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Chapter 8
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2025-03-21 10:00:00Once a Fool, Now a Queen
Aurora Sinclair’s POV⸻I wasn’t going to destroy Damian by becoming him.I was going to destroy him by being smarter.And that meant playing the long game.I scrolled through my contacts, my fingers hesitating over a name I hadn’t spoken in years. Eleanor Hawthorne.She was a legend in the business world. Ruthless. Unyielding. And once upon a time, she had been Damian’s mentor—until he betrayed her to take over her company’s biggest deal.If anyone had a reason to hate him as much as I did, it was Eleanor.I took a breath and hit call.The line rang once. Twice. Then—“Aurora Sinclair,” a voice purred on the other end. “Didn’t think I’d ever hear from you.”“I think we have something in common,” I said smoothly. “A certain man who thinks he’s untouchable.”There was a beat of silence. Then, a low chuckle. “I’m listening.”⸻Elean
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Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 9
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻If I was going to take Damian down, I needed to know exactly where his power came from. And more importantly—who was keeping him on top.I spent the next week doing what I should have done years ago. I dissected every piece of Damian’s empire. His investors, his legal team, the men who owed him favors and the ones who feared him too much to speak against him.I wasn’t alone in this.Celeste had a gift for uncovering skeletons people thought were safely buried. She spent days combing through financial records, real estate holdings, and offshore accounts.And then, one night, she called me.“I found something,” she said, her voice edged with excitement. “Something big.”Within the hour, we were sitting in her apartment, a thick folder spread across her coffee table.“What am I looking at?” I asked, flipping through the documents.“Shell compani
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 10
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻The invitation came in the form of a single black card, embossed with gold lettering.The Augustine ClubExclusive Investor’s Circle | By Invitation OnlyI didn’t need to ask how Killian had gotten me in. I knew what kind of doors he could open with a mere whisper of his name. But the real question was—why?I found him waiting in the hotel lounge, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, the crisp lines emphasizing his broad shoulders and the raw confidence he carried so effortlessly.“You clean up well,” I said, sliding into the seat across from him.Killian smirked, sipping his whiskey. “And you look like you’re ready to conquer an empire.”I was. The fitted black dress hugged my curves, the diamond drop earrings adding just enough edge to make me look expensive—untouchable.Because tonight, I wasn’t Damian Sinclair’s ex-wife. I was A
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 11
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻The first thing I did was erase my past.Sinclair Industries had been a name tied to Damian. A name people whispered with admiration—or fear. But it wasn’t mine.I needed something new.A.S. Enterprises.Sleek. Powerful. Unapologetically mine.“You’re making your first move.” Killian leaned back in his chair, watching as I signed the final set of legal documents. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”I met his gaze, the weight of the moment settling deep in my bones. “It’s only the beginning.”And it was.Within days, Killian opened doors I didn’t even know existed. High-level introductions, potential partnerships, a seat at tables where real power was brokered.Some men fought wars in boardrooms. Others fought them in shadows.I was learning how to do both.Then, the inevitable happened.Damian found out.And
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 12
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻Trust was a dangerous thing.And as I sat across from Killian Wolfe in the dimly lit lounge of a private club, I wondered if I was making the biggest mistake of my life.Between us, a half-finished bottle of whiskey caught the low light, the amber liquid reflecting back at me like a warning.“Say it,” Killian said, leaning back against the leather booth, his gaze locked onto mine. “Say you want my help.”I exhaled slowly, gripping my glass a little tighter. “I want your help.”A victorious smirk played on his lips. “Smart woman.”“Don’t flatter yourself.” I set my drink down with a deliberate clink. “This is business, not loyalty.”Killian’s fingers drummed lazily on the table. “And yet, you hesitated before agreeing. What was it, Sinclair? Fear? Or are you just waiting for a better deal?”I refused to take the bait. “I don’t make deals
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 13
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻Some battles are won in boardrooms, others in courtrooms.But the deadliest ones?They’re won in the shadows—before your enemy even knows the war has begun.I sat in my office, the morning sun spilling across my desk, as I held the phone to my ear. Across from me, Celeste leaned forward, her expression sharp with anticipation.“Are you sure you want to do this?” the voice on the other end asked.“Yes.” My voice was steady, unwavering. “I have everything you need. Bank transfers, dummy corporations, offshore accounts—it all traces back to Damian Blackwood.”There was a pause.Then, the journalist—an award-winning investigative reporter known for exposing corporate fraud—spoke again.“I’ll look into it. But if this goes public, you need to be ready for the fallout.”I smiled coldly. “I’ve been waiting for this fallout my whole lif
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 14
