Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Olivia’s Jealousy Rises Again
Friday finally arrived after Xander had left for his mission the previous day.

Aurora sat comfortably at the dining table in the sunlit breakfast nook, a gentle smile on her lips as she took another spoonful of the warm, nutritious lentil soup.

It was delicious—flavourful yet light enough not to overwhelm her morning appetite.

Nene stood nearby, watching her with satisfaction. “Do you like it, ma’am?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

Aurora nodded, swallowing before replying, “It’s wonderful. Xander’s mother really outdid herself. I should call and thank her today.”

Nene smiled in approval. “She’ll be happy to hear that.”

Aurora continued enjoying her meal, savouring each bite, until the bowl was nearly empty. After she finished, she picked up a napkin and dabbed the corners of her lips, then reached for her glass of water. She drank it all in one go before setting it back down.

“Nene,” Aurora said thoughtfully, “I’d like to take some of this soup to work for lunch.”

Nene gave a quick nod. “I’ll notify the kitchen right away.”

Before leaving, Nene popped open the small pill organizer and handed Aurora her prenatal vitamins. Aurora took them without a fuss, downing them with another glass of water that Nene had refilled.

With breakfast finished and her schedule for the day in mind, Aurora stood up. It was time to head to work.

—

Vintage Cellar Winery.

The winery smelled of rich oak barrels, aged grapes, and the crisp scent of fermentation in progress. It was a place of creation—a sanctuary where the heart of Vintage Cellar’s legacy was nurtured.

Aurora had barely stepped into the spacious facility when her gaze landed on an unusual sight.

Olivia was already there.

That was rare.

Not only was Olivia early for once in her life, but she was also… taking pictures.

Dressed in a sleek black pantsuit, she had turned one of the winery staff into her personal photographer. She struck various poses—some with her arms crossed, others with a hand on her hip—each angle carefully curated for her social media presence.

Aurora rolled her eyes inwardly.

She had no intention of engaging in Olivia’s theatrics, so she walked past, intending to mind her own business. But Olivia, always drawn to drama like a moth to a flame, spotted her from the corner of her eye and immediately grabbed her phone before striding toward her.

“Aurora,” Olivia called out smoothly, stopping directly in her path.

Aurora sighed internally before offering Olivia a single, unbothered glance.

Olivia smirked. “I must say, you look…” she dragged out the word as if searching for something clever to say, “… different.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

For once, Olivia chose to let the conversation die, but not before her gaze flickered downward. And that was when she saw it.

Aurora’s baby bump.

The smile on Olivia’s lips froze, and in its place, something unspoken passed through her expression—surprise, disbelief, and something darker she kept locked behind her sharp eyes.

It was the first time she was seeing it with her own eyes.

Aurora, pregnant.

The sight of that small but undeniable bump stirred something ugly inside her. A pang of jealousy twisted in her stomach, though she refused to acknowledge it.

This… This reminded her of everything she had lost. Her failed marriage, her broken dreams, and the cold, humiliating realization that the life she once envisioned for herself had crumbled beyond repair.

Meanwhile, Aurora, the woman she had once looked down on, was thriving.

Pregnant. Married. Settled.

Olivia forced herself to look unaffected, straightening her posture as if none of it bothered her.

Aurora, choosing not to give Olivia the satisfaction of lingering in that awkward silence, turned to the winery supervisor who had just walked up to greet her.

“Has my aunt arrived yet?” she asked.

The supervisor shook his head. “Not yet, ma’am. But you’re welcome to come in first.”

Aurora nodded, ready to head inside—until she caught the sound of approaching footsteps.

Turning slightly, she spotted Stephanie making her way toward the entrance. But she wasn’t alone.

Ivy and Damien were with her.

From the side, Olivia let out a low scoff. She muttered under her breath, “What are they doing here?” Her lips curled in distaste. She never liked her cousins, and she certainly didn’t like them anywhere near Vintage Cellar.

As soon as Stephanie arrived, Aurora greeted her politely before acknowledging Ivy and Damien. They returned her greeting with warm smiles, clearly pleased to see her.

Olivia, on the other hand, greeted Stephanie begrudgingly. As expected, she completely ignored Ivy and Damien. But the feeling was mutual—they acted as if she wasn’t there either.

Then, in typical Olivia fashion, she chose to stir the pot.

“Today, they came to see the winery,” Olivia said loud enough for everyone to hear. “But who knows, they might enter the company tomorrow.”

A brief silence hovered over the group.

Stephanie glanced between Aurora and Olivia before addressing the comment with practiced ease. “Your cousins were interested in seeing how wine is made, so I brought them along,” she explained simply.

Olivia scoffed lightly before tilting her head to ask an out-of-the-blue question. “Is it just me, or does Aurora look less appealing in my eyes?”

Stephanie followed Olivia’s gaze, which was clearly directed at Aurora’s baby bump. Without missing a beat, she replied, “There must be something wrong with your eyes, then. Perhaps they need reconstruction.”

Ivy immediately burst into laughter, enjoying Olivia’s rare moment of being put in her place.

Olivia’s glare shot straight to Ivy, but the younger woman was too amused to care. Her laughter only stopped when Damien gently pulled at the sleeve of her blouse, silently signalling her to behave.

Then, Ivy turned back to Aurora with genuine curiosity. “Congratulations,” she said warmly. “How far along are you?”

Before Aurora could answer, Olivia interjected as if she wasn’t age mates with Ivy.

“Use your brain, little girl. Don’t ask questions like that.”

Ivy’s excitement dimmed slightly as she turned to Olivia with a glare. It almost sounded like Olivia was defending Aurora, but they all knew better. Olivia would only open her mouth if it meant hurting someone—especially Ivy.

Aurora, unfazed, decided to let the moment pass. She excused herself to check on her new wine brand’s production, moving ahead without looking back.

Olivia, disliking the idea of standing anywhere near Ivy and Damien for a second longer, followed after her—but not too closely.

At a short corridor, Olivia finally went her own way while Aurora continued forward.

Meanwhile, Stephanie led her children through the different sections of the winery, giving them a detailed tour. Ivy was thrilled and asked endless questions about the winemaking process, while Damien observed everything with quiet interest.

At one point, he asked, “How long does it take for wine to ferment fully?”

Stephanie, pleased with his curiosity, responded, “It depends on the type of wine. Some take months. Others take years. The longer, the better in most cases.”

Half an hour later, the winery workers gathered for a scheduled meeting in the conference room.

Stephanie arrived first, preparing to address the employees. Ivy, still eager to learn more, attempted to step inside the meeting room as well.

But Olivia, ever the gatekeeper of unnecessary hostility, smirked and blocked her path.

“This meeting is for Vintage Cellar employees only,” she said smugly.

And with that, she shut the door in Ivy’s face.