Chapter 5 Strategy

• When Aurelia left, she didn't take anything with her except a men's suit jacket, and she couldn't really explain why she chose that.
• As she walked down the street, the bright sun overhead did nothing to warm the chill she felt inside. She pulled out her phone and called, "Rhiannon, can you come pick me up?"
• Twenty minutes later, Rhiannon Giannis arrived in a flashy red sports car and stopped in front of Aurelia.
• Seeing the white bandage on Aurelia's leg, Rhiannon took off her sunglasses, her eyes full of concern. "Darling, what on earth happened to you?"
• "Rhiannon, can I stay with you for a while?" Aurelia asked, exhaustion clear in her voice as she leaned back in the seat. She recounted her ordeal with Caspian in a detached tone, as if she were telling a story about someone else.
• "The Draegen Family is a complete idiot! Who does Nadia think she is, daring to compare herself to you?!" Rhiannon's speed increased as she vented her anger. "Without you, Caspian wouldn't be where he is today with his clueless and shameless ways! They've taken so much from you over the years! And now he just tosses you aside for her the moment she comes back. The Draegen Family has no shame."
• Aurelia responded calmly, "Rhiannon, a happy life with loving parents and a good marriage just isn't in the cards for me."
• Thinking of Aurelia's past, a flicker of pain crossed Rhiannon's eyes. "Don't be sad, darling."
• "Since it's not meant for me, I won't expect it anymore, and I won't let it bother me." Aurelia gave a weak smile and closed her eyes. "I'm tired. I need to rest."
• Feeling Aurelia's distress, Rhiannon touched her warm skin and silently cursed as she sped to the hospital.
• On the way, she ranted about the entire Draegen Family, past and present. Back when they were struggling in Thalassapolis, would Caspian have risen to power without Aurelia's help and guidance?! Using people when they were useful and tossing them aside when they were not, Nadia made a huge mistake in letting Aurelia go.
• When Aurelia's fever broke, she woke up in a hospital bed. The sterile smell of disinfectant made her grimace. As she came to, she noticed a figure sitting beside her.
• Startled, she gripped the blanket and called out hoarsely, "Uncle Hector..."
• "How are you feeling?" Hector Cirias stood up and placed his hand on Aurelia's forehead, finding no fever. He handed her a glass of warm water. "Feeling any better?"
• Aurelia shook her head.
• "Rhiannon told me what happened." Hector looked at Aurelia's tired face, feeling both sadness and anger.
• Heartbroken by her suffering and furious at the Draegen Family's actions, he took a deep breath. "What are you planning to do next?"