The evening was cold, the sky thick with dark clouds, lightning flickering across the horizon. Aurora wrapped herself tightly in a blanket as she sat on the balcony, the cold air biting at her skin. She hadn’t seen Damien since the previous day when that unexpected, intimate moment occurred between them. Now, she wondered if he was upset with her, disgusted, or avoiding her altogether. A deep sigh escaped her lips as her eyes wandered across the beautiful but desolate landscape. After sitting in the cold for what felt like an eternity, Aurora stood up and left the balcony. She grabbed her coat and made her way downstairs. As she walked through the hallway, she spotted a maid heading towards the kitchen. “Where’s Stella?” Aurora asked, stopping the maid in her tracks. The girl bowed slightly before answering, “The butler asked her to run some errands, Miss.” Aurora sighed, her heart heavy with an uneasy feeling. “Has the boss come back yet?” she inquired, her voice tinged with nerv
The director couldn’t believe his ears. What he had just heard from Beverly was shocking. He knew Mr. Vladimir to be a man of substance, but being petty? That was something he couldn’t imagine.“That’s too petty of Mr. Vladimir,” he scoffed. “He pulled out of a billion-dollar movie just because you haven’t given him an answer? It’s not like you rejected him.”Beverly wiped her tears, and Michael continued to hug her supportively, while the director discreetly turned off the recorder in his pocket.The team listening to the recording frowned. They thought Beverly had something serious to share, but instead, it seemed like a petty reason. Without hesitation, they sent the recording to an anonymous media outlet, attaching it to an article.The next morning, the internet was buzzing with the leaked voice recording of Beverly and her director discussing the Vladimir investment withdrawal. Some netizens supported Damien’s actions, while others doubted the story. Various people threw shades
The mansion was in a state of tension. All the maids and the butler were running helter-skelter, searching for Aurora. They scoured every possible location, from the grand halls to the servants’ quarters, but she was nowhere to be found. Stella, the maid in charge of her, was already in tears. Her body trembled with fear, dreading the consequences she would face if their boss returned and his wife was still missing. The butler, Thomas, hurried to the security quarters and announced that the madam was missing, causing an uproar among the staff. As they all frantically tried to locate her, Thomas instructed the security team to check the mansion’s surveillance footage. Perhaps the cameras had captured Aurora during the early hours of the day. He watched the day’s activities, fast-forwarding to noon when the mansion had been quiet due to the staff’s afternoon rest. On the screen, he saw Aurora walking out of the house, glancing around as if she was bored. He continued watching as sh
Aurora knelt on the wet stone floor of the maze, her body trembling as the rain battered her relentlessly. There was no shelter in this endless labyrinth of towering hedges and twisting pathways. Her clothes clung to her skin, soaked through, and her hair was plastered to her face. Every breath felt colder, harder to draw in, as the storm intensified around her. She had tried to run, to find a way out, but the deeper she ventured into the maze, the more disoriented she became. Now, completely spent, she collapsed to her knees, shivering as the cold seeped into her bones.She had never felt so alone.At the mansion, the worry had grown unbearable. The butler, Thomas, paced by the grand windows, staring out into the sheets of rain that obscured the maze. His face was lined with concern, his usually composed demeanor fraying at the edges. Stella, equally anxious, stood beside him, wringing her hands.“Sir, we need to call the boss. The storm has been raging for hours, and she’s still out
She hesitated at the threshold, her heart racing. His cold, distant presence made her feel even smaller than she already was. She twisted the fabric of the shirt between her fingers, unsure of what to say.“If you want to die so badly,” Damien’s voice cut through the stillness of the room like a blade, “why not jump off your balcony? Why torment yourself in my maze?”Aurora froze where she stood, his cold words slicing through her like the rain had earlier. The shame washed over her as quickly as the tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip, trying to stifle the sob that threatened to escape. Her heart raced with fear and regret, and the soft dawn light that streamed into the room felt harsh and unforgiving against the rawness of her emotions.“I—I didn’t mean to…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I just wanted to understand…”“Understand what?” Damien turned slowly from the balcony, his dark gaze locking onto her tear-filled eyes. His face was impassive, though something deep
Aurora couldn’t sleep for long as she felt Damien was still upset with her, after thirty minutes, of deep slumber, she began turning on the bed before her eyes opened gently. The sun was up and her eyes saw Damien sitting in his balcony. Quietly she sat up, her body still aches from the exhaustion last night, she weakly walked towards him standing beside him. “You should be sleeping” his cold voice said for Aurora to sigh. “I can’t sleep” she whispered rubbing her hair backwards. Damien didn’t say anything as he silently stared into the estates. Aurora stood there, she don’t know what is going on, after his words during dawn, she felt something within her she have never felt before. Despite being nervous by his intimidating aura, she stood at his side because the urge to be beside him seems like it’s growing on her and very fast. After some minutes, Damien stood up and walked closer to the glass protector of the balcony then turn to look at her. “You can leave. Fredric wi
Aurora sat on her balcony, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun. Her heart was light, a smile lingering on her lips as she reflected on what had happened earlier with Damien. She still couldn’t believe her boldness, the way she kissed him so impulsively, and how he had kissed her back. It was as if something had awakened inside her—something new, something she has never felt before. She made the move, she didn’t leave, she will never leave. The thought made Aurora chuckle.. Her thoughts were interrupted when Stella came back from her nap, refreshed but eager to get back to her duties. After serving Aurora lunch, she left to take care of the housework. The day passed uneventfully until the evening began to creep in. Stella was still doing her choice, she was cleaning the glass window at the mansion’s backyard when a colleague of hers walked towards her. “Butler Thomas is asking for you,” the blonde haired girl said, her voice filled with curiosity. “Me? Why? What did I do?”
