Aurora's POVMorning sun seeped between the curtains onto the breakfast table as if setting the entire aura of this dining room alive. Dominic was sitting at the head, deep into morning news on his iPad; Isabella sat on one side and I on the other. The freshly brewed coffee filled my nostrils, intermingling with the freshly baked bread-comfort, though in fact, it didn't help soften the underlying tensions one whit.Isabella was laughing just a shade too brightly, telling some story of her and Dominic's childhood. He laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a way I was getting used to. But I could feel behind her bright smile and laughter, the stiffness in her posture, the tiny pull around her eyes that signaled she wasn't as okay with this as she let on."Remember that tree house we built, Dom?" Isabella said, still staring at him, her smile unfaltering. "You wanted it bright blue, no matter how bad it would look against the surroundings."Dominic burst into a laugh and shook his
Aurora's POV My heart skipped a beat. "Concerns? What kind of concerns?" "She feels perchance you're not quite as committed to the mission as you say you are," he said slowly, the words weighing heavily off his tongue.A surge of indignation went through my body. "That's not true, Dominic. You know how dedicated I am."He considered me for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you, Aurora. But I needed to hear it from you."Relief washed over me, but it was tempered by the realization that Isabella was actively seeking to undermine me.As the days passed, Isabella's tactics grew more insidious. She would feign distress in Dominic's presence, her furtive glances falling on me, as if I was somehow the cause of her distress. Once, she managed to get Dominic to catch her in tears, hinting subtly that I had been being cruel to her.Dominic confronted me, his face a mask of concern and confusion. "Aurora, did something happen between you and Isabella?"I shook my head, frustration bubbling bene
Aurora's POVThe tension in the room was palpable as Dominic ended the call with Patrick. His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened with concern."Is everything alright?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.Dominic sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That was Patrick. He knows you're here."A chill ran down my spine. "What does he want?""He's demanding I hand you over," Dominic replied, his voice laced with frustration. "And he's threatening to sabotage my deal with the Cruze family if I don't comply."Fear gripped me. "What are you going to do?"Dominic met my gaze, his expression softening. "I'm not handing you over, Aurora. We'll figure this out together."Isabella had always been persuasive, her charm a weapon she wielded effortlessly. When she burst into my room, the glint in her eyes was undeniable. She was up to something."Aurora," she began, her voice honeyed and light, "we're going shopping. You need a break."I raised an eyebrow, not shifting from my cozy spot on t
Aurora's POVI stepped into the restroom, my mind racing as I tried to think of a way to delay our outing without raising Isabella’s suspicions. My phone buzzed in my hand again, and I quickly answered when I saw Dominic's name on the screen.“Aurora,” Dominic’s voice was apologetic, tinged with frustration. “I won’t be coming home as soon as I thought. The business meeting I’m in has been delayed. But listen, I still want you to stay at home. Don’t go out until I get back, okay?”Disappointment and concern mixed in my chest. I had hoped he would arrive soon and help me understand what was going on. “Okay,” I agreed quietly. “I’ll stay home.”“Good,” Dominic said, his tone softening. “Just be safe. I’ll call you as soon as I’m on my way.”“Alright,” I murmured before ending the call.I took a deep breath, realizing I needed a more drastic excuse to cancel the shopping trip. An idea formed in my mind, one that wasn’t ideal but necessary. I stepped further into the bathroom, scanning fo
Aurora's POV Curiosity piqued, I got off the bed and made my way to the front door. As I approached, I peered through the peephole, my breath catching when I saw a man standing there. It took me a second to recognize him, one of Dominic’s bodyguards.Frowning, I unlocked the door and opened it slightly. The man stood tall, his expression neutral but professional. In his hands, he held a brown paper bag.“Miss Aurora,” he greeted with a slight nod. “I’ve brought the food you ordered.”Relief washed over me, though confusion quickly followed. I hadn’t ordered anything. But before I could question it, he handed me the bag."Mr. Dominic wanted to make sure you had dinner," he explained, as if reading my mind.I took the bag, murmuring a soft "Thank you," before closing the door behind him. As I walked back to the kitchen with the food in hand.I carried the bag to the dining table, curiosity still lingering as I unpacked the meal. The aroma was inviting, and despite everything, I realize
Dominic's POVI carefully lifted Aurora from the couch, cradling her in my arms as she stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Her soft breaths brushed against my neck, and I felt a deep sense of protectiveness. I carried her to our bedroom, gently laying her down on the bed and pulling the covers over her. She looked so peaceful, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her sleep.With a sigh, I left the room, heading to the bathroom to take a quick shower. The warm water washed away the tension of the day, but my mind remained restless. Leo’s return to Chicago weighed heavily on me, and I knew I had to be prepared for whatever came next.After drying off, I wrapped a towel around my waist and decided to check on Isabella. She had been acting strangely lately, and I wanted to make sure everything was alright.I approached her room and opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she was asleep. But what I saw made me freeze. Isabella was lying on her bed, half-naked, her bo
