2

Chapter 2

Aurora flinched as the loud crash of a plate shattering against the marble floor rang through the house.

She had barely made it downstairs when her new stepfather’s voice exploded from the kitchen, thick with rage.

“This tastes like trash!”

She paused near the entrance, peeking inside.

The chef stood frozen, shoulders stiff, his face drained of color as Edward Blackwood glared at him. A half-eaten dish lay ruined on the floor, sauce splattered across the expensive tiles.

Aurora swallowed.

Her mother had warned her that Edward had a short temper, but this was the first time she was seeing it firsthand.

Edward shoved his chair back, the legs screeching against the marble. His face was red, his hands trembling slightly—not from fear, but from pure, unchecked anger.

“You call yourself a chef?” he snarled, shoving the untouched glass of wine aside. “This is a five-star household, not some filthy roadside stall!”

The chef didn’t say a word. Just stood there, hands clenched at his sides.

Aurora hated how he didn’t even flinch, like he was used to this kind of treatment.

Edward sneered. “I pay you to serve perfection, not this garbage. If I wanted to eat something this disgusting, I’d hire a stray dog off the street to cook for me.”

Aurora’s jaw tightened.

It wasn’t even that bad. She could still smell the fresh herbs, the rich spices. The dish had probably tasted fine. But Edward Blackwood loved power, and nothing fed his ego more than tearing people down.

The chef swallowed, his lips pressing into a tight line. “I’ll remake the dish, sir,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Edward scoffed, shaking his head. “No. You won’t.” His cold eyes flickered over the man like he was nothing. “You’re fired.”

Aurora’s stomach dropped.

The chef’s entire body went rigid. “Sir, I—”

“Out,” Edward snapped, his voice slicing through the air like a whip. “I don’t keep incompetent workers in my home.”

Aurora clenched her fists, every instinct screaming at her to say something.

But she knew it wouldn’t matter.

People like Edward Blackwood never faced consequences.

He ruled with money. And fear.

Without another word, Edward stormed out, his footsteps heavy and aggressive, leaving behind a room full of shattered glass and silence.

The chef didn’t move for a long moment. Then, slowly, he bent to pick up the broken plate.

Aurora watched him, heart twisting. He didn’t even look surprised. Just… defeated.

Her nails dug into her palm.

She wanted to say something. To apologize on behalf of the monster her mother had married. But what good would that do?

Exhaling sharply, she turned away. She needed fresh air.

As she stepped onto the balcony, the morning sun cast a warm golden glow over the estate. But it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest.

Then, a low voice caught her attention.

She stilled.

Below, near the garden, Liam stood by his motorcycle, shirtless, phone pressed to his ear.

Aurora narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t planned to eavesdrop, but the intensity in his voice pulled her in before she could stop herself.

“No, I don’t care how long it takes,” he said, voice low and firm. “I want everything ready. Every single piece of evidence.”

Aurora’s breath hitched.

Evidence?

Liam ran a frustrated hand through his messy hair, pacing slightly.

“I don’t want a settlement. I want him to burn. He thinks he’s untouchable, but I’ll make sure he pays for what he did.”

Aurora’s pulse spiked.

He was talking about Edward.

Liam’s jaw clenched, his knuckles going white around the phone. “I don’t care if it takes years. He’s going to wish he never put his hands on her.”

Aurora’s heart stopped.

Her?

A chill crept down her spine.

Liam’s mother.

Aurora had heard rumors before—whispers of how Edward’s first wife died.

People said it was an accident. A tragic fall.

But hearing Liam now…

It wasn’t an accident.

Edward had killed her.

Aurora inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening on the railing.

Liam’s voice dropped, colder now.

“Make sure the lawsuit goes through. I don’t care what it costs.”

A lawsuit.

Against his own father.

Aurora’s heart pounded.

She barely moved as Liam ended the call and walked back inside. She stood there, gripping the railing, her mind spinning.

He was suing Edward.

He was going after him.

Liam Blackwood wasn’t just some careless, arrogant biker. He wasn’t just the cocky *ssh*l* who spent his nights tangled in sheets with random girls.

He was dangerous.

And now, she had proof.

Aurora turned, heading back inside, only to pause mid-step.

A crumpled envelope lay near the side entrance.

Frowning, she bent and picked it up.

It was addressed to Liam.

The paper was thick and official, the top stamped with the same law firm logo she had seen on Edward’s business documents.

Her breath caught.

She flipped it over, her fingers brushing against the weight of it.

Her chest tightened.

It was real.

The lawsuit was happening.

Her mind raced.

Liam was hiding this from his father. From the world. He was planning something huge.

Then, a voice broke the silence behind her.

“I’d put that down if I were you.”

Aurora froze.

She turned slowly, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.

Liam stood a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes dark with warning.

He hadn’t looked this dangerous last night, not even with those girls all over him.

But now?

Now, he looked deadly.

Aurora swallowed, gripping the envelope tighter.

Liam’s gaze flickered to her hands before locking back onto her face.

“Careful, princess,” he murmured. “You don’t want to play a game you can’t win.”

Aurora forced a smirk, even as her heart pounded.

“I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?”

Liam’s jaw ticked.

For the first time, Aurora wasn’t sure if she had just gained leverage over him…

Or if she had just made herself his next problem.