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*A Dangerous Balance*Killian Wolfe was a storm.Unpredictable. Ruthless. Impossible to ignore.And for some reason, I kept finding myself in his orbit.“Do you trust me, Aurora?” His voice was low, cutting through the tension in my office.I exhaled slowly, my fingers tightening around the edge of my desk. “Trust is a luxury I can’t afford.”He smirked, as if he expected that answer. “Then consider this a business transaction. Nothing more.”Liar.We both knew this was more.⸻*The Game He’s Playing*Killian and I had been working together for weeks now—strategizing, planning, maneuvering against Damian with the precision of a well-played chess game.But the more time we spent together, the more I felt the lines blur.It was in the way he stood too close when we analyzed reports. The way
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 15
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*Damian’s Last Card*Some men don’t accept defeat.They claw and grasp, desperate to rewrite the story even as the ink dries against their skin. Damian was one of them.The headlines should have been his downfall. Blackwood Empire Under Investigation. Illegal Dealings Exposed. Damian Blackwood’s Secrets Unraveling.But instead of crumbling, he did what he always did—he manipulated.I watched the press conference from my office, my nails digging into my palm as Damian sat before the cameras, his expression carefully curated into something resembling regret.“The allegations against my company are deeply troubling,” he said smoothly. “But more than that, I am heartbroken to see my ex-wife, Aurora Sinclair, dragged into this storm. She is a woman I once loved, and I refuse to let false narratives destroy her.”I felt the bile rise in my throat.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 16
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*The Weight of a Name*The moment I stepped into the room, the air shifted.It wasn’t obvious—no sharp gasps, no overt stares—but I felt it. The way conversations quieted just enough for my name to slither between them. Aurora Sinclair. Damian Blackwood’s ex-wife. The woman who tried and failed.I knew this was coming. It didn’t make it any easier.The business world had always been ruthless, but for a woman clawing her way back from ruin? It was carnivorous.I adjusted the silk lapels of my blazer, lifted my chin, and walked deeper into the lion’s den.Killian was already there, leaning against the bar with his usual controlled ease. He caught my gaze but didn’t move to greet me.Good.If I was going to prove I deserved to be here, I needed to do it alone.⸻*The Skeptics*A waiter passed by with a t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22
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Once a Fool, Now a Queen EXTRA CHAPTER 3
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***EXTRA CHAPTER 3: A SUNDAY IN BEDThe world could wait.For once, we weren’t at war with it. There were no meetings to attend, no business negotiations looming over our heads, no scandals to extinguish before they could spark into something greater.It was just us.Wrapped in the golden glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, tangled beneath the sheets, bodies warm from sleep and something deeper, something unspoken.I stirred first, stretching lazily, my limbs brushing against Killian’s. He made a sound—a deep, contented hum that vibrated against my skin.“Morning,” I murmured.“Too early,” he grumbled, voice rough with sleep, arms tightening around my waist as he pulled me against his chest. “Go back to bed.”I smiled, nestling into the warmth of him. “It’s past noon.”“Then let’s call it a Sunday in bed.”—
Once a Fool, Now a Queen EXTRA CHAPTER 2
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***EXTRA CHAPTER 2: THE POWER IN HIS HANDSThe gala was a masterpiece of wealth and influence—crystal chandeliers casting golden light over a sea of the elite, the murmur of expensive conversations, and the delicate clink of champagne flutes echoing through the air.I walked through it effortlessly, the silk of my gown sliding against my skin with every step. The fabric clung in all the right places, the deep crimson shade designed to draw attention. And it worked. Heads turned as I passed, whispers trailing in my wake.But there was only one gaze I felt.Killian.I hadn’t looked at him directly yet, but I knew exactly where he was.Somewhere in the periphery, watching.Enjoying.It was a game we played—one of control, of power, of the intoxicating push and pull between us.I took a champagne flute from a passing waiter, bringing it to my
Once a Fool, Now a Queen EXTRA CHAPTER 1
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***EXTRA CHAPTER 1: THE NIGHT WE WERE JUST USThe waves rolled in soft, rhythmic whispers against the shore, the salty breeze tangling in my hair as I stood barefoot on the cool sand. The night was impossibly still, the sky endless above me, painted in deep indigo with flecks of stars that shimmered like scattered diamonds.Behind me, the villa stood in quiet luxury, its floor-to-ceiling windows glowing faintly with warm light. It was the kind of place that felt untouched by the outside world—secluded, intimate, a haven carved out just for us. No business meetings. No headlines. No one watching.Just me and Killian.I heard the rustle of his movements before I felt him—his presence like a slow-moving storm, electric in its intensity.“You’re quiet,” Killian murmured, his voice a low vibration against the hush of the waves.I turned my head slightly, just enough to c
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 55
