It was Christmas.
Aunt Irodella and Damon's sister, Rosette, finally arrived and was now staying in the guest quarter of the house. Damon had been hiding in his room ever since his mom and sister had arrived, letting me know through message that he was sorting out some stuff with his mom first before they were going to make an appearance. As much as I loathed Christmas day, my parents held the most lavish party I had ever seen in my existence and maybe it was because it had so much class to it. It was a tradition my grandmother had started back when she was young enough to host events like these and I guess my mother had learnt from it.
Staring back at myself in the mirror, I decided to adorn my body with a fluffy white sweater and a red skirt that flowed out and a pair of black Christian Louboutin's that I had stolen from my mother's shoe rack. My dirty blonde hair had been loosely curled, hugging my shoulders as I inhaled a sharp breath, preparing myself to socialise with people who I didn't even know. My friends had sent me photos of themselves with their family since they decided to go out of the state for Christmas and I knew that Hailee was spending Christmas with her family in Australia. In the summer. How blessed.
Staring back at myself, I regretted not ordering the grinch costume just to piss of my mother.
"Knock-knock," a familiar, masculine voice sounded from outside my door before cracking the door open. Damon's head poked in, a soft smile on his lips as he fully widened the door, exposing his white suit and a small red bowtie. "You look outstanding."
I flipped my hair behind my shoulders. "Why are we dressed the same?"
Damon chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Almost the same."
He offered a hand and I bit my lip and took it before he led me out of my room and standing from atop the stairs, my eyes devouring family and friends who mingled with one another, a glass of champagne in their hands.
In my peripheral vision, Damon studied me, a sad smile playing on his lips. "Has he called?"
I shook my head and it was a challenge to not think of him on Christmas. "Let's hope I find myself a charming, young man today."
"Your family awaits," Damon announced with a small smirk and I couldn't help but roll my eyes as the both of us slowly descended the stairs, hand in hand as if time took us back to when we were five years old where Damon and I spent most of our time together. Before he moved away.
I decided to look ahead but I knew many eyes were on Damon and I as I caught some muttering under their breaths. Some eyes were painted with awe but most were painted with distaste and I fought the urge to ball my fist and punch their throats. I needed to behave tonight. It was the least I could for my grandmother.
"You look astonishing!" my grandmother exclaimed, opening her arms for me as she kissed both of my cheeks gently before pulling me into an embrace. My grandmother looked just as beautiful with her white dress and white faux coat. "Oh, my beautiful, Aurora. You've grown so much."
I genuinely beamed at her and I caught my family were watching us closely in the corner of my eyes. "I wish you would stay and live here."
My grandmother exhaled softly. "I'll always love you, Aurora."
I clenched my jaw and I couldn't help but let a tear slide down my cheek, my grandmother quickly wiping it away as she kissed my cheek again before moving to Damon who stared at her with adoration in his eyes. My grandmother had always been close to Damon and I and maybe because we were so alike in our nature.
The only thing I picked up from Damon and my grandmother's conversation was that Damon and I needed to look out for each other, no matter what. Damon and I glanced at each other and beamed, both knowing that Damon and I were always going to love one another.
"Come, enjoy the party," my grandmother spoke as she pulled us into the crowd, grabbing us a glass of champagne before heading in another direction to greet another guest.
"Lets make a pact right now," Damon turned to me as his hazel eyes glistened with mischief. "That we're always going to be there for each other, even if it's something small." He held out his pinky and it was as if we were children again.
I couldn't help but laugh, hooking his pinky with my own. "You'll always be the better half of me, Falkov."
And that was all I needed. My beloved cousin standing in front of me with a smile on his face and his pinky hooked with mine, making a promise to one another as we kissed each other's cheeks to lock the promise.
"Aurora," I heard my sister's soft voice speak from behind me as I slowly turned around to find my sister paler than usual and I couldn't help but tilt my head. "Someone's at the door. It's for you."
I frowned. "Are you sick?"
