Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 117

Chapter 117: A Celebratory Dinner

Aurora paused mid-step, stunned to see Abigail seated at the reserved table in the restaurant. Her eyes widened as she looked between her best friend and Xander, her surprise evident.

“I thought your best friend should be here to celebrate this milestone with you,” Xander said, a soft smile tugging at his lips, his tone carrying warmth and pride.

Touched, Aurora hugged him tightly, her bouquet cradled carefully in one hand. “Thank you,” she whispered before planting a tender kiss on his lips. Turning to Abigail, she pulled her into an embrace.

“Congratulations, Aura! I’m so proud of you!” Abigail exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine joy.

Aurora smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. “You’ve been part of my success story, Abby,” she said earnestly.

Abigail giggled and pulled back, her eyes shimmering with happiness. “Aww, stop, or you’ll make me cry.”

The three sat around the elegantly set table, the warm ambience of the restaurant enveloping them. As they settled in, Aurora turned to Xander. “What about Asher? He helped me a lot too. Didn’t you invite him?”

Xander hesitated, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Um… He will be here shortly,” he assured her before excusing himself to make a quick phone call.

—

Left alone, Aurora turned to Abigail with a wide grin. “Abby, can you tell how happy I am tonight?”

“Of course, I can,” Abigail replied, leaning closer with a playful smirk. “You look like you want to scream your lungs out but are forcing yourself to keep it together.”

Aurora chuckled, giving her a thumbs-up. “Exactly. But don’t worry, I will scream it all out to Olivia’s face in my dreams tonight.”

At the mention of Olivia, Abigail’s interest piqued. “Speaking of her, how did she react when you were officially crowned COO?”

Aurora smirked. “I didn’t spare her more than a few glances, but from what I saw, she looked like she was about to explode. Poor thing couldn’t even storm out—our Aunt threatened to demote her if she did.”

Abigail threw her head back, laughing so hard that tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “Finally! She’s been overdue for a lesson like this. If she was that pained, why didn’t she just pass out instead of fuming?”

Aurora couldn’t help but laugh with her. “Passing out would have been too easy on her,” she said, shaking her head. “No, she needed to stay conscious to witness every second of my crowning moment.”

Abigail wiped a tear from her eye, her laughter subsiding into a mischievous grin. “Still, I have to give her credit for her strength. She’s got one heck of a shock absorber.”

“You’re right about that,” Aurora agreed. “But I’d bet good money she trashed her office the moment she got back.”

“That’s a given,” Abigail said with a knowing smirk. It was only right for Olivia to find a way to express her rage and shock, so destroying a few things was understandable.

Their conversation soon shifted to Aurora’s plans against Olivia and Stella, particularly their antics at the masquerade ball. Aurora explained how both women had tried to manipulate her against herself, revealing that their trap seemed to be working.

—

When Xander returned, the waitstaff began serving the dishes and drinks he had pre-ordered for their celebration. Shortly after, Asher arrived, his presence lighting up the table.

With a warm smile, he first greeted Xander with a handshake and a brief, brotherly hug before turning to Aurora. “Congratulations, Aurora, on this milestone. I’m genuinely happy for you,” he said, his tone sincere. “And thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

“You’re welcome,” Aurora replied, her gratitude evident. “I should be the one thanking you for your help in promoting my champagne.”

Asher chuckled lightly, brushing off her thanks. “It was my pleasure.”

Turning to Abigail, Asher greeted her with a polite, as he settled into the seat next to hers. “Hello, Ms. Miller.”

“Hello, Mr. Moore,” Abigail replied, her tone cool as she avoided his gaze. Asher’s lips curled into a subtle smile before he turned his attention to the meal.

—

As dinner wound down, the conversations became quieter, filled with contented smiles and lighthearted remarks. Asher dabbed his lips with a napkin before asking Aurora, “When do you move into your new office?”

“Tomorrow,” Aurora said, her tone brimming with pride. “Actually, I’ll have two offices now—one as the COO and the other as Marketing Head until a replacement is appointed for my previous position.”

“Impressive,” Asher remarked, giving her a thumbs-up. “You’ve earned it.”

Abigail couldn’t help but add with a sly grin, “Some people will definitely cry themselves to sleep tonight.”

Aurora laughed, imagining Olivia’s reaction. “Let them cry. I’ll be too busy celebrating to notice.”

As the evening wrapped up, Xander, Aurora, Asher, and Abigail parted ways. The latter two promised to send official congratulations to her office the next day, leaving Aurora eagerly anticipating the drama to follow.

—

Back at home, Olivia skipped dinner with Owen and his parents, retreating to her room under the guise of being too tired to eat. She had spent the evening waiting for a call back from Nene after unsuccessfully demanding to speak to Mrs. Scott.

“What’s taking her so long?” Olivia muttered as she paced her room, clutching her phone. “How long does yoga even take?”

—

When Aurora returned home, Nene informed her of Olivia’s persistent calls and how she had used the yoga excuse to stall. Aurora smirked, amused by Olivia’s desperation.

“Let her wait a bit longer. She needs to understand that I’m not someone easily reachable just because she has something to say,” Aurora said with a mischievous glint in her eyes before heading upstairs.

—

After a long shower, Aurora returned downstairs, refreshed and ready to face whatever drama Olivia had in store. She settled into the sofa, crossing her legs elegantly.

“Nene, call her back now. Let’s hear what this so-called ‘important message’ is about.” Aurora’s voice was calm, but her eyes glinted with anticipation.

“Yes, ma’am,” Nene replied, already dialling.