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***I stood at the edge of the balcony, my fingers lightly grazing the cold railing, staring out over the city that had once been a place of pain and betrayal for me. But now, it felt like my kingdom. My empire. It was mine, and it had always been mine to claim. All the lies, the deceit, and the heartache had led me here. To this moment. To this life I had built from nothing but ashes.The woman I had been—fragile, uncertain, riddled with self-doubt—no longer existed. The woman who had trusted, who had loved with her whole heart, had fallen into the fire, only to rise again as someone stronger, sharper, and far more dangerous. And I had no regrets.A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I turned, my pulse quickening, even though I knew who it was.Killian.He entered, his presence commanding, yet comforting. There was a quiet strength in him that matched my own. H
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 54
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***The weight of the past had been pressing down on me for too long, crushing every attempt I made to breathe freely. And today, I knew the time had come to finally shake it off. The choices before me were clear now. I had been living in the shadows of my past, caught between a man who had betrayed me, a man who had once loved me, and a future that seemed uncertain and just out of reach. But I had learned, after everything, that the past would not define me anymore.The past would never own me again.I stood before Damian’s office, my pulse thundering in my ears as I pressed the intercom.“Aurora Sinclair,” I said, my voice colder than I had intended. “Tell him I’m here.”The receptionist didn’t hesitate, her eyes widening when she saw me standing there—because she knew what had happened between us, what Damian had done, and what it had cost me. I had become a figure that b
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 53
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***The air in my apartment felt heavier than it ever had before. My own skin seemed to crawl as I paced back and forth, the thoughts spinning in my mind like an out-of-control carousel. I had thought that I was done with decisions—done with the past and its relentless hold on me. But now, it seemed that life had no intention of letting me go.Killian had told me the truth. The ugly, painful truth. And while part of me wanted to believe him—that he had done it all for me, to protect me—the other part of me, the part that had suffered too much at the hands of people I once loved, screamed that I was a fool for ever trusting him in the first place.I closed my eyes, trying to block out the chaos in my head, but all I could see were flashes of the past—Damian’s manipulation, my father’s lies, the betrayals that had shaped me into who I was now. Trust had become a foreign concept to me. It was li
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 52
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***There are moments in life when everything you thought you knew comes crashing down, revealing the cold truth behind the illusion.It started with a feeling. A nagging sensation, a quiet whisper at the back of my mind that I couldn’t ignore any longer. It wasn’t loud, but it was persistent, like a shadow that grew just a little bit darker every time I looked away. Killian had been by my side through it all, and I had trusted him—trusted him with everything. But lately, something about him seemed… off.I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but something was missing, or worse—something was being hidden.At first, I told myself I was just being paranoid. After all, the world around me had been nothing short of a whirlwind lately. Damian’s downfall, my triumph, the new paths I was forging. Everything seemed so perfect. Too perfect. And then, of course, there was Killian. Ever-prese
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 51
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***The day had come—Damian’s fall was no longer a matter of if, but when. And as I watched the news unfold on my phone, my heart didn’t race with anticipation. There was no satisfaction in the destruction of a man who had made my life a living hell. Only a cold finality. He had made his choices, and now the consequences were unraveling faster than I could’ve ever imagined.Damian was bankrupt. Officially. The scandal that had once been whispers in the corners of the city was now a loud, unforgiving roar that reverberated through the business world. His name, once synonymous with power, wealth, and ruthlessness, was now tainted with fraud, lies, and betrayal.I had watched it all unfold—the deals, the investors pulling out, the company he had built crumbling beneath his feet. His empire was falling apart, and I, for once, wasn’t just watching from the sidelines. I was the one responsible for ensur
Once a Fool, Now a Queen Chapter 50
Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV***The day had arrived. I could feel it in the air, the weight of the world finally lifting from my shoulders. The decision had been made, and there was no turning back. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder, haunted by the past. I wasn’t wondering if the next blow would land—if Damian would come crashing into my world once again, trying to tear everything I had built down.He was nothing now.And I was everything.As I walked through the halls of my office, the weight of my heels clicking against the marble floor, I could feel the change in the air. The city outside my windows buzzed with life, but within these walls, I had created something different—a space where I no longer needed to apologize for my existence. A place where I had built something solid, something mine.And it wasn’t just the business world that was mine now. It was me.Kil
