"Honey, are you okay?"
Mario approached Aurora who was sitting stunned in front of the dressing table. Finished applying make up and getting ready to go to work, his wife was daydreaming. Mario is sure that Aurora must still be thinking about the news that was circulating yesterday.
"Honey...." Mario called again when Aurora didn't respond. He even came close. Wrapped his hands around the nape of Aurora's neck until the girl finally gasped and then looked up.
"What happened to you?" asked Mario then with a smile. Bringing his face a little closer, then kissed Aurora's lips gently. "Are you still thinking about yesterday's news?"
Wiping her wet lips from the kiss Mario gave, Aurora then nodded. Until this moment, he is still anxious and even embarrassed when he meets many people.
"I'm confused, Mario. Where do you want to put my face. Do you think I need to continue working as usual? I'm just worried about how people think of me."
He smiled. Understanding his wife's troubled heart, he also gave her a warm hug and at the same time calmed her down.
"No need to worry, honey. I'm beside you. If anyone dares to say anything, I'll be the first to defend you. So you don't need to worry."
At first Aurora still looked doubtful. However, because Mario kept reassuring him that he would be fine, Aurora decided to comply by continuing to go to work as usual.
While eating breakfast together, there was Raphael who had just come from out of town. The man drew closer. Without saying much, immediately approached Aurora then gave a hug.
"Papa, already with the media coverage that puts you in a corner, dear. Papa hopes you are strong and not stressed to the point of endangering your baby."
Aurora nodded and hugged him back. It's also a pity to see the father who must be ashamed of the news that was circulating yesterday. After all, all relations know that she is the favorite daughter of a certain Raphael Gamaliel Smith.
"I'm sorry, Pa. My foolish actions have made all of you ---"
"Ssstss..." Raphael hissed as he stretched the hug. Shaking his head, the man asked the princess not to blame herself. After all, it all happened. Rather than regret, it's better to think what the next step should be done. "No need to blame yourself. Everyone has made mistakes. What's important is that you've regretted it and promised not to do it again. Regarding other people's views, you just ignore it, Aurora. There's no need to justify or clarify. Just concentrate on finding out who was the mastermind behind the incident. and report it immediately to the proper authorities."
"I agree," said Tristan, who had been listening. "Mario and I contacted the authorities yesterday and asked them to investigate this. We are both sure who did it. It remains only to find evidence to drag him to jail, Pa."
Raphael turned his gaze to his son. Nodding, agreeing to what Tristan said just now. After all, he also believes that his son and daughter-in-law can overcome this.
"Papa, leave everything to you. Papa hopes that everything will be resolved properly. And you, Aurora..." Raphael's eyes returned to the princess. "I hope you're not stressed, son. Just think about the baby in your womb. Papa will make sure that nothing bad will happen to you after this incident. So, you don't need to get dizzy, let alone think about it."
Kissing the princess on the forehead affectionately, Raphael then continued to have breakfast together. When finished, they parted ways. One by one they started going to the office using their respective cars.
Arriving at the Exon building, Aurora was immediately escorted by Mario to the room. Making sure his wife had arrived safely and without the slightest obstacle, he immediately followed Tristan into the meeting room.
These days, Aurora herself chooses to stay in the room alone to finish some work. Until it was time for lunch, Mario and Tristan, who had finished attending meetings with various division heads, decided to have lunch together.
The two of them chose to pick up Aurora first, then together they stepped towards the ground floor and then went to a restaurant.
"Gosh, I didn't think that Miss Aurora, who all this time looked good, could actually have an affair too."
"If you were an old employee, you would have known how Miss Aurora used to be very close to Mr. Quartararo. However, strangely enough, she married Mario, her assistant."
"I can't stop thinking either. When did Miss Aurora date Mario? Could it be that the baby Miss Aurora is actually not Mario's child? It could have been another boy's child. However, Mario was made the sacrifice to be responsible for the Smith extended family not shy."
"In fact, Mario himself is a child of a prominent family, right?"
"Yes. I also just found out that Mario is the son of James Franklin Harald who is a member of the British parliament. But, still, it's very strange why he would want to marry Miss Aurora who, if you think about it, isn't his equal. Moreover, now he's caught having an affair."
"Just imagine, already having a husband as handsome as Mario, Miss Aurora is still meeting other men. In fact, judging from the videos circulating, it seems that Miss Aurora really enjoyed the moment of kissing that man."
"I think the two of them might have done more. Yes, no one knows that Miss Aurora could have slept with that man so many times that she got pregnant."
"Jesus, such a bitch. Poor Mario to have such a cheap wife."
