Aurora’s gasp echoed through the dimly lit room. Her breath caught as her gaze fell upon Audrey, slumped in the corner. The man who once radiated confidence and pride now appeared as a shadow of his former self. His clothes hung loosely on his gaunt frame, his skin pale and sickly. Trembling hands gripped the edge of a worn chair, and his hollow eyes flickered with a mixture of desperation and defeat. “Aurora…” Audrey rasped, his voice cracked and barely audible. He squinted under the harsh glare of the overhead light, his frail gaze locking onto her. “Why are you here?” Aurora stepped forward hesitantly, her heart constricting at the sight of him. Memories surged to the forefront of her mind—some tender, others stained with the bitterness of betrayal. “Audrey… what happened to you?” she whispered, her voice trembling under the weight of her pity and confusion. Behind her, Damien stood silently, his imposing presence casting a long shadow across the room. His piercing hazel eyes
The chill of the night air hit them the moment they arrived at Sara’s house. Aurora stepped out of the car, her white fluffy coat rustling with the motion. Her gown beneath shimmered softly in the dim light, adding an ethereal glow to her already radiant appearance. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders in sleek waves, and her peach-toned skin glowed softly even in the harsh streetlight. Her blue eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered briefly over the house before she turned toward the door. A knock echoed through the quiet house, sharp and assertive. From inside, Sara heard it and quickly wrapped herself in a blanket before rushing down the stairs. She paused before the door, peering through the peephole, and saw two men dressed in black. Her heart skipped. Could it be Audrey? Without a second thought, she flung open the door, only to have the two men push past her, forceful and unyielding. “Who are you? What do you want?” Sara demanded, confusion and panic rising in her
The weather was bitterly cold, and the two men huddled in opposite corners of the damp, dimly lit cell. Their breath rose in faint, visible puffs as they shivered uncontrollably. The air smelled of mildew and despair.“I told you it was a bad idea to accept Daniel’s offer,” one of the men muttered, his voice trembling. “He won’t lift a finger to save us. Look at where we are, trapped in this godforsaken hole. Thanksgiving has passed, and instead of being with my family, I’m stuck here. And I know—I know—this place is the last thing I’ll see before Damien gets rid of us.”The other man didn’t respond, his eyes darting nervously toward the heavy iron door. The faint sound of chains rattling grew louder until it stopped abruptly.The door creaked open, and a tall, commanding figure stepped inside. The dim light flickered as Damien entered, his sharp features casting dark shadows across the walls. His coat swayed slightly with his steps, and his cold, calculating eyes surveyed the room.T
Damien pinned Daniel to the floor as his younger brother writhed and struggled beneath him, attempting to free himself. Despite Daniel’s resistance, Damien’s strength held firm. Daniel continued his futile attempts to break free. “Damien! Let me go!” “Go upstairs now!” Damien’s voice, cold and commanding, cut through the air like a blade. Aurora, standing at the door, froze in her tracks, torn between staying and intervening. “Don’t chase her away!” Daniel spat, his voice filled with venom. “Let her see the kind of man she’s with—a murderer.” Aurora’s face paled as she looked at Damien, her concern evident. “I said leave!” Damien’s glare was enough to make her flinch. Without another word, she turned and left the study, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing in the tense room. As soon as Aurora was gone, Damien released Daniel, who staggered to his feet, his expression twisted with rage. “What nonsense is this?” Damien snapped, watching as Daniel brushed dust off his coat.
Aurora woke to the beeping of machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she found herself in a hospital room. The soft hum of a heater filled the space, muffling the sounds of footsteps in the hallway.“Madam, thank God,” Stella said, rushing to her side. “You’re awake.”Aurora struggled to sit up, her hand instinctively moving to her abdomen. “My baby…”The maid hesitated, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.Before she could respond, the door opened, and Damien strode in. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his worry. He dismissed Stella with a curt nod, and she scurried out.Damien sat beside Aurora, his piercing gaze meeting hers. “You’re safe,” he said, his voice softer than usual.Aurora’s eyes filled with tears. “What about the baby?”Damien hesitated, his jaw tightening. “The doctors managed to save the pregnancy, but they said you need to rest. Stress isn’t an option anymore.”Aurora covered her face,
Aurora struggled to free herself from the pressure of the pillow suffocating her, but she was too weak and fragile. The fear of losing her baby overwhelmed her fear of losing her own life.Meanwhile, Stella, who had been sleeping on the couch, woke to Aurora screaming and shaking in her sleep. Immediately, she rushed to Aurora’s side, trying to wake her.“Madam!” she called, but to no avail. Aurora continued to struggle.Panicked, Stella grabbed the jug of water on the bedside table and splashed it on Aurora’s face. Aurora gasped loudly.“Ahh! Ah!” Aurora gasped, looking around frantically.“Madam, it’s just a nightmare,” Stella said, hugging Aurora as she breathed heavily.“My baby… he tried to suffocate me! He was pressing the pillow on my face, trying to kill me. What did I do wrong?” Aurora cried, her voice trembling.“It’s all a dream, Madam. No one was here,” Stella reassured her, but Aurora shook her head vehemently.“No! Call Damien. I want to go home. I can’t stay here,” she
