Mason took a deep breath, trying to process Damien’s words. “I understand your anger, but going down that road can lead to more chaos. You need to think this through.”Damien sat up in bed as if he hadn’t been unconscious hours ago, his eyes blazing with intensity. “Thinking hasn’t gotten me anywhere, Mason. I’ve played the game by the rules for too long. It’s time to change the game. I won’t allow anyone to take what I’ve built. My mother worked hard for this family. I was just a kid, but I saw everything. I won’t allow the child that was used to push my mother to her death to claim it.”Mason leaned forward, concern etched on his face. “But what about Aurora? She’s in the middle of this now, whether you want her to be or not. If you go after Daniel, it could put her in danger. I haven’t seen or know what she looks like, but I’m sure she won’t be—”“What?” Damien glared at Mason, who chuckled.“It’s only been two days and I’m missing you already,” he said and chuckled.“But why would
Aurora’s face tightened immediately upon hearing the word “boss” from the men around her.“Put me down!” she demanded, struggling against the guards. But they didn’t listen; instead, one held her tightly yet delicately as the other opened the car door. Gently, they placed her inside and adjusted her seat belt.“I’m sorry, ma’am. We have orders to bring you to the boss,” one of them said before closing the door.“Please, don’t take me back to Damien,” Aurora pleaded, her heart racing. She couldn’t imagine the coldness that awaited her if she returned after running away. As the car started moving, Aurora bit her lower lip, frantically thinking of a way to prevent them from taking her back to the mansion.“I’m hungry… I haven’t eaten,” she tried, but got no response.“Please, I’m thirsty,” she added, still met with silence as the guard drove straight to the airport.Aurora nervously rubbed her sweaty hands on her gown. Moments later, she heard the guard speak.“Yes, sir. We conducted a t
The hall was silent as all the department heads of Vladimir Headquarters gathered, looking at the seat of the CEO.Daniel sat at the head of the table, tapping his fingers on the desk while surveying the room. His gaze finally settled on Mr. Ken, the vice president of the company.“You are no longer an employee of the Vladimir empire, so you have no right sitting here, Mr. Ken,” Daniel said coldly, making everyone frown.“See Mr. Kennedy out, and if he refuses, force him out of this company,” he continued, his tone ice-cold.“What’s going on here?” the assistant vice president immediately stood up, only for Daniel to scoff.“Sit down or follow him,” Daniel snapped before turning his attention back to the rest of the staff.“I think it’s not clear to you all that Damien is in a coma and won’t be waking up soon. I’m not just a sit-in CEO, I’m the—”“Boss is…”Mr. Ken tried to interrupt, but the guards dragged him out, silencing the room as they turned their focus back to Daniel.“I’m th
It was 3 a.m. when Simon arrived at the hospital. He parked in the garage, carried Aurora in a bridal style, and made his way to the elevator that would take them up to the presidential suite. The guard on duty bowed as he opened the door. Inside, the room was quiet except for the soft hum of Damien’s life support machine. Damien was asleep, Camila was lying on one couch, and Mason on the other. Simon sighed, noticing the room was full, and decided to lay Aurora beside his boss, knowing the large bed could accommodate them both.After gently placing Aurora on the bed, Simon quietly left the room and went back to sleep in the car, as he hadn’t had proper rest since his boss’s accident.At 5:45 a.m., Simon yawned, opened the car door, and returned to check on his boss. Entering the room, he saw everyone gathered, staring at the still sleeping Aurora.Damien was awake, sitting up and staring at her as well.“When did she arrive?” Camila whispered.“I brought her in at three this morning.
