Chapter 13

013 I’ll live Scarlett’s POV +25 BONUS I slept – more like, blacked out – for three whole days after that horrible fallout with my, well, ex–family. I can barely remember how Aurora got me back to her penthouse alone. I have been in and out due to a low fever, remembering only glimpses of Aurora feeding me stuff, some sweet, some bitter.

Of course, Sebastian didn’t reach out. Surprisingly though, nor did the divorce papers that he said I could expect in two to three days. He knows Aurora’s address.

“Back to life, sleeping beauty?” A big smile crawls onto Aurora’s face when she comes in with a glass in her hand, “How do you feel?”

Numb. So, better than most days.

“Ginger honey water,” Aurora settles down by my side as I rub my face to try to wake up more, “it helps with the fever. No argument.”

i now I hate ginger, she knows! But I also know I can’t afford to joke with my body, now more than ever. I have a little thing in my womb to take care of.

“I guess that means you are keeping the baby?” Aurora’s eyes land on my belly, where I’m stroking subconsciously.

“Ohh, I didn’t know I had a choice,” I roll my eyes at her.

“We can find you a state that allows–”

as “Not possible...” I shake my head. As if the Fullers would let me, “That’s not even the biggest issue. I mean, can I really live with myself if I...?”

If 1 Kill it? KILL!

It’s such a heavy word to bear, especially linked with my own baby. I know it would be a thorn between Sebastian and Ava if I kept the baby, but I don’t want to put that kind of weight on my conscience for her. At least, not so fast.

I need time to think before making a rational decision.

When I look up, I see Aurora’s worried eyes. Silly. I wouldn’t be the first single mom in the world. They can do it, and so can I.

“What’s your plan after this?”

Llaugh. She asked the same question as Sebastian did They don’t see me having a life without him. I don’t blame them. I did make him the core of my life, and I see my mistake now.

“I’ll live, Aurora, probably better than now.”

“So...you are not leaving anymore...for real?” Aurora glances at me with suspicious eyes, “Seriously, why North Dakota? What could it possibly have for you there?!...”

Aurora starts her machine–gun–style ranting again. I smile at her and listen, feeling a serenity I haven’t felt for a very long time.

013 löve +25 BONUS The feeling of being cared for.

“You have no idea how brave I was to get you that ticket!” Aurora shakes my shoulders, making an exaggerated face, “I seriously thought that I would die at Lilith’s hands! She would eat me alive when she knows that I let you leave without telling her!”

My smile freezes at that name.

Lilith. It puts a bitter taste on my tongue. We three used to be the conjoined baby in school. We were always together. Best friends forever, that’s how we lived it.

But now, she doesn’t even talk to me.

“I doubt she would care now...” I lower my eyes. Lilith warned me that she wouldn’t ever talk to me if I married Sebastian. I did it anyway, smacked by love.

Lilith kept her promise, too. Not a single word, for five years. She hates Sebastian for some reason, reasons I didn’t care to listen to.

He really is a mistake for which I paid with my everything.

“Anyways!” Seeing me turning blue, Aurora quickly diverts the topic, “Girls night tonight?! You and me! haven’t been going out for a fun night for so long!”

I have been drowning in my marriage, and Aurora in her career, under the whip of her mother. A fun night is a concept lost on us now.

“I can’t drink–”

“Even better!” Aurora hugs me lively, “You can watch me drink and drive me home after! Perfect!” D She manages to get a laugh out of me.

“I have to run, but don’t you dare stand me up tonight, you hear me?!” Aurora checks the Swiss on her wrist in a hurry, dashing out before struggling with her high heel by the door, “See you at Nightingale, 8 pm!”

The room falls into absolute silence after her lively figure is gone.

Too quiet to drown out the turmoil the divorce left in my head.