Aurora's POVI had been in a light sleep when the soft creak of the bedroom door stirred me. I barely opened my eyes as Dominic entered; his features were indiscernible in the poor light. Coming to sit softly on the edge of the bed, his fingers combed through my hair; it was so soft, it made a wave of fire burn inside.He sighed, lying down beside me, and it was comforting to have him there. In only a few moments, he was asleep, his breathing even and sure. I let myself relax, the steady cadence of his breaths lulling me back into a peaceful sleep.Hours later, Dominic's shrill ring pierced the stillness of the night. He stirred, reached out to answer it without waking me. His voice was low, but I could feel the tension in his tone."If you want us to close this deal, bring Aurora," the voice on the other end insisted, and by the sound of it, I knew this call was urgent.Dominic's eyes tightened, his eyes narrowing as if trying to dissect this request, but he slowly looked at me, stil
Aurora's POVThe room was thick with tension, every eye locked on Dominic and Patrick as the gun lay on the table between them. My breath caught in my throat, my heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. Dominic's hand didn't waver, his gaze fixed, cold and unyielding. Patrick, for all his bravado, was visibly unnerved, shifting uncomfortably in his seat."If you can't play the game," Dominic said, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade, "then she's mine. And don't ever bother her again."Patrick's eyes slitted, his jaw clenching. His silence was as good as an admission, and the room seemed to breathe as a whole. The tension did not dissipate, but at least the immediate danger was dissipated for the moment. Patrick leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. A sneer curled his lips as he spat out, "Fine, keep her then-for now. But this isn't over."Dominic didn't even bat an eyelid; his face cold and still, he said, "It's over when I say it's over." Not an inch of compr
Dominic's POVI pressed the gun to Patrick's head, my finger tight on the trigger."I will kill you right here if you don't play the game." My voice was cold, deadly.Patrick snarled, but I saw the flicker of fear in his eyes. He was not expecting this.Then Aurora screamed. "Stop, Dominic! Please stop! No one deserves to die!"I did not lower the gun. "Aurora, say nothing. I have to shoot him.""If you do, how are you going to know where he's keeping Julie—my mother?" she replied, her voice full of desperation.An uneasy silence engulfed the room.Leo, who had been watching from the sidelines, furrowed his brow. "Wait… I thought her adoptive mother was Joanna, like you said?"Everybody turned to look at Joanna, who just smiled.Leo frowned. "So whose mother are they talking about?"Patrick chuckled menacingly. "Oh, Dominic, you don't know, do you?"I tightened my grip on the gun, my anger thinning. "Know what?"Joanna finally spoke up, her voice soft but tinged with amusement. "Her r
Aurora's POVThe party was extravagant, filled with guests from the Big Four clans. The laughter and ringing glasses echoed down the hall. I was stuck in a corner, watching Dominic as he had intense conversations with powerful men. I did not wish to interrupt him.Something was bothering me, though.My mom's phone number wasn't going through. I didn't text her all that much, so it was strange that she had a message, answering something I never even sent.Shivers ran down my spine.Could it be… Eva and Isabella?They already planted me with that necklace, so it looked like I had stolen it. What if they even messed with my phone? What if they texted my mom, pretending to be me?I gulped. What if something did happen to her?I had to get out of here. I had to go check on my mom.Dominic's POV"I can guarantee you I have the finest distributor channel in all of New York City. Perfecto. And I assure you, my product is first class," Lucca Saviano said with assurance, twirling the whiskey in
Aurora's POV Could it be that the same man who had once sworn to protect me was also hiding an ugly secret? My fingers trembled on the keyboard as I cut and pasted text into my paper. I knew I was playing with fire. But I had no other option. I had to know.The note on the door, the names on the list, the anonymous letter, each one hinted that there was a conspiracy so much larger than I could ever have imagined. And with each piece of evidence that I gathered, the more sinister the image became. I was very angry, and sad, and I was determined. I had to find out the truth about this secret no matter what it may cost me.In the quiet of my room, with nothing but the gentle hum of my laptop and the distant noises of the city outside my window, I swore silently. I would not allow these lost voices to fade into oblivion. I would learn the truth about them, even if it meant challenging the very authorities that had controlled my life.I couldn't help but wonder if someone, quite possibly
