Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 105

Chapter 105: A Little Surprise

Asher had been mulling over ways to contact Abigail all day, but every scenario he imagined ended in her sharp retorts. Finally, with no better option, he decided to call her after work.

Meanwhile, Abigail was curled up on her couch, enjoying a lighthearted comedy show. When her phone buzzed and Asher’s name lit up the screen, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly grabbed the remote, muted the TV, and answered the call.

“Hello, Mr. Moore,” she greeted, her voice tinged with curiosity and urgency.

“Hello, Miss Miller. I hope I’m not disturbing your peace?” Asher replied, his tone polite but carefully measured.

“No, you’re not,” Abigail said quickly, but suspicion crept into her voice. “Is Aurora, okay?”

Asher frowned lightly, caught off guard by her question. “Um… yes, your best friend is perfectly fine. Why would you think otherwise?”

Abigail let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against her couch. “Well, you only call me when there’s bad news, so forgive me for being cautious,” she said with just a hint of sass.

Asher’s lips twitched into a faint, frustrated smile. “Fair point, but no bad news today, I promise. Actually, I called because Aurora asked me to take you as my plus one to her masquerade ball this Saturday.”

Abigail raised an eyebrow and stretched her legs across the couch. “She didn’t mention that to me. Is this some sort of matchmaking attempt? Because if it is, it’s not going to work.”

Asher rubbed the bridge of his nose, already regretting the call. “I think you should ask Aurora about her plans,” he said wearily. “I’ll pick you up at your doorstep at 7 PM on Saturday. Have a good evening.”

Before Abigail could respond, the line went dead. She stared at her phone in disbelief. “Wow! He couldn’t even last five minutes in a conversation with me.” Shaking her head, she tossed her phone onto the couch and grabbed the remote.

“I was just starting to have fun,” she muttered, turning the volume back up on her comedy show.

—

Xander’s Residence.

Aurora returned home looking drained. Her steps were slow and uneven as she pressed her palm against her temple, trying to ease the pounding in her head.

Nene spotted her immediately. An alarm flickered in her eyes. “Ma’am, are you having headaches again?” she asked, rushing to take Aurora’s bag.

“Yes,” Aurora murmured, her tone barely above a whisper. Her usually bright eyes were dull, and she leaned slightly against the wall for support.

Nene quickly took her arm, guiding her toward the living area. “I’ll prepare some peppermint tea for you right away. Please, just rest for a moment.”

Aurora collapsed onto the couch, sighing deeply as Nene hurried off. Moments later, her phone buzzed. It was Abigail.

“Aura, what’s this about me being Asher’s plus one to the masquerade ball?” Abigail asked without missing a beat.

Aurora rubbed her temple. “I’m sorry, Abby. It slipped my mind to explain.” She took a slow breath, then continued. “The ball is a chance to sound out Olivia and Stella about my biological father while keeping my identity under wraps as they might know about it. I want you at my party, but your presence might blow my cover, so I need Asher to bring you.”

Abigail hummed thoughtfully. “I thought you had a different plan in mind.”

Aurora chuckled softly but winced immediately. “Abby, I’ll explain more later. I need to rest. I have a migraine.”

“All right, but don’t forget to take something for it. You’ll feel better,” Abigail replied, her concern evident.

After the call, Nene returned with a steaming cup of peppermint tea. “Here, ma’am. This should help.”

“Thank you, Nene,” Aurora whispered, cradling the warm cup in her hands.

As she sipped, Nene stood behind her, gently massaging her temples. “Would you like a bath after this, ma’am?”

Aurora nodded. “A cold shower will do.”

By the time Xander arrived home, Aurora was seated at the dining table, the headache dulling thanks to Nene’s care. They shared dinner together, catching up on their day.

“I have a little surprise for you for the masquerade ball,” Xander said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Aurora’s brows shot up. “What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll see after dinner,” he teased with a grin.

The anticipation made Aurora rush through her meal. Xander led her to his study and handed her a flat box. She opened it eagerly, only to find a skin-like face mask.

She blinked at him. “A mask?”

“Not just any mask,” Xander said, his grin widening. “It’ll ensure no one recognizes you. Perfect for blending in.”

