"I haven't seen you in years," he said, smelling her hair and neck. "I've missed you. You've grown beautifully."
"Nicholas..."
Logan grabbed Nicholas' wrist,
"Let go of my wife," he said in a firm, low growl, prying the other man's hand from Aurora.
Nicholas glared at Logan and, with a snort, turned back to Aurora.
"Really? Logan? You can do better than that, Aurora." Nicholas said mockingly.
Adam looked at his parents; he didn't know what to do. He knew that his father was angry. But he didn't know what his mother was feeling. Her face was blank as she stared wide-eyed at the man in front of her. Neither of his parents made eye contact with him, leaving him unsure of what to do.
When Adam reached for Aurora's hand, he saw that she was shaking. Logan had successfully pried Nicholas' hand from Aurora, but the other hand remained on her. Observing Nichola's hold on his mother, Adam struck his arm, releasing Aurora.
The action drew the adults' attention to the boy.
"Adam," Aurora whispered hoarsely as she pulled him in front of her. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his hair as she averted her gaze from Nicholas.
"Seriously?" Nicholas chuckled as Logan pulled his wife and son closer.
"You disturb my guests, Nicholas." Mr. Kaufamnn said sternly.
"Logan is insignificant; you gain nothing by defending him." Nicholas said as he began to walk slowly back and forth in front of the family. "He shouldn't even be here."
"I've earned my right to be here."
"You're as mediocre as your projects. You're here because of Aurora."
Logan looked down at his wife, trying to decipher Nicholas' words. Nicholas laughed even louder at Logan's confusion.
"You don't know, do you? Then let me educate you. Aurora is the missing fourth daughter of the chairman of the Baggio Group. Aurora Maddalena Baggio! My fiancée."
As the other guests whispered among themselves and the droning grew to a din, Aurora squeezed Adam tighter. Adam gently touched her arms.
"Mom?"
"Well, ex-fiancee now. I wonder what your father will do once he hears that you married a man like Logan and had a child with him."
Aurora's eyes shot up at Nicholas's taunt.
"Baggio..." Logan mused as he watched Aurora.
Aurora met her husband's gaze. Logan was in shock, his eyes demanding answers from her. But she pleaded softly with him instead.
"Husband..."
Her call composed him, and he stepped defiantly closer to her.
"Aurora is my wife. It doesn't matter what family she comes from."
"Know your place, nouveau riche; you don't deserve her. Aurora, come home with me."
YOU ARE READING
Home
General FictionWhat is home? For a 10 year old boy, home never existed, a mother was a dream and a father was unimaginable. The place one lived was more often, not for him to stay. On his own for as long as he can remember, the boy has a chance encounter with a st...
