Trash Husband, I'm the Top novel Chapter 9

The waiter hurried over and took the bag.

Aurora added, “That dress is worth well over a hundred thousand dollars. Even secondhand, you could probably sell it for fifty or sixty grand. If you want it, feel free to take it home.”

The waiter’s eyes lit up instantly, barely able to contain her excitement.

“Thank you so much.”

She clutched the bag tightly, worried Aurora might change her mind, and hurried off.

For her, fifty or sixty thousand dollars was more than she could ever hope to save in half a lifetime. She’d be a fool not to take it.

Eleanor’s eyes went wide, her face flushing scarlet as tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes.

She couldn’t believe it—Aurora had just handed the gown to a waiter, even called it “secondhand”… and in front of so many people.

She could feel all the eyes on her, the whispers and pointed fingers. Humiliated, she bit back her tears, dropped her gaze to the floor, and dashed out of the room.

“Eleanor.” Daniel gave Aurora a cold look and hurried after her.

Aurora watched their retreating figures disappear into the crowd, her face unreadable.

“Aurora,” Una said softly, looping her arm through Aurora’s with concern.

Everyone in their circle would hear about this by morning. Eleanor had lost face, but with Daniel chasing after her, Aurora would be the one left humiliated.

“It’s fine. Let’s go.” Aurora straightened her back and walked out.

At the hotel entrance, Aurora turned to Una and apologized. That dress had been lovingly sewn by Una herself, and tossing it aside felt like throwing away all her effort.

But Aurora knew she couldn’t bring herself to take that dress back home—not after everything that had happened.

“Aurora, don’t talk like that,” Una said, her eyes glistening. “If you hadn’t helped me back then, I’d probably be six feet under by now. Forget the dress—I’d give you my life if you needed it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Aurora said quickly, squeezing Una’s hand. “We have to look out for each other.”

Una insisted on seeing Aurora back to the hospital. But before they could leave, a sleek black Bentley pulled up to the curb.

Una looked like she wanted to protest, but Aurora gently slipped her hand free, smiling. “Go inside. I’ll call you if anything happens.”

With a final warning glare at Daniel, Una went back into the hotel.

Aurora shook off Daniel’s hand and got into the car.

Daniel slid in beside her and closed the door.

Soft music played in the background, filling the car with a gentle melody that seemed to smooth away the day’s tension.

They stopped at a red light.

Daniel’s face was half-hidden in shadow. “There’s nothing between Eleanor and me. We’re just friends—you know that. She likes someone else.”

It was the first time he’d tried to explain himself since Eleanor’s return. In his own way, he was admitting fault.

Aurora stared out the window, her chest tight and her eyes stinging.