Aurora’s lips quirked into a smile. “You always think of everything, don’t you?”

“Always,” he replied, pulling her into a gentle kiss.

Aurora withdrew slightly, her gaze fixed on the skin-like mask in her hands. Her curiosity flickered across her face as she tilted her head, studying it intently. A second later, her eyes lifted to meet Xander’s. “Where did you even get the idea for this? Do you use it for… your secret missions?”

At her question, Xander’s posture stiffened ever so slightly. He stood up, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Something like that,” he said in a roundabout manner, before quickly shifting the conversation. “You’ll need to try this on once your outfit for the ball arrives.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying his deflection, but she let it slide. Shaking her head, she glanced back at the mask. “Honestly, I thought this wasn’t necessary. It’s a masquerade ball—everyone’s going to be wearing masks.”

Xander leaned against the desk, his arms crossed loosely as he watched her. “True, but everyone will end up taking off their masks for dinner. That’s when the skin mask becomes necessary.”

Aurora’s eyes widened, her surprise evident. “Wait, they take off their masks? I didn’t know that.”

“That’s the tradition,” Xander explained, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “It’s to allow guests to engage with each other openly during dinner. The masks are only for the initial grand entrance and the mingling.”

Aurora nodded slowly, the reasoning sinking in. It explained why he had gone to the trouble of arranging such an elaborate disguise.

As Xander reached out and closed the box, gently taking it from her hands, Aurora looked up at him with a faint crease of worry forming on her brow.

“But what about after the ball? How are we going to explain this to everyone when you finally reveal my identity as your wife? Won’t showing up with a fake face seem like we were deliberately deceiving the public?”

Her voice carried genuine concern, and Xander caught the flicker of unease in her expression. Setting the box aside, he leaned down, pulling her gently into his arms. His lips brushed hers in a quick reassuring kiss before he pulled back to meet her eyes.

“I’ve already thought about that,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “When the time comes, I’ll tell them it was all part of the thrill and mystique of the masquerade theme. No one will bat an eye. It’s not like you will ever have to show up in front of them again wearing the mask.”

Aurora studied his face, still not entirely convinced but feeling the edges of her worry soften under his steady gaze. “It’s just for Saturday,” he added, his fingers lightly brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

Finally, Aurora exhaled, leaning into his touch as a small smile tugged at her lips. “You always have a way of easing my mind, don’t you?”

“Always,” Xander replied with a faint smirk, his eyes warm.

—

Xander held Aurora’s hand as they left his study, the hallway lights casting soft shadows around them. “Nene mentioned you had migraines earlier. How are you feeling?” he asked, concern evident in his gaze.

“I’m better now,” Aurora replied with a faint smile. “Two cups of peppermint tea and a temple massage did the trick.”

Xander’s expression remained tense despite her words. As they rounded a corner, he asked softly, “How’s the healing coming? Your doctor scheduled a session for tomorrow, but I might not make it.”

Aurora’s steps faltered slightly at his mention of her therapy, but she recovered quickly, squeezing his hand. She had been dealing with a heavy psychological toll ever since her father’s death—the horrific memories and the traumatic circumstances surrounding it.

She had developed an aversion to the sound of gunfire, recoiling even at the distant crack of it in movies. Action films, especially those involving guns, became unbearable. They triggered panic attacks that left her breathless and trembling, and her inability to sleep soundly often led to stubborn, pounding migraines.

Xander had recognized the signs and insisted she see a psychologist. Though she was hesitant at first, she’d come to appreciate the sessions. Slowly but surely, she was making progress.

“I’m all good,” Aurora said softly, breaking the silence between them. Her smile returned, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I just need a little more time. Once the migraines stop completely, I’ll feel like myself again.”

Xander stopped, his steady gaze meeting hers. “The migraines will end soon,” he said with quiet resolve before brushing his lips against her forehead, the tender gesture easing the heaviness in her heart.

“Thank you, Xander,” Aurora whispered.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he replied, guiding her forward again. “We’ll get through this together.”

Aurora smiled faintly, finding comfort in his words and his unwavering presence.