Aurora's path was blocked by a young woman with short brown hair, who stood resolute despite Aurora's commanding tone. "Step aside, now!" Aurora demanded, her voice firm. They were a few metres from Blade's hotel room and they watched a waiter open the door and step in.
But Claire Paul, the secret investigator, held her ground. "I'm the one who's been providing you with information, Aurora. I've been digging into your husband's secrets." Claire's eyes locked onto Aurora's, her expression unwavering.
Aurora's gaze narrowed, her mind racing with questions. "You're the one who sent me to Eagles Heights Hotel, aren't you?" she accused, her voice laced with anger.
Claire nodded, her apology implicit. "I wanted to reveal the truth to you, Aurora. You have been a generous benefactor to many persons and, I am grateful for your support. I felt you deserved to know."
Aurora's determination intensified, her eyes blazing with resolve. "I will confront Blade and demand answers!"
Claire asked, her voice laced with concern, "And after you catch your husband, what's next, Aurora? Will you seek legal action or...?"
Alice interjected, her tone cautious. She had been silent till now, listening and observing. "What are you implying, Claire?"
Claire's response hinted at a larger scheme. "There's more to your husband's deceit, Aurora. If we could find a private space to discuss, I'll reveal the full extent of his betrayal."
Aurora's eyes darted between Claire's face and Hotel Reward, her mind racing with options. She was torn between confronting her husband and his mistress or digging deeper for evidence. After a brief moment of deliberation, she decided, "Let us talk in the car. It's closer."
Minutes later, the three women were seated in the vehicle, with Aurora and Alice flanking Claire. Both Aurora and Alice were wary of Claire's motives, wondering what she stood to gain from meddling in a billionaire's family affairs.
"Get to the point, Claire," Aurora demanded curtly.
Claire nodded, "I promise I won't waste your time, ma'am." She pulled out some documents from her bag and handed them to Aurora, saying, "I think you should see these."
Aurora scanned the pages, her expression unimpressed, before passing them to Alice, who also reviewed them with a critical eye. Aurora scoffed, her scepticism evident, as the documents failed to reveal any damning evidence or even a hint of her husband's alleged infidelity. "This is useless," she muttered, her patience wearing thin.
"These documents are just old business deals, nothing more," Aurora said, her voice laced with disappointment. "I authorized them but, they are irrelevant to my current situation. I thought you had something substantial to share when we met near Hotel Reward, but instead, you have wasted my time with useless papers. You are just trying to impress me with your so-called research and feel important." Aurora pulled out some dollar bills from her purse and thrust them at Claire. "Take this money and leave! You're only interested in getting paid, aren't you?"
Claire's smile hinted at something more. "Are you sure you examined the documents thoroughly, ma'am?"
Aurora's frustration mounted. "Yes, I did!"
Alice intervened, her voice calm. "Aurora, look at this page." Alice pointed to a specific section, and Aurora's eyes widened in shock. "How could Blade do this to me?"
Alice turned to Claire. "You've made your point. Take the money and leave."
Claire pocketed the cash and exited the car, a knowing glint in her eye.
Alice wrapped her arms around Aurora, offering a comforting embrace. "It's okay, dear."
But Aurora's distress only grew. "No, Alice, it's not okay! You saw what Blade did? He deceived me so completely and, I was too trusting to notice! He tricked me into signing over my properties, my entire legacy, to him. I was so blind, so foolish!" Aurora's voice broke as she wept.
Alice's face reflected her indignation. "That's unconscionable, Aurora."
Aurora's face turned ashen, her words pouring out in anguish. "It's even worse than that. I am trapped, Alice. I have no way out of this marriage. I signed away my freedom, my security, my everything. And now, I cannot even confront him, because..." Aurora's sobs overwhelmed her, her body shaking with grief.
Alice's eyes filled with a mix of frustration and empathy as she spoke, "I told you so, Aurora. I warned you about Blade's true nature, but you didn't listen."
Aurora's head shook in regret, "I was blinded by love. I thought Blade was the perfect man, flawless and devoted. But now, I realize my mistake. You were right, Alice. I was foolish to ignore your warnings. It seems he only wanted my wealth... but maybe, just maybe, he genuinely loved me before Claudia entered the picture." Aurora's voice trailed off, her thoughts consumed by the painful realization.
"Oh, come on! Stop deluding yourself!" Alice exclaimed. "That man has never loved you, Aurora. He's just a gold digger! If he truly cared for you, would he manipulate you into signing away your wealth? It's clear he only wants your money!"
Aurora's face contorted in pain as she clutched her stomach. Aurora gasped, her voice strained and her body tensing up "No, no, this can't be... how could Blade do this to me?" she moaned.
"Aurora, what's happening?" Alice asked, concern etched on her face. "I think the baby is coming," Aurora replied, taking deep breaths.
"But your due date is two weeks away," Alice pointed out.
***
Alice's calls to Blade went unanswered for two consecutive days. Fueled by rage, Aurora checked herself out of the hospital, despite the medical staff's concerns about her premature discharge.
Upon arriving home, Aurora's anger intensified, her thoughts consumed by Claudia, the woman who had stolen Blade's heart. She retreated to her room, requesting her maid to bring oranges for her to peel.
As she peeled the oranges, the sound of Blade's voice echoed from downstairs, his instructions to the servant filling the air. Aurora's grip on the knife tightened, her anger boiling over.
Blade entered the room, their eyes locking in a charged moment. Aurora's gaze burned with rage, her mind racing with visions of slicing his neck.
"Hi, love, sorry I've been away," Blade said, his tone casual. "I've had business meetings." Aurora's voice dripped with venom, "You've been busy? I've been giving birth to our child, and you were nowhere to be found."
Blade's laughter faltered as he grasped the gravity of the situation. "I...I didn't know," he stammered.
Aurora's demand cut through the air, "Where were you?" Blade's feeble explanation of business meetings only fueled her fury.
Unnoticed by Blade, blood began to trickle from Aurora's fingers, dripping onto the floor in slow, deliberate drops. Her grip on the knife tightened.
His gaze fell upon the knife, and his eyes widened.
"Aurora, you're hurt," Blade exclaimed, alarm etching his face. "What's going on?
Aurora's gaze locked onto Blade's, her eyes burning with an unsettling intensity. Her thoughts whispered: Kill him. Slice his throat. Watch him bleed.
She imagined the knife sinking into his flesh, the satisfaction of his screams.
Her voice remained calm, deceptively so. "I'm fine, Blade. Just concerned about your... disappearance when I needed you the most."
Blade's relief was palpable. "Aurora, I swear, nothing's going on. What I told you was the truth. My absence was not intentional."
Aurora's smile grew, a cold, calculated curve. "I know, Blade. I know."
In her mind, a single phrase repeated: Tonight, you die.
Blade's eyes never left hers, oblivious to the deadly intentions simmering beneath her surface.
And in that moment, Aurora's resolve hardened.