AURORA MOON
Aurora Moon met Kellan Ward on the first day at university. He was shy and awkward, but very good-looking. Even though his social skills were ... well, awful, his face and body drew the attention of many girls. He was also very intelligent and was the top scorer in university.
But he only had eyes for her.
Later, after he built Butterfly Villa for her, she found out he'd stalked her since high school. They didn't attend the same campuses, but apparently he showed up on the regular to watch her and take pictures of her.
Unfortunately for Kellan, Aurora had been in love with Aiden Cross since the day he rescued her from a wild rosebush. It was the same day her mother died, and she remembered collapsing into his arms and wailing like a broken-hearted banshee.
In the last moments of her past life, Aiden revealed the truth.
"You always thought I was the one who plucked you out of that rosebush. You're so stupid, Aurie. Kellan extracted you from the thorns and held you while you cried for your mama." He laughed. "How could you give your heart to me?"
Her half-sister joined in his laughter. "Here's one more secret before you meet the King of Hell," she said, grinning. "Your mother's death was preventable. But when she got sick, no one took care of her. We just let suffer ... and die."
"Daddy loved my mother!" she yelled. "He would never hurt her."
"He loved my mother," snapped Ivy. "Yours was just in the way."
Reliving these memories, Aurora cried herself to sleep. Was it any wonder that her experiences in her last life snaked into her dreams?
"I made you egg noddles," said Kellan. He brought the chopsticks to her lips, but she refused to open her mouth. "Please, Aurora, eat something. I'll bring you whatever you like."
"I don't want anything from you," she said, tears streaking her cheeks. "Let me go. I only love Aidan. I will never, ever love you!"
Kellan reared back as if she'd slapped him. She ignored the flash of pain in his eyes, even though her heart squeezed with guilt. No, no. He had kidnapped her. Locked her in this cage. Refused to release her.
She grabbed the bowl from his hands and threw it as hard as she could. It shattered against the floor, noodles and ceramic shards flying everywhere. "I'd rather starve!"
Kellan stood up, his expression cold as a winter evening. "You will eat, Aurora. If you don't do it of your own accord, then I will feed you."
Aurora scrambled off the bed and scooped up a piece of broken ceramic. She pressed the sharp edge to her throat. "Let me go, or I will die, Kellan."
Once again, she saw the pain flicker in his gaze, but she didn't care. She didn't. He was a madman. His so-called love was all-consuming. Suffocating. She pressed the shard into her flesh. It hurt as it pierced her skin, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out. She felt warm blood trickle from the wound she'd created.
"Aurora!" He dropped the chopsticks still clutched in his hand. Then he grabbed the shard, putting his fingers between it and her flesh. "No one is allowed to hurt you. Not even yourself."
She pressed harder, but all her efforts only served to make Kellan's wounds larger. His blood joined hers on her neck. He was so much stronger than her. She ultimately wouldn't win the battle. She dropped her hand.
Kellan removed the shard and threw it to the floor. Then he scooped her up with one arm and carried her to the bed. He carefully placed her on the thick bedding and then sat next to her. "Jingyu! I need the medical kit."
His loyal assistant brought the metal box with First Aid supplies. "Sir, you should see to the cuts on your hand. You don't want an infection."
"Aurora first," said Kellan.
"Sir..."
"Leave."
Jingyu bowed slightly and then left.
"Your blood's getting on my dress," complained Aurora. "Bandage your fingers before you ruin my clothing."
"I'll buy you a dozen new frocks to replace this one." He dabbed medicine onto the cut on her neck. After he put on the bandage, he checked her hand. "Look, you even hurt your fingers. How will you design such beautiful dresses if you ruin your hands?"
"I won't design," she said. "And I won't eat."
Kellan closed the medical box. Then he grasped the handle and stood up. "If you don't want to be chained to this bed and given a feeding tube, then you will eat every meal from now on."
She knew Kellan meant it. He wouldn't allow her to starve herself. He wouldn't allow her to die. He alone controlled her fate.
After Kellan left, his warning hanging in the air like miasma, Aurora collapsed to the bed and wept.
Aurora awoke from the dream ... no, the memory of her previous life ... and sat up in bed. What would life have been like if she'd let Kellan love her? If she'd known what an asshat Aiden Cross was? If she hadn't trusted her half-sister? If she hadn't tolerated her family's abuse because she wanted their love?
She stretched out her arms, wiggling her body to get the stiffness out of her joints. Her hand smacked an object.
The next thing she knew, she heard ceramic shatter.
She looked over the edge of the bed. A broken bowl of egg noodles lay on the floor.
Oh, no!
Egg noodles were her favorite, and Kellan had learned how to make them for her. She'd secretly liked them very much, but rarely ate what he gave her. She hadn't wanted wanted to encourage his affection.
She crawled out of bed and onto the floor, kneeling beside the wasted food. She didn't want Kellan to think she'd broken the bowl on purpose. His feelings would be hurt, and he wouldn't believe she wanted to love him. That she wanted to marry him.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she grasped hot noodles and lifted them to her mouth.