Chapter : The Leo Levine CallDOMINIC POV “Leo,” I said, keeping my tone measured, though a quiet urgency simmered beneath.“Dominic,” Leo’s voice crackled through, low and insistent. “I need you to come over to my estate later today. we need to conclusions about the matters I mentioned last time you visited, you no how urgent the matters are.”I frowned slightly. Leo’s summons were never casual. I closed my eyes briefly and replied, “I’m on my way. I’ll leave shortly.” I ended the call and sat back, my mind already churning with possibilities. Leo’s tone hinted at a brewing storm, something was amiss, and it was connected to all Patrick mess up.I looked around my spacious office, a modern sanctuary of power and precision. I looked at the table, files and papers on my desk, I need to go through them before I leave. I looked at the digital screens flashing confidential data, and the quiet hum of the air conditioner were all part of the daily ritual. But today, a sense of foreboding
Dominic's POV After breakfast, I returned to the muted elegance of our home, my mind reeling from the morning's persistent ringing and stealthy whispers. I entered the dining room to find Aurora's mother standing by the window, her face serene but with an undercurrent of suppressed disapproval. Her tone was measured when she finally spoke.You got in late last night, Dominic. We had all gone to bed well before that," she said to me, her eyes searching mine for an explanation I wasn't sure I wanted, or could give.I met her eyes calmly, knowing well enough not to let sentiment get in the way of the delicate balance of our arrangements. "I had business to attend to," I replied curtly, concealing the truth behind a mask of tranquility. There was little room for explanation in our business, where every minute had its own significance.Her eyes tightened slightly as she continued, "I have to discuss something… about Joanna. She threatened last time that she would tell Leo Levine that Auro
Dominic's POV Later that day, on my way back to my private office in my skyscraper headquarters, a peculiar envelope caught my eye on the gleaming mahogany desk. The embossed crest was unmistakable, a symbol of one of the most influential families in our universe , and the stylish calligraphy inside read like a proclamation. an invitation to a birthday party attended by all the Big Four families. I clutched it delicately, a shiver of anticipation running through me as I realized that this evening's gathering was more than a social function. It was a stage for power plays, allegiances to be re-made, and old scores to be settled.I folded the invitation into my pocket, already planning in advance on how I would capitalize on this. However, I did not have long to indulge myself in scheming, as there was another problem that had to be taken care of, Aurora's health. Last night's actions had finally gotten to her, and I could not risk risking the life that we had built together.I found A
Dominic's pov “Leo,” I said, keeping my tone measured, though a quiet urgency simmered beneath.“Dominic,” Leo’s voice crackled through, low and insistent. “I need you to come over to my estate later today. we need to conclusions about the matters I mentioned last time you visited, you no how urgent the matters are.”I frowned slightly. Leo’s summons were never casual. I closed my eyes briefly and replied, “I’m on my way. I’ll leave shortly.” I ended the call and sat back, my mind already churning with possibilities. Leo’s tone hinted at a brewing storm, something was amiss, and it was connected to all Patrick mess up.I looked around my spacious office, a modern sanctuary of power and precision. I looked at the table, files and papers on my desk, I need to go through them before I leave. I looked at the digital screens flashing confidential data, and the quiet hum of the air conditioner were all part of the daily ritual. But today, a sense of foreboding permeated the air. I bring o
Aurora's POVAfter eating that morning, My mom was already back in her room. I want to meet her to discuss what Joanna has just mentioned on the call earlier. I walked through the hallway. I was almost close to my mother's room door when I had her speaking to someone on the phone, the voice sounds familiar. But it seems like my mom had her own plans, before I could open the door Dominic called me, “Aurora please I need to speak with you", I have been looking around for you but I didn't know you're here. Dominic's voice was low and it sounds like something is really bothering him. He took my arms. When I looked into his eyes I saw something like fair written all over his face, “Aurora, please don't do anything without telling me,” I overheard you talking to someone on a phone call last night, I know that you're up to something. "I know that Leo Levine will still come after me for hiding you from him but I want to control the situation,” I still have everything in control just be pati
Patrick cursed under his breath. With a frustrated groan, he tore himself away from Isabella, grabbing his phone. He saw Eva’s name flashing again.He kissed Isabella one last time, deep and slow, as if he couldn’t bear to leave. Then, he pulled back, his forehead resting against hers. "I have to go now. It’s urgent."Isabella pouted but let him go, watching as he stood up and grabbed his clothes. "Come back soon," she purred.Patrick didn’t reply, his mind was already shifting back to business. He had a feeling whatever Eva needed to tell him wasn’t good.They drove home, his mind still clouded with thoughts of Isabella, but Eva’s urgent call kept nagging at him. He knew she wouldn’t have called unless it was something serious. As soon as he pulled up in the driveway, he stepped out of the car, adjusting his jacket as he made his way inside.The moment he entered the house, Eva was already standing by the staircase, arms crossed, a sharp glare in her eyes. “So you wouldn’t have come