Chapter 48: In Which She Wants To End It

Theo checked his watch and smiled.

Aurora should be seeing the last person now. Soon she’d be able to join him.

He wanted one dance with her before the evening ended. Sipping his champagne, he caught a glimpse of Kate chatting happily with a group of women and knitted his brows.

It isn’t her fault that Aurora can’t be with you, dude. She was also in a fix. Let it go.

He dropped his gaze and chuckled. He checked his watch again. Five minutes more.

Aurora looked divine in that off-shoulder gown - it was in the color of her eyes. Hell, he wanted to tear it off her right there.

The second she emerged from the bathroom earlier, his heart went wild. He had to wrestle with the urge to make love to her on the spot - it was tougher than a boxing match.

Theo sipped his drink and smiled. At least, nothing happened at the tarot reading.

He spoke too soon.

“That f*cking old weasel stole my money then got sick and sought my sympathy,” a man’s voice came through the sound system.

The ballroom instantly quieted as everyone looked around, bemused, searching for the source of the sound.

Theo lifted his gaze at the ceiling. What the f*ck is going on? He glanced at Kate who was just as confused and watched her sprint off.

Poor woman. She must be in a frenzy now - the last thing she wanted was to screw things up for her husband.

“He didn’t take your money,” Aurora’s voice came on next, loud and clear. “It was me… I stole the money…”

The glass froze at Theo’s lips.

The crowd gasped then quickly broke into incessant whispering.

Theo scanned around him and noted the scornful looks on all the faces. Keane raised a brow at him. Calix took a meaningful sip from his glass, staring at the ground. Sophia was dazed from a shock.

F*ck, Theo cursed silently and bolted for the door. He headed for the control booth.

“What the hell is happening?” He demanded angrily.

A staff member replied hastily, "It's from an unknown source. Mrs Slate has gone to the room to find it and switch it off."

The conversation continued blasting. “... You got yourself a pretty good deal… With Theo Baron."

"D*mn it!" Theo slammed a fist on the soundboard. He was anxious for Aurora. Her worst nightmare was slamming in like a bullet train, with no sign of stopping.


******


Aurora dashed out of the room, ignoring Kate’s cries.

They knew, her mind repeated. What would they think of her now? She couldn't bear to see their responses. Time to pack and leave, she thought silently and turned in the direction of her room.

Reaching the stairs, she halted.

Theo.

A vision of him, alone, facing the condemnatory stares and derogatory remarks, surfaced in his mind.

D*mn it! How could she forget about him? She shouldn't let him handle everything. It was her stupidity!

Aurora spun around and came face to face with Theo's mother.

The woman grabbed her wrist and pulled her to a corner, away from the incoming voices of Kate and Theo.

"What are you doing?" Aurora whispered, half-frightened, half-frustrated.

"I should be asking you that," the smooth voice hissed back.

They heard Theo calling out for Aurora.

"I need to get to him," Aurora's voice came out as a timid whisper.

"Just leave, Miss Aurora. Have you not done enough damage to his life?" The woman glared harshly.

"But I can't leave him alone."

"Miss Aurora, you didn't see the look on their faces. The mockery and disapproval. Those people are his world." She stepped closer and lowered her voice in an unforgiving tone, "You've destroyed his world. You want to make it worse?"

Aurora backed away, nonplussed, "I never... I just wanted to be with him."

"You know that it won't last, Miss Aurora. End it early so it's less painful for him," the woman straightened with stony eyes. "I beg you - as his mother."

Aurora closed her eyes, turned and ran towards her room.

The selfish mother watched on with a triumphant smirk as the emerald gown disappeared down the stairs.


******


Theo crashed through the door.

Aurora was almost done packing.

With a widened gaze, he stormed towards her, "What are you doing?"

"I'm packing."

"I can see that," Theo grabbed her hands, "I mean, why are you packing?"

Aurora sighed, "I'm leaving, Theo. Let go of me."

But Theo kept a strong grasp of her hands. "Listen, it was an accident. We'll all leave this place tomorrow and no one will remember what they heard."

"Really, Theo?" Aurora paused and cast an exasperated glare. "You're going to believe that crap? Are you that naive?" Aurora looked directly into his dark brown eyes.

"Don't talk like that," Theo growled. "I know you're mad."

"I'm not mad," Aurora whispered. "I'm tired, Theo." She looked away from him, at the darkness outside their room, "Let's not kid ourselves anymore. I don't belong here."

Theo shook his head, "You do."

"Look at me, Theo! Your mother's right - how long can we stay together?"

Theo was baffled, "You've spoken to my mother? When?"

"It doesn't matter, Theo. I'm very tired."

"Okay. Just stay for another night and we'll go back tomo--."

"No!" Aurora shouted. "I want to go home now! I'm sick and tired of all this!"

Theo grabbed her by the waist and said tenderly, "But you promised to stay with me till--."

"I can't," Aurora looked away. Then, she returned to him with a defeated look, "I realized that it's impossible."

Theo stepped away and raked his hair over his forehead, "D*mn it, Aurora! What did she say to you! Tell me!"

Aurora stared at the carpeted floor, "It's not her, Theo. It's me. I'm the problem. It's been so since the start. I should leave before I do more damage."

"You are not a problem," Theo gritted his teeth. How many times must he tell this idiotic woman that he wants her for who she is! Why is it so godd*mn hard for her to believe it!

"I'm the f*cking problem!" Aurora stamped her feet. Hotness swarmed to her eyes, clouding her view. "I lie and steal!"

"You were pressured. The circumstances were special," Theo countered.

"Stop it, Theo. Just stop. They are all excuses. However nice you try to put it, the fact remains unchanged," Aurora sniffed then raised her chin with a bleak expression.

"Maybe I'm really after your money."

Theo's eyes flipped into a death stare. "Don't go there."

"We can't avoid it," Aurora said quietly. "We have to face it sooner or later. Remember the deal?"

"No," Theo turned from her, kneading his forehead. The wheels of his brain churned fiercely. He had convinced her before, he could do it again.

As if she could read his mind, she muttered under her breath, "Don't try to talk me out of it again. Every time you do, we end up here again. I… I can't do this anymore."

Theo glanced at the reflection of his goddess in the glass door. Shoulders slumped, head drooping, arms limped at her side - she looked like a wilted flower.

"Let's end this," Aurora whispered.

His breathing paused. Lifting his hand, he stared at his palm, remembering how she had first traced its lines.

It's meaningless to keep her in his life if she doesn't want to be in it, Theo sighed silently.

"Is that what you want?" His voice came out in a strained, hoarse whisper.

Aurora ignored the numbness in her limbs and answered, "Yes."

She flung the last items into her suitcase, locked it, then dragged it out of the room.

The young billionaire remained unmoved as the door closed, leaving him in the middle of a vast, silent space.


******


Aurora hugged her best friend, tears poured down her raw cheeks like a waterfall.

Trish tightened her arms around the redhead beauty and caressed her head, "You're really a b*tch. If you're truly glad to be rid of him then stop crying."

"I'm… not… crying," Aurora hiccupped.

"Yeah. And I'm knitting a sweater," Trish rolled her eyes and rubbed Aurora's back. "Don't be a bigger b*tch than you already are. Start being truthful, d*mn it."

And then, finally, it was all out.

"I miss him!" Aurora wailed. "I hate his mother! She made me so guilty, I couldn't stay! She hit me where it hurts the most! She knew that I love him and I would do anything to keep him happy and safe."

Trish smiled warmly.

Aurora pulled away slightly and pouted at her best friend, "I left him there, Trish! He looked for forlorn standing there! I wanted to stay and give him a hug, but I didn't dare…"