The home of Phillip and Aurora was just as Emma thought it would be. Besides being excessively large, there was a constant theme of florals throughout. Various shades of pinks and blues made up the color pattern.
It was clear that Aurora had been the one to choose the decor.
The entire home was a showpiece for her style and her perceived position in society.
They were ushered into the parlor, where they discovered many more people then they had been expecting.
Including Aurora's parents.
"Killian! How good it is to see you! You are looking so well!"
Stephan and Leah Rose smiled warmly and embraced Killian in a tight hug.
Emma noticed Aurora standing a few feet away. She seemed even more tense than she had at the theater.
"You look as healthy and fit as the last time you were in our home." Stephan praised. "I know you were being selfless, calling off the wedding, not wanting Aurora to concern herself with a husband who would need care and time to recover. But you did make a full recovery."
"Of course, we love Phillip." Leah Rose assured. "It was just so dreadful that you insisted on recovering alone."
Killian and Emma exchanged a wide eyed look in disbelief.
It seemed that Aurora had told her parents a very different story than what had actually happened.
No good would come out of Killian trying to reveal the truth and informing the couple their daughter was a selfish, spoiled lying brat. So he allowed them their delusions.
Emma saw Aurora relax a little the more the conversation went on and Killian never tried to inform her parents of the truth.
Drinks were served in the parlor.
After some coaching, Killian told an edited version of how he had recovered from his injuries, then had been recruited by a private agency to assist in whatever troubles plagued an area.
"And that is how the two of you met?" Philip asked.
"Our boss knew we would make quite the team." Killian smiled fondly at his partner.
Emma returned his smile. "And we are. No one in the agency has a higher number of cases investigated and resolved."
"That's impressive. And so good to know that everything worked out for the best."
Killian nodded. "No offense to your family; but I've never been happier."
That last comment drew a scowl from Aurora. The entitled princess didn't like hearing that her ex was happier being with someone else.
However, her bad attitude was missed by her parents and her husband, who all wanted to hear more about the couple's exciting adventures.
"Are you investigating a case now?" A woman who had been introduced as Ella asked.
"We're looking into the strange break in at several grand homes."
"Oh, dreadful business. I had my best cufflinks taken." A man with a very large mustache gruffed.
"My neighbor was distraught when her home was broken into and she discovered her prized strings of pearls were taken." A woman wearing a large hat with lots of feathers announced. She placed her hand over her bosom, dramatically showing distress over her neighbor's misfortune.
"And they were so lovely too. She was the envy of many when she wore them to the Gala, hosted by the Van Burrens. And then not one week later, her home was ransacked and her prized jewels taken. Absolutely dreadful."
Many more chimed in with their own stories. Each person had either known someone who, or they themselves were a victim of the same style of theft.
By their stories, it seemed that every single time a theft occurred, it was within a week after attending an event where everyone was expected to wear their best.
It stood to reason that the culprit had attended these events, and had seen the valuable pieces.
Dinner was announced and everyone moved to the dinning hall. Emma and Killian helped nudge the conversation to who all attended the social events.
If a name was dropped that had most of the table looking concerned or making side comments, it was a good clue that there was something more to be learned.
As it turned out, there were a number of those who socialized with the elite that were experiencing money troubles.
More than a few had business dealings that were not as successful as they tried to pretend they were.
Some were living far above their means. Leading to the question; How were they getting the money to fund their lifestyle?
When the dinner was completed and all of the guests were getting ready to leave, Emma expressed wanting to freshen up, and asked Aurora to show her to the powder room.
In the hallway that was only lit by a dim lamp, there were no witnesses to the scene that played out.
Emma, with great speed and strength that brought shock and terror into Aurora's eyes, grabbed the spoiled brat by the throat and pinned her to the wall.
"I should rip your heart out, for the way you treated my beloved. But I think a better punishment for you is letting you live with the knowledge that another is enjoying all of the pleasures that you so carelessly threw away. And I want you to keep two things in that head of yours. Killian is much happier in his life with me than he ever could be with you. And if you ever speak in an unkind way about Killian or myself, you will be begging for the mercy of death by the time I'm done with you. Am I clear?"
Emma allowed her eyes to glow. She smiled, revealing her sharp elongated fangs.
Aurora, fully realizing the danger she was in, for the first time in her life chose to stay quiet and do as she was told.
In the blink of an eye, Emma's eyes and teeth were completely normal. Aurora was no longer pinned to the wall. And the two women were walking back to the house entryway. Emma appeared for all the world as a typical woman eager to leave with her husband.
"It was very nice having you both here." Phillip smiled. "We should definitely do this again."
Aurora looked as if she were about to choke on her own fear.
"It was a very nice evening." Killian agreed, shaking Phillip's hand. "Perhaps next time at our house. Emma and I would love to have you both for dinner."
Aurora fainted.
Killian and Emma left Phillip, Stephan, and Leah Rose to attend to their wife and daughter, and waited until they were back in their carriage and on their way home before they started laughing.