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
Aurora’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as Damien kissed her. The kiss was sudden, filled with a mixture of his lingering frustration and something else—something deeper. It caught her completely off guard, but as the initial surprise faded, she found herself responding. Her lips moved softly against his, timid but sincere. The atmosphere was intense as Aurora’s wide-open eyes gently closed as she kissed him back. The kiss was intense, and her fragile hands moved into his hair as she tried to match the energy he was giving her, but it was too overwhelming. Damien could taste the delicious flavors of the meal she had eaten earlier as he deepened the kiss, not giving her space to breathe. Simon, who was driving the car, couldn’t help but quickly find a nearby empty park. He parked the car and left the couple alone as he took a walk. “Ahh,” Aurora let out a soft moan as Damien released her lips, slowly kissing her neck down to her collarbone. Without hesitat
At the Owen’s luxury jewelry store in the heart of the city, an elegant elderly lady stood glaring at the manager who refused to accept the Owen’s free card, a privilege that only the Owen family holds.“Do you know who I am?” she angrily asked, her voice sharp with indignation.The manager sighed, keeping his composure. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but the company president has disapproved all branches of the Owen’s jewelry company from accepting anyone with the free card. It’s no longer valid.”“What nonsense!” she exploded. “Damien has no right to do that. I need to speak to him. I have every right to shop with this card.”The manager sighed again. “Excuse me,” he said, picking up the company phone to call the president.At Damien’s mansion, after instructing Simon on his tasks, Damien continued working alongside Mason. Suddenly, his phone rang.“Yes,” his voice was cold as he answered.“Sir, I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s a woman here demanding free jewelry using the Owen’s family fre
The dinner hall was quiet, everyone’s eyes on Beverly. She sighed, rubbing her head, then looked at Daniel. “I’m disappointed you think that of me. Why would I want to have an outside relationship with my colleague when Damien is there? It’s unprofessional,” she said, while Daniel scoffed. “Don’t be. I’m just suggesting because nothing is pointing fingers at a reason why…” “Daniel, that’s enough. You shouldn’t conclude something that’s not happening. Beverly won’t do it,” Clara cut in, and everyone sighed. “I know my daughter, Mr. Daniel Vladimir. She wouldn’t hurt Damien. I believe he has something he just doesn’t want to say. He’s Damien, and everyone here knows how he acts sometimes,” Mrs. Wales said, rubbing her daughter’s back. “That’s fine. There’s nothing I can do anymore. He has introduced his wife, and I’m not going to pressure him into marrying you, but I can tell you this—I don’t invite people whose identity I don’t know into our family,” Old Man Vladimir said, causing
The morning was so bright. Aurora had already bathed but now didn’t want to leave her room. It had been three days since she last spoke to Damien. After he asked her to leave that evening, he hadn’t looked at her or spoken to her—not that he did much before—but after the heated moment in the car that night, she thought they were supposed to be closer. Her heart raced whenever she thought of him, and she feared his rejection after that evening, so she stopped checking up on him. “Madam,” Stella called, catching Aurora’s attention. “You haven’t been yourself since the evening the boss asked you to leave his study,” she said, causing Aurora to sigh. “I told you, I understand he didn’t want to be disturbed, so I thought I should give him space,” she explained, as Stella sat beside her. “That’s what you say, but that’s not what your face is saying. I know you’re in love with him. You should understand he’s not like other men. He hardly shows affection, but I’m sure he’s fallen in l
Damien’s cold gaze locked onto the fragile figure standing before him as he buttoned up his shirt. Aurora’s hands nervously gripped the edges of her pajama shirt as she stood there, unsure of how to proceed. He sighed, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice piercing through the silence like a blade. The commanding tone made her flinch slightly, her blue eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Speak,” he ordered as he fastened his wristwatch. Aurora swallowed hard, her lips trembling. She had to do this. She had to say it now, or she never would. “I’m in love with you, Damien,” she said, her voice small but steady. The room seemed to freeze in that moment. Damien paused, his expression unchanged, though his eyes darkened slightly. Aurora’s heart pounded in her chest as the silence stretched on, suffocating her. She wasn’t sure if he was about to reject her, laugh, or dismiss her entirely. Damien’s cold, unreadable gaze lingered on her, his jaw tight.