The room was cold and quiet. Sara watched as Audrey tried to eat his meal before taking his pills, still recovering from Damien’s torture.“You went to her like a fool. It makes me doubt the fact that you said you love me. Didn’t you see how she acted like we were never best friends? And yet you—”“I wanted to apologize for betraying her, Sara. She didn’t deserve—”“And now look at you. What did you get in return?” Sara asked, causing Audrey to sigh.“Who knows how she used her orphan status to attract Mr. Vladimir? I’m very sure she’s not his type,” Sara said with disgust, and Audrey nodded in agreement.“Since she let him treat me this way, I know some of her secrets. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Audrey looked at Sara, who scoffed.“I’m sure her rich husband would want to save his reputation,” she said, and Audrey nodded.“Let’s make some money, Aurora Gibson,” he said with a scoff.At the Mason mansion, Mrs. Mason’s hands trembled with anger. The elegant and beautiful young
Naomi grabbed Mason’s hands, her gaze filled with unspoken emotions. Mason sighed and turned toward her. Gently, he cupped her face, his thumb brushing away the blood on her lips. “Are you hurt?” he asked softly. Naomi shook her head. “Just my cheeks,” she replied. Mason leaned in and kissed her cheek tenderly. Nearby, Becky sat frozen, her expression a mixture of disbelief and pain. Mason hadn’t touched her, not even as the other woman had demanded. As Butler James stepped forward to assist her, she pulled back abruptly. “Don’t touch me,” Becky snapped, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her face was a burning red from Naomi’s slap. Wiping the blood from her mouth, she steadied herself and rose. “So, it’s true,” Becky spat, her voice laced with venom. “You married a woman who has no respect for your mother.” Mason turned to face her, his expression cold. “You know nothing about her, Becky. Don’t—” “What about you?” Becky interrupted, her voice breaki
Jay closed his mouth for a second before sighing.“I think it’s time. Boss is waiting downstairs for—”“Please, I want to know,” Aurora interrupted, making Jay sigh again.“It’s what normal couples do. He’s come to check how his princess looks and hopes she likes the service. If—”“It’s okay,” Aurora cut in, making Jay glance at Stella, who gave him a sad smile. Aurora took a deep breath, then left.Downstairs, Simon held an umbrella, waiting patiently. He turned when he heard Aurora coming down the stairs.“Madam,” he greeted, smiling at her.“Boss is waiting in the car,” he added as Aurora nodded.Simon wished he could compliment Aurora’s beauty—her captivating blue eyes, her luscious red lips, her radiant smile, and the elegance of her dress. He quickly opened the umbrella to shield her from the snow.When Simon opened the car door, Aurora stepped in, dusting off the snowflakes from the fur trim of her coat.Damien’s gaze moved to her, and his eyes lingered on her exposed thighs. A
The weather grew colder as the festive season approached. Naomi watched Mason type on his laptop, looking serious and focused. A bright smile spread across her face as she stood silently, admiring him.“You look handsome when you’re working,” she said, prompting Mason to raise his head.“Thanks, babe. What are you doing?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.“Watching you,” she replied, setting down the cup of hot coffee she had brought for him. “Staring at the man my sons will resemble someday—the man they’ll thank me for choosing as their father.”Mason smiled, raising her hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on it.“I love you,” he whispered, making Naomi blush before she sat on his lap.“I love you, Mason,” she whispered back, her hazel eyes locking with his. Her polished fingers started to unbutton his shirt slowly.Naomi leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against Mason’s face. Gently, his slim fingers slid into her shirt, touching her warm skin. She smiled at the sens
Naomi grabbed Mason’s hands, her gaze filled with unspoken emotions. Mason sighed and turned toward her. Gently, he cupped her face, his thumb brushing away the blood on her lips. “Are you hurt?” he asked softly. Naomi shook her head. “Just my cheeks,” she replied. Mason leaned in and kissed her cheek tenderly. Nearby, Becky sat frozen, her expression a mixture of disbelief and pain. Mason hadn’t touched her, not even as the other woman had demanded. As Butler James stepped forward to assist her, she pulled back abruptly. “Don’t touch me,” Becky snapped, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her face was a burning red from Naomi’s slap. Wiping the blood from her mouth, she steadied herself and rose. “So, it’s true,” Becky spat, her voice laced with venom. “You married a woman who has no respect for your mother.” Mason turned to face her, his expression cold. “You know nothing about her, Becky. Don’t—” “What about you?” Becky interrupted, her voice breaki
