Aurora “Is something wrong, Mr. Lawson?” I asked, my tone deliberately casual, though I could see the fear taking root in his eyes. “I thought I was going to get banned.” I could practically hear the rapid beating of his heart as he stared at me, wishing he could dig a hole and crawl inside it. But I looked at him with a cold, indifferent expression. Oh, he’d wish that hole was more than six feet under. “What? Cat got your tongue? I thought you could destroy my life with just a single phone call?” I grinned, eyes turning colder. “Or, maybe I should do the honors of destroying yours.” He swallowed hard, his hands suddenly trembling. “I-I… I didn’t realize…” His voice was barely a whisper now, stripped of its previous arrogance. “I thought you were… I mean, I didn’t expect…” He trailed off, unable to complete his sentence. Everyone was fully invested in the scene now, forgetting they had flights to catch. Even the men trailing behind him looked surprised—they must have never seen
Damien I leaned my back against the wall, tilting my head indifferently as I watched the scene unfold. My gaze darted between the two girls who looked utterly humiliated, and the man who was pale, shaken, his fury barely contained. And then, there was her—walking away with a calm, unbothered grace that was almost… mesmerizing. She moved through the crowd with her head held high, completely unaffected by the commotion she’d left everyone in. A faint smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, an unfamiliar sense of interest flickering to life as I watched her go. Interesting. When my private jet malfunctioned, I had to book an entire plane to return back to the USA. I had no idea I would be entertained. I allowed myself a moment to study her as she walked away, her back straight, movements calm and nonchalant. Who would have thought my rival's younger sister would be this interesting. "Mr. Damien," a voice interrupted my thoughts. My assistant, Jason, stood beside me, his ey
The room seemed to grow colder, the weight of his words settling like a stone in my chest. I didn’t move, didn’t react, I was too stunned to speak. The whole world seemed to blur around me. What? I must have heard wrong. He's dying? Dying? What kind of stupid statement was that? Was this another attempt of his to set me up with another woman? If this was a joke, I swear to God, no one would be laughing after this. “Say that again.” I growled, my tone sharper than I intended. “I’m not in the mood for jokes.” “Damien,” he began, taking a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the family portrait on the wall—the one taken years ago, before the accident that changed our lives. When he looked back at me, his eyes were tired, almost haunted. “I'm not joking. I'm sick. I don't have much time left. And I can't leave this world knowing you have nobody by your side. This is my last wish, and I hope you can grant me before my death.” I frowned, something unsettling stirring at the back of my
Aurora “Lord” I muttered, looking down at my plate, already piled high with food, yet my mother’s hand appeared once again, a new dish in tow. “Here, eat more.” She insisted, her voice cheerful, as she placed another serving of casserole on my plate. “Mom,” I said, laughing softly. “I already have enough to feed a small army. I'm good.” She waved her hand dismissively, moving on to the boys, who were already looking wide-eyed at their plates. “Nonsense! The boys are growing. They need more strength!” She ladled another spoonful of mashed potatoes onto each of their plates. “If you told me you were coming earlier than expected, I would have prepared everything for you in advance. I told the chefs to prepare what little they had.” Are you kidding me? This was little? Back in London, the boys and I only ate a quarter of what was on the table. “Grandma,” Finn mumbled, casting me a helpless look. “I don’t think I can eat all of this.” “Sweetheart!” she replied, ruffling his
Aurora I hopped out of my car with an apple wedged between my teeth, practically sprinting towards the front doors of the hospital. My mother had been relentless this morning, shoving breakfast plates at me with that classic guilt-inducing “you need to eat more” look. I had to tell her to wake the boys up and feed them instead. I barely managed to escape after grabbing the apple, feeling her gaze burning into my back as I fled. Sorry boys. I had to use you both in order to escape. But, it was worth it. The massive hospital loomed before me, all sleek glass and steel, and I tried to make myself look halfway composed as I approached. I was supposed to start work last week—the day after I arrived. But my mother was so adamant about me resting with the boys that I had to stay home for a few more days, which I really didn't like. “Hello, do you know where my office is?” Still chewing on the apple, I nodded a quick greeting to the receptionist. She looked at me excitedly, as if she
Dark, piercing eyes looked down at me, framed by a sharp jawline. He was tall, easily a head taller than me. His face was… well, there was no other way to say it—beautiful. Strong brows, high cheekbones. He looked as though he had been carved by God. And then there was his scent. A mix of something crisp and dark, like cedarwood with a hint of spice—warm, grounding. It was intoxicating, like nothing I’d ever smelled before, and it left me feeling oddly unsteady. I swallowed, trying to gather my thoughts, but my brain seemed to have short-circuited. Great. Of all the people I could collide with, I had to pick the Greek god lookalike. He looked down at where my hand had brushed against his arm. Shock flickered across his face, like he’d just experienced something completely foreign. His grip on my waist, which had been steadying me tightened. Why is he looking at me like that? I quickly pulled back, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you,” I sai
