Chapter: Chapter 7: First stepAurora sat silently at the dinner table, her fork idly pushing food around her plate. Her thoughts were consumed by the shocking information she had learned earlier. The closure of one of their branches due to a scandal weighed heavily on her mind.“Aurora? Are you even listening to me?” Carmela asked, her voice cutting through Aurora's thoughts. She had been discussing the schedule for tomorrow, but Aurora had barely registered her words.Aurora blinked, startled. “Huh? What was it, Mom?”Carmela sighed, her worry evident. “I knew it,” she muttered before turning to Francisco. “Francisco, can’t we slow things down? Pushing for this wedding next month is too much for Aurora! She just came back to us.”Aurora's gaze shifted between her parents. She didn’t fully grasp what her mother was implying until her father’s sharp voice interjected.“She’s more than ready, Carmela,” Francisco said firmly. “The wedding cannot be delayed any longer. It has been postponed enough already.”Carmela op
Last Updated: 2025-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 6: Business 101“You’ve been gone for a long time, Master. What happened to you?” Red’s cheerful voice filled the room.Aurora sighed. Red was an AI, but she thought and spoke like a human—a design choice Aurora made years ago to have someone she could talk to, even if that someone wasn’t real.“I’m fine, Red,” she replied evenly.“Why did you come back? And how’s Ethan?”Aurora sighed again, this time with a touch of annoyance. The last time she used Red was before she left the mansion, crying and telling the AI she was choosing Ethan. Thinking about it now made her cringe.“Let’s not talk about him,” she dismissed quickly. “Show me the current state of Lancaster Enterprises.”“Right away, Master!” Red replied with a playful lilt, before her tone shifted to professional efficiency. “Displaying current figures now.”The central monitor lit up, revealing a detailed array of graphs, spreadsheets, and data on the Lancaster empire. Aurora’s expression darkened as she scanned the information.“Our revenue
Last Updated: 2025-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 5: RedPreparations for Aurora and Lucian’s wedding began immediately. The news of the union between the Lancaster and Blackwood families caused a stir, especially with Aurora’s unexpected return. Everyone was abuzz, labeling it the wedding of the year.Aurora stood in front of her father’s office door, her heart pounding. With her wedding approaching, she needed assurance for her own plans. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.Inside, Francisco sat at his desk, immersed in papers. He glanced up when he heard her enter.“Aurora. What is it? Shouldn’t you be with your mother, preparing for your wedding?” he asked, his tone neutral but curious.“I just came back from the meeting with the wedding planner. Tomorrow is the fitting for my gown,” she replied with a forced calmness.Francisco gave a curt nod. “Good.”Aurora remained standing, her nerves evident. Francisco noticed her hesitation.“Is there something else?” he asked, setting his papers aside.Summoning her courage, Aurora n
Last Updated: 2025-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 4: The AgreementAurora stared out the window, her fingers lightly gripping a wine glass. She sat in the living room, her mind racing with thoughts about her next move. Dinner had concluded, and Francisco and Lucian were still engrossed in a private discussion.Carmela had checked on her repeatedly, concerned for her well-being, but Aurora dismissed her worries with a practiced smile. She couldn’t falter now. Her father wanted her to prove her loyalty, and she needed the Lancaster wealth to accomplish her goal. Ethan had discarded her like trash, despite everything she sacrificed for him. Now that she was back, she would make him regret it.“I see you’re still awake.”Aurora flinched at the voice and turned to find Lucian approaching her. She cleared her throat and redirected her gaze to the window.“I see you’re still here,” she replied coolly.Lucian smirked, stepping closer. “I’ve been watching you, Ms. Lancaster. You seem… troubled.”Aurora raised an eyebrow but kept her eyes fixed on the glass in
Last Updated: 2025-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 3: Meeting the Groom“Don’t you think this is too soon, Francisco? Your daughter just came back home. Why are we inviting the Blackwoods already?” Carmela asked, her tone laced with worry. They were standing outside the mansion, waiting for their guests to arrive.Francisco waved her concerns away dismissively. “I won’t be deceived again, Carmela. Besides, you know how important this is for us.”“But—”Carmela sighed, turning her attention to Aurora. She gently caressed her daughter’s arm, feeling a deep sense of pity. She knew Aurora had always wanted to be free.“It’s okay, Mom. I’m fine,” Aurora said softly, forcing a smile. But her eyes betrayed her true feelings, revealing the storm brewing within.A few moments later, three cars pulled up in front of the mansion. Aurora held her breath as several men stepped out. Then, from the second car, a man exited the passenger seat. He was different from the others—his commanding presence and the way he carried himself exuded authority. He wore a perfectly tai
Last Updated: 2025-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 2: The HeiressAurora returned to their apartment, hoping to find Ethan, but he never came home. Instead, their landlady showed up, asking her to vacate the premises as the apartment was now up for lease. Aurora then discovered that Ethan had purchased a new house in an exclusive subdivision.He was truly erasing her from his life.Still desperate to talk to him, Aurora went back to his company, only to learn that Ethan had personally fired her. She begged him for an explanation, but Ethan was unyielding. No matter what she said or did, he had made up his mind—she was no longer a part of his life.Aurora had lost everything. She tried to claim what she believed was rightfully hers, but she was dismissed at every turn. No one in the company even knew about their relationship. To them, she was nothing more than a secretary—a role Ethan had deliberately ensured she played publicly. At first, Aurora didn’t mind keeping their relationship private, but now she understood why he had done it.Now, standing
Last Updated: 2025-01-22