Aurora was now hiding behind a potted plant, getting a good view of the garden and all the staff serving the guests. She thought she wouldn't be found there, so she screamed in fear when she felt a hand on her shoulder."Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, placing a hand on her rapidly beating heart. "Seraphina! You'll give someone a heart attack!"Seraphina apologized, "I'm sorry, but what are you doing here?""I'm a friend of your brother, didn't you know?" Aurora replied, while Seraphina watched her suspiciously. "What? I'm serious. If you want, ask him."Curious, Seraphina asked, "Where did you two meet?""At Luna's welcome party," Aurora answered with such conviction that Seraphina believed her. However, she still found it strange to think that her brother and her "colleague" were friends.Seraphina called a waiter when she spotted him, "Please, a glass."The waiter approached and handed a glass to Seraphina, while Aurora turned her face, hoping not to be recognized, but her attempt
As if by magic, Tristan's words came true. The world and the people inhabiting it faded into oblivion for Aurora, and after much hesitation, she decided to enjoy at least a little bit of the wonderful sensation of being kissed by him. It was a breathtaking kiss. Tristan sucked her tongue forcefully, as if he had long desired to feel it, and explored her body with his agile hands, while Aurora ran her hands over his broad shoulders.It was all so good. The shared contact between them was addictive, but before the lack of air caught up to them, Aurora snapped out of her trance and pushed him forcefully, causing him to hit his back against the table, which moved with the impact, emitting a loud noise."Argh!" Tristan complained, in pain."I'm sorry..." she got off the countertop, feeling bad for hurting him, but quickly became annoyed. "I mean... serves you right! You can't just kiss me like that whenever you please.""Then tell me when I can." Tristan approached again.Before she could
On the night of the charity auction, Aurora avoided entering through the main entrance, where there was a red carpet and several photographers. It's not that she wasn't decently dressed to pass through there - she was wearing a white flared dress that accentuated her curves - but only the "important" people could go through there, meaning the rich and the daddy's boys. In reality, Aurora was sure that most of them pretended to care about the children just to have a good reputation.She walked through the event in search of her friends. She stayed like that for a few minutes until she saw Lucca, the aggressive short guy, running towards her."Aurora! I finally found you..." she interrupted him when he started pulling her arm in one direction."I need your help. Actually, the children need you," Lucca said."What do you mean?" Aurora asked, not understanding, but didn't receive an answer as both of them stopped in front of an Asian girl who had a big gentle smile."Aurora, this is Rose,
Adelaide sat on the couch next to her sister, who was changing channels on the television."What's going on with you?" asked Adelaide.Aurora shrugged, but it was evident that her response was a lie. "Nothing. I'm fine.""I know you," said Adelaide. "You're usually very talkative, so when you get quiet and thoughtful like this, something has happened."Aurora, in a slightly rude tone, replied, "I already said I'm fine." Then, she quickly regretted her attitude. "Sorry. It's just PMS."Adelaide's expression softened as she smiled, believing that flimsy excuse. "Ah, I see. I'm heading to the restaurant for some overtime, and I don't know when I'll be back. If you decide to go to Seraphina's place, leave a note for me.""Okay," nodded Aurora, watching her sister leave the apartment.Now alone, Aurora stood up and went into the dark bedroom. She sat on a chair in front of a desk, gazing at several photos of Alex. She couldn't quite pinpoint how she felt. It wasn't necessarily sadness, but
Aurora waited for Tristan's response, and he looked at her with a mixture of seriousness and surprise at her arrival. She started to get nervous and doubted whether he would accept. Maybe that was his plan all along: make her come after him and then boast about it...Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Tristan take her hand and pull her out of the nightclub, without any explanation. She followed him without hesitation. The prostitute he was talking to before stood there, visibly confused. The bouncers were also puzzled. Some wondered who that girl was, while others memorized her face so as never to prevent her from entering the establishment again. In that area, knowing Tristan was like knowing the president or any other very important person."Get in," Tristan said as he unlocked the car.They got into the vehicle, and Tristan started driving a bit hastily towards his house. Aurora took advantage of those minutes to send a message to Adelaide, saying that she would be staying
It was still very early, the day hadn't even dawned yet. Tristan awoke from his deep sleep, feeling his body heavy and exhausted from the tireless hours of sex from the previous night."Aurora..." he called, but received no response. Only then did he look to the side and noticed she wasn't there. He quickly sat up in bed and looked around, realizing he was alone in the room.Normally, Tristan would lose interest in a girl after sleeping with her, but it was different with Aurora. He wanted to see her again, wanted to kiss her, touch her, and have her over and over again. He thought that after that night, the strong attraction he felt for her would disappear, but it was the opposite – it had only worsened. For the first time, he hadn't lost interest, and for the first time, he felt upset not waking up with a woman beside him the next day."It's just another desire, it'll pass," he thought to himself. He got up, put on sweatpants with his thoughts distant, and left the room. He had inte