Damien “Better find a wife, Damien. I need a daughter-in-law within the month. I don’t care how you do it. I want a grandchild to brag about to my friends.” My grandfather’s words echoed relentlessly in my mind, even as I tried to push them away. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. What a difficult old man. He was acting as if a wife and child could be procured with a snap of my fingers. My plan had been straightforward: strike a deal with Ezra so his sister would be the one to operate on my grandfather. I trusted few people, and even fewer doctors, but she had a reputation that rivaled anyone in the industry. The best of the best. It was supposed to be a negotiation. I would ensure everything went smoothly, control every aspect. But as it turned out, she had already volunteered to handle the surgery before I could even approach Ezra. I leaned back against the wall of the elevator, my hands resting casually in my pockets, barely listening to Jason as he rattled off deta
Aurora “Tell me, Dr. Aurora… are you married?” The question left me speechless. For a moment, I just stared at him, unsure how to respond. Of all the things he could’ve asked, this was not what I had expected. I hesitated, glancing at him, his playful grin making it clear he had no intention of letting the question go unanswered. His secretary, who had been standing quietly behind him, looked just as surprised as I felt. “Uh…no, I’m not married,” I finally answered. A wild grin spread across his face at my answer. “Good, good. So you don't have any man in your life? No, it's fine even if you do. You can break up with him.” I glanced at him briefly, the corner of my mouth twitching into a small, amused smile. “Mr. Russo, is there a reason you’re asking me this?” His face lit up, suddenly full of energy as he leaned forward slightly. “Yes. I want to introduce you to someone. He’s a good match for you. Smart, successful, comes from a respectable family…a little bit grumpy but yo
Aurora “Doctor Aurora?” Nathaniel stared at me in surprise, his eyes carefully studying my face as if he was trying to see if I was really the one sitting in front of him. I met his gaze with no particular emotion. I planned for this. I played out so many different versions of how this meeting would go. How I would act. What I would say. What I would ask. But now? Now I was just… staring at this man. This man who felt familiar and yet a complete stranger all at once. Nathaniel’s eyes darted to my body, as if trying to make sure I was okay. Then, much to my surprise, he sighed heavily, leaning forward and placing his head in his hands. “I’m sorry, Doctor Aurora,” I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden apology. “Sorry? Why are you apologizing?” He looked up at me, his expression open and honest. “It’s my fault. You came to my hospital, and you almost got hurt. You were dragged into something dangerous.” I tilted my head slightly. Was he serious? Did he actually mean it
Aurora I stared at him in disbelief. What just happened? Did he just catch the knife with his bare hands? Did he just save me from getting killed? At the moment when the knife was about to make contact with my body, I thought about a lot of things. A lot of people that meant so much to me—people I couldn't leave behind. But unexpectedly, he saved me. Nathaniel saved me from being killed. Blood dripped from his palm onto the floor, but he didn’t even flinch. Why? Why would Nathaniel do that? "Who the hell are you?" The man shouted, bringing me back to the present. Nathaniel straightened, his bloody hand still clutching the knife, and pushed me behind him. He stood tall, his presence commanding the room as he looked the man directly in the eyes. "I am Doctor Nathaniel. I don’t believe we’ve met, but I was the surgeon who performed your daughter’s operation." The man’s eyes widened, his face twisting with rage. "You bastard! You're the person that killed my Juliet." he shouted, y
Aurora I stared up at the massive hospital in front of me, The building was both inviting and intimidating. It was slightly larger than my brother’s hospital, which was not surprising, given its history. This place had been around for decades, building its reputation as not just a place of healing but also one of hope. Known for its work with patients who couldn’t afford treatment, it stood out in a world where healthcare was often ruled by greed. But, more than anything, this hospital was known for him. Dr. Nathaniel Davis. The surgeon everyone adored. The media’s golden boy. The man who seemed to embody perfection every time he appeared on TV or in interviews, his kind smile and composed personality made people swoon. A family man, a husband material and the perfect father. Trust me, I could say more, after all I had done my research. I ran a hand through my blonde hair, letting out a quiet sigh. We agreed to meet after that day and I was the one who set the time and th
