on the fire that was starting to burn.

Aurora gasped. She didn't think she would face someone like this, especially now that she was starting to wonder why Gama had a relationship with this man.

Why did Gama tell her to meet Lexton? And why was this violent man her guardian from now on?

"Do I have to repeat what I asked you?"

Before Aurora could string words together, Lexton's voice had already returned.

Aurora took a slow breath. She had to remain calm, as she was in a place that was not her domain.

"Look," Aurora began to speak softly. "I have a letter to give you, Mr. Lexton Alfacht."

Lexton's eyes widened as he heard the young girl say his name so matter-of-factly, with his hardened jaw still clenched tightly shut.

All right, he would listen.

Aurora turned to her backpack that lay on the sofa, pulling the zipper to open one of the slots there. Pulling out a bright blue sealed letter, the woman looked back at Lexton with her hand extended forward.

"This is from my brother," Aurora said. "He told me to meet you to deliver this letter, and here I am now."

Lexton snorted. Where were they really going with this?

Aurora raised her head to stare deeper at Lexton, with her hands still dangling in the air. She waited for a while until Lexton took the letter she had been handed.

Lexton's heavy breathing could be heard, with his eyes still fixed suspiciously on Aurora. This was the first woman to land in the Alfacht clan's mansion, and who could be sure that she had no intentions?

Although it seemed unlikely, there was still a chance.

"That's a message I have to deliver to you." Aurora's voice came back, as Lexton fiddled with the sealed letter in his hand.

She thought hard about what kind of letter she had received and who would give her a letter in these modern times.

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had managed to convey Gama's request to meet and deliver the letter to Lexton, almost forgetting that he was Gama's appointed guardian for her.

"I'm not going to open this letter now," Lexton replied suddenly.

Aurora raised her head, returning Lexton's gaze now. Whatever.

"Explain about that guardian you were talking about," the Alpha pleaded. "Are you kidding? Or do you think this is a kindergarten so you need a guardian?"

Aurora clearly caught the mocking tone of voice in Lexton's words just now. There was a tinge of annoyance that also began to gnaw at her heart, regretting more deeply why she had swung into that luxurious mansion.

"I don't know what your relationship with my brother is," Aurora replied honestly. "But I think my brother might have chosen the wrong person to be my guardian, so I'll just excuse myself now."

Lexton tilted his head.

Aurora grabbed her backpack with a decisive motion, slung it on her back, and prepared to leave. It seemed like she didn't need to linger any longer.

"Excuse me!" said Aurora in a half-annoyed tone. She didn't know where to go either, but being there didn't seem like the right choice either.

"I apologize for interrupting your time. Good evening, Mr. Lexton."

The woman bowed in a half-hearted salute, finding her interlocutor still choosing to remain silent. Taking a step, Aurora turned around to walk towards the exit.

But after only one step forward, Lexton's distinctive voice was already heard and brought her steps to an abrupt halt.

"Who's your brother?" asked Lexton.

The Alpha was still where he was, now turning his head to stare at Aurora's back with the ponytail dangling beautifully on the young woman's back.

Aurora swallowed hard. Her two hands were on each handle of her backpack, tightening slowly as she contemplated whether or not she should answer the man's question this time.

Lexton waited.

"Gamaliel Vernon."

'Is that you, Gama? This woman's brother?'

Time seemed to stand still for Lexton, as his bead was now fixed on the sealed blue letter that he was still clutching with no intention of doing so.

It was a letter from Gama to him. It was brought to him by Aurora, Gama's younger sister. What happened?

Aurora was just about to resume her steps, but again Lexton's voice was heard first.

"Wait!" Reflexively swinging a hand in the air, Lexton seemed to want to hold Aurora's body that was about to move away.

The woman turned around. Returning Lexton's gaze, which had now changed one hundred and eighty degrees, she found him glaring at her with shade now.

"You... are Gama's sister?" asked Lexton in a low tone of voice, in stark contrast to the intonation and tone of voice he had given Aurora before.

Aurora nodded vaguely.

"You're right," she replied. "I am Aurora Vernon, the only sister of Gamaliel Vernon."

If Lexton had been struck by lightning earlier, now it was as if thousands of stones had slammed into his body. There was a pain that just throbbed inside, one that came without his command. And he had no choice but to savor the pain.

There was a moment of silence between them, staring at each other with their beads intertwined.

"Oliv!" Lexton's voice echoed, followed by the arrival of Oliv who was running slightly from the left side of the mansion. The young man approached Lexton, standing not far from where the Alpha was.

"I'm here, sir."

"Take Miss Aurora to the guest room," Lexton ordered firmly. "And fulfill all her needs without missing a thing."

Oliv raised his head, trying to ascertain if the order he had just heard was the correct one. But their leader seemed to have no intention of changing the instructions.

Lexton gripped the letter tightly, walking with large strides to the still-silent Aurora.

"Stay tonight," Lexton said. Aurora held her breath for a moment, eyes wide. They were quite close, and it felt awkward now.

"Oliv will take you upstairs, and feel free to ask for anything," Lexton continued. "You've probably come a long way, so rest well tonight."

Aurora blinked twice. True enough, Lexton's offer sounded tempting. Moreover, it was still raining heavily out there and Aurora had no idea where to go as the time was also creeping towards night.

The young woman had no option but to nod her head vaguely.

"Alright, thank you," she replied softly.

Lexton turned around to give Oliv further orders, which were immediately followed by the man's quick movements.

Stopping right in front of Aurora at a safe distance, Oliv gave directions with his right hand pointing at the steps.

"Come, Miss. Your room is on the second floor," Oliv invited.

Aurora nodded again, summing up a smile on her tired-looking face.

Oliv allowed the young woman to go first, pausing to salute Lexton before she actually left.

"Oliv."

"Yes, sir?"

Lexton took a deep breath.

"Put him in the main parlor. And don't let anyone go upstairs while she's here. Do you understand?"

Lexton didn't want his guests to be disturbed by the arrival of their organization's all-male members, so making sure the men didn't go up there was the right choice.

Oliv nodded, indicating he understood.

Aurora had reached the middle of the stairs when Oliv caught up with her. Lexton was still rooted to his spot, clutching tightly the letter tucked in his right hand.

Looking down to look at the letter more closely, Lexton noticed three words written on one side of the letter. Three words that made his heart throb even more.

'To Lexton, my best friend.'