Heath guided her inside the dark, unlit house. Aurora suggested, "Alaric and the others haven't left yet, should we invite them?"Heath pulled her into the house without a word. As they neared the living room, Aurora heard a rustling noise. In another life, her assassin instincts would have triggered a defensive response.But with Heath by her side, she felt a sense of security.Reaching out for Heath, she realized he was no longer beside her.Suddenly, the living room burst into light, adorned with a myriad of colorful fairy lights, small lamps, and a dazzling chandelier.Before she could react, a crowd emerged, exclaiming, "Happy Birthday!"Aurora was engulfed in a sea of familiar faces – Alaric, Zane, Lysander, Daxton, Cheryl, Jay, Kieran, and even Vespera, a rare sight. They brandished sparklers and streamers, showering her with birthday wishes.
Cheryl and Daxton's aide whisked them away, while Lysander took his leave. Zane, having been aided to his quarters by the servants, was already enveloped in slumber.On the staircase, Alaric lay sprawled, muttering drowsily, "Heath, what truly ails me?"Vespera, happening upon the scene, shook her head in a mix of resignation and empathy, seated herself beside him, and queried, "Who declared you insufficient?"Alaric, briefly opening his eyes before letting them fall shut once more, lounged there, lazily humming, "If I'm so commendable, why does she not harbor affection for me?"Vespera, resting against the steps with her gaze lost in the celestial tapestry above, murmured, "He harbors no affection for me because of my perceived inadequacies..."Alaric, with a squint and a struggle, propped himself slightly, patted Vespera's head, and offered, "Perhaps it's he who lacks the merit for you!"Vespera, with a hint of a smile, suggested, "Perhaps that girl lacks the worthiness for you as w
Aurora’s back pressed against Heath’s chest, the heat between them almost overwhelming. She coughed lightly, stammering, “I… need to use the bathroom…”Before she could finish, Heath gently adjusted her position, flipping over to be above her. Not pressing down on her, but his hands planted beside her ears, sending a wave of inexplicable nervousness through her.“You awake now?” Heath asked, locking eyes with her.Aurora closed her eyes in resignation, saying with a mix of frustration and sarcasm, “So, it turns out you were the one I slept with. It’s not like you lost anything in the process!”Heath was momentarily speechless.'Slept with me?' he thought, his pride slightly wounded. Did Aurora really believe she had somehow taken the upper hand in this situation?“So, you think you’re the one who slept with me?” Heath asked, his gaze becoming slightly dangerous as his hand slid to her waist, speaking through clenched teeth, “And you don’t feel like taking responsibility for that, do y
Aurora turned to see Sebastian and Madeline storm in, Sebastian demanding, “Where’s Aurora!”Aurora stood up, “What do you need?”Sebastian pointed at her, “You think you can hide here and I won’t know what you’ve done?”Aurora smiled, “I’m not hiding. I’ve always been here.”Sebastian, caught off-guard, ordered, “Go to the police station and set things straight!”Aurora crossed her arms, “What do you want me to say, Mr. Pendleton?”“Say that Sophia didn’t kidnap you! It was just a sisterly spat! No need to involve the police!” Sebastian bellowed.“So, you want me to perjure myself?” Aurora raised an eyebrow.Sebastian, infuriated by her lack of deference, yelled, “You ungrateful daughter! Can’t you