X The photos spread out before me were like pieces of a puzzle I’d been working on for years. I picked up the one on top, running my thumb over her face. A stepping into the hospital, carrying herself with grace. Such a confident woman. But then, there was the other one. Her on the road, clutching her chest in panic. Vulnerable. Weak. A side of her the world rarely saw. I chuckled, the sound low and dark as it echoed in the empty room. Spinning lazily in my chair, I plucked another photo from the desk. This one was different—her holding her kids. That smile of hers, soft and full of love. How quaint. How perfectly motherly. But then there were the others. Damien, standing beside her. I scoffed, tossing that photo back onto the desk. Then there was Alexander, all charm and smiles, looking at her like she was the center of the goddamn universe. That one? I crumpled it, tossing it without a second thought. “Fools,” I muttered, shaking my head. “They don’t deserve her.” I leaned
Damien I stepped into my grandfather’s room, the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea filling the air. He sat beside the window, gazing out at the hospital grounds below. Patients and their families walked back and forth, some chatting, others lost in their thoughts. From this view, you could see it all—life continuing in its chaotic rhythm. "Don't you think that was too much?" my grandfather said without turning around. “You're too hard on the poor girl. She was waiting for you all this time.” I waved my hand dismissively, walking over to the chair next to him. “She waited for nothing,” I said indifferently, settling into the seat. He glanced at me briefly before setting his cup of tea down on the small table beside him. Without a word, I reached for the teapot and poured another cup, sliding it toward him. He nodded his thanks, and for a moment, the room was silent except for the faint clinking of porcelain and the muffled sounds from outside the window. I stared at the cup of tea
Damien The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, then began to close again when no one stepped inside. I leaned back against the wall, hands tucked into my pockets, watching the numbers tick down on the screen. Another stop. The doors opened, revealing a group of people standing outside, murmuring amongst themselves. But no one moved to enter. They avoided my gaze. Some shuffled awkwardly to the side, while others stared intently at their shoes, pretending not to notice me. They’d wait for the next one, just like everyone else. The elevator felt ten times colder, but it wasn’t the temperature—it was me. I clenched my jaw, my composure slipping as I ran a hand through my hair, attempting to calm the rage threatening to destroy everything in my path. The soft act I’d put on in her office—the restraint, the civility had shattered the moment I stepped out. I was back to who I truly was: cold, ruthless, and distant. But this time, there was something different. An
Aurora Did I just feel bad? Me? Aurora Williams? Impossible. Why would I feel bad when I didn’t even do anything wrong? I sighed inwardly, crossing my arms as my thoughts spiraled. But why do I hate the idea of him hearing about another man bringing me home? It wasn’t like I owed him anything. I didn’t. I wasn’t his girlfriend, his wife, or even anything close to it. So why was my chest tightening at the idea? Why did I feel this ridiculous pang of guilt? I must’ve hit my head on something. Or maybe… maybe it was the way he kissed me. The way he made me feel. That overwhelming sensation, the pleasure that still lingered on my skin like an imprint. Was it really that good? I bit my lip, heat crawling up my neck. No. It wasn’t just good. It was incredible. It was enough to completely scramble my brain, apparently. Because here I was, getting worked up over a man who wasn’t even mine. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure if that fact bothered me… or sca
Aurora A date? With him? Why? He didn’t seem like the type of man who went on dates. He seemed more like the type of man who took what he wanted and left without a second thought. “Aurora,” Damien said, his deep voice snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I blinked, my eyes refocusing on him. He tilted his head slightly, studying my expression. “You don’t want to?” he asked, his tone calm but curious. “I’m not asking you to marry me this time. I’m asking you to go out with me. Isn’t that why you were angry last time? Because I was being too straightforward?” His words pulled me back to the day he had asked me to marry him like it was the most normal thing in the world. I swallowed, trying to push the memory aside. But this man…he seemed different. His usual arrogance was still there, but there was something else now. Something softer, like he was trying to go slow, trying to meet me halfway. It didn’t match the version of him I thought I knew. I hesitated,
Aurora I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. What could I possibly say? Thank you for giving me the best orgasm of my life? I pressed my lips together, embarrassed even by the thought. Instead, I did what I usually did in uncomfortable situations—I kept quiet. I avoided his gaze, letting my eyes dart anywhere but at him, pretending that the tension between us wasn’t suffocating. Deciding it was time to salvage what little dignity I had left, I stood up from the desk. Or at least, I tried to. The moment my feet touched the floor, my legs buckled beneath me. A rush of warmth spread through my body as I realized I couldn’t feel my legs properly, not after everything he’d just done to me. I stumbled, my balance giving out, but before I could hit the ground, his arms were around me. “Careful,” He muttered, holding me by the waist, and pulling me against him. I looked up at him, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a