Aurora “I think we messed up… so badly.” I glanced at Felix, my six-year-old son, as we both stood side by side, staring at the painting in front of us. We had decided to paint today because Finn, Felix's twin brother, wanted to show me how well he could paint. It sounded innocent enough, and honestly, I thought it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon painting. We set everything up in the compound of the mansion—canvases, paints, brushes—and it turned into a full-blown family competition. Felix and I both decided to join Finn, each of us determined to out-paint the others. I mean, how hard could it be? I was older, wiser, and I liked to think I had some hidden artistic talent buried in me somewhere. No way could a six-year-old beat me. Or so I thought. I was so, so wrong. This wasn’t just some casual painting session. It had turned into a battlefield of creativity, and Finn… Finn wiped the floor with us. I stared at my own painting, it was a small, lopsided house that wa
Aurora The operating room was silent. The kind of silence that was heavy, where even the sound of someone breathing felt like it was too much. That’s how I liked it. Silence. Complete silence. Surgeons, nurses, assistants. All of them watching, waiting, ready to act at a moment’s notice. But no one dared to speak. They knew better than to disrupt me when I was operating. My eyes were focused entirely on the task in front of me. A beating heart lay exposed under the bright, sterile lights, its fragile rhythm holding on as I worked. Carefully, I moved my hands. There was no hesitation, or doubt. Every movement I made was deliberate, precise. One wrong move, and I’d lose him. Sweat beaded on my forehead, but I ignored it. “Doctor,” a voice said softly, and I glanced up for only a second as a nurse leaned in to dab the sweat from my brow. I nodded slightly in thanks, never taking my eyes off the exposed heart. The minutes ticked by, feeling like hours, and yet my hands never f
Aurora “Are you okay?” I didn’t fully understand what had just happened. My chest still felt tight, my breaths shaky, but my mind was racing with one thought: That was a memory. A memory of my past. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen it. It used to be a constant dream. That wasn’t surprising. The surprising part was that what had happened wasn’t a dream—it was a flashback. This was the first time something like this had happened to me. And that terrified me. I sighed, closing my eyes briefly as I tried to pull myself together. Something was wrong, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Deep down, I knew what it meant. Something inside me had shifted, and a part of me knew—I was going to remember everything soon. The idea filled me with both anticipation and dread. Did I even want to remember? I didn’t know whether to be happy about the possibility or scared of what I’d find. “Miss Aurora,” his voice came again, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I looked up at the brea
Aurora “Are you my daddy?” That voice? The world seemed to tilt for a moment. I turned my head sharply, my heart pounding as my gaze landed on the source of the voice. Finn stood just a few feet away, looking up at us with wide, innocent eyes. His hands were on his hips, his head tilted slightly as if he were genuinely curious about the answer. Beside him, Felix stood stiffly, his expression dark as his sharp gaze zeroed in on Alexander’s hand holding mine. And behind them stood my mother, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk playing on her lips. I froze, my body stiffening as a wave of heat rose to my face. “Finn!” I said, my voice higher than I intended. “What are you—why would you—” “Mom?” Finn said, “He’s holding your hand. That’s what daddies do, right?” I shook my head immediately, as if I were desperately trying to prove a point to him. “No. Daddies don't do that. He is not your father. It's normal for grown-ups to hold hands.” He grinned, eyes sparkling
Aurora I held Finn’s hand and guided him to a seat near the front. The chairs were lined neatly in rows, each one filled with parents and their kids chatting quietly. As I sat down, Finn climbed into the seat on my left, swinging his little legs happily as he hummed a random tune under his breath. Alexander followed behind us, and just as he was about to take the seat to my right, Felix made his move. Quick as a flash, Felix let go of Finn’s hand, darted past Alexander, and plopped himself firmly into the seat between us. I blinked, caught off guard, while Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. Felix crossed his arms, leaning back in the chair as if daring Alexander to try and reclaim the spot. Alexander chuckled softly, the sound low and rich. Without a word, he took the seat next to Felix, his posture relaxed as if nothing had happened. I turned to Alexander, shaking my head with an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry about Felix. He’s not usually like this.” Befo
Aurora How hard can it be? How hard can it be! Was this man serious? I crossed my arms and watched, fully prepared to see Alexander fumble his way through this competition. Except… he didn’t. His hands moved effortlessly, slicing vegetables with the precision of a professional chef. I blinked, realizing I wasn’t the only one watching him. People were staring at us in particular. Women leaned toward each other, whispering excitedly while sneaking glances at him. “Oh my God, he’s so hot,” one of them said, loud enough for me to hear. “I’ve never seen a student’s father this good-looking before.” “Hush, what if someone hears you, teacher Kim? But I don't blame you, he is good-looking.” I turned to look at the competitors on stage. One of the moms, who had been furiously chopping earlier, had now slowed to a near stop, her eyes flicking to Alexander every few seconds. Her husband glared at us, but I shrugged my shoulder. Don't look at me dude, I didn't create this man. Finn
Aurora “Aurora?” Someone called my name, but I ignored it. My eyes were locked on the woman in front of me. Her overly sweet smile, the way she stood with an air of arrogance. It was grating on every nerve in my body. I could feel my breathing growing labored, my fists clenched so tightly at my sides that my nails dug into my palms. Every instinct in me screamed to wipe that smug look off her face. To snap. To make her regret approaching me. Kill, kill, kill. The words echoed in my mind, relentless and rhythmic, like the chorus of a dark song. And I had no idea why. Why was I feeling this way? What had she done to awaken such a murderous instinct within me? I didn’t even realize how close I was to losing control until a tiny hand slipped into mine. “Mom?” The small voice broke through the haze. I blinked and looked down, meeting Felix’s concerned gaze. “Are you okay?” he asked, watching me carefully. I froze, suddenly aware that everyone was staring at me. A
Alexander I stared at her as she slept. Her head rested lightly against the seat. The fierce, sharp woman who could silence a room with a single glance, the woman who had shaken an entire family to its core with her intelligence and vengeance was now curled up like a child, completely at peace. Her lashes fluttered faintly as she dreamed, her lips parted slightly. She looked so different like this—soft, vulnerable, as if the weight of the world she carried during the day had slipped away. My chest tightened. I’d never seen her like this before, and I couldn’t look away. Her scent filled the car, light and intoxicating, wrapping itself around me like a siren’s call. My pulse quickened—something I wasn’t used to. No woman had ever made my heart race like this. No one had ever made me feel so… off balance. She shifted slightly, her head tilting to the side. Before I could stop myself, I reached out and caught it just in time, my hand cradling her cheek. Her skin was soft
Aurora The cool, sterile air of the hospital brushed against my skin as I walked out of Nathaniel’s office. My mind was spinning. An ex-wife? That revelation sat heavy in my chest, creating more questions than answers. Why had no one ever mentioned it before? Why had he mentioned it to me? And why was my heart racing every time I thought about it? I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. My steps echoed faintly in the hallway as I moved forward, but I couldn’t focus on where I was going. It felt like I was walking in circles. The feeling of always getting close to your goal and then being back at the beginning was frustrating. Whenever I was near the truth, something or someone always had to stop me from finding out. It was starting to annoy me. I could just stop all this trouble and ask my mother or my brothers, but I doubt they would be much help. They were hiding my past for a reason, and they wouldn't just tell me. Nathaniel asked me out for dinner, and the way he
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,