Chapter 14

Everyone’s attention fell on Aurora. They were alarmed and at the same time very curious to know what Aurora had done to the great Mr Dumont. Aurora was a very beautiful woman. People knew and acknowledged that fact. She had the kind of beauty that could turn heads instantly when she walked into any room full of people. Could it be that she had an affair with Mr Dumont? Lucien stared at Aurora, questioningly. “Aurora, care to explain what this is about?”He questioned, coldly. It felt as if someone had poured ice on his body. How could Aurora know or even offend someone like Mr Dumont? Could there be something between them? He recalled when she told him she had a lover. No. That can’t be possible. Even if he had told her that their marriage was an open one, he always believed that she could never get involved with another man. She could never have anything to do with another man, talk more of a man like Mr Dumont who was definitely out of her league. Aurora stepped forward and spoke, calmly. “Now, I remember. It happened sometime ago, it’s been a while. I was rushing out of a cafe, I was running late for work and I had to cover the morning news. Mr Dumont had walked into the cafe at that time, I didn’t seen him on time, I bumped into him, spilling my hot coffee on him. Now that I think about it, I didn’t apologize properly because I was in a hurry. I just quickly apologized and placed a thousand dollars in his hand to cover the cost of laundry or if he had to get another shirt. I honestly didn’t know it was the great Mr Dumont at that time and I can’t believe that you still remember that incident.” That was the best lie Aurora could think of at the moment. What was she supposed to say? That she had agreed to spend the night with him? Even if nothing happened between them, people would definitely think that something happened and that she was a promiscuous woman. Lucien, on the other felt so relieved by what Aurora said. He didn’t know why, but he was nervous just now, thinking that there was some kind of messy involvement between the two of them. He then scolded Aurora. “Did you seriously think a thousand dollars can simply make up for pouring hot coffee on Mr Dumont? That was insulting! Go apologize properly to him now!” The crowd watched Lucien’s attitude towards Aurora and noted that Lucien wasn’t a loving husband at all. Even if they felt that Aurora was wrong for spilling hot coffee on Mr Dumont and apologized by simply giving him a thousand dollars, they also felt it didn’t warrant Lucien to speak to his wife so coldly. It was as if he didn’t care about her at all. Aurora just wanted this to be over with so she moved closer to Mr Dumont. She raised a glass of wine to him. “I am very sorry for offending you, Mr Dumont. Please accept my apology.”Aurora really meant it. She was genuinely apologizing for last night and she hoped he’d drop it. “I hope you can be generous enough to not hold a grudge against a little woman like me.”She added. Mr Dumont only stared at her, as if studying her. The corners of his eyes raised, his voice still harsh. “Mrs Sullivan, you think a mere glass of wine is enough to make me forgive you?” The crowd started to murmur, scared for Aurora. They had heard about how ruthless he could be. And if he doesn’t forgive her, he could really make the Sullivans suffer for what she had done. “Then what can make you forgive me?”Aurora asked, defiantly. “One glass won’t do. Maybe I can consider forgiving you after a bottle.” He gestured at a bottle of wine. The crowd grew more alarmed. He wants a woman to finish a bottle of wine?! The alcoholic content of the wine he had chosen was strong. A waiter already got to business, pouring the content of the wine into glasses. The bottle of wine was poured into ten glasses on the table. Manuel’s gaze fixed on Aurora. “Earn my forgiveness.”He drawled. Aurora stared at the glasses. Well, if drinking them all meant him forgetting what happened last night, then it was worth it. She moved closer to the table and picked up one of the glasses. “I hope you keep to your word, Mr Dumont. After I finish these glasses of wine, the grudge you have against me will be written off and you’ll give the Sullivans a fair chance to compete.” “Of course.” Hs voice surprisingly transmitted a hint of excitement. Aurora raised her wine glass and just as she was about to drink, people started to grumble. “Mrs Sullivan is such a bold and beautiful woman, too bad, her husband is so unhelpful.” “That’s right, letting his woman face Mr Dumont. He can’t even beg on her behalf. Does he enjoy watching her have a hard time?” “Mrs Sullivan can even choose not to be in this position right now but she’s doing this so the Sullivan family won’t be at odds with Mr Dumont, yet her husband doesn’t care.” “What kind of man is he if he can’t defend or stand by his wife?” The words clearly got to Lucien’s ears. He felt upset that they were blaming him for this. Was it his fault that Aurora spilled hot coffee on Mr Dumont? However, he didn’t want people to talk down on his dignity as a man so he reached out and snatched the wine glass from Aurora. “She’s my wife, since she has made a big mistake, I’m willing to make amends on her behalf and so, I’ll drink in her stead.” He expected Mr Dumont to refuse. He had only said that so the people around them could see that he had tried to help Aurora. But Mr Dumont nodded and said, sarcastically. “You’re truly a good husband, drink up.” Lucien swallowed and looked around. He should have just ignored what the people had been saying. Now, it was too late to back out of this. With resignation, he started to drink. He drank glass after glass. He had never been good with alcohol, coupled with that fact that he was still recovering from the cold he caught last night, he still tried to push on. When he finished the eighth glass, he couldn’t go on anymore. He was drunk now and could barely stand on his feet. Aurora shook her head, wondering why he even volunteered in the first place. She was good with alcohol and she was certain she could have drank all ten glasses by herself! When Lucien dropped the glass on the table, she moved closer to him and picked up the ninth glass. She tilted her head back and finished it. She picked up the last cup. The crowd was surprised. It wasn’t uncommon for women to drink but it was rare to find someone look so attractive even while downing alcohol. She looked like an elegant work of art. She slightly tilted her head in a way that made even her neck look alluring to Manuel. She drank slowly and unhurried, her posture calm. When she put down the wine glass, the people around applauded. Even as she placed the cup of the table, her expression didn’t change, only a touch of redness appeared on her cheeks. It made her look even more vibrant. “Mr Dumont, there should be no grudge between us now.”She said to him, defiantly. “I have spent too much time on the Sullivans. I’m sure other people have to speak to me. You’re dismissed.” He looked away from her and other people rushed forward to make a toast. “Jerk.” Aurora murmured. Well, she was glad that was over. She helped Lucien to return to his seat. Even as he sat down, he felt restless, his stomach was churning and it was as if he was about to throw up. He stood up.”I have to use the restroom.” And then, he hurried away.