Cursed Love

Whispers of Revenge and Hidden Lust

AURORA

My phone chimed, I glanced down and saw a text from Rick.

Rick: Won't be able to make it to the party. Dad has me trapped. Copy all the files under 'Devices and Drive' section.

His text read. Great! I'm all on my own now. I sighed and turned to face the array of clothes hanging in my closet when I heard Amie's voice.

"I'm driving you tonight. You better be dressed," she said, poking her head into my room, her eyes scanning my outfit choices.

"I'm good to go. Just give me a second to put on something nice." I turned away from her and started shuffling through my clothes, searching for the perfect outfit that would blend in with the party crowd. My fingers finally landed on a burgundy bodycon dress with a cowl neck. I pulled it out and grabbed matching heels. I wasn't just going to a party; I was a girl on a mission.

My heart rate picked up as we approached the entrance to the Scott Mansion. When I looked around the house that had once made me feel safe, I realized it was now a haunted place. The house appeared to be unaltered. It still had the infamous limestone flooring, as well as the sweeping staircases on either side of the grand foyer. The chandelier above cast a warm glow, and the walls were adorned with elegant tapestries. The house was decked out in lights, and music was blasting from within, reverberating through the walls. As I walked in, Ryan met me at the door and escorted me inside. His hand rested lightly on the small of my back, making my skin tingle. My gaze wandered around the house, taking in the mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces. My heart hurt just thinking about how everything went down. But I'd had enough of crying. The Scotts no longer deserved anything from me but hatred.

"You have a beautiful house," I mumbled, my heart heavy with my words.

"You haven't seen my bedroom yet," he said with a wink, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

This place was suffocating me with memories, and I wanted to find the laptop and get the hell out of here. Ryan was showing me around, and we came to "the spot" — the massive bathroom on the second floor with marble countertops and ornate gold fixtures, where I lost my Mom forever. I did my best to hide the discomfort on my face, and I hoped he didn't suspect anything. I had years to master the art of keeping a straight face. I'd spent more of my childhood here than Ryan had. He was sent away to a prestigious boarding school when he was seven.

"Oh yeah? Why don't you show me then?" I said, playing along, masking my true intentions.

We took a stroll around the house. When we crossed the living room, and I noticed a striking collection of photographs hung against the opposite wall. The pictures, I believe, included him and his little sister, Claire, who was only three when I first entered this house. There were a lot more "happy" family photos with their parents, grandparents, and even a few of their friends. Only the Scotts could live happily ever after, after destroying the lives of people. It's as though living never had a blip in their universe. And that fueled my rage even more.

"And this is my personal space," he stated with an air of pride, as we entered his room.

The flooring he chose set the tone for the entire room's theme. The large black floor tiles with heavy white grout lines framing them in place created a striking contrast for this black-and-gray themed room. While the tiles were undeniably dark, the white accents in the room, such as the fluffy rug and plush armchair, complemented the grout lines nicely. The sheer curtains were a great choice, as they added a touch of softness to the room. They perfectly framed the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a breathtaking view of the moonlit garden outside. The center of the bedroom was dominated by a massive bed with an upholstered headboard that towered above us. With its effectively extravagant size, appeal, and appearance, the headboard drew attention to itself. This room was undeniably Ryan's—dramatic, bold, and unapologetically luxurious.