Chapter 4

Aurora's POV

I wake up in the sound of yelling. I could eat or sleep last night properly. And now someone's yelling downstairs.

I left my bed lazily, did my hair in a messy bun and knotted the silk rob and made my way to the end of the hallway. As my way, I knocked my sister door and a cleaner girl informed me that she went in the hospital early. So maybe I'm the only one right now in the house. I didn't bother to ask her about Artemis.

When I stood beside the stairs, I saw a tall handsome man with brown hair and brown eyes calling with Artemis' name. He's looking like some model. His dress up and everything is like a model as if he just came out from a shooting.

"He's not at home." I finally said, loud enough for him to hear.

He seemed to notice me just now.

"And you are?" He asked with a annoyed tone.

"At first tell me who you are." I crossed my hands on my chest.

He stared at me for a few moment before letting out an irritated sigh.

"Listen girl, I've no time for this bullshit introduction. Whoever you are just call Artemis. Just don't think yourself someone so special after spending some time with him, okay?" He rolled his eyes.

What the fuck? Last night Artemis called me a slut and now this stranger too thinks I'm a slut, none other than my Stepbrother's? I swear to God, I'm burying this man alive.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I heard a deep voice behind me.

Of course it's the devil himself.

"What? Can't I get out of my room now?" I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

It was a bad decision. Artemis grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. The grip of his hand was so painful that I hissed. The eyes of me became blurry. He's definitely an asshole.

"Don't ever roll your eyes at me. Otherwise you know the consequences won't be pleasing, babygirl." He said in a husky calm voice.

I was about to say something until someone decided to interrupt.

"There you are buddy! I was screaming the hell out of me but nobody showed up. And you're hiding in your room?" The man pointed a finger toward Artemis and said angrily.

"Stop bothering me, Leo. Just get out of my house." Artemis sighed before pushing me behind him.

What the hell is going on? Am I that ugly to get out of my room?

"You've a riding match this afternoon bro. It's almost time. Get ready. We're gonna pick up Linda and Robert on the way." The man, Leo, checked his Rolex and said.

"And who's that chick behind you? Such an annoying mouth but pretty face." Leo grinned.

And that made Artemis push me to the hallway and make his way downstairs while saying, "She's no one. Just a little parasite. Mind your own business."

How dare he calling me that?

Because my mom is in the hospital bed, he's calling me a parasite? Now me and my sister is a burden to him.

I felt my eyes become blurry. I know what's he doing. He's bullying me as he used to do five years ago. Sometimes he's so good and sometimes he's worst, specially towar others. And now my luck brought me to him again.

I slammed shut my bedroom door and started crying in the pillow as all the memories flashed in my head from five years back.

Five years ago -

Today's the day we're moving from Virginia to California. We live in a small town in Virginia. My father used to work in a local bar. He's no good man. Come home drunk, sometimes taking drugs and beating my mother and us.

My mother was self-respectful, polite, social and educated woman. He fell in love with my dad and they were happily married until my dad lose his job for stealing money from his office. From the start he was greedy. After losing his job, he became more abusive and violent toward us. Sometimes he'd come home with other women.

My sister and my mom would always cry but I was only ten then. Somehow I sometimes understood things. But my small mind couldn't catch most of them.

I was thirteen years old when my parents got divorced and after a few months now we're moving to my mother's new husband's house.

Mom said that he's a good guy and he'll look after us. Though me and my sister didn't know how much is that true but we had no way but to move with my mother.

When we reached there, I accidentally met my stepbrother. And the first encounter was unforgettable.

There's a bike parked in front of the mansion and I got on it. I was playing on the bike, suddenly someone pushed me off of the bike. I cried out and when I looked back, I first met Artemis. He's a twenty-four years old guy with a nastiest mind, deadly handsome face and figure and hot temper.

From the beginning, he couldn't tolerate me at all. He wasn't happy that his father married my mother. But he wasn't like that toward my sister.

He'd bully me in front of his friends, insult me in front of guests, yell at me whenever I did something wrong.

He'd make me do his stuff done by me instead of the maids. I didn't know why.