The room was cold and quiet. Sara watched as Audrey tried to eat his meal before taking his pills, still recovering from Damien’s torture.“You went to her like a fool. It makes me doubt the fact that you said you love me. Didn’t you see how she acted like we were never best friends? And yet you—”“I wanted to apologize for betraying her, Sara. She didn’t deserve—”“And now look at you. What did you get in return?” Sara asked, causing Audrey to sigh.“Who knows how she used her orphan status to attract Mr. Vladimir? I’m very sure she’s not his type,” Sara said with disgust, and Audrey nodded in agreement.“Since she let him treat me this way, I know some of her secrets. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Audrey looked at Sara, who scoffed.“I’m sure her rich husband would want to save his reputation,” she said, and Audrey nodded.“Let’s make some money, Aurora Gibson,” he said with a scoff.At the Mason mansion, Mrs. Mason’s hands trembled with anger. The elegant and beautiful young
Aurora struggled to free herself from the pressure of the pillow suffocating her, but she was too weak and fragile. The fear of losing her baby overwhelmed her fear of losing her own life.Meanwhile, Stella, who had been sleeping on the couch, woke to Aurora screaming and shaking in her sleep. Immediately, she rushed to Aurora’s side, trying to wake her.“Madam!” she called, but to no avail. Aurora continued to struggle.Panicked, Stella grabbed the jug of water on the bedside table and splashed it on Aurora’s face. Aurora gasped loudly.“Ahh! Ah!” Aurora gasped, looking around frantically.“Madam, it’s just a nightmare,” Stella said, hugging Aurora as she breathed heavily.“My baby… he tried to suffocate me! He was pressing the pillow on my face, trying to kill me. What did I do wrong?” Aurora cried, her voice trembling.“It’s all a dream, Madam. No one was here,” Stella reassured her, but Aurora shook her head vehemently.“No! Call Damien. I want to go home. I can’t stay here,” she
Aurora woke to the beeping of machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she found herself in a hospital room. The soft hum of a heater filled the space, muffling the sounds of footsteps in the hallway.“Madam, thank God,” Stella said, rushing to her side. “You’re awake.”Aurora struggled to sit up, her hand instinctively moving to her abdomen. “My baby…”The maid hesitated, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.Before she could respond, the door opened, and Damien strode in. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his worry. He dismissed Stella with a curt nod, and she scurried out.Damien sat beside Aurora, his piercing gaze meeting hers. “You’re safe,” he said, his voice softer than usual.Aurora’s eyes filled with tears. “What about the baby?”Damien hesitated, his jaw tightening. “The doctors managed to save the pregnancy, but they said you need to rest. Stress isn’t an option anymore.”Aurora covered her face,
Damien pinned Daniel to the floor as his younger brother writhed and struggled beneath him, attempting to free himself. Despite Daniel’s resistance, Damien’s strength held firm. Daniel continued his futile attempts to break free. “Damien! Let me go!” “Go upstairs now!” Damien’s voice, cold and commanding, cut through the air like a blade. Aurora, standing at the door, froze in her tracks, torn between staying and intervening. “Don’t chase her away!” Daniel spat, his voice filled with venom. “Let her see the kind of man she’s with—a murderer.” Aurora’s face paled as she looked at Damien, her concern evident. “I said leave!” Damien’s glare was enough to make her flinch. Without another word, she turned and left the study, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing in the tense room. As soon as Aurora was gone, Damien released Daniel, who staggered to his feet, his expression twisted with rage. “What nonsense is this?” Damien snapped, watching as Daniel brushed dust off his coat.
The weather was bitterly cold, and the two men huddled in opposite corners of the damp, dimly lit cell. Their breath rose in faint, visible puffs as they shivered uncontrollably. The air smelled of mildew and despair.“I told you it was a bad idea to accept Daniel’s offer,” one of the men muttered, his voice trembling. “He won’t lift a finger to save us. Look at where we are, trapped in this godforsaken hole. Thanksgiving has passed, and instead of being with my family, I’m stuck here. And I know—I know—this place is the last thing I’ll see before Damien gets rid of us.”The other man didn’t respond, his eyes darting nervously toward the heavy iron door. The faint sound of chains rattling grew louder until it stopped abruptly.The door creaked open, and a tall, commanding figure stepped inside. The dim light flickered as Damien entered, his sharp features casting dark shadows across the walls. His coat swayed slightly with his steps, and his cold, calculating eyes surveyed the room.T
The chill of the night air hit them the moment they arrived at Sara’s house. Aurora stepped out of the car, her white fluffy coat rustling with the motion. Her gown beneath shimmered softly in the dim light, adding an ethereal glow to her already radiant appearance. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders in sleek waves, and her peach-toned skin glowed softly even in the harsh streetlight. Her blue eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered briefly over the house before she turned toward the door. A knock echoed through the quiet house, sharp and assertive. From inside, Sara heard it and quickly wrapped herself in a blanket before rushing down the stairs. She paused before the door, peering through the peephole, and saw two men dressed in black. Her heart skipped. Could it be Audrey? Without a second thought, she flung open the door, only to have the two men push past her, forceful and unyielding. “Who are you? What do you want?” Sara demanded, confusion and panic rising in her