The day was beautifully sunny, with no signs of rain and intense heat, which was unusual for a time close to winter. People were wearing light-colored clothes and fanning themselves with fans, flyers, or their own hands. Aurora walked along the sidewalk, following the same route she took almost every day toward Starbucks. However, on that day, something was different, as everyone looked at her as if she were crazy. Even the attendant at her favorite coffee shop, with whom she had developed a rapport over the years, gave her a strange look."Thank you," Aurora said as she received her glorious Americano coffee and left the establishment.Instead of heading home, she decided to take a different route that she rarely used. Everyone still looked at her, and she knew very well why. On such a hot day, she was wearing a hoodie!Yes, she was sweating under the hoodie and felt uncomfortable, but it was better than exposing the marks from the unforgettable night she had with Tristan.She entere
Now it was Aurora who was in a tremendous rush through the apartment. As soon as she arrived, she went straight to the bathroom to take a shower, and Adelaide's endless questioning was not left out."Where did you sleep last night?" Adelaide asked from the other side of the bathroom door.Aurora answered a bit louder so she could hear, "At Seraphina's house!"Adelaide started to suspect. Her sister always used that excuse for anything. She would definitely investigate this later.Once she finished showering, Aurora tried to get ready in a decent way, but as she was in a hurry, she ended up wearing a black skirt, a simple light pink shirt, and worn-out sneakers. She bid a brief farewell to Adelaide and ran to the front of the building. She had money to buy her morning coffee, but decided to spend it on a taxi. As soon as she got into the vehicle, she applied some simple makeup to hide her dark circles. Sometimes, when the car hit a pothole, she missed some parts and felt like cursing t
Six years later...Tristan, Aurora, and Adelaide now formed a close-knit family, brimming with love and joy. The room with the world map wallpaper looked a bit different, adorned with soft colors and children's toys, reflecting the happiness that had filled that space. However, the image of the map still adorned the wall because the little girl had a deep fondness for that decoration.Adelaide, now six years old, lay on the bed with her Corgi dog, Toby, by her side. She was engrossed in a book of pony stories, her latest passion. Tristan approached and gently stroked his daughter's red hair as she read."Still in love with ponies, my dear?" he asked with a smile.Adelaide nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Daddy! They're so cute and magical!"Tristan smiled, reminiscing about the time she used to call him 'pony.' "Maybe one day, when you grow a bit more, you can ride a real one."Adelaide's eyes lit up at the idea. "That would be amazing, Daddy!"Meanwhile, Aurora stood in the doorway, wa
Five years later...Aurora felt every heartbeat quicken as the contractions intensified. Her breath was deep and irregular, and her hand was firmly clasped in her husband Tristan's, who remained by her side, providing strength and support. The delivery room was immersed in a silence heavy with anxiety and anticipation.The soft candlelight spread throughout the room, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere. The scent of lavender hung in the air, mixed with the electric tension that enveloped the couple. The walls were lined with white tiles, reflecting the serenity of the moment that was about to unfold.The obstetrician, Rose, moved with a comforting calmness as she prepared for the baby's arrival. She smiled, instilling confidence in Aurora, whose eyes welled up with tears. Aurora knew that she would soon cradle the fruit of her love with Tristan in her arms.The contractions now came with an almost rhythmic regularity, causing Aurora to focus even more on her breathing. She took de
It took only a matter of weeks for Xavier to gain full custody of Christian, following Genevieve's sentencing to decades in prison. Soon after, he announced Amelie's pregnancy and their engagement.It wasn't easy for Violet to cope with what had happened to her older sister. Despite always finding Genevieve's behavior towards Tristan and Aurora strange, she never imagined that her uncontrollable way of loving would lead her to that point. Aurora stayed by her side in the first few days until Violet decided to spend some time at her parents' house in another city. However, she promised to return for her friend's wedding.And she kept her promise.Aurora sneaked out of the room where she was getting ready, and since she already knew the way - the ceremony was taking place at Mr. Callahan's mansion, which he had lent for the event - she hid behind a wall where she could observe the beautifully decorated hall. She saw Violet among the guests, looking stunning in her purple dress, talking