But after a few months I noticed something which I haven't noticed before. He'd be soft whenever I'm alone with him. He'd give me chocolates, ice creams and he'd make me seat in front of me and look at me. He'd say that I'm only his and I belong to nobody.

I couldn't understand him. But with time I get used to him. I'd happily clean his room, bring food upstairs for him, treat him whenever he's sick.

One day a boy from our neighborhood tried to talk to me but next day he broke his jaw. It's so strange to me.

One day my mom and stepfather went out of the city to join some business program and my sister went to her best friend's house. Artemis and I was alone in the house. The maid went off after their shift.

When I brought food in his room in the evening, it was dark. At first I thought he's ot home. But then I heard a low growl.

I quickly turned the lights on.

"Fuck! Aurora, turn the lights off." Artemis groaned as I saw him laying on the bed. Everything of the room was messed up.

I quickly turned off the light except a bedside lamp.

I understood something happened to him. I put the food on the table and quickly went toward him.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked softly. I didn't want to ruin his already ruined mood.

"I'm fine. Just go." He whispered.

I couldn't help but put my hand on his forehead and it was burning.

"Oh my god. You're burning!" I gasped.

"Why do you care? Just leave me alone." He murmured before softly pushing me back.

"Because I'm your sister- "

"You're not my sister, Aurora! How many times do I have to say that?! Fucking when will you understand and when the fuck will you grow up?!" He said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry." With that I got out of his room.

I didn't understand anything but I understood he's upset on me. But right now I'm not leaving him like that. So I grabbed a small towel from downstairs and wet it.

To his surprise, I again went his room and put that wet clothe on his forehead.

"What the hell? I think I told you to go away." I groaned.

"I'm not going. Where's the medicine? Let me help you." I said calmly.

He stared at me for a few moments before gesturing toward one of his drawers. I helped him to get up and take the medicine.

A long moment had passed. I didn't bother to move from his bed.

"Why are you still here? Aren't you afraid of me anymore?" He murmured.

"No. You just yell at me. And if your father finds out I left you alone like this, he'd be upset. Since I'm alone now, you won't do anything. But still I hate you." I smiled tightly.

"Sleep with me tonight. Don't go." He whispered.

"But I can't."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me on his chest. I couldn't fight him as I laid there.

"Good night Aurora."

"Good night.. Artemis"

After that night, he stopped bullying me. He'd avoid me for weeks. He was so busy with his riding. Sometimes he'd some home injured. His dad was so mad at him. Everyday they'd have fight and Artemis would leave the house.

After a few weeks later, I saw him. Angrily went upstairs and told me to give him something to eat. As he wished, I bought muffins in his room.

But he was so much angry.

"Why did you take so long?" He angrily asked.

"I'm not your maid. Stop yelling at me." I said frustratingly and rolled my eyes.

As soon as I rolled my eyes, a painful slap landed on my cheek. I fell on the floor.

I started crying immediately, pressing a hand on my check. Artemis seemed to come in his sense as he quickly hugged me.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to." He shushed me and rubbed my tears off.

"Why? Why can't you be good to me? What did I do? From the beginning you're like this. But you're good to my sister. And here you're treating me like a maid." I cried out.

But the thing happened after that, I never expected. Artemis grabbed my cheeks and pressed his lips on mine. I was stunned.

"When are you gonna be a grown girl? God, I can't wait to claim you as mine"

He kept laying small kissed all over my face. Hugged me wrapping his strong arms around me and made me sit on his lap. I was then red all over. I was emabrassed at the same time enjoy his kisses and hugs.

Little did we know, my mother was seeing everything from the wide opened door. She came here after hearing that I was crying. She thought maybe Artemis was yelling at me again. But what she saw changed everything.

She ran to Artemis' dad and told him everything. He beat the hell out of Artemis that night and the next day, he sent him New York. Before he's gone, he came to me and promised, he's gonna claim me as him one day. Because I was only made for his. But before that he's gonna punish me.

I was too shocked to understand what he said. My little brain couldn't catch anything.

But now, I understand whatever he said. My stepbrother was obsessed with me.