Chapter 99 CHAPTER 99

Chapter 99 CHAPTER 99

Aurora’s POV

An Hour Earlier

“No, I can’t go. I will spend the evening with Jayden,” I tell Callum when he proposes that I go with him to a bar. There is a look of disappointment on his face but I do not care much. I meant what I said.

“The boy is only two years old. He can’t talk coherently and all he will do is cry, eat, and sleep. You’ll have a lot of time to do that with him,” Callum tells me out of frustration.

“I can’t go today,” I told him firmly. “I’ve bothered Professor Alaric enough by making him babysit Jayden. The least I can do is return home to my boy without being drunk and stinking of alcohol.”

“I won’t go if you don’t,” he switches to manipulation. This doesn’t faze me in the slightest.

“Then don’t,” I say dismissively. “Thanks for the meal. I will treat you this weekend. We could eat out or I could cook, your choice.”

Callum doesn’t reply. I can tell he is still dwelling on my refusal to go to the bar with me.

“You really have to come with me, Aurora. Please,” he begs. I sigh. I really hate when Callum does this. He needs to understand how to take no for an answer rather than convince me otherwise. I still maintain my refusal and Callum sighs.

“What is it?” I ask. “Is it that important?”

“I will have to kidnap you,” he mutters. Before this sinks into my brain, he grabs my hand and drags me into his car. He drives off soon, enjoying himself. I do not shout to avoid the eyes of those passing by. However, I do not feel good about this either. I made a mental note to speak with him later. This must be the last time he will force me to do something against my will.

Present Time

I am flustered to see Andrew at the bar and I watch as he leaves with a girl.

“That’s Andrew for you. He loves girls. Who would have thought he would be cheating on his fiancee here?” Callum mutters. When I do not reply, he changes the topic, “Let’s grab a seat at the bar.”

He leads me down there and orders a whiskey for us. Right before he pours the drink, I interrupt.

“I don’t want alcohol. I will have juice,” I reply.

“No one gets juice over here. You should have some whiskey. It’s good for…” Callum was saying as he poured the drink. I hit my hand on the table angrily.

“I don’t want any fucking alcohol!” I scream in his face. He isn’t the only one flustered here. The barman, people sitting beside us… everyone was uncomfortable.

“Hey, chill. I got it,” he mutters, embarrassed.

“You keep on doing things I don’t want. Earlier, you forced me to get into your car and drove me here. Now, you are trying to force me to drink alcohol. You should stop, Callum. Stop right now!” I tell him firmly.

“Alright, I’m sorry,” he says in an attempt to calm me down. Then he goes ahead to ruin it, “You didn’t have to explode in a place with so many people.”

If I talk right now, that will be the real explosion. Rather than do that, I pick my bag and walk away. Callum chases after me but doesn’t hold me until we get outside. He must have figured out we will need some privacy.

“You don’t think you did something wrong, did you?” I ask angrily.

He sighs, “I know you are hurt but… Isn’t that how all women are? They all act like they hate aggressive men when in reality, you long for them.”

I begin to laugh hysterically.

“That’s what you were doing? Being aggressive?” I ask.

“I know you are hurt but…” he tries to divert from the question.

“Answer me!” I shout at him. “Did you think pulling those stunts would make you more macho? Did you want to feel like you are in control that badly?”

“I… I don’t…” he stammers.

“If that is the case, whoever taught you that shitty ideology doesn’t mean well for you. I do not like aggressive men and a lot of women don’t either,” I tell him firmly. “You weren’t like this from the beginning. What’s changed about you, Callum?”

“I am just the same,” he mutters. “I know I did a few things wrong but I will make it up to you, okay?”

I nod.

“I will drive you home,” he offers.

“One more thing…” I raise my hand. “Did you know Andrew was going to be here?”

“What do you mean?” he asks, making an attempt to laugh it off. “I’m not a wizard, Aurora. There is no way I would have known he was here.”

I take a deep breath and speak to him candidly.

“I might be slow but I’m not stupid. I believe a lot of things were strange today. You forced me to come here, that’s the first. Second, you spoke to Andrew casually today even though both of you are still fighting. A normal response would be to avoid him completely…” I point out calmly.

“I don’t understand what you mean by that,” he says nervously.

“You talked to him all to point out that he is promiscuous,” I continue to say.

“He is indeed promiscuous, that is not a lie,” Callum replies flatly. “Are you saying all these because you hate when I tell the truth about Andrew? Do you not want to hear it?”

I shake my head sideways.

“Don’t turn this to something else. I will ask you a question and I will trust whatever you say,” I say, looking into his eyes. “You won’t lie to me, will you?”

“Why would I lie? I have no reason to,” he answers convincingly.

I look into his eyes as I ask, “Did you really have no idea that Andrew was here?”

“No, I didn’t,” he answers naturally.

A truth or a lie, which is it? Callum breaks free from my penetrating gaze. I think I might have my answer.