As soon as she got out of the elevator and was about to walk towards the lobby, Aurora accidentally heard the staff gathering casually in a corner of the room and what was even worse was gossiping news about her. More than that, Tristan and Mario, who were also there, overheard the conversation.
"No need to feel sorry for my fate," interrupted Mario then stepped closer, approached the female staff who were gathered, gossiping about his wife.
Inevitably, this rebuke made those who had been busy gossiping immediately panicked. "Just so you know, you guys are too meddling in things that don't belong to you. What right do you all have to call my wife a bitch and a slut?"
Everyone gathered there bowed their heads in silence. No one dared to answer Mario's rebuke.
"Anyone who dares to talk about, gossip, or spread all kinds of slander about Aurora, be ready to resign."
Tristan, who was also annoyed, joined in. Firmly defended Aurora in front of her staff.
"Your job here is to work, not to gossip. Once again I hear you talk about anything and everything about Aurora, don't expect me to forgive you."
Aurora herself, who felt embarrassed and hurt, chose to go to the car first. Mario, who was worried, inevitably followed immediately for fear of unwanted things happening.
"Honey..." Mario called when he got into the car and sat next to Aurora. "Don't be sad. You don't have to worry about what they said and blamed you on."
Without saying much, Aurora turned her seat and hugged Mario. She shed all the sadness and pain she was feeling into tears.
For a moment, Mario chose to remain silent while gently stroking Aurora's flowing hair. Letting his wife vent her sadness until finally she slowly calmed down.
"It's okay, honey. Whatever they say, I don't care. I will never ever leave you. So, I hope you are strong. We will go through all this together."
"I'm sorry, Mario. I'm sorry again."
"There's nothing to apologize for. Then, let's go have lunch first. Then after that I'll take you home. You better just rest at home."
Aurora nodded in agreement. The two then proceeded to plan to have lunch together. After eating the food, like what Mario said before, he accompanied Aurora to the house.
"You get some rest. If you need anything don't hesitate to call Sophia or Samantha. In the meantime, I'm going back to the office first. I promise I'll be home earlier than usual today."
Before actually leaving, Mario then kissed Aurora first. Trying to calm and reassure his wife that nothing bad will happen after this. After he was sure that Aurora was much better, he decided to return to the office.
However, after only five minutes of driving, Mario's cell phone rang. When checked, he was surprised to find his father's name appeared there. Because all this time, if there was something emergency, his father always told his mother to contact him. Fearing that the call was important, Mario quickly accepted the call.
"Yes, what's wrong, Papa?" asked Mario while slowly driving his car.
"Can you meet Papa right now at the restaurant we frequent? We have something important to talk about."
"Important matter? Why not later this afternoon or evening, Pa?" wonder Mario.
"Papa is leaving the country this afternoon. So, only have time now. Besides, our meeting is only for a short time."
"All right. I'll go over to papa right now."
In that instant, Mario turned the steering wheel of the car he was driving. Luckily the restaurant is not that far from Tristan's residence. It only took 10 minutes, he finally arrived at his destination.
Entering the restaurant, Mario was immediately directed by the waiter to meet his father who was in the VVIP room. When he got there, he was immediately invited to sit down.
"Actually, what important matter did Papa want to talk about?"
James chewed through the tenderloin steak he was currently enjoying. Once finished, he then took a moment to drink the orange juice in the glass, then slowly began to speak to his son.
"Papa has seen the news circulating recently, Mario."
Mario's brow furrowed for a few seconds. Before long, he understood what his father was talking about.
"About, Aurora?"
James nodded.
"This news really makes people excited, Mario. Moreover, people know that you are the son of a James Franklin Harald. In fact, one of the news taglines clearly has Papa's name in it."
"The news has been withdrawn from circulation, Pa. So, you don't need to worry. I have even asked investigators to immediately arrest who has spread the news."
"That's not what Papa wanted to discuss, Mario."
Mario's brow furrowed deeply. So, what did his father really want to talk about. Why do you feel bad all the time?
"Then, what do you want to discuss?"
"To be honest, this news has tarnished the good name of our extended family. Many have speculated that Aurora is not a good woman. Some even doubt that the baby in her stomach is not your child."
"What nonsense is this, Pa!" cried Mario did not like.
"This isn't bullshit, Mario. This is some kind of hot ball rolling out there. And it all happened because of your wife's behavior."
"Then, what does Papa want? Just get straight to the point. Don't beat around the bush, which makes me even more confused."
James corrected his sitting position. Leaning forward slightly, the man glanced at Mario before finally speaking confidently.
"Divorce Aurora immediately. Papa doesn't want a son-in-law involved in a big scandal like your wife."