Aurora’s POV
I pressed my back against the wall, my heart pounding so loudly I was afraid they’d hear it. Breathe, Aurora. Stay still.
Patrick and Isabella were still talking, their voices low, filled with amusement and hunger.
"As in, you’re in such a hurry to leave with that file," Isabella teased, trailing her fingers down Patrick’s chest. “It must be very important for you.”
Patrick smirked, tucking the file under his arm. “You have no idea.”
Isabella wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against him. “Then make me understand,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his.
I rolled my eyes from my hiding spot. This woman never changes.
Patrick didn’t resist. His grip tightened around Isabella’s waist, pulling her closer. Within seconds, his hands slid up her thighs, his breath ragged as he kissed her neck,
Aurora’s POVI raised my hands slightly, keeping my expression neutral. "Alright, Isabella," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. "You got me. Let’s talk."Isabella smirked, clearly enjoying having the upper hand. "Smart choice," she said, keeping the gun steady. "Now, tell me, what were you looking for?"I took a slow step forward, pretending to be hesitant. "Patrick has been keeping secrets from everyone, including you," I said, watching her closely. "You think he trusts you?"Her smirk faltered slightly, doubt flickering in her eyes."Shut up," she snapped. "I know exactly what Patrick is up to."I shook my head. "No, you don’t," I said firmly. "But I do."Her grip on the gun loosened just a fraction. That was my chance.In a split second, I lunged.My hand struck her wrist hard, knocking the gun out of her grasp. The weapon clattered to th
AURORA'S POVNo. I needed to hide.I scanned my surroundings, my eyes darting from door to door. One of them was slightly open.Without hesitation, I slipped inside and shut the door softly behind me, pressing my back against it.Seconds later, Isabella arrived.I could hear her heavy breathing outside. She was close. Too close.I stayed still, listening as she cursed under her breath.Then, silence.Was she waiting? Or had she left?I didn’t know. But I couldn’t move yet.I had to wait.I pressed my back against the door, my breath coming out in slow, steady beats. Isabella was still close. I could feel it.My heart pounded as I whispered to myself, "No matter what happens here today, I must not let Isabella find those flash drives with me. I have to hide them."I reached into my jacket, my fingers trembling slightly as I pulled out th
Patrick's POVHer voice came through the line, sharp and irritated. "I'm here. That bitch is still hiding. Goddamn knows where, but she’s trapped. She can’t leave this building.”I smirked. “Good. That means we have time to play.”I stepped out of the elevator, my eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway. The old office smelled of dust and secrets, and I knew Aurora was somewhere close.“I hurt my leg because of her, Patrick,” Isabella hissed through the phone. “She got away from me, but she’s still here. She’s just hiding like a scared little rat.”“Then let’s smoke her out.” I said coldly.I ended the call and took slow, deliberate steps down the hallway. Aurora thought she was smart, but she had no idea who she was dealing with.I reached into my jacket and pulled out my gun. If she didn’t come out will
Aurora’s POVMy heart nearly stopped when I heard Patrick’s voice from the other side of the door.“Aurora, don’t waste my time! Get your damn ass out of there before I burn you down along with this building!”I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to silence my heavy breathing. They wouldn’t really do it, would they?Then I heard Isabella’s voice.“Are you sure about this, Patrick?”“I said pour the petrol! She’s going to hell with this building.”My stomach dropped. They were serious.A sharp, strong smell filled my nostrils. Gasoline. They were really setting the place on fire.Think, Aurora! You have to get out of here!I looked around frantically. The fire alarm! If I could trigger it, the sprinklers might slow down the flames, and the emergency system might unlock some of the doors.I rushed to the desk, grabbing a chair and slamming it against the glass covering the alarm. The crash echoed through the room. I didn’t care anymore. I smashed the button hard.Nothing happened.Sh
Dominic’s POVMy hands tightened around the steering wheel as I drove through the dark streets, the city lights flickering past like ghosts. My mind was racing, my chest tight with fear.Aurora’s signal had led me here, to Patrick’s old office building, not to the address he had given me.I knew Patrick. He was a snake. A master of deception. He wanted me to go to the wrong place while he did whatever sick thing he had planned.The tracking device on Aurora’s phone had been steady for the past few minutes, but then…“Sir, the tracking has stopped.”My heart slammed against my ribs.“What?” I barked, gripping the wheel tighter.“The signal just cut off. It’s gone.”Damn it.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. This wasn’t a coincidence. Patrick was covering his tracks. He must have found out Aurora had a tracker.I inhaled sharply, pushing down the wave of panic rising inside me.I couldn't afford to lose focus now."We’re still going to that building." My voice was firm, le
