Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Skills & Schemes

Aurora tilted her head slightly, watching as Nene poured more champagne into her glass. Nene had tagged along as her assistant tonight to ensure her plans went smoothly.

“Ma’am, would you like anything else?” Nene asked, her voice low and composed.

Aurora offered a small smile and shook her head. “No, thank you.”

Before she could take a sip, Xander leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. “The targets are approaching.”

Aurora’s eyes darted subtly across the ballroom, and sure enough, Owen, Olivia, and Stella were making their way toward them. Nene, sensing the tension, gracefully excused herself and melted into the crowd, leaving the stage set for the inevitable confrontation.

“Good evening, Uncle,” Owen greeted Xander enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face.

Xander patted him twice on the shoulder, his casual demeanour masking the sharpness of his mind. “Your parents couldn’t make it?”

“They were too tired,” Owen replied quickly before his eyes shifted eagerly to Aurora, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious woman standing by his uncle’s side.

Xander caught the hint and smirked, deciding to make the introductions in his own dramatic style. “Owen, meet your aunt-in-law,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “And you’ll address her as Aunty.”

Owen blinked, his surprise quickly replaced by a polite smile. Without hesitation, he extended his hand toward Aurora. “It’s an honour to finally meet you, Aunty.”

Aurora gracefully transferred her champagne glass to her other hand, making sure the light caught the brilliant diamond wedding ring on her finger. She took Owen’s hand, shaking it lightly for a brief moment. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Owen,” she said in a soft, foreign-accented tone that added an air of mystery.

As their hands parted, Aurora struggled to suppress a laugh. Xander’s playful cruelty was on full display tonight. The absurdity of Owen addressing her as “Aunty”—his ex-girlfriend, no less—was almost too much to bear. She could already imagine his explosive reaction when he discovered her true identity later in the future.

She almost couldn’t wait for that time to reach. It would be an unforgettable moment worthy to be recorded in history.

Behind Owen, Olivia and Stella lingered, their gazes locked on Aurora as they absorbed every detail of her appearance. Olivia, growing impatient, pinched Owen’s back to prompt him. The young man winced before recovering quickly.

“Uncle, Aunty,” he began awkwardly, gesturing toward the women behind him. “Allow me to introduce my wife, Olivia, and her mother, Mrs. Stella Swift.”

Xander gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment, while Aurora lifted her champagne glass in a polite gesture, pretending like they had no idea of what was about to play out.

Stella, ever the opportunist, took a step forward, her face alight with practised charm. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Scott. I’ve heard so much about you and have been eager for this introduction. Thank you for hosting such a fine evening and inviting us.”

Aurora tilted her head slightly, her poise effortless. “It’s nothing, really. My husband helped with the guest list, as I’m not yet familiar with everyone.”

“Interesting,” Stella murmured, her sharp eyes flitting briefly to Xander. “But it seems Mr. Scott forgot to include someone.”

Aurora and Xander exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing in unison. Even Owen seemed puzzled, while Olivia barely contained her smirk behind a raised hand.

“I think everyone important is here,” Aurora replied with a curious tone. “Who do you think is missing?”

Stella chuckled softly, letting a moment of mystery hang in the air. “My stepdaughter, Aurora. She and Mr. Scott seem to share a particularly close relationship.”

“Really?” Aurora said, feigning intrigue as Xander’s grip on his glass tightened slightly, a reaction that didn’t escape Stella’s eyes.

“Yes,” Olivia interjected quickly, her voice laced with mock innocence. “There was even a time when they appeared in tabloids together, mistaken for lovers. It’s surprising she isn’t here tonight.”

Aurora fought the urge to laugh outright. Their pettiness was so transparent, it was almost laughable.

Meanwhile, Owen’s expression darkened as the realization hit him. This was why they had wanted the introductions. Fury bubbled beneath the surface, but he kept his composure for now.

Turning to Xander, Aurora said, “Darling, you never mentioned this friend of yours to me before.”

Xander hesitated, then cleared his throat. “You’ve been so busy with your travels, I didn’t have the opportunity to bring it up,” he said, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Aurora’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before she smiled coolly. “I think we need to talk now,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She shifted her focus back to Stella, her smile polite. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Swift. Please excuse us.”

Taking Xander’s arm, she led him away, leaving Stella and Olivia standing together.

—

Stella looked unsettled as she watched Aurora and Xander disappear into the crowd. She muttered an excuse to Olivia and Owen before retreating to a quiet corner, pulling her phone from her purse.

Finding Aurora’s contact, she dialled quickly. The line rang a few times before connecting, but as soon as she said ‘Hello,’ a sharp voice interrupted her.

“Why are you calling me at this hour? It’s past 10 PM, and everyone is asleep. We’re not close enough for late-night calls, Mrs. Swift. Call back at 8 AM if it’s important.”

The line went dead before Stella could respond. She stared at her blank screen. Taking in a deep breath, she slipped her phone back into her purse, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

Meanwhile, back at Xander’s residence, a servant set down the two phones she had been holding and let out a deep sigh. One phone screen showed a recording that had just concluded, while the other remained blank following the call.

—

Back in the ballroom, Owen’s patience snapped. He turned to Olivia, his voice low but seething with anger. “Is this why you were so desperate to meet my uncle’s wife?”

Olivia’s face was the picture of innocence. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Are you happy now? Embarrassing my uncle? You won’t ever drag me into one of your schemes again!” he hissed.

Olivia simply smiled, her confidence unshaken. “Thank you,” she said sweetly, watching him storm off. She didn’t care about his feelings after achieving her aim.