Chapter five

PAY BACK

Aurora's POV:

I step out of the car and into the biting New York air, feeling it slice through the thin fabric of my coat. The city smells different now—colder, sharper. Yet, it still has a hold on me, one I can’t seem to shake, no matter how hard I try. I’ve spent years running, hiding, but the moment I set foot here again, the ghosts of my past start whispering their names.

My name.

Killian's name.

Zoe stirs in my arms, a small sigh escaping her lips as she shifts, her tiny fingers curling instinctively around my sleeve. She’s my anchor, the only reason I haven’t completely fallen apart in this city that once tried to drown me. The only thing that makes it bearable to breathe here again.

“Let’s go,” I murmur to Leo, my steady companion through all this chaos. He knows better than to ask questions or push me forward. He’s seen enough of my past to know that some things can’t be fixed—some things are just broken beyond repair.

As we pass through the private terminal, my heart skips a beat, an unexpected tension creeping up my spine.

It’s the voice.

The one I could never forget, even after all this time.

I stop mid-step, the sound of his voice hitting me like a freight train, and for a split second, I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

"Liquidate the jet. Free up those assets immediately. I need them now."

It’s Killian.

Five years. Five years since I left, since I had to bury everything—my past, my love for him, the dream of a life we were supposed to have.

And now, here he is, as if time hasn’t passed at all.

I force my feet to move. Slowly at first, but then faster, my body betraying me, pulling me toward him like I’m under some twisted spell.

And when I see him, it hits me all at once—how little he’s changed, how much he’s changed. His features are still the same: that sharp jawline, the piercing blue eyes that used to melt me, and the arrogant smirk that always made me feel both infuriated and electrified. But now, there’s something different. He looks rougher, worn down, the weight of the empire he’s losing pressing down on him in ways I can almost feel.

His gaze meets mine, and for a moment, everything stops. My pulse quickens, my chest tightens, and I can’t look away.

He’s staring at me, but then his eyes drop to Livia. His breath catches in his throat, and I see it—the shock, the confusion, the disbelief. It’s all there, flashing across his face in a split second.

And then, just as quickly, his expression hardens, his voice rough and cutting.

“You have a child.”

I don’t respond right away. I can’t. Not yet.

But my silence is a blade, cutting through everything between us.

Killian steps closer, the distance between us narrowing, his anger rising with each step. I see the familiar bitterness in his eyes, the same bitterness that fueled his decisions in the past.

“Five years,” he snaps, his voice laced with venom. “Four years of nothing, and now you show up with a child? What did you do, Elara? Did you run to another man’s bed after destroying everything we built?”

The words hit me like a slap, but I don’t flinch. I can’t afford to. Not here. Not now.

Instead, I laugh. A laugh that’s empty, bitter. “Still blaming me, huh?” I step closer, daring him to meet my gaze. “You’re still so quick to cast blame, Damon. How typical.”

He narrows his eyes, his fists clenching at his sides. “You signed that confession. I saw it with my own eyes.”

The accusation lands, and my heart stalls. But I’ve rehearsed this moment a thousand times, in the dead of night, in the echo of my empty apartment. I’ve prepared for this.

“Did you ever ask why?” I whisper, my voice low and dangerous. “Or were you too busy letting your mother pull the strings?”

His eyes flicker. Just for a second. But it’s there. The doubt.

And I feel it. That small crack in the armor he’s built over the years.

But then, his pride takes over, and he shakes his head, the resolve hardening in his gaze. “You let me believe it, Elara. You let me believe you destroyed everything.”

His words hit harder than any punch. But I’ve learned to swallow the pain. It doesn’t matter anymore.

“No, Killian.” I say, my voice steady now, controlled. “You lost everything because you chose to believe the lies. You believed her. You chose to believe the story your mother painted for you. Not me.”

The words feel like fire in my throat, but I don’t care. Not anymore.

I step back, my heels clicking against the polished floor. I can see the anger building in his eyes, the frustration boiling over, but I won’t be swayed. I won’t be dragged back into this mess.

“I owe you nothing,” I mutter, turning away. “You lost the right to demand anything from me the day you watched them take me away and didn’t lift a finger to stop it.”

His voice is a growl now, desperate, almost pleading. “You can’t just walk away, Aurora. You owe me answers. You owe me the truth.”

I don’t stop. I can’t. I’ve already given him too much.

“Do I?” I ask, my voice cold as ice. “You should have thought about that before you let them destroy me.”

The words hang in the air between us, sharp and final.

And then, just as I reach the door, Livia stirs in my arms, her little voice breaking through the tension like a soft, innocent whisper.

“Mommy?”

I freeze, the sound of her voice sending a jolt through me, through him. I don’t look back. I don’t need to.

But I can feel Killian's eyes on me, on Zoe, his mind whirring, trying to piece things together.

I slide into the car, closing the door behind me. Leo is already in the front seat, the engine purring to life. I glance down at Livia, her small hand clutching mine, and I know this is just the beginning.

Killian will come after me. He won’t stop. He can’t.

And I’ll be ready.

Because I’ve learned to fight. And this time, I’m not running.