Joanna’s POVJulie clutched the baby tightly, her eyes filled with fear and determination. “I will never let you go with this baby,” she hissed.I let out a slow chuckle, stepping closer. “Oh, Julie, don’t be so dramatic.”Tears welled in her eyes, but her grip on the baby only tightened. “You’ve already taken everything from me! You stole my inheritance, destroyed our family, and left me with nothing! You kept me away from Aurora, my own daughter, for years! And now you want to take her child too?” She shook her head furiously. “I will never let you have my grandchild!”I sighed, tilting my head. “You always did have a way of making yourself the victim, didn’t you?”Julie’s face twisted with anger. “You are the reason for everything! You lied, manipulated, and ruined my life. You wanted me gone, and you got what you wanted. But I won’t let you win this time. Not with Aurora’s baby.”I smirked, taking another step forward. “And how exactly do you plan to stop me, dear sister? You’re w
Julie’s POVI struggled to breathe, my body aching from the relentless fight, but I refused to give up. Joanna and I clashed again, our hands grabbing, pushing, and striking at each other like wild animals.She lunged at me, her nails clawing at my face, but I ducked just in time. My fist connected with her stomach, making her stumble back with a sharp gasp."You witch!" she spat, her eyes filled with pure hatred.I didn’t waste a second. I spun around and grabbed the baby from the bed, holding the child close to my chest. My heart was racing.I needed to get out. Now.Joanna must have realized what I was trying to do because she let out a furious scream and charged at me again. I turned my back, shielding the baby, and felt her nails scrape against my arm, trying to pull me back."You're not leaving with that baby!" she shrieked.I kicked backward blindly, my foot slamming into her leg. She yelped, losing her balance for a moment. It was all the time I needed.I rushed toward the doo
Isabella’s POVPatrick leaned against the table, his eyes dark with satisfaction as he lit a cigar, taking a slow drag before exhaling the smoke. His gaze shifted to Aurora. "Joanna is on her way here," Patrick said, a wicked smirk curling on his lips. "And she’s bringing Dominic’s baby with her."I froze, my breath catching for a moment. Dominic’s baby? I hadn’t expected that.Patrick chuckled, clearly enjoying my shock. "The moment she arrives with the child, Dominic will have no choice but to give up everything for me. His power, his wealth, his loyalty, everything."I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. "Are you saying you plan to trade his own child for his empire?"Patrick shrugged. "Why not? Dominic isn’t stupid. He’ll do anything to protect what’s his. And if it means bending to my will, he’ll do it."I crossed my arms, watching him carefully. "And what if he refuses? What if he fights back?"Patrick exhaled another puff of smoke, his smirk never faltering. "Then he loses ever
Chapter : Final Fight Aurora’s POV“Hold on, Dominic. Please.” My voice trembled, fear clawing at my chest.Leo stood in front of us, his expression unreadable. He exhaled sharply, then turned to his men. “Take him to the hospital. Now.”Two of his men moved forward, carefully lifting Dominic. He groaned in pain but didn’t fight them. I could see how much it took for him to stay conscious.Leo’s cold eyes flickered toward me. “You, stay here.”Panic surged through me. “No! I’m going with him!”He raised a hand, silencing me. “He’ll be taken care of. But we’re not done yet.”I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest.Leo turned to the rest of his men, his voice low but sharp as a knife.“Find Joanna. Bring her to me. I don’t care what it takes.”The air in the room felt suffocating. I could barely breathe.The drive to the hospital felt like a blur. My hands were covered in Dominic’s blood, my heart pounding so hard I could barely think. The moment we arrived, the doors burst o
Dominic’s POVWe moved in quietly, our steps light against the wooden floor. The house smelled of dampness and old cigarette smoke.As soon as we stepped inside, I saw her.She was sitting in a chair, her hands tied, her face pale but alert. The moment our eyes met, she froze.I could see the relief in her eyes, but also the fear. If she reacted, Patrick would notice. I quickly lifted a finger to my lips, signaling her to stay calm.Aurora’s lips pressed together, and she barely nodded. She understood.Patrick was standing a few feet away, his back turned as he spoke to Isabella."This is taking too long," Isabella snapped. "Joanna should be here by now!"Patrick sighed. "She’ll come. She has no choice."I glanced at my men. One wrong move, and Aurora could get hurt.I didn’t waste time.With one swift motion, I pulled out my gun and aimed it directly at Isabella and Patrick."Don’t. Move." My voice was cold, steady.They froze. Shock flashed across their faces. Isabella’s mouth opene
Aurora’s POV“Hold on, Dominic. Please.” My voice trembled, fear clawing at my chest.Leo stood in front of us, his expression unreadable. He exhaled sharply, then turned to his men. “Take him to the hospital. Now.”Two of his men moved forward, carefully lifting Dominic. He groaned in pain but didn’t fight them. I could see how much it took for him to stay conscious.Leo’s cold eyes flickered toward me. “You, stay here.”Panic surged through me. “No! I’m going with him!”He raised a hand, silencing me. “He’ll be taken care of. But we’re not done yet.”I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest.Leo turned to the rest of his men, his voice low but sharp as a knife.“Find Joanna. Bring her to me. I don’t care what it takes.”The air in the room felt suffocating. I could barely breathe.The drive to the hospital felt like a blur. My hands were covered in Dominic’s blood, my heart pounding so hard I could barely think. The moment we arrived, the doors burst open, and doctors and nu
