Chapter 69
1434words
Finally he stopped, cutting the engine off but leaving the lights on. Aurora gingerly climbed down and then proceeded to take off the helmet, ruffling her hair with a hand. She frowned as she took in the expanse of land in front of them and the large house sitting on the middle.
"Where's this place?" She questioned, wondering why he even brought her here.
He didn't respond, instead taking the helmet from her hand and replacing it with his. He tugged her forward and she threw him a skeptical glance but followed nonetheless.
When they got to the front door, he dug into his pocket and fished out an ancient looking key. She watched as he slipped it into the keyhole and unlocked the door. It opened with an ominous creak and she glanced at him warily,
"It feels like we're doing something bad," She muttered as they walked into the dark house, "Like breaking and entering."
She heard him chortle and wished she could give him her classical offended glare,
"If it was breaking and entering," He paused, the sound of a switch being flicked echoed and lights suddenly flooded the entire area, "I wouldn't have had the key in the first place."
Aurora stalked forward, releasing her hand from his grip as she looked around with awe. It was a very beautiful home, simple yet aesthetic. The entire place was furnished, from chairs to tables, there was even a TV set up.
She walked over to the kitchen that was adjacent the living room and it completely took her breath away.
"What is this place?" She swiveled to ask him, placing her hands on the marble counter. Although the place was furnished, it didn't look lived in.
For example, they were still coverings on all of the items and she spotted specks of dusts and some cobwebs hanging down the ceiling.
Who in their right mind would buy a home like this and leave it like that?
Ryan stalked forward, tearing off one of the coverings of the couch and she gasped, rushing to stop him but it was too late, he'd torn it off completely and then turned to face her,
"I think you'd want to sit for this," He settled on the couch and patted the space beside him.
She gave him a look but trudged forward, sitting on the empty space, she crossed her legs and placed her hands on top her thighs.
"I saw the posts today," She stiffened, clenching her fingers together, "And the first thing I thought was going to punch that jerk Mike but then I saw the comments."
She shifted to face with a confused frown, he wasn't looking at her, his gaze was focused on the floor instead.
"They all thought that the guy in the picture is Matt, your fiance and then I reasoned, this would be a great way to wriggle out of this situation," He chuckled but it was more to himself, "If you say that that person is Matt, then you won't have to worry. It'd blow away overtime, you'd sue the reporter for public misconduct and then you'll have the wedding of your dreams. And it'll be the end of us."
He looked up then, staring at her with those obsidian soul piercing orbs that made her feel naked. Aurora didn't know what to say to that so she remained quiet,
"Then I realized," His throat bobbed and she knew instantly that he was finding it difficult to admit this, "I realized that I don't want us to end. I don't want to see you marrying another guy, kissing and holding him in public. I don't want to imagine you spending the rest of your life with him and having his children, so I wanted to give you a chance," He took her hand and a soft gasp escaped her,
"A chance to know me."
"Ryan-"
"No," He interrupted gently, shaking his head, "You don't understand, the reason I brought you here is to share a part of myself that I kept too hidden for long."
This caused her to frown, her eyes darting around in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
He sighed, rubbing his thumb against the back of her skin, "This is my house, I bought it months ago but I've never been able to live here," She was tempted to ask why but allowed him to continue, "Growing up, I've always detested rich people, they treated me and family like trash. My parents were killed by a rich politician's drunken driving and I never had life easy because I was born an unprivileged child."
Aurora winced, the sorrow in his tone hit too close to home and she wished there was a way to console him.
"My grandfather took me in but it wasn't too long before he too died, living me alone. I had to fend for myself and every day, I vowed never to become like the rich," His throat bobbed again, his brows furrowing deeply, "It might sound stupid but I never allowed myself to have a life of luxury even when I had the money. I graduated from college three years ago but I never really understood the need to get a job so I got into boxing and that's when I met Theo and Sandy. They're the reason I don't live so miserably."
Aurora was silent, slowly accessing everything he'd just told her, "So what you mean to say is that you're rich but you've never allowed yourself to enjoy the wealth?"
He nodded and she smiled softly, "It sounds stupid, doesn't it?"
She shook her head, "Not at all, you felt wrong and took revenge in the way that you saw best."
He smiled and she returned the gesture, "I've decided that I don't want to live like that anymore. I want to be worthy of you, Aurora."
Ryan didn't call her name very often but whenever he did, it caused a flurry of warmth to blossom in her chest. He didn't even realize it but he had won her heart a long time now,
He raised their joined hands and placed a kiss on it, "I want you, no one else but you."
She felt like a supernova at that momebt, ready to combust from the joy that she was feeling. Aurora leaned into him and cupped his face,
"Ryan," She called softly, moisture gathering in her eyes as her heart welled with an indescribable emotion.
He shifted nearer, pressing their foreheads together and whispered, "Let's run away, go to a place where no one will recognize you and start all over again. Just the two of us."
She smiled but it was shaky, her thumb swiped back and forth and she leaned closer, kissing the tip of his nose,
"If I run away now, I'll be the coward who fled because of a minor situation and we'll never really be able to be happy," She began gently, leaning back to stare at him better, "And even if I want to, I can't."
He frowned, "Why?"
She raised her hand, revealing the band of silver that was snugly wrapped around her finger. His face fell when he realized what she meant,
"I'm still engaged to Matt and he doesn't deserve to have our union broken like this," She sighed, shaking her head, "If I run away, then I'm giving Evan exactly what he wants."
He didn't seem to understand her but she smiled nonetheless, touched that he was willing to leave his entire life to follow her.
It gave her the courage she never knew she needed to do the right thing. Aurora knew now what she had to do.
She pressed her forehead against his again, breathing softly, "Will you wait for me?" Her voice was gentle, "It won't be easy from here on out but I need to know if you will be at the end of the road, waiting for me?"
His lips broke into the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen and he cupped her cheeks, gazing into her eyes with so much love and adoration that it melted her insides,
"Even if it takes a thousand years," He vowed solemnly, his countenance filled with sincerity, "I'll wait for you, Aurora Rochester."
