The taste of your deceit

Chapter 6

Daniel's POV
"Come on, give me a hug," I said, opening my arms for her warm embrace. She had the scent of a masculine perfume, which wasn't unusual. "You smell..." I began, but she interrupted, saying, "masculine?" I nodded, planting a kiss on her forehead, expressing how much I had missed her. As we entered our home, we followed our usual routine of taking a bath together.

Aurora's POV
"So, how did your date with Alicia go?" I asked, causing him to choke on his meal. Concerned, I offered him a glass of water. After a bout of coughing, he finally replied, "It went well. She's actually a fun person to be with."

Sensing his discomfort, I decided to change the topic. "I've come across some amazing honeymoon packages in France, and I'd love for you to take a look," I announced, showing him the flyer on my phone.

"Is this what you want?" he asked, without giving it a second glance. "Yes!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Then let's go to France. You can start making inquiries and book the tickets," he said. I asked him if he was sure, and he responded with disappointment, "Yes, I'm sure, but the problem is that you might end up going alone, dear." I couldn't help but cry, saying, "But it's a honeymoon package, and you promised we would go together."

"Yeah, I did mention that we could do all those things once I go on this business trip to see my dad's businesses in other countries," he explained then continued to sip some of his orange juice.

"So why are you telling me to go ahead with the plans?" I asked, feeling a bit confused. He went on to explain that it would keep me occupied and even suggested that I could go with Alicia.

"I'll cover all the expenses," he added. "You could even leave this weekend."

My mind started racing with thoughts. I knew Noel wouldn't be thrilled about the idea, and going on the trip with Alicia might not be the most enjoyable experience either. "What's on your mind?" he asked, bringing me back to reality. "Um, I'm not sure if Alicia would be up for it," I replied.
"Well I'm going to convince her to", he said enthusiastically while stoking my cheek with his hand.

Alicia's POV
It had been more than three hours, but I couldn't get over the taste of his lips on mine. It tasted just like fresh honey, so sweet and enticing. My body was covered in goosebumps when I thought about it, and his touch had this incredible effect on me. I kept replaying that unforgettable moment in my head, reliving it over and over again. I started to regret holding back my emotions, not letting him have all of me like he needed. I wish I had let him know that I was the only woman who truly loved him. I felt a surge of frustration and punched the air, trying to release that pent-up aggression. It's hard to understand why I was trying to save a marriage that had already collapsed even before it started, especially when Aurora was out there messing with Noel. Why couldn't I be with Daniel? Why was I still holding on to a friendship that wouldn't stand the test of time? Why was I still out here thinking Aurora would change? What should hold me back from chasing a man that I truly loved. A man that I've lived my entire life around.

Aurora's POV
Daniel left the house after dinner to attend to a few paper works but instead of going to bed, I decided to use the opportunity to go see Noel at his house. I needed to break the news to him personally.

"No way, I won't let you go!" he yelled, slamming his fist into the wall behind me. I couldn't believe how angry he got when I broke the news to him.
"You are not going anywhere ", he said while pinning my body to the wall. "I need you here", he added softly.

"But hey, you could come with me, right? Can't you?" I said calmly, while gently stroking his face. I pulled him into a warm embrace, trying to calm him down and give him some assurance.

"Let's go together," I whispered into his ear. As goosebumps appeared on his skin, I realized my cold breath must have tickled him. "Do you think it's going to work out that way?" he asked. "Why not?" I replied, with a passionate kiss.

He smiled and pulled me close, his grip tight. "We're gonna have the time of our lives!" he exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

Noel's POV
Looking into Aurora's eyes, I felt a sense of pride for the incredible woman she had become. I knew she loved me more than I loved her, so I held onto her even tighter, taking in the scent of her freshly washed hair. But the smell of her shampoo triggered memories from my childhood, causing me to pull away abruptly. Concerned, she asked what was wrong, sensing my change in demeanor.

"It's nothing," I lied, not ready to share all my childhood traumas with her just yet.

It was never a pleasant childhood for me. It was a mix of getting yelled at, constantly being compared to my younger brother, and feeling like the least favorite child in the family. We grew up with a silver spoon in our mouth, but I felt like mine was mixed with sand from the ground. I literally had to beg whenever I needed something, while my younger brother seemed to have everything handed to him. Even though a part of me loves my brother, another part of me will continue to harbor resentment towards him for the rest of my life.

I felt a cold grip on my hand, chilling enough to snap me back to reality. Confused and startled, Aurora asked what was wrong with me but before I could respond, her phone started ringing. It was obvious that it was her husband calling. She looked at me, seeking validation, before finally answering the call.

"Daniel wants to talk to you. He's been trying to get through to you but to no avail and he's asking me to dial your number and see if I can get through to you", she said.
I nodded and walked away, feeling a mix of emotions.

As I made my way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, memories flooded my mind. It had been months since I last saw my brother. I couldn't help but reminisce about the day our late father's will was read, a day that forever changed my life. On that fateful day, my brother not only stole my birthright but also became the CEO of Salber groups of companies, inheriting 90% of our father's wealth. The media coverage was overwhelming, with his face plastered on the cover of Forbes and dominating headlines for weeks.