Damien sat in a daze, the words “I’m pregnant your child” lingering in his mind. He couldn’t wait for the test results; the thought of becoming a father in the midst of his family’s deadly feud was overwhelming. despite it all, he couldn’t abandon his child.“What are you thinking?” Mason asked as he entered with Camila, breaking Damien’s silence.“Where’s your wife?” Camila added, prompting Damien to raise his head.“Where is she?” Mason repeated.“Why is your wife acting like a scared cat around you?” Camila pressed.“Mind your business,” Damien snapped, causing Camila to purse her lips in annoyance.“She asked a question; she’s your sister and deserves—”“If you both don’t mind your business, it’s time for you to leave. I’m fine,” he said coldly, his patience running thin. Despite their presence, Damien’s tension remained, and Mason and Camila sat quietly. Time seemed to drag until Simon finally returned with the doctor and Aurora.“Hey, baby girl!” Camila greeted, rushing to hug A
It was 9 a.m. when Damien Vladimir’s private jet landed at New York Airport. Several cars were waiting to pick them up. Mason had to leave home since he’d been away for a while. Damien asked Camila to head back home, leaving him alone with Aurora and Simon. The black SUV driving to Damien’s mansion was silent. Aurora watched the trees pass by one after another as they drove into the estate where Damien’s mansion was located. She couldn’t believe she was back in the reality she had planned so well to escape from. She sat at a distance from Damien, trying her best not to look at him and focusing instead on the scenery. “After you drop us, take the week off. I’ll handle the rest,” Damien said, causing Simon to frown. “But—” “No objections,” Damien’s voice was steady and cold as usual. Aurora still didn’t look at either Simon or Damien. The beautiful gates of the mansion opened as Simon drove in. He pulled into the garage and turned off the engine. Butler Thomas and the other staf
Camila knew Damien might cut her off for this, but something told her that he was going to ask Aurora to terminate the pregnancy, as he didn’t look pleased with the news.“What did you say?” Old man Vladimir asked, making Camila smile.“She’s pregnant, Grandpa. He’s going to be a father,” she said, which made Daniel chuckle.“Why so soon?” he laughed, and the old man smiled.“That’s a man who wants to live life on his own terms. That’s a man of principle,” he said proudly, while Daniel scoffed, wiping his lips as he stood up and left the dining table.“Father, every man has his own priorities,” Clara said, making old man Vladimir scoff.“You should be happy. You’ll be a grandmother soon,” he said, calling out to his butler.“I know where my excitement truly lies,” Clara said, catching John’s attention.“Damien is your son too,” John said as Clara scoffed and put down her cutlery.“I know how many children I gave birth to, John,” she said, standing up, while old man Vladimir shook his
Inside the wet, dark cell room, two men sat far from each other. They didn’t know how many hours they had been there, but it felt like an eternity.“I told you we should leave, but you relied on that bastard who can’t even outdo his brother. Now look where we are,” one of the men said, causing the other to sigh. At that moment, they heard the rumbling sound of chains, and the door opened.The light turned on, and they immediately shut their eyes, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness.They could hear footsteps—more than one person or even two.As they tried to open their eyes, they saw Damien in a wheelchair with three bodyguards.Damien’s cold gaze stared daggers at the two men, who immediately bowed their heads.“Tie them down,” he said quietly. Two guards stepped forward, raised the men, and sat them in iron chairs, binding them with chains.“Daniel asked you to kill me, but you didn’t do a good job. Why?” he asked. Both men frowned and then scoffed.“We don’t know what you—”O
Naomi swallowed hard and immediately hung up. She cleared her throat, trying hard not to look at Damien’s expressionless face. “It’s uncultured to listen to someone’s phone call,” she said. Damien simply nodded. “I can identify a fake the very first day I see one. If Mason believes you are the one, so be it. But take note—if you mess with his naivety, the earth will be a place you will wish you never existed.” His voice was quiet, but every word sounded like a warning. Without waiting for Naomi’s response, he walked away. Naomi frowned. Her palms were sweaty, and her body was shaking. She swallowed hard and tried to sit down to calm herself. As Damien walked back upstairs, he saw Mason coming out of their room. “Did you see Naomi?” Mason asked. Damien shook his head. Mason sighed and left to go look for his wife. Inside the master bedroom, Aurora was in her nightwear, focused on her phone when Damien walked in. “You should be sleeping,” his voice said, making Aurora raise he
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