Dakota's lips trembled and she shook her head. "No, I'm not. Now, go, he's waiting."
My heart almost lurched forward. "Is it who I think it is?"
Dakota only shook her head in amusement before Damon took her by the hand and led her elsewhere, probably to the kitchen. I craned my neck behind me to see Dakota and Damon making conversation between one another before I inhaled sharply, plastering on a blank facade before making my way towards the front door.
Stepping out on the front porch as I closed the door behind me to cease the talking, laughing and singing, I found myself alone immersed in the dark as I began to shiver, the cold slithering on my skin like a snake as I exhaled loudly, a puff of smoke lingering.
"Breathtaking, as always," a breathless voice spoke from beside me and I almost jumped out of my skin as I turned my head to see Ashton in a black suit and tie from head to toe. He didn't look quite bad as well. His eyes seemed to shine so bright, like it belonged in the ocean of the stars. I wanted to get lost in them if I wanted to admit it myself.
"What are you doing here?" I questioned slowly, biting my lip as the cold became more intense. I didn't want to make a move to rub my arms because I knew Ashton would sacrifice his blazer and he was going to be cold.
"I missed you," he admitted softly, taking off his blazer as he took three steps closer to me before putting it around my shoulder and I couldn't help but take a step closer to him, our breaths almost mingling. His blue eyes moved down to meet my own and he almost stiffened at our close proximity.
"Tell me," I whispered, the words escaping my lips without my permission as I silently cursed myself for being curious in this moment. "Why are you hanging around Ruby?"
Ashton's blue eyes seemed distant again and he took a step back, examining me from head to toe as if to save an image in his head. He offered his hand to me and I stared at it for a second...then two before taking a breath and taking it into mine.
I didn't want to regret this.
"Let's go to our place," he spoke with such softness.
Our.
I knew where he meant.
After what seemed like an eternity of being on his motorcycle, he helped me get off as we reached the cliff and the view of the horizon where the dark sky met the ocean never ceased to amaze me, especially with the moon reflecting in the waters. I turned around to find Ashton spreading a picnic blanket before us before he plopped down on it, patting the empty seat beside him with a gentle smile.
"I know your clothes are expensive," Ashton said with a smirk as I rolled my eyes and seated myself beside him, keeping my distance. He must've noticed because his eyes slightly softened at the sight. "You're probably wondering about the tattoo on my neck. The wave."
I snapped my attention to him but his lips were no longer adorned with the smirk I had grown so accustomed to. His eyes no longer held the shimmer but instead, dimmed blue eyes met mine as bottled emotions seemed to surface and I didn't know whether to pull him into an embrace or to just stare.
I stared.
"Ruby knows a secret that I have been trying my best to hide from you," Ashton whispered, shuffling his feet around, his eyes dipping from mine. "That's why I was her lapdog, to stop her from telling you."
I was lost for words as my mind tried to comprehend what was happening at this moment. "What do you mean?"
Ashton's eyes met mine but something in them had shifted. The blue eyes that once held so much curiosity, adoration and amusement were now filled with sorrow, regret and remorse as he shakily slipped his hand into my own and exhaled slowly. "The tattoo is a reminder of my sister."
I was truly confused at this point. "Millicent?"
His eyes seemed to smile. "No, Millicent's twin sister, Kahlilah."
My eyes widened. "Kahlilah?"
Ashton nodded with a sad smile, a tear slipping down his pale cheek. "Kahlilah Nixon. I murdered her."
a/n: Ashton finally revealed his secret and why he had been Ruby's lapdog. How do you guys feel about it? Should he have told her sooner?
I know I discontinued this story but I decided to resume it because some of you guys really loved this story and I just couldn't let Ashton and Aurora die! It's also going to be part of a series. The second book is already ongoing but both books can be read as stand-alones.
You can follow my instagram, the link is in my bio, for any updates or if you guys want to send me covers because I know some of you have asked if I had Instagram.
thank you for your endless support. I appreciate it.
ariella xo