Chapter One - Aurora

I’m sick—that much is true. What I thought was the flu or a flyby cold has turned out to be something more. My body seizes suddenly and I cough violently into the handkerchief. My eyes widen with fear when I pull away the material and find it stained with blood. 

“Aurora, are you alright?” 

I don’t turn immediately. Quickly, I fold up the handkerchief and stash it away in my pocket. A smile spreads on my face as I face Sylas. 

“I’m fine.” 

He approaches me, his emerald eyes softening with concern. “Are you sure? You don’t look so good.” 

I nod, forcing my smile to look more assuring even as I feel the fatigue spreading across my body. “Just a little cough. I think I caught something.” 

He gives me a disbelieving look. “It didn’t sound like a little cough just now.” 

After being friends and partners for close to a decade, he knows me more than anyone else in this building. I lift my shoulders and square my face to hide my tiredness. 

He stops a foot away from me, the afternoon sun lighting up his pale blond hair and sharp aristrocratic features.  

“When was the last time you saw a doctor?” His voice though gentle sounds like a reprimand. 

It used to annoy me when he talked to me in such a manner, then I got to know the real Sylas underneath the crisp suits and aloof demeanour. My gaze shifts from his face to the calendar on the wall, marked with red. 

I don’t have the time. Dorian keeps making doctor’s appointments for me but I’m needed here. I’ve come to far to let a minor cold wreck my plans. 

But it’s not a simple cold, the thought sends a chill down my legs, and I feel the bloody handkerchief. 

“I’ll see a doctor next week, I’ve been busy with the merge.” I say finally, watching his mouth press into a tight frown. 

“I don’t see how the merge is stopping you from going to the doctor.”

I laugh dryly. “I’m the CEO, Sylas. It’s my job to make sure everything runs smoothly. We can’t afford to lose this merge and you know that.” 

“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of yourself, Aurora,” he snaps suddenly. 

On a good day, I would give him a proper fight but as we’re talking, I’m growing more tired. It becomes a battle to keep my shoulders straight. 

“I know.” My voice comes out more quiet than I intend.

“And your husband?” 

Before I can retort and tell him not to involve Dorian, he cuts me off. 

“Hasn’t he seen you like this? Doesn’t he know his duty is to take care of you?” He spits angrily, fury etching sharp lines on his face. 

For a moment, I’m stunned into silence. Sylas rarely got angry with me. Over the years, we would fight about company policy and investments but we did that goodnaturedly. There has never any badblood between us. We’ve known each other since we were teens and after college decided to be partners despite running two different companies.

I don’t understand his anger. 

“First off, don’t talk about my husband,” I say sharply, anger pushing away my fatigue. “I don’t care that you don’t like him. I love Dorian and he takes care of me.” 

“Look at you, Aurora! You’re pale! If I were your husband I’d drag you to the hospital myself.” 

“But you’re not my husband,” I fire back. 

“No, I’m your partner and friend. Your wellbeing is top priority.” 

“I said I’m fine.” 

Sylas sighs in exasperation and mutters, “So damn stubborn.”   

He narrows his eyes at me as if he could see how tired I am and shakes his head. “Go see a doctor after the meeting.” 

I want to argue. I have lunch plans with an investor but the hard glare he gives me snaps my mouth shut. 

I allow my shoulder deflate. “Fine.” 

He raises a hand absently and rubs my shoulder. “Thank you.”

I cover his hand with miine and a warm smile pulls my mouth. “Next time you yell at me I’ll break your nose.” 

He chuckles. “Take care of yourself and we won’t have a problem.” A shadow suddenly crosses his face as his gaze strays to the large diamond on my finger. He slowly drops his hand and the grin wipes from his face. He gestures to the door. 

“The meeting is about to start. But I can have them reschedule if you’re not up to it.” 

We both know what’s at stake. Even as he says it, I catch the hopeful sound in his voice. He wants me to be strong enough to have the meeting. Everyone depends on me and I can’t let them down. 

Taking a deep breath, I shove away the fatigue. “Let’s do this.” 

By the time the meeting is done and the merge has been finalized, I can barely keep my eyes open.

The applause in the conference room makes my head ring. Everyone wears big smiles while I struggle to see straight. 

I don’t see Sylas until I feel his hand gripping my elbow, leading me away from the noise. 

“Doctor. Now,” he orders, gently putting me in the backseat of my car. 

“Take me home first,” I tell my driver as I lean back on the head rest, a haze settling over my mind. Dorian always accompanies me to the hospital. I hate going by myself. 

With his remote work and his cousin visiting, he stays home most of the time.

Soon I’m stumbling up the front steps of our house. 

“Dorian,” I call out weakly. My voice doesn’t travel far and I urge my legs forward. 

I check the kitchen first and stop cold at the sight before me. 

“Oh baby… YES…right there…” breathy moans pour out of his cousin’s lips, her eyes closed in ecstasy, her hand digging into thick black hair. 

Kneeling before her with his face buried inbetween her thighs is my husband. 

“D-Dorian?” 

His head jerks up swiftly and he freezes when sees me.