Alena smirked as her gaze darkened. She looked into her husband's eyes. "I know exactly how."
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐
Crack!
Stepping on perfectly crisped leaves was one of Aurelia's favorite things to do on a walk. For some reason, feeling the slight crunch under her cute hiking boots was so satisfying.
It was a golden autumn afternoon, the landscape awash in a stunning palette of warm hues. Fiery reds, golden yellows, and rich oranges painted the trees as their leaves danced gently in the cool breeze. The sun hung low in the sky and cast a soft glow that filtered through the branches, creating a dappled effect on the ground below.
"Our earth is just beautiful," Antonella remarked as she looked at a few birds flying in a V.
"Yeah," Aurelia replied. "Too bad some people just trash it."
Antonella sighed. "Yes mija, you're right. Sometimes I wish I could just escape to Mars or something."
"Haha, same."
Aurelia stomped on another crunchy leaf. She loved taking small walks with her mother, especially in the fall.ย
"Speaking of traveling to Mars," Antonella said, "have you heard that life on Mars may be possible?"
"Oh really?" Aurelia responded before chuckling. "Humans are becoming too smart for their own good. Do you know who said life on Mars may become possible?"
Antonella grinned. "Oh, this brilliant astronomer named Alena Morozova. I think you've heard of her."
Aurelia's jaw tightened.
Of course it's that bitch! she thought.ย If Mami ever found out that I punched her stupid face, she would totally flip out. She treats that woman like she died for her sins or something.
"Oh yes, I've heard of her."
Antonella opened her mouth to say something but then paused and closed it.
Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"I wish..." Antonella muttered. She hesitated for a bit but then decided to speak. "I wish I was her."
Aurelia almost slapped her mother. "Are you serious? You're so much better than her!"
"Aw gracias, mi corazon, but you don't have to lie to me," Antonella replied. Her lips formed a small rictus. "Alena is just that girl."
"Mami, there's a reason I call you 'reina'. You're a queen, the highest of them all."
Antonella grinned. "You're the highest as well... in the club."
Both the mother and daughter laughed.ย
"Jokes aside," Antonella said, "I really wish I was her."
Aurelia frowned. "No, you don't."
"I mean, at least her husband isn't a cheating bastard who sticks his wood in every hole he sees. And at least he's not in jail, either."
"Ha," Aurelia snorted. "Even though he's jacked, her husband doesn't even know how to defend his wife from attackers, though."
Antonella raised an eyebrow and looked at her daughter with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean? Where did you see that?"
"Um..." Aurelia gritted her teeth. "I think I saw it on social media or something."
Antonella smiled slightly. "Don't believe everything you see online, mija."
Phew. Crisis averted.
"I don't believe her husband would ever fail to defend his wife. I mean, do you see how strong he is?"
If only you knew that he couldn't even stop a little 5'2" drunk bride, Aurelia thought, smiling slyly to herself.
Antonella put her right hand on her hip. "I heard that he can bench press five hundred pounds!"
Aurelia rolled her eyes, almost laughing. "Don't believe everything you see online."
"Haha, you're right, mija," Antonella replied. "But it's not like her husband is worse than your father."
"You never know," Aurelia said as she shrugged.
Antonella tapped her daughter's shoulder excitedly. "Oh yeah, y'know Alena's former best friend went on social media to talk badly about Alena one time?"
"Yes, Mami, who hasn't heard of that scandal?" Aurelia chuckled. "She was some best friend. I remember she said that Alena has an amazing body because she went under the knife. I can't believe her butt is fake!"
"Plus, she said that Alena has had many plastic surgeries done to her face," Antonella added. "She even called her insane and sex-addicted!"
Aurelia laughed. "Now, that's crazy."
Antonella looked down at her daughter's boots. "Cute boots."
"Ha! They're your boots, though."
"I know," Antonella replied, smiling.
"These boots are cute but Jimmy bought me these even cuter ones. They're from Moncler."
Antonella nodded. Suddenly, her face went red. "I'm sorry, mi corazon, I really don't mean to ask this out of the blueโ" she said, "but speaking of your sugar daddy, when are you going back to him?"
"Mami!' Aurelia exclaimed as she playfully pushed her mother. "He's not my sugar daddy."
"Ah, sorry," Antonella grinned sarcastically.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "To be honest, I don't really know when I'll go back to Jimmy's."
"Oh really?" Antonella replied, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. "So the reason isn't because you guys are having problems?"
Aurelia fake laughed, except it didn't sound real.
Fuck! she thought.ย Why can't I ever master a perfect fake laugh?
"Ofย course not, Mami! Everything's good, it's just that I miss you so much."
"Gracias, mi corazon, but do you really think I don't know the reason you're hiding away?"
Aurelia gulped as her stomach plummeted like an anchor.
Do I confess or keep lying? she thought. I'll keep lyingโthere's no way she saw anything that happened. It was a private event.
"Um, what are you talking about? I just want to see you."
Antonella stopped walking. "Mija quit lying, I know what happened."
Aurelia started fidgeting with her hands. She always seemed to do that when she was nervous. "N-no you don't!"
"Aha! So something did happen! I was just pressing you to see if you would admit something, and you did. So, what happened?"
"Nothing, Mami, get off my case," Aurelia answered. "I only said that because you were making me nervous."
"Why would I make you nervous if you were telling the truth?"
Fuck, she got me! Aurelia thought.ย I have to change my narrative a little.
"Okay, fine!" she exclaimed. "Me and Jimmy were arguing a little but that does not mean we don't love each other!"
"Hmph," Antonella muttered. "If you say so."
Phew.ย Another crisis averted.
Aurelia sighed. "It's true, Mami."
"True or not, I need you out of my house by next week," Antonella said as she started to walk. "It's not good for a woman to be away from her husband, mija. You both need to sort out your problems, not hide away from each other. It's like I always say, love is addictive, it should be the reason you get up in the morning. If you're not addicted to your partner, then it's not love."
Aurelia quickly stepped after her. "Right on, reina!"
"You better listen to my words, Aurelia. If he doesn't crave you, he's not the one."