CHAPTER 3

"I will do so. So, how are we going to deal with the kids? They've made up their minds and want to meet you," Julius asked, noting the gravity of the situation. Everything they had worked so hard for over the last few years was dependent on the kids.

"Make a lunch appointment and get them sorted out." Take them shopping and give them a little grooming. Look into those buildings while you're at it. We may require them after all."

"You don't have to be concerned about that. I met with the real estate agent earlier, and I found two buildings that may suit our needs," Julius said, and she nodded. She was extremely fortunate to have Julius as her lackey. He was a hardworking man who was also loyal.

"You never cease to astound me, Julius. When this phase is over, you deserve a bonus," she said with a smile.

"As long as you are happy, I am content. I owe you my life, and I will do everything in my power to assist you in reaching your goal," Julius said, and she could sense his sincerity.

"I will still reward you regardless, and now that this has been resolved, it is time for me to return home. I'm afraid if I take too long, my husband will become irritable," Aurelia chuckled as she rose from her comfortable chair.

"He loves you so much. You are fortunate to have someone like him," Julius said.

"I suppose I am."

Before leaving the office, Aurelia took her jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Outside, her bodyguards awaited her, and the group of people exited the building to the cars waiting outside to transport them back.

Aurelia exhaled a sigh of relief as she settled into the backseat. It had been a long day, and all she wanted was a good night's sleep. She closed her eyes and let the driver drive her back to the place she had called home since she was eighteen years old.

Every time she sees it, it still shakes her to her core. The memory of her first visit to this location flashed back to her. How much time has passed since then?

"This will be your new home," the older man smiled at her, but all she felt at the time was hatred and anger towards this inhumane man who wasn't ashamed to take advantage of someone her age.

She didn't want to irritate this man because she had witnessed firsthand how cruel and manipulative he was. It didn't take him long to crush everything she had called home in a single second. They were living happily with her family one day, even though they were not wealthy or powerful.

Aurelia was dating a man who was five years her senior. She loved him and was willing to go to any length for him. She'd been dating this guy since she was sixteen.

He was her first love, and just thinking about him made her happy. She had a crush on this guy since she was fourteen, but because she was young at the time, she could only admire him from afar, which was enough for her. But when she reached the age of sixteen, she summoned all her courage and confessed her feelings to him.

She remembered his expression after she confessed. He didn't say anything, and she just stood there like an idiot. Many people were staring at her, and some were mocking her. Was she that stupid to confess in front of so many people?

She took off and ran, embarrassed by herself. She didn't want to see their expressions as they laughed at her, but more importantly, she didn't want to see the look in his eyes. She didn't get very far before being apprehended and dragged somewhere. Her mind was racing, she had no idea what was going on, and by the time she regained consciousness, she was moaning and panting beneath him.

Who knew her love would be cut short after that heinous man entered her life? Aurelia stood in awe in front of the massive old mansion. It was her first experience being surrounded by such a majestic aura.

She could tell she was surrounded by money, and this was the kind of life she was going to live every day until she died and was buried deep beneath the earth.

She felt like chewing on the man who was now her lawful husband. He looked her in the eyes with genuine concern, love, and affection. She had no idea what she had done in her brief life to attract such a man. What made her so special that he went to such lengths to get her?

Aurelia dragged herself inside the mansion, nearly fainting when she saw what was inside. This was out of the ordinary for her; she wasn't used to such opulence. Her husband took large strides towards the elevator after picking her up and carrying her bridal gown. She was well aware of what was to come, and she was not at all eager.

She knew she was done when she looked at her husband, who was all over her. This man was twice her age, had children older than her, and still insisted on having her as his wife. She closed her eyes that night and let him take advantage of her.

There was no way out of this; she was in this situation because of her family. If she does something foolish, her family will suffer the consequences, and she loved her mother and did not want to see her suffer because she was selfish.

She was going to adjust and make the most of her new life. She vowed to herself that she would live and that no one would take advantage of her again.

Aurelia returned to the present as Julius opened the door and she gracefully exited the car. She smiled as soon as she saw the door. Her favorite person smiled at her, and before she could respond, he was by her side. Aurelia patted the young child's head before kissing him on the cheek.

When Miguel saw her, he exclaimed, "I thought you were going to miss dinner tonight."

"How can I miss dinner when I know my baby put in so much effort to make it?" Aurelia asked as she took his hand in hers and led the two of them inside. The butler, as well as a number of maids and guards, were stationed at the door.

As the two of them entered, they greeted her with complete respect. After all, marrying into this family had its advantages. Aurelia smiled at her stepson, whom she had raised since joining the family. He was the only person who kept her sane when she was on the verge of going insane before she forgave her husband and fell in love with him.

"I'll go wash my hands. I'll see you soon," she said with a smile to Miguel.

"OK, dad is in his room," he said.

"I'll bring him down. Be good," she said as she boarded the elevator to the fourth floor, where her bedroom was located.

This was not your typical family. She was really shocked when she learnt that a married couple lived separately. She grew up in a family where the husband and wife shared a room. Separation of bedrooms could only mean one thing: conflict.

This worked in her favor because she couldn't stand being in a single bedroom with her husband every day. She simply knew that whenever her husband wanted to be intimate, she would go to his bedroom or he would go to hers. It was wonderful to have some privacy, and their separation kept their emotions in check. They are both missing and in love with each other.

She stepped into the vast room after opening her bedroom door. Her bedroom served as her secondary personal space. She was the type of woman who used to love colors, but her life had turned a bit bleak lately. Her bedroom interior resembled that of a man's, but she liked it.

Her interior was decorated in three colors: red, black, and purple. Those had become her favorite colors. She was once a yellow person, the color of the sun and chrysanthemum flowers. It made her day and mood better, but people change.

She took off her jacket and hung it on the hanger before going to the bathroom, where she stripped naked and threw her clothes in the laundry basket. She wasn't in the mood for a bubble bath, so she hopped in the shower and let the warm water run down her lean body, allowing some of her worries to wash away.

She thoroughly dried herself before donning a simple black dress and indoor slippers. She couldn't keep her family waiting for long, and she was also hungry. She didn't want to eat earlier when she clearly knew her baby was assisting with dinner preparations.

Aurelia exited her bedroom and went to her husband's room, which was only a few doors away. She gently knocked and helped herself inside. When she saw that hunk of her man, she smiled.