Chapter 17: Give Her A Small Benefit

Aurelia blinked, mirroring his confusion. “As per your arrangement, I have to earn the money for my meals,” she started in a low but careful voice, watching his eyes to see how he reacted.

“My arrangement?” he questioned.

Aurelia ignored it. “I am not unwilling to work, I swear. I understand that I have to earn my right to stay in the house and remain your wife, so I started looking for work. But I have no skill except for playing the piano.”

Luther didn’t say anything for a moment. “You have still gone against my wishes and played the piano in public.”

Aurelia nodded vehemently. “I know I was wrong. Can you… Can you forgive me?” she stammered.

Luther’s eyes roved over her overly guilty figure, and he gritted his teeth.

While he couldn’t tell her he had not been the one to make the arrangements, he could also not allow her to work and scrape money for food. Showing her pity would only make her think she had a place in his heart, which she didn’t. But she was his lawfully wedded wife. He couldn’t allow Sharon and the rest of the staff to mistreat her.

Where did they put his dignity then?

If Aurelia struggled with food and basic necessities, everyone would think he was an incompetent man who couldn’t take care of his household. No wonder Casper taunted him.

If his grandfather found out… he would be finished.

Luther gritted his teeth. “You don’t need to go to work any longer.”

She nodded hesitantly. “But I don’t have any source of income… I could work in a restaurant if you allow—”

He cut her off with a glare. “You want me to be laughed at by my peers, don’t you?” he hissed, gripping her arm so tight she cried out. He dropped his hand after a beat, pushing her away so that she stumbled and bumped into the study table.

Aurelia gripped her forearm, her eyes watery.

“You don’t need to worry about your expenses any longer. I will deposit money into your bank account at the beginning of every month.” He paused. “Don’t ask for more because you will not receive anything more than what I deem fit for you. Do I make myself clear?”

Her eyes brightened, and she nodded.

Luther saw the glittering smile and felt a sense of satisfaction.

‘She really does love me. I give her such a small benefit and she looks like she could walk through fire for me…’ He wanted to shake his head. But he really enjoyed how dependent she was on him.

But then the light in her eyes dimmed. “But how will I access the money?”

Luther furrowed his brows in irritation. “Why? You want me to travel across the country every month to hand you the money personally?” he asked gruffly.

Aurelia bit her lip. “No…” she hesitated. “All my documents are with Sharon.”

Luther was silent. Of course, he knew this. He was the one who asked Sharon to take her documents away lest Aurelia get the idea to buy plane tickets and end up on his doorstep one fine morning.

If the Patriarch saw it, he would definitely ask Aurelia to stay in Fort Rex, and all his plans would be foiled.

But he had forgotten all about it.

“Why would you need your documents?” he countered.

Aurelia pressed her lips together. “I know Sharon has them safe so that I don’t use them, but my phone and bank card are also with her… I don’t know how to access the money you send.”

It took a moment for Luther to understand what she was saying. For a moment, he was sure she had orchestrated this conversation to get her documents and money back. But in the next second, he pushed the thought away. She didn’t possess the intelligence or skill to pull off such an elaborate stunt.

The farthest she could go was to pin the blame on Sarah in a shoddy attempt to fool him, but he would see right through her.

“How did you spend the money from your tutoring then?” he challenged.

Aurelia sighed. “I asked them to pay me in cash because most of my income is international. So, I told them that the income tax department would impose heavy taxes on domestic income.” She paused, supposedly in panic. “I didn’t tell them I didn’t have access to my account. I swear.”

Luther nodded, but was still suspicious. She did earn a lot of money from winning competitions and playing in concerts across the world. He knew she had royalties from her albums as well, so she would have some money saved.

Still, he had to give her enough to sustain her.

“Don’t think I will return your documents and cellphone and allow you to run away with that runt from next door.”

She jolted, her eyes reddening, but she didn’t voice out her grievances. Aurelia knew Luther wouldn’t suspend his suspicions of her. He would keep thinking she was having an affair until he could see with his own eyes that it was impossible. But she didn’t need her documents anyway. She would get them soon without his help.

As for the bank card, that was the only item she didn’t know where Sharon had kept. And the only way to make Sharon take it out was to use Luther.

“As for the money… I will find a way,” he said firmly.

Aurelia bowed with delight. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Luther!” she exclaimed. “I promise not to work.”

Luther hummed in satisfaction. He scanned the room and saw the single bed. He didn’t feel pity for Aurelia and the condition she lived in. Even the help’s room was better than this, but this was the hardship she deserved for tying him to her.

As for the worship she held for him, of course, he deserved it.

“Go to sleep early,” he commanded.

She nodded before pausing. “You won’t stay?” The hint of hope in her voice made him puff his chest out in pride.

“No, I have work,” he replied gruffly.

His response was different from the violent rebukes he would go on. Aurelia knew then that she had cracked him just a bit.

She hummed and hastily walked over to the door and opened it. Luther eyed her for a second, thinking she was too happy to see him off.

“In a hurry to make me leave? Why? Want to meet your lover?” he asked calmly.

Aurelia raised her hand and shook them quickly. “No, no! I just… I don’t want to keep you from work!” she exclaimed.

His face softened, and he stepped out without another word. Aurelia waited until he was out of sight to slam the door shut and lock it. Her eyes cooled and she clasped her throbbing arm.

“Just a little prompting and she fell right into the trap,” she sighed and shook her head, lamenting how stupid Sarah had been. Now, she didn’t only get exposed for being a schemer, but the bank card her mother had tried to keep and then siphon money from had been ripped away from them.

Now, it was time to get her money back.