The grand dining hall was breathtaking, with a magnificent chandelier hanging in the center and a large family dinner table surrounded by beautiful Turkish royal chairs.The table was filled with various cuisines, and the delicious aroma filled the air. The maids and butler stood aside as Damien walked toward the chair next to Camila. He pulled it out for Aurora, who gently sat down, and then he took his seat beside her.Clara sat to the right of Grandpa Vladimir, who was at the head of the table, while John sat on the left, facing his wife. Daniel sat next to his father. Camila was beside her mother, facing her brother, and now Aurora was seated beside her, with Damien next to her.The atmosphere at the dinner table was heavy with silence. The family’s eyes were still on Damien and Aurora, making Aurora feel uncomfortable. The awkwardness of the situation was so intense that she couldn’t raise her head to meet anyone’s gaze.The silence was broken when Grandpa Vladimir cleared his th
The room was silent. Everyone watched as the nurse removed Aurora’s IV drip and prepared her for discharge. After a few minutes, she smiled at Aurora.“All done,” she said, prompting Damien to bend down and carry Aurora in a bridal style.After they left the hospital, Damien drove her to get ice cream. Everyone chose their flavors, with the happiest person among them being Naomi, who stuck close to her husband. The smile on her face was so obvious that Mason had to ask.“Did you win a lottery?” he asked as they all sat down.Damien didn’t take sweets, so he just focused on his phone. Aurora and Agatha looked at Naomi, who chuckled.“Something like that, my love,” she said, then pecked Mason’s cheek.“Do you mind sharing?” he asked, but Naomi shook her head, laughing. The DNA result worked as she planned.“Damien,” Aurora turned to her husband, who immediately dropped his phone.“Yes, honey?” He sat up straight and looked at her.Aurora chuckled. She had noticed he had been calling her
Daniel smirked, watching Kayla adjust her handbag with a determined look in her eyes. “You really think his assistant will be your way in?” he asked, amusement lacing his voice. Kayla turned to him, her eyes cold. “Simon is more loyal to Damien than a dog to its owner, but even the most loyal men have weaknesses. I just need to find his.” Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Kayla. Seems like you’re tired of governing your cosmetic company.” “I have to do this. Beverly loved him, and this is all she gets?” she shot back. “I can make a difference before he even realizes what’s happening.” Daniel leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “And what exactly do you plan to do? Seduce him? Bribe him? Because Simon is not stupid.” Kayla smirked. “I don’t need to seduce or bribe him. I just need to make him desperate enough to come to me.” Daniel arched a brow. “And how do you plan on doing that?” Kayla took a deep breath. “I have some di
The room was silent. Aurora’s skin was clear of the rash but still pale. Damien sat on the couch, watching her. Everyone had left the room to give him space. He bit his inner cheeks, watching her closely, trying to catch any slight movement she might make. While he kept staring, his phone began to ring. “Boss,” Simon’s worried voice sounded. “Our ship transporting goods to Australia was attacked. We lost a lot of goods and the team. I’m trying to—” “They fell for it,” Damien scoffed. “What? Boss?” Simon tried to understand what he meant. “Find out if Daniel is awake,” Damien ordered and hung up. Mason walked into the room. “Work?” he asked. Damien didn’t respond. He just sat there, his gaze fixed on Aurora. “I just came from the doctor. The DNA result will be out by evening,” Mason said. Damien only nodded. Naomi, who had been about to enter, stopped in her tracks when she heard Mason mention a DNA result. She frowned and leaned in to eavesdrop. “The last time I remember, i
Damien chuckled. “I never said that. But Mason is different. He doesn’t have the same coldness. Naomi keeps pushing him to be something he’s not.” Aurora stared at him for a moment before sighing. “I don’t know if you’re protecting him or just manipulating the situation.” Damien smirked, turning his eyes back to the road. “Maybe both.” Aurora scoffed. “You’re impossible.” Damien reached over and took her hand. “And yet, you’re still here.” Aurora bit her lip, looking away. She couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her when he held her like that. The car slowed down as they approached a grand, glass-fronted restaurant with golden lighting reflecting off its entrance. The valet rushed forward as Damien pulled into the driveway. “We’re here,” he said, letting go of her hand. Aurora inhaled deeply before stepping out of the car, already sensing that the night wasn’t over yet. The moment Aurora stepped inside Restaurant de Sea, the aroma of grilled seafood and ocea
