It was almost midnight, and with each passing minute, Kai and Adelaide's desperation grew. The restaurant was about to close, and they were hurrying not to miss the dazzling neighborhood fireworks display. Only the two of them remained at the place.Adelaide was putting away pots in the kitchen cabinets, indignant at what she had heard. "She's lying to me!" said Adelaide, expressing her frustration.As Kai took off his apron and hung it on a hook in the corner, he replied, "I warned you to keep an eye on her."Still intrigued by the revelation, Adelaide tried to imagine what Aurora was doing behind her back, but it was hard to come to a conclusion, as she thought she knew everything about her younger sister's life.Kai tried to understand the situation better: "Did you notice any different behavior from her in the past few days?"Adelaide answered after finishing arranging the pots and leaning on another countertop, facing the chef: "Not that I remember. Apart from the fact that she's
On the morning of December 25th, Aurora sat at the table with Adelaide and Kai, who had spent the night in the guest room. She sipped the bitter coffee prepared by her sister, or at least tried to stay awake, as she had barely slept the night before.The intercom's ring awakened the girl, who was almost dozing off on the chair. Adelaide answered the call and returned to the kitchen seconds later with a puzzled look."Alex is in the lobby; he said he wants to talk to you," Adelaide informed, sitting down next to Kai.Aurora finished her coffee, grabbed her coat, and left without saying a word. She already expected that Alex would seek her out to talk about what happened last night, and if he didn't, she would do it herself. Her sleepless night had given her time to reflect on various family-related issues.Upon reaching the lobby, she saw Alex standing up from a chair when he noticed her presence."Sorry for interrupting. You should be enjoying Christmas," he said."It's okay. I have t
Days later, wearing white formal clothes, Kai rang the doorbell of the apartment. Shortly after, Adelaide opened the door, and her beauty left Kai speechless before he could complain about the delay. Adelaide wore a simple and delicate white strapless dress, with a small matching heel, and her hair was styled in a high bun."You look beautiful," Kai complimented, making Adelaide smile shyly."Beautiful? Is that all you've got?" Thomas interrupted, looking over Adelaide's shoulder to catch a glimpse of Kai in the middle of the living room. "She looks marvelous! Of course, I helped. If I wanted, I could turn an ogre into a prince!""Where's Aurora?" Kai asked, entering the place and looking around."In her room, trying to choose an outfit," Adelaide closed the door. "Thomas, please, can you go help her?""I'm going, otherwise, we'll only get to Central Park next year!" Thomas said, flipping his hair to the side and leaving the living room."Are you following her?" Kai inquired to Adelai
Aurora almost fell off the plastic chair, overcome by a fit of laughter. Her face was red, and she couldn't stop giggling, to the point where her belly hurt. Kai's mood was the opposite; he got up from the table in anger, and you could almost see the smoke coming out of his head."Kai, you're too old to wet your pants," Thomas joked, laughing along with the situation."It was this crazy girl who spilled her drink on me!" Kai pointed at Aurora."I'm sorry..." Aurora stopped laughing for a few seconds, but soon burst into laughter again, seeing the mess on the chef's pants."Soon you won't be the only one with a pee stain on your pants," Thomas commented, watching the girl gradually regain control."That's a drink!" Kai exclaimed, frustrated. "Damn it!""Watch your language, Kai!" scolded Aurora, just as he always did with her."My mouth is mine!"Aurora was astonished by his audacity."My mouth is mine? Okay! I'll start responding like that from now on whenever you scold me for my foul
Tristan felt a déjà vu. Just like the time he took the innocence of that young girl, he entered the mansion with her amid wild kisses, their bodies pressed together, and the heat between them. He was very eager; it had been days since he touched her body, days since he had sex, which, for him, was like the end of the world. Tristan wasn't a sex addict, but he had needs, and before the agreement, he used to relieve himself with any woman available. But after he "got involved" with Aurora, he couldn't go to clubs in search of a "catch" like he used to. He wasn't complaining; he was content with her, but it had been difficult to control himself these last few days. He wasn't faithful; he never had to be, but he didn't want to lose the privilege of being the only one who could touch her, so he would keep his word until the day he woke up and decided to stop everything and go back to his old life. While kissing her, sucking her tongue with desire, Tristan's fingers moved to the hem of her
Days later...Adelaide was sitting on the couch, wearing her reading glasses, and reading a romance novel. Her attention was drawn to the door, which was opened to reveal Aurora, drenched and with a grumpy face."Good evening..." Adelaide said."Only for you!" replied Aurora, slamming the door shut."What's the reason for this bad mood?" asked Adelaide."Isn't it obvious?" Aurora pointed to her wet clothes."That's strange... I didn't see that it rained today," Adelaide furrowed her brow slightly."That's because it didn't rain! This was the work of some idiot who drove over a puddle," explained Aurora, taking off her shoes. "I need a shower!""Do you want me to warm up some food for you?" offered Adelaide, and the young woman nodded before heading to her room.In the bathroom, Aurora took off her wet and clingy clothes and stepped under the shower, where she took a complete bath. She was tired and very frustrated; it hadn't been her best day. Since early in the morning, she had been
Tristan was seated in an armchair in his private jet, sipping a glass of whiskey before takeoff. Aurora was beside him, not as calm as he was, as it was her first time on a plane. She felt an uncomfortable flutter in her stomach and tried to think of anything other than the winged vehicle plummeting from the sky. The pilot and the secretary entered the jet and were surprised to see Aurora next to their boss. "What is she doing here?" Genevieve questioned. "Aurora is traveling with us," Tristan replied indifferently, taking another sip of his drink. "But this is a work trip! This girl shouldn't be here!" Genevieve protested. "Genevieve, if it bothers you, then leave. The same goes for you," Tristan said, directing the last part to Xavier, who had yet to speak. Genevieve grumbled and went to sit a bit further away from them, while Xavier settled into the seat in front of Aurora. "I guess I can endure this Smurf until the end of the trip!" Xavier teased. "What did you call me, wa
The sound of Genevieve's red heels echoed through the lobby of the splendid luxury hotel until she interrupted her steps and stood with her hands on her waist in front of Xavier, who was reading an accounting magazine on a small sofa."Where's Tristan?" Genevieve inquired."He left early," Xavier replied, without taking his eyes off the magazine."Do you know where he went?""For a meeting.""And he went without you?""Yes. He wanted someone trustworthy to accompany the shorty to the mall. And guess what? I was the lucky one!" he smiled sarcastically.Genevieve looked pensively at some corner, remembering the time when she was in a relationship with Tristan. At that time, somehow, she felt special when she was with him, and consequently, she fell in love, which was a big mistake."Xavier, you're Tristan's best friend, you must know a lot about him, things that are valuable to me," said Genevieve."And what would be valuable to you?" Xavier questioned.She forced a smile and sat beside
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