AURORA MOON
Kellan pinned the towel to his hips. "Naughty butterfly," he whispered. "Are you so eager?"
"Yes," said Aurora.
"Our first time together will not be a casual tryst." He stepped back, out of reach of her grasping hands. "Besides, you look so beautiful right now. How could I mess up such perfection?"
"Kellan!" Frustrated, Aurora stamped her foot. She crossed her arms. "What about a kiss?"
"Not on your life." Kellan backed up further. "If I so much as put my lips anywhere near that sweet mouth of yours, I won't be able to control myself."
"Excellent." She moved toward him, but before she could take more than two steps, he had high-tailed it back to the bathroom. After he shut the door, she heard the snick of the lock.
"Rude," she muttered.
Half an hour later, Kellan was ready. He looked handsome in his gray-striped suit with its light blue tie. He also wore a silver and sapphire lapel pin in the shape of a butterfly.
"My husband is so handsome," said Aurora. She reached up on her tippy-toes and kissed the corner of his mouth.
"You're killing me," he whispered. He tipped her chin and offered a chaste brush of his lips across hers. Then he kissed the tip of her nose. "Let's go shopping, my love."
Thanks to Saturday traffic and a multi-car accident on the main highway, it took more than an hour for Aurora and Kellan to get to the mall. Kellan spent the majority of the time on his phone, dealing with company matters. Every so often, he would touch her cheek or hand, a gentle reminder of his attention and love.
Aurora scrolled social media on her phone. She had the volume off so she didn't disturb Kellan's work. As they finally neared the entrance of the Northside Mall, Aurora checked Weibo's Hot Search.
The top trending story was Ivy Crane being named Moonlight's new Director of Design.
Aurora gasped. How dare she!
"What's wrong?" Kellan ended his call and turned toward her. "Are you all right?"
"That's my mother's company. My inheritance. And my father let this mistress' daughter take over the design department. What does she know about design? She didn't even finish college!" Aurora scrolled through the article, getting angrier and angrier. "This is my resume!" She jabbed at the phone. "Kellan, they stole my education, my awards, and my old designs. Look."
Kellan gently pried the cell from her hand and scrolled the article detailing Aurora's accomplishments, which had been given to her half-sister. He studied the design images and recognized his wife's work instantly. "Where did she get these?"
"My old journals, probably. Several of my design sketchbooks are still at home."
"Does she know you're Luna?"
"No. Very few people know I'm Luna."
Kellan returned the phone. "Your father has control over your mother's company?"
Aurora nodded. "That, and my mother's signature designs. He can sell them, but he doesn't have the originals, so he can't update or alter her work."
"Where are the originals?"
"I have them hidden. But my father has most of my mother's relics. He loves to use them for emotional blackmail."
"I'll get your mother's company back for you, Aurora. And everything your family owes you."
"What about killing Aiden?" she asked. She still had nightmares about the night she died in her previous life. The beatings and torture sessions endured at the hands of her so-called childhood sweetheart and her horrible half-sister were permanently etched in her brain. She would never forget that trauma.
"You really want him to die, Aurora?"
Yes, thought Aurora bitterly. Him and Ivy could burn in hell as far as she was concerned. "You think I'm too bloodthirsty?"
Kellan shook his head. "If you want Aiden to disappear from this world, I can do that for you."
Aurora sighed. "Maybe ... just maybe murder isn't the way to go. But I really want to punish him for being such a cruel douchebag."
"Understood." Kellan took her hand within his. "I'll make some phone calls to address the Hot Search. And I'll work on getting Moonlight and your mother's inheritance back to you."
"I trust you," said Aurora. "Thank you, husband."
"Anything for you, dear wife." He kissed her forehead. "Now, let's go spend lots and lots of money."
The Northside Mall was six stories with high-end, name brand stories for everything ranging from clothing to gym equipment. It also housed numerous restaurants, two KTVs, an indoor golfing venue, and a top-floor private club for VVVIP members.
The first store Kellan took her to visit was a clothing store that specialized in qípáo dresses. "You look gorgeous in this dress," said Kellan. "Buy more. In fact, buy all the garments in the store, if you want."
"Maybe not all of them."
He cupped her face, his thumb sweeping across her jaw. "Whatever my little butterfly wants, she gets." He lifted his cell phone. "I'm going to make some calls to deal with the Hot Search. Jingyu will stay with you."
"Can't you just use the phone here?" She grabbed the edge of his jacket. "Why do you have to leave?"
"I shouldn't disturb other customers. Don't worry. I won't be too far away, and I won't be gone too long. If you need anything, ask Jingyu."
"Can you really stand being away from me?" Aurora pouted.
Kellan lightly pinched her protruding lower lip. "I can't stand for your family to outright bully you. I'll be right back, promise." He met his assistant's gaze. "Jingyu. Stay with Madam Ward."
Jingyu nodded to his boss and then took up a spot a couple feet away from Aurora. He followed discreetly as Aurora traveled from rack to rack, pulling out clothing she liked. The sales clerk next to her soon had an armful of colorful qípáo.
"Would you like to try these on, Madam?" asked the clerk.
"No," said Aurora. "I know my size. Just wrap them up for me."
The clerk nodded and went to the checkout counter. Aurora continued perusing, occasionally looking for Kellan. "Where is he?" she asked. "What's taking so long?"
"He'll be back soon," said Jingyu with such confidence, she instantly felt better. As she continued shopping, Jingyu's arms filled up with more frocks.
"Shall I add these to the others, Madam?" asked Jingyu.
Aurora glanced over her shoulder and laughed. Poor Jingyu could barely see over the stack of dresses in his arms. "Yes, please."
Jingyu walked carefully to the other side of the store where the checkout counter was located.
At the back of the store was a door that led to a small room housing one-of-a-kind dresses. These particular pieces cost thousands of dollars. The moment her gaze alighted on the silver dress beaded with emeralds, she fell in love.
Oh, my goodness! Could it be...? Yes. She recognized this piece. How had the store gotten one of her mother's hand-sewn dresses? Very few existed in the wild. This one she hadn't laid eyes on since the night she'd seen Mom wear it to a gala. She'd been five or six years old at the time.
Her mother had looked so beautiful. Like a garden fairy come to life.
As she reverently touched the beautiful gown, tears in her eyes, another hand landed next to hers.
"Hello sister," said Ivy Crane.