The morning was bright as Damien woke up after an almost seven-hour flight from New York to California. He took a bath and put on his bathrobe. The five-star hotel presidential suite he was staying in wasn’t too far from the event center for the business gala. His food was already served, and he ate the little he could before taking a glass of wine to his balcony. The city view was spread out before him, with busy streets and other skyscrapers visible in the distance. Damien took a deep breath. It was a beautiful scene to behold. He looked down at the people walking around, and when his eyes landed on a couple, an image flashed in his head, making him hiss. He sat down to relax, going through his mail, but the events of the previous night in his study started replaying in his mind. “I’m in love with you, Damien.” Aurora’s words seemed to be haunting him, and he dropped his iPad. He didn’t understand why those words still echoed in his mind. Since he was born, the only image that s
Inside the presidential suite, the steady beep of the life-support machine filled the room. Aurora clung tightly to Damien’s unconscious hand, her tears refusing to stop. She thought he was dead. After waiting endlessly for the surgery to end, her heart had pounded without rest, desperate in prayer for her husband’s life.She had forgotten she was bleeding and her clothes were stained until a nurse approached, gently handing her clean clothes and sanitary supplies.Raising her head to gaze at Damien’s sleeping face, Aurora closed her eyes and continued sobbing. Simon, standing nearby, could feel the heaviness of her grief. He sighed, then approached quietly.“Madam,” he whispered, leaning close.“Ma—”Just then, the door burst open. Camila and Agatha rushed in.“What happened?” Camila cried, her eyes already filled with tears as she hurried to Damien’s side.Aurora sat up, allowing Agatha to pull her into a comforting hug.“I thought he was dead,” Aurora whispered brokenly into Agatha
John cleared his throat, then smiled at Aurora. “Aurora,” he called, smiling. “Father,” Aurora responded with a smile. “Sir Damien,” the manager who was with John now greeted. “I’ve told you to stay away from anything that has to do with my mother,” Damien said, making John sigh. “Thank you for your help, Manager Christ. I’ll take my leave,” John said and left. “You’re fired,” Damien said as he entered the elevator with Aurora. “Boss, I’m sorry, he—” The manager tried to plead, but the elevator doors closed. “You can’t just fire—” “It’s my company, my rules. I warned him. My father’s presence here—I should be informed. He disobeyed me. I would have sent him to the hospital before firing him, but you’re here. I don’t want to traumatize you,” Damien said. Aurora gently held his hand. “At least… aren’t you curious to know why your father came?” “Same reason as always. It’s his dead wife’s property. He came to visit,” Damien replied, making Aurora sigh. “Well, I don’t see an
Aurora walked into the wardrobe where Damien was, after she was done eating. Her eyes widened, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.“What’s funny?” Damien turned around, wearing white pants and a beach shirt.“What’s in all these boxes?” she asked, opening one.“Ahh…” she looked at Damien, who smiled.“Go and bathe. I’ll fix your sanitary items for you,” he said, causing Aurora to bow her head, then chuckle again.“Do you want to start a company for manufacturing sanitary pads?” she asked.“Do you want me to?” he responded, making Aurora smile, then sigh.“You already have too much on your plate. That’s very unnecessary,” she said as she opened another box.“Oh, Damien…” she muttered upon seeing it was filled with tampons.“Go and bathe. I’ll select clothes for you to wear. I didn’t order other clothes along—I was in a haste while ordering all of them,” he said, and Aurora nodded.“Actually, I don’t like tampons. They make me uncomfortable,” she said, then left the wardrobe.In less tha
John drank his life away. The fact that his father’s death didn’t hurt him as much as seeing his wife having an affair did. He wanted to press her neck and choke her, but he loved her so much that doing so would feel like hurting himself.“Where’s my mother?” Daniel walked in.“I told you to leave,” John said, standing up from the couch.“I’ve called you father my whole life, not knowing you killed my real father. Still, I don’t care. The only person I don’t want to see in this family is Damien, because he is the reason I’m seen as a man with no use. So—”“Shut up and leave, Daniel. You have no right to say who you want to see and who you don’t,” John said, then turned to leave.“I will burn the Vladimirs to the ground,” Daniel said, causing John to smirk.“I’ll watch you try. A little reminder—Damien is not a man to play with. He’s been easy with you because of his grandpa, but now he’s gone. And your mother killed him. He’ll put a bullet through your heart without thinking. That’s t