It was already 1 a.m. Agatha refused to let Aurora sleep in her room. Instead, she held Aurora’s hand and took her to their bedroom.“I don’t want—”“He’s your husband. If you don’t want to, you tell him you don’t want to,” Agatha whispered. Aurora sighed and bit her lip.She slowly opened the door and gently walked into the room. The light was off, so she carefully stepped inside, moving quietly toward their bed.Just as she tried to lay down, a cold, commanding voice stopped her.“Where are you coming from?”The voice made Aurora freeze in place.She couldn’t move until she felt Damien’s breath on her.“Where are you coming from?” he asked again, grabbing her waist and turning her around. Aurora’s eyes widened, but she still couldn’t see his face in the darkness of the room.“I asked you a question.”Aurora swallowed hard. “A-Agatha,” she pointed toward the door.Damien dragged her closer. “Is it fair, hmm?” he asked, his voice unreadable.Aurora looked up at him like a shocked bunn
The words Damien said earlier still ran through Aurora’s mind. She frowned, looking at Damien, but still tried not to glance at the lower part of his body. “My head?” she asked nervously, pointing at her head. “Mmm,” Damien nodded. “Help me out with your head,” he said again, making Aurora take a step back. She was confused as hell. She swallowed hard, then turned around. The closer Damien got, the more she couldn’t imagine what she was feeling or what she was supposed to do. “I… I…” “I will teach you,” he whispered. Aurora felt his breath on her neck. She swallowed hard, and in the next moment, Damien watched as she bolted out of the room. Damien chuckled, then looked down at his bulging member. “Tsk,” he clicked his tongue before shaking his head. “I’m sure she doesn’t even know what that means,” he muttered, walking back to the bathroom. After running out of the bathroom, Aurora stopped beside a pillar, taking a deep breath. Her flushed face was still red, and her hands t
Aurora was excited that she wouldn’t be stuck with Damien—at least Agatha was here to keep her company.“Good evening, Mr. Vladimir,” Agatha greeted.Damien only nodded before turning and heading to his study. Naomi, who had been standing nearby, immediately turned and left before Agatha could catch a glimpse of her.“Thank you for coming. This place would have been suffocating,” Aurora said with a smile.“Don’t say that,” Agatha whispered.“Ma’am, your room is ready. Please come with me,” the butler said, but Agatha held onto Aurora’s hand.“This place is beautiful, Aurora,” Agatha said, smiling.“Mmm… it is,” Aurora murmured.“Damien is here, and he’s obviously trying to make you forgive him for what happened. So don’t say it will be suffocating. This is the time you should make him fall in love with you so deeply that he can’t spend a second without you. Okay?” Agatha said.Aurora smiled but shook her head. “Mmm… His heart is strong. He might have a soft spot for me now, but I can’
Damien’s grip tightened on his phone, his knuckles turning white as he listened to the silence on the other end. Simon held his breath, waiting, watching the doctor shift uncomfortably under his stare.“B…” Simon started, but Damien’s voice cut through like a blade.“Abort it, and take her back to the bunker”Then, the line went dead.Simon’s eyes widened as he slowly turned to the doctor. He swallowed hard before asking, “How is she?”The doctor gave a small nod. “She’s still unconscious but stable. She’ll recuperate soon.”Simon exhaled in relief, but the weight of Damien’s decision pressed heavily on him. “And the baby?”The doctor hesitated before responding, “The procedure will proceed as instructed.”Simon clenched his jaw, nodding once before turning on his heels and leaving the dimly lit room. Back at the Bahamas, As Damien drove out of the secluded area, he sat still in his car, staring ahead at nothing.She was the reason Aurora lost their baby.He would never accept this p
At the Mason Family Mansion Naomi had gone out to meet some old friends. Mason noticed that ever since he halted their vacation for his mother’s health, she had been giving him the cold shoulder. They barely talked anymore, and whenever he tried to speak to her, she acted uninterested. “Junior,” Maria’s voice called. Mason turned. “You’re awake, Mom.” “How long have you been here?” she asked. “Not long. I didn’t meet Dad at home.” Maria sighed. “Mmm. That girl—you said she’s Damien’s wife. Did you say she’s an orphan?” Mason nodded. Maria hesitated before shaking her head. “No, it’s nothing.” But the name her husband had called that day… she had met a woman once when she was pregnant. Was this just a coincidence? “Please send a decline letter to the elite women’s meeting on my behalf,” Maria said before lying down to relax. Mason nodded, then stood up and walked to his father’s study. As he entered, he moved to the desk and reached for the laptop—only for his eyes to land on