Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Her Safe Haven

The next morning, Aurora packed her bag and forced her way out of her bedroom with puffy eyes.

“Miss, you are not allowed to leave until you have recovered.” one of the male domestic staff said, blocking her path with his arm. “It’s your father’s orders.”

Aurora glanced at his hand before moving her gaze to his face. “Tell him that I said I would die if I don’t leave.”

Adam exhaled deeply after he got the message and permitted Aurora to leave. Minutes passed before he stood at the window, hands tucked into his pockets, watching as she loaded her car and drove away.

Only when her vehicle vanished from view did he return to his desk, sinking into profound contemplation.

Time ticked by, and eventually, Adam rose from his chair and approached the shelf behind him. He retrieved a key from his pocket and unlocked the left cabinet door, revealing a safe within.

For a moment, he hesitated before entering his password and scanning his thumbprints to unlock the safe. Inside, a square-shaped box awaited.

“Evelyn, what do I do?” Adam whispered, his voice laced with turmoil.

In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to retrieve the box’s contents. With a heavy heart, Adam closed the safe, locked the cabinet, and exited his study.

On the other hand, Olivia heard Aurora had left and went to report to her mother. “Dad allowed her to leave. I don’t think she is going to come back here again.”

“It would have been better if she came home every weekend. That’s the only way I can keep a close watch on her.” Sniggering, Stella continued, “The people I paid to keep an eye on her keep disappearing.”

Olivia’s concern deepened. “Mum, Dad must be behind it and maybe chose to deal with you differently.” Her voice trembled. “I think you should quit this method before he takes it out on us.”

Stella has known Adam for so many years but even if she felt this method wasn’t his style, she couldn’t prove it and had no choice but to resign to the fact laid out in front of her.

—

Aurora cried the entire drive back to Xander’s residence. Her tears blurred her vision so many times she lost count of how often she veered into the wrong lane or stopped at green lights.

When she finally arrived home, Nene gasped in shock as she met her at the door, her face filled with horror.

“Ma’am, what happened?” Nene asked, her eyes taking in Aurora’s puffy eyes, dark circles, and pale complexion. She noticed that Aurora seemed to have lost weight overnight.

Seeing how fragile she looked, Nene gently guided Aurora to the master bedroom. She brought an ice pack to soothe her swollen eyes before preparing a warm, scented bath.

Aurora sat in the tub, completely dazed, barely reacting, prompting Nene to help wash her. Once bathed, Aurora slipped into the simple nightdress Nene had laid out and sat at the dresser while Nene dried her hair, oiled it, and combed each strand with care.

“Ma’am, what happened to you?” Nene asked again, her voice filled with concern as she watched Aurora through the mirror.

Aurora remained silent until Nene finished her hair, then finally looked at her through the mirror, her face blank, devoid of any emotion.

“What would you do,” Aurora began quietly, her voice hollow, “if you discovered that your entire existence was built on a lie?”

Nene’s brows furrowed, confusion flickering across her face as she tried to grasp the depth of the question. She stared at Aurora, who now looked more like a lifeless doll than the vibrant woman she once knew.

Without waiting for an answer, Aurora continued, her voice barely a whisper. “What would you do if the man you’ve called ‘father’ your whole life… wasn’t your real father?”

Nene’s breath hitched as the realization set in. The emotional weight Aurora must have been carrying became painfully clear, and Nene’s heart filled with concern, though words failed her.

Despite Nene’s efforts to coax her into having breakfast, Aurora refused. She barely touched anything except a hot cup of chamomile tea, retreating to her room, where she wept for hours, refusing to let anyone in.

Late that evening, Nene gently knocked on the door and pressed her ear against it, her voice soft with worry. “Ma’am, are you alright? You asked for time alone, and I gave it to you, but it’s been hours. Please, open the door. I brought you dinner.”

A minute passed and finally, Nene heard the sound of feet shuffling and quickly straightened her back.

Aurora unlocked the door for her and returned to bed. Fixing her eyes on her, she said weakly, “I’m not hungry, and I still need some more time to myself.”

“Is there anything you would like me to do for you, anything that will help you feel better?” Nene asked kindly, putting herself in Aurora’s shoes.

“Keep the hot tea coming,” Aurora said. “And take this entire week off on my behalf at work. I don’t have the energy to do anything.”

Nene nodded and did as asked, making sure Aurora always had fresh tea. The following morning, she called in sick on Aurora’s behalf, informing the office that she wouldn’t be in for the week.

Meanwhile, as soon as Olivia arrived at the company and heard about Aurora’s absence, she couldn’t contain her delight. Skipping into her office, she locked the door, pulled out her phone, and quickly dialled her mother’s number with a smug grin.

“Mum, guess what?” Olivia’s voice brimmed with excitement. “Aurora didn’t show up at work today, and she’s taken the entire week off. At this rate, don’t you think she’ll end up leaving ‘Vintage Cella’ to me?”

“Don’t get too excited,” Stella cautioned, her tone sharp. “She’s only taken a few days off. She hasn’t handed in her resignation.”

Olivia’s smile faltered, and she clenched her jaw in frustration. “Well, I hope she comes back with her resignation letter next Monday.”

Meanwhile, Adam sat behind his desk, lost in thought after hearing that Aurora hadn’t shown up at the office. She’d taken time off, leaving her new project unattended. The thought gnawed at him.

“Maybe I should give her a call,” Adam muttered, picking up his phone, hesitation clouding his actions.