Chapter 23 Tonight
Aurora’s eyes opened with the same disturbing questions that deprived her of sleep throughout the night.
‘Do I love him? Does he like me?’
She hated why and how these questions kept taunting her after Theo had mentioned it. She wanted to figure out what she felt so badly.
‘Why didn’t I deny it more than I did last night? Why didn’t I think about betraying Jimmy when he was kissing me?? Why Mr. Arthur? I hate that man.’
With these thoughts and mixed feelings, Aurora got out of bed to get ready for another day in Arthur’s house.
In no time, she cleaned up and wore a comfortable outfit of shirt and pants that would help her work easily.
Hitting the hallway, she headed right for the boys room, only for her to hear their voices in the living room.
‘They are awake so early?’ She thought as she made her way downstairs.
Getting down the stairs, Rowan’s gaze fell on her.
“Mummy!” He called in excitement, calling the attention of everyone to her, including that of Arthur’s to her.
“Mummy!” The other boys chorused as they all ran to embrace her.
“Hey… good morning! How are you today?” She retorted, lowering herself to the floor so she could level with them as they embraced her.
“Good morning.” They answered.
“Why are you up so early?” She asked, brushing their hairs softly with her hands.
“Daddy told us we would be starting school today.” Ryan told her, and she raised her brows.
“Oh.” She lifted her head to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He just sat on the couch, busy on his phone.
“Really? Which school?” She further asked, but they remained quiet. They had no idea.
Everything in Aurora wanted to protest against him not telling her about them going to school, and also leaving her void of the school he wanted them to attend, but she couldn’t do anything.
Not when she was just a maid to him.
“Well, let’s hurry because you'll be late for school.” She uttered, standing up while the boys ran back to their father.
She took slow strides to the living room, thinking of what to say to Arthur.
“Daddy, is mummy coming with us to school?” Riley asked as he sat on his left thigh.
“Well, I think mummy will be very busy today. She wouldn’t be able to come with you. I’m so sorry.” Arthur retorted, portraying a sad face to the boys.
“Really? Is that true, mummy?” Ryan asked, and she slowly nodded.
“I’m sorry, my love. But I have lots of things to do today. But don’t worry, okay? Daddy will take good care of you.” Aurora uttered, forcing on a fake smile.
Of course she lied. She wanted to go with them to school so badly. She had always dreamt of this very day.
‘But what can I do? I’m just a maid.’ She said to herself, trying to keep her sadness hidden.
Just then, Theo headed out of the kitchen, carrying three lunch boxes in his hands. These three boxes had the same colors as the boys’ beds, and each was to be given to the other of the respective colors.
“I’m done.” Theo uttered with a smile before he lifted his head to look at Aurora.
He went on his knees and handed the lunch boxes to each of the boys. Feeling satisfied, he lifted his gaze to look at Arthur, and that was when he saw Aurora.
The smile on his face slowly disappeared, he clenched his jaws and slowly looked away from her.
Aurora swallowed hard, lowered her head and began to play with her fingers.
Arthur noticed this and this made him unconsciously furrow his brows.
‘What the hell is going on with these two? On a normal day, he would greet Aurora happily, and she was going to respond in the same manner. What changed?’ He pondered, as his gaze shifted from right to left.
“They are good to go now. I have their backpacks here too.” Theo uttered with lesser energy compared to before, showing Arthur the backpacks on his back.
“Great.” Arthur uttered, standing up. He adjusted his suit and turned to look at Aurora.
“Are you coming or what?” He asked, causing her to lift her head. She saw he was looking at her and her eyes popped wide open.
“Me?” She asked in surprise, and Arthur gulped.
“Who else do they refer to as mummy?” He asked in a cold voice, and a wide smile immediately lit up her face.
“Sure! I’ll join you.” She answered in excitement.
“Mummy is coming?” Rowan asked, and she bobbed.
“Yes, my love! The other things can wait.” She answered, lifting him.
Heading out of the house, Theo followed behind them, staring non-stop at Aurora. He still couldn’t stop himself from thinking about last night.
How badly he wanted to make love to her. He felt so hurt that she didn’t feel the same way because he always believed they had a connection. The way she stared at him screamed it.
‘Why does she even care about him anyway? He’s being so mean to her.’ He began to think again.
“Theo.” Aurora called, stretching out her hands so she could collect the bags, but he didn’t hear her. He was still lost in his thoughts, staring at her face.
“Theo! The bags!” Arthur uttered from the other side of the car, jolting him out of his thoughts.
“Oh!” He lifted the backpacks and passed them to Aurora, feigning a grin.
“Sorry.” He uttered in a low tone. Their fingers brushed as she collected the bags from him, and their gazes locked.
Aurora could see the same emotions he had the previous night right there in his eyes. She hastily looked away and placed the bags at the back with the boys.
She was about to enter too when Arthur stopped her.
“Sit in front. I don’t want you discomforting them back there.” Arthur ordered, and she nodded, hastily getting in the front seat.
After they were all settled, Arthur drove out of the compound and hit the road. The boys began to talk to themselves at the back, admiring their backpacks, while Aurora and Arthur said nothing to each other.
Neither did they look at each other.
Arthur’s mind was occupied with what he noticed about Aurora and Theo, and soon, he couldn’t keep it in anymore.
“What’s up with you and Theo?” He asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Nothing.” She answered, turning her head to look at him.
“I’m not a fool, Aurora. I saw what happened this morning.” He added, clenching his jaws.
“It’s nothing, Mr. Arthur.”
“It’s nothing? Last night when he saw you, you two were smiling and all chatty, and then he came out of your room with a weird look. And then this morning, you two could hardly look at each other. Don’t you dare tell me it’s nothing.” Arthur added, trying to keep his anger down.
Aurora remained silent until Arthur was forced to look at her. He was about to speak again when she spoke up.
“Weren’t you busy with Danielle last night? How did you notice all that?” She asked, causing him to go blank for a second.
He looked away from her and focused on the road again. “I ask the questions, not you. What’s up with you two?”
“I hurt him yesterday.” Aurora muttered, lowering her head sadly.
“Hurt him?” Arthur couldn’t keep his curiosity down.
“Yes. I have promised I’m going to make it up to him tonight. So don’t worry about it. It will all be resolved today. It would have been resolved if I had stayed back home. But we’ll just have to see tonight.” She further explained, and at the mention of tonight, Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Tonight?” He asked, turning to look at her.
“Yes. When he comes to my room.” She answered, lifting her head to look at him.
Arthur clenched his jaws and looked away, applying great pressure on the steering as he held onto it.
‘When he goes to her room?? Are they…?’
“Are you alright? Your face is red.” Aurora muttered, moving her hand to his face.
“I’m fine, goddamnit!”