Everywhere became silent. Mason’s eyes stared at Naomi. Agatha and Camila smiled at her curiously.Naomi knew Camila was trying to stir something up, so she immediately cleared her throat.“Erhhhem… I think you heard wrong,” she said, drinking from her wine glass.“I’ve heard that name before,” Mason said, removing the steaks from the grill.“Where, baby?” she asked, gesturing for Mason to cut the steaks into small pieces.“You. On call with some Sara,” he said, making Naomi frown.“You all have been hearing wrong, and even if you heard right, I don’t want to talk about my ex,” she said, prompting Camila to chuckle.“It doesn’t bite though,” Camila said, collecting steaks from Mason.“It should be my business,” Naomi added. Agatha chuckled at the drama before smiling at Mason, who handed her the steak.Naomi didn’t like that, but she couldn’t react, so she just sat still, holding in her anger.“What about you, Agatha? I see you’ve been staying with Aurora recently. Don’t you have a bo
The ride was silent. Damien looked at Aurora through the rearview mirror as she folded herself in the back seat and cried.He didn’t understand why she was crying. He hated himself for not punishing them—just giving them an easy death. His knuckles tightened as he picked up his phone and dialed a number.“Search for their family. Everyone should pay,” he said coldly, then hung up.Instead of heading to the mansion, Damien diverted to an isolated highway. He kept watching Aurora until she eventually fell asleep.He stopped at a small white beach. A beautiful vacation house stood at the center. He stepped out and carried the sleeping Aurora in his arms.“Open the door, Alexa,” he commanded, and the gate opened. Damien walked in while carrying Aurora. Her purple cheeks made him feel he hadn’t served justice yet. He entered the mansion and took her to the only bedroom in the house. Gently, he laid her down and went downstairs to make a call.“Frank, whatever you’re doing, stop it. I need
Agatha stood up, shocked and worried.“What did you say? She just went for a candy,” she said, rushing toward where Camila came from.“Aurora!!” she screamed out.“See, her ice cream stick,” Camila pointed at the melted ice cream on the floor.“It might not be hers. Might just be the same flavor. Not hers,” Agatha refused to believe it and rushed to the candy stand.“Did you sell candy to a petite, dark-haired girl with blue eyes? About twenty-four years old?” she asked. The man nodded.“She paid and took her candy away,” the man responded.“Did you see anyone with her or…”“A guy. Didn’t look at him very well,” he added, then continued attending to his customers.“What do you think?” Camila asked.Agatha rubbed her head, worried. “We need to tell Damien before it’s too late. He won’t take it easy on us. You know your brother.”On the highway, far from the park, three men sat in silence as they drove their little truck into the woods.“Are you sure the husband will pay a huge ransom f
John knew one thing for sure—messing with Damien was never a good idea. Upon finding out about their grandfather’s death and who was responsible, he vowed to make sure the person suffered emotionally, physically, and mentally. He knew Ciara had killed his father. That night, when he woke up and saw she wasn’t in bed, he assumed she was in the bathroom. But when he checked and didn’t find her there, he simply returned to bed. He hadn’t been surprised—but he was shocked that his suspicions had been right. He didn’t take action. He felt guilty for killing Daniel’s father, so he bore the responsibility. That was why he couldn’t let her leave the villa as Damien had demanded. But what he was hearing and seeing now—his body couldn’t contain the anger. The sounds of erotic moans filled the room. Ciara immediately grabbed her phone to switch it off. The message sent to her earlier was an erotic video—of her and her sugar boy. John couldn’t take it. He yanked the phone from her hands. “Jo
Damien wasn’t in the mood to joke around with Daniel Babiah’s tantrums. Normally, he wouldn’t have confronted Ciara after the DNA test showed that the skin from his grandfather’s finger matched hers. She was the reason his mother died, and now she had sent his grandfather to the grave with her own hands.His eyes scanned her body until they landed on a small bandage on her arm.“Are you insane?” Daniel looked at Damien after the heavy accusation.“I refuse to let you drag me into a mess. Why would I kill Grand—”Without another word, Damien grabbed Daniel by the neck with force. He had no time for her denial. Since she killed his grandfather for her son, he would make her confess—because of that same son.“Let me go!” Daniel struggled, but it was like a giant gripping a human’s neck. Ciara’s eyes widened as the aura Damien released grew colder and colder.“Why did you kill my grandfather?” Damien asked again, this time increasing the pressure on Daniel’s neck.“Kkkk…” Daniel gasped, s