CHAPTER 7

AURORA’S POV

I slapped her three hard times across the face as everyone gasped in surprise.

“Aurora is really changing.”

“Yeah, usually she would just walk away sadly.”

“I think I like her new attitude.”

“ What is she doing in Clark’s car when they are enemies?”

I could see the glittering tears in Harper’s eyes, but at this point, was it even wrong? I could not keep acting weak anymore.

“Harper, how dare you slap me and still have the guts to talk nonsense to me? Are you mad? Don’t you know I am your senior sister?” I asked, hearing the rising noise from the crowd.

“Senior sister?” Harper laughed bitterly. “Aurora, you are not my sister and you will never be! You are just a child occupying space in our house! If you were truly important, why would your parents leave you behind and go on a journey of no return? Obviously because you were a burden! Can’t you see that?”

That hit deep.

My heart tightened painfully.

Could that really be true?

But why say it here… in front of everyone?

Warm tears slipped down my cheeks, trailing to my lips with a bitter, salty taste.

“My mom sold you to the queen because you were useless to us,” Harper continued loudly, her voice shaking with anger. “She did it so you could learn what it feels like to live like a slave. But no, you still went behind her back doing your dirty little acts, right? And now, after all that drama with Clark, you are riding to school in his car. Tell me, sister, are you not ashamed of your miserable life?”

Her words crushed something inside me.

But I refused to break.

I straightened my posture and forced a smile at her.

“Sorry, dear Harper,” I said softly, tilting my head in a puppy-like expression. “But I am not a slave in the queen’s house. And Clark and I have nothing going on. Clark is simply the queen’s son.”

I turned away and walked through the crowd, leaving them in stunned silence.

I only said that because I could not let anyone think there was anything between Clark and me. I hated rumors.

Still, it was strange. Clark had never revealed his identity to anyone except that he owned a mall. Maybe he wanted to stay hidden for a reason. I might have just exposed it.

I walked into the lecture hall to find students already chatting and laughing in groups. I headed straight for the course representative.

“Hey, rep… where is the lecturer? Why is there no class?” I asked.

“Oh, I forgot to announce it,” he replied. “Mr. Hatfield said he could not make it today, but we should continue with our project. He will assess it in the next class.”

“You mean the telephone project?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Obviously,” he replied, rolling his eyes before walking away.

Two lecture-free days in a row. Tomorrow was also a free day. I could not complain.

I left for the convenience store and ordered a cup of green tea from a small lady wearing oversized glasses behind the counter.

I sat down and sipped slowly when Reeve and Goldie walked in.

“Hello, everyone!” Reeve said cheerfully, waving dramatically.

The room erupted in laughter. Reeve frowned immediately.

“Puke heads,” he muttered as he joined my table with Goldie.

“What’s up, Aura? What’s going on with you and Clark?” Goldie asked.

“It’s nothing serious,” I replied. “Fiona sold me to Queen Marguerite, and that is how I ended up in the same house as him.”

Reeve’s eyes widened. “Fiona sold you to the queen?”

“Five hundred thousand dollars,” I added flatly.

“Geez… that is a huge amount,” Goldie said, stunned.

“So you are now living under the same roof with your enemy,” Reeve said, laughing.

That was not funny.

“How long have you been there?” Goldie asked.

“Two days. It is… going fine,” I replied.

“At least you are trying to get along with Clark,” Goldie said with a smile.

“The pretending is what is stressing me,” I admitted.

Reeve sighed. “I just wish he would notice me the way he notices others.”

I felt sorry for him and gently held his hand.

“Reeve, you are very handsome. If Clark does not notice you, it simply means he is not meant for you.”

He looked down sadly.

Goldie suddenly leaned in. “Maybe I should change myself completely. A surgery or something might help.”

My eyes widened. “What? No! You cannot do that just to impress someone.”

Reeve added quietly, “Maybe I will look into it.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Stop this. Clark is not gay. Changing yourself will not make him love you. You are only hurting yourself.”

Reeve went silent.

Then he forced a smile and hugged us both.

“Thanks, guys.”

My phone beeped.

It was Clark.

“Who is it?” Goldie asked.

“Clark,” I replied. “He said I should meet him at the parking lot.”

I stood up immediately. “I should go before he gets angry.”

I left them and walked toward the parking lot.

Clark stood there in his black shades, looking like a dangerous painting.

*

*

CLARK’S POV

I watched her approach like she owned the world and I was merely part of it.

“Hi, Clark,” she said, waving slightly as she reached for the back door.

“I can see you have grown wings,” I said coldly. “Making me wait like this.”

She glared at me for a moment and got into the car.

I did not say anything else. Not yet.

I needed to control my temper.

But today, she crossed a line.

Exposing my identity was not something I overlooked easily.

It would be handled.

Properly.

We drove in silence all the way back to the mansion.

Security lined the compound as usual. Mom must have increased them again.

I parked and went inside, heading straight upstairs.

Aurora was already in her room, scrolling through her phone.

She looked up immediately.

“Don’t you knock?” she asked sharply.

“You talk too much,” I snapped, stepping closer. “After everything you did in school today, you still have the guts to question me?”

“I don’t understand you,” she replied. “Just use the door next time.”

That was it.

My control snapped.

I slapped her.

Hard.

Her head turned instantly, and blood slipped from her nose.

My eyes widened slightly.

She swayed.

Then collapsed.

I caught her before she hit the floor.

Jeez.

She fainted.

Mom cannot find out about this.