Dominic’s POVI stared at the flash drive in my hand, my grip tightening. How could I be sure this was the real evidence? Patrick was a snake, I wouldn’t put it past him to hand me something useless just to trap me."How do I know this is real?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous.Patrick smirked, his confidence irritating me. "You don’t. But do you really have a choice, Dominic?"Before I could say another word, a weak but urgent voice cut through the tension."Dominic, don’t trust him!"My entire body froze. My eyes snapped to Aurora, who was still tied to the chair. Her lips were dry, and her eyes were filled with desperation.Patrick cursed under his breath, moving toward her, but I lifted my gun, stopping him in his tracks."What did you just say?" I asked Aurora.Patrick clenched his jaw and glared at her, but the moment he released the cloth gagging her mouth, Aurora gasped for air and spoke again, this time stronger."Dominic, that’s not the real flash drive! He’s trying to t
Chapter : The final Fight Isabella’s POVPatrick leaned against the table, his eyes dark with satisfaction as he lit a cigar, taking a slow drag before exhaling the smoke. His gaze shifted to Aurora. "Joanna is on her way here," Patrick said, a wicked smirk curling on his lips. "And she’s bringing Dominic’s baby with her."I froze, my breath catching for a moment. Dominic’s baby? I hadn’t expected that.Patrick chuckled, clearly enjoying my shock. "The moment she arrives with the child, Dominic will have no choice but to give up everything for me. His power, his wealth, his loyalty, everything."I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. "Are you saying you plan to trade his own child for his empire?"Patrick shrugged. "Why not? Dominic isn’t stupid. He’ll do anything to protect what’s his. And if it means bending to my will, he’ll do it."I crossed my arms, watching him carefully. "And what if he refuses? What if he fights back?"Patrick exhaled another puff of smoke, his smirk never fal
Isabella’s POVPatrick leaned against the table, his eyes dark with satisfaction as he lit a cigar, taking a slow drag before exhaling the smoke. His gaze shifted to Aurora. "Joanna is on her way here," Patrick said, a wicked smirk curling on his lips. "And she’s bringing Dominic’s baby with her."I froze, my breath catching for a moment. Dominic’s baby? I hadn’t expected that.Patrick chuckled, clearly enjoying my shock. "The moment she arrives with the child, Dominic will have no choice but to give up everything for me. His power, his wealth, his loyalty, everything."I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. "Are you saying you plan to trade his own child for his empire?"Patrick shrugged. "Why not? Dominic isn’t stupid. He’ll do anything to protect what’s his. And if it means bending to my will, he’ll do it."I crossed my arms, watching him carefully. "And what if he refuses? What if he fights back?"Patrick exhaled another puff of smoke, his smirk never faltering. "Then he loses ever
Julie’s POVI struggled to breathe, my body aching from the relentless fight, but I refused to give up. Joanna and I clashed again, our hands grabbing, pushing, and striking at each other like wild animals.She lunged at me, her nails clawing at my face, but I ducked just in time. My fist connected with her stomach, making her stumble back with a sharp gasp."You witch!" she spat, her eyes filled with pure hatred.I didn’t waste a second. I spun around and grabbed the baby from the bed, holding the child close to my chest. My heart was racing.I needed to get out. Now.Joanna must have realized what I was trying to do because she let out a furious scream and charged at me again. I turned my back, shielding the baby, and felt her nails scrape against my arm, trying to pull me back."You're not leaving with that baby!" she shrieked.I kicked backward blindly, my foot slamming into her leg. She yelped, losing her balance for a moment. It was all the time I needed.I rushed toward the doo
Joanna’s POVJulie clutched the baby tightly, her eyes filled with fear and determination. “I will never let you go with this baby,” she hissed.I let out a slow chuckle, stepping closer. “Oh, Julie, don’t be so dramatic.”Tears welled in her eyes, but her grip on the baby only tightened. “You’ve already taken everything from me! You stole my inheritance, destroyed our family, and left me with nothing! You kept me away from Aurora, my own daughter, for years! And now you want to take her child too?” She shook her head furiously. “I will never let you have my grandchild!”I sighed, tilting my head. “You always did have a way of making yourself the victim, didn’t you?”Julie’s face twisted with anger. “You are the reason for everything! You lied, manipulated, and ruined my life. You wanted me gone, and you got what you wanted. But I won’t let you win this time. Not with Aurora’s baby.”I smirked, taking another step forward. “And how exactly do you plan to stop me, dear sister? You’re w
Dominic’s POVMy hands tightened around the steering wheel as I drove through the dark streets, the city lights flickering past like ghosts. My mind was racing, my chest tight with fear.Aurora’s signal had led me here, to Patrick’s old office building, not to the address he had given me.I knew Patrick. He was a snake. A master of deception. He wanted me to go to the wrong place while he did whatever sick thing he had planned.The tracking device on Aurora’s phone had been steady for the past few minutes, but then…“Sir, the tracking has stopped.”My heart slammed against my ribs.“What?” I barked, gripping the wheel tighter.“The signal just cut off. It’s gone.”Damn it.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. This wasn’t a coincidence. Patrick was covering his tracks. He must have found out Aurora had a tracker.I inhaled sharply, pushing down the wave of panic rising inside me.I couldn't afford to lose focus now."We’re still going to that building." My voice was firm, le