Caged By Him

Bonus Chapter

Aurora's POV:

"Are you going to be alright without mommy for the afternoon?" I look down at Eric as I nurse him, hoping he'd fall asleep.

"I wish I can bring you, my love. But your dad will be upset with me." I tell him as I rock him back and forth. Since I gave birth to him, I haven't left his side. I even planned to keep it that way before Tristan put an end to it, arguing that we needed time alone.

"It's just for one afternoon." I assure him, or more so myself as I'm the one who needs it and he can't understand anything I'm saying.

"Then I get to have you all to myself." I smile, lifting him up in the air as he laughs before hugging him against me. "You'll always be my special boy." I grin at him and he reciprocates with a toothless smile.

I sigh in exasperation at how unbelievably perfect he is. I wonder how I'll ever manage to get anything done with this bundle of joy in my life.

I kiss the top of his small head as I place him on my hip and head towards the bed. I need to start getting ready before Tristan arrives. As I do, the phone rings making me place Eric down and rush to answer.

"Hello." I huff, sitting on the side of the bed and keeping my attention glued to my baby.

"Aurora." Stella whispers in a low unusual voice. My brows furrow immediately at her tone.

"What's wrong?" I ask, tightening my grip on the phone as my heart rate picks up, awaiting her response.

"Everything's gone." She sobs. "My clothes, my furniture, my... I don't know w-what to do. I can't afford to-" She rambles as I try to keep up with her.

"Stella.", I abruptly interrupt her. "Please, slow down." I coo in a soft voice. "Take a deep breath." I attempt to calm her down and I best her sigh heavily, sniffling.

"Please tell me what happened and I'll come help you."

"My apartment flooded. It was this stupid pipe that I had been meaning to fix. I-I didn't think it was a big deal but I had so much going on and now I have no where to go." She says in one breath, breaking down again. My heart clenches at how upset she is.

"Okay." I nod to myself, watching Eric as he kicks his chubby little feet in the air. "I'll be there in half an hour." I inform her

I talk to her for a few minutes, trying to calm her down and assuring her I'll do everything I can to help her.

The truth is no one knows the lengths Stella went for me. When I had been too weak to defend myself, she stepped up. When men at the restaurant would make passes at me, when rude customers would yell at me for things I had no control over. Stella made all that go away with her assertive attitude. I admired how upfront and blunt she was and wished I had the courage and confidence to do the same.

I never got to repay her for all the kindness she's shown me and this is my chance to. I'll pay for her entire apartment to be restored the way it was and in the meantime she can stay with us here.

I march towards the closet before I mentally slap myself in the forehead. I have a date with Tristan. We've been postponing it for a while because each time, something came up to hinder it.

He will not be happy. Especially not if I cancel last minute for Stella. I pace around the room for a few minutes as Eric coos on the bed, blubbering and making soft noises. I come to an abrupt stop when I look up to see Tristan stood by the door, his intense eyes on me.