A suffocating panic crawled through Aurora's body as she was pushed through the corridors of the mansion, not knowing exactly where she was going; where Genevieve wanted to take her."Move faster!" Genevieve ordered, pressing the barrel of the gun against her head.Aurora swallowed hard and quickened her pace. She was terrified, her chest felt tight, and her mouth bitter, but she tried to think of a way to change things. She wouldn't surrender, let alone die there."Here. Go in," Genevieve indicated a door, and even though Aurora was confused, she obeyed. It was Tristan's office."Genevieve..." Aurora spoke softly, even though she was in complete agony at the sight of the brunette pointing a gun at her with an empty expression. "Please, think carefully about what you're about to do...""I should have done this a long time ago! It's the only way this hell will end," Genevieve replied."No, it won't." Aurora shook her head. "Genevieve, killing me won't make Tristan love you...""I don't
If news reached Thomas's ears, it would take only a few days for him to share it with the entire United States. Aurora called Klaus, who wasn't even in America at that moment, wanting to tell him before someone else did, but it was too late. He already knew, thanks to Thomas, of course. Klaus still made her swear over the phone that she wouldn't plan anything related to the ceremony until he and Frederick returned from their honeymoon.Tristan planned to tell his father when they visited him on Sunday. Mr. Callahan wasn't very connected to gossip, so it was quite likely that he didn't know the news yet. And even if he did find out, he wouldn't be the type of person to care about such things.Despite the immense joy, Aurora's heart ached every time she imagined her sister helping her with the wedding details. She imagined that Adelaide would cry all the time, from the first dress fitting to the end of the party.Aurora continued with her treatment and medications. She still woke up in
Many hours later, they were still on the couch, holding hands. Aurora rested her head on Tristan's shoulder, and he also rested his head on hers."I had an idea," she said."Here it comes," Tristan replied with a smile."Hey!" Aurora pulled away from him, indignant. "My ideas are always brilliant.""And what's this one?""Well..." Aurora moved to sit on his lap, with one leg on each side of his body and her hands on his broad shoulders. "I thought we could invite our friends and have a non-traditional ceremony. It could happen here, or maybe in a hall. You would wear a suit, and I'd wear a beautiful dress... and some sexy lingerie for later."He watched her closely."Aurora, are you asking me to marry you?" Tristan asked.She blushed but managed to nod."Have you ever noticed that every time we go in opposite directions, and that's been happening since the day we met, we end up finding each other again without intending to?" Aurora began to explain. "I don't want to rely on luck again
"What are you doing here?" Tristan's question burst into that tension-filled space, unleashing a torrent of long-held emotions."I came to lay it all on the line!" the redhead declared, adjusting her tone to convey determination. "And just so you know, no, I'm not drunk, and I'm fully aware of what I'm about to say, so pay close attention." Tristan, relaxed with his arms crossed and leaning against the door frame, kept his gaze focused as he listened attentively. "This whole 'being friends' thing isn't going to work. Sure, I agreed to it at first, but I also said we should let our hearts go where they wanted. And that's the point. My heart only goes to you... even if you are a Mr. Arrogant, cheeky, proud, masochistic, and thick-headed jerk!"A glimmer of amusement appeared in Tristan's eyes as he commented, "That was the longest one yet."Aurora scolded him, "Don't interrupt me, or I'll lose my train of thought."Tristan, with a touch of sarcasm, teased, "Are you sure you haven't had
Aurora decided to go to Luna's house."Sorry for showing up without giving you a heads up, Luna."Luna laughed and replied, "I appreciate it, actually! The men in the house are all out right now, and when that happens, I'm stuck here, bored out of my mind." Observing the younger woman's distressed face, she realized something was wrong. "What's going on? You seem nervous."Aurora explained, "I need to talk to you."Luna nodded, concerned, and promptly settled down on the living room couch with the young woman."Go ahead, speak.""After I went to New York, did Tristan... did he say anything to you? I mean, did he ask about me?"Luna chuckled, but her mood faded when she saw Aurora's worried expression. "Seriously? Oh yes, he asked about you all the time."Aurora's heart raced, a good feeling she hadn't experienced in a while."Really?""Klaus told me that you two got back together at his wedding. I thought he had already told you."Aurora laughed at her friend's gossip, but then her ex
An hour of comfortable silence stretched, during which Aurora briefly dozed off, and Tristan contemplated his life while gently caressing her hand."Whose room is this?" Aurora asked, noticing the miniature cartoon character figurines on top of a dresser on the other side."Mine. Well, it used to be mine," Tristan replied."Really?" Aurora got up, full of curiosity, and went to the other side of the room to examine closely."My father said he didn't touch anything after I left, except for the clothes I left behind," explained Tristan."What happened to them?""They were donated. Besides that, everything's the same."Aurora noticed that the miniatures were the only decoration with a personal touch. There was nothing else. No photos or CDs of any bands he used to like. Since childhood, he had a rather minimalist taste."Your father must have missed you," she commented, hearing his incredulous grunt. "Seriously. After all, you're still his son. I can't think of any other reason he wouldn