Chapter 7
Lorraine’s throat tightened, her fingers gripping the edge of the shawl, but finally, she slowly let go and pulled it off.[]
She knew that even if she refused, Kieran would just have someone rip it off her anyway.[]
As she handed it over, Aurora took it with an fake–ass apologetic smile: “Thanks so much. I’ll wash it and get it back to you.“[]
“No!” Lorraine quickly shook her head, repeating anxiously, “Don’t put it in water–it has to be dry cleaned. I’ll send someone to pick it up tomorrow.“[]
Aurora nodded: “Got it.“[]
Just then, the driver pulled up and stopped right at the entrance.[]
Kieran glanced at Aurora, noticing her pale face, and frowned. He turned to Lorraine: “Aurora’s getting sick. I’m taking her home. It’s not on your way, so figure out your own ride.“]
Without waiting for an answer, he was already helping Aurora into the car.
The door slammed shut, the engine started and the black Maybach disappeared into the rain, leaving Lorraine standing alone at the entrance, rainwater soaking the hem of her dress.]]
The street was completely deserted in the downpour.[]
Lorraine stood in the freezing wind for forty minutes before finally catching a cab.[]
By the time she dragged herself home, she was drenched and felt like shit.
Her forehead was on fire. She choked down some Tylenol and collapsed into bed.
Around midnight, her phone kept buzzing, but her head was pounding so hard she couldn’t even lift her hand to check it. She just let it buzz and buzz until it finally went quiet.
The next day, Lorraine’s fever had broken, but her throat felt like sandpaper. She dragged herself upright, sipped some water and finally grabbed her phone.
The screen showed dozens of unread messages, all from Aurora.]]
She opened them, and the first photo made her blood run cold-
Her precious cashmere shawl was completely soaked, the once–soft fibers matted and clumped together, totally ruined.[]
Message after message kept popping up:
“Oops, sorry! I totally forgot the shawl couldn’t get wet and threw it in the wash when I got home lol.“[]
“I’m so sorry! How much was this thing? I’ll pay you back–the material’s actually pretty nice, I can probably turn it into a scarf or something.” “Since you’re not answering, I’ll take that as a yes? I’ll Venmo you fifty bucks. You said your grandma made it, so that should be about right, yeah?“[] The last photo showed the shawl cut into shreds, the edges deliberately sliced into ribbons like someone had destroyed it on purpose.[] Lorraine’s hands were shaking, rage burning through her. She threw off the covers and stormed out, not caring that she was still running a low fever.[]
At Aurora’s apartment, Lorraine jabbed the doorbell, her eyes ice–cold.]
The door opened, and Aurora appeared in loungewear, looking surprised: “Lorraine? What are you doing here?“[]
“Where’s my shawl?” Lorraine’s voice was deadly quiet.
Aurora turned and grabbed the destroyed shawl from the couch: “You mean this? I already bought it from you, remember?”
She glanced at her phone: “You didn’t accept that Venmo? Was fifty not enough? I can add another twenty. I mean, it was just some homemade thing from some old lady, so it can’t be worth that much…“[]
SLAP!
The sound of Lorraine’s palm connecting with Aurora’s face echoed through the hallway.[]
Aurora stumbled backward, clutching her cheek, staring at Lorraine in shock: []
“You… you actually HIT me?”
Lorraine’s eyes were blazing: “You did this shit on purpose, didn’t you?“]
Aurora’s eyes instantly filled with tears, her voice breaking: “On purpose? I have no idea what you’re talking about…“]
“Coming back to New York on purpose, calling Kieran on purpose when your mom needed bone marrow, telling me all that fucked up shit at the hospital on purpose, walking in on Kieran kissing me on purpose, and now destroying my shawl on purpose–“[]
Lorraine stepped closer, her voice like ice: “Aurora Jameson, I see right through your pathetic little games. Just because I don’t call you out doesn’t mean I’m going to let you keep humiliating me!“]
Aurora’s face went white, but the tears came harder: “I didn’t… I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about…“]
Lorraine was about to tear into her again when a voice like ice cut through the air from behind her-
“Lorraine Castillo, what the hell are you doing!”
She whipped around to see Kieran standing in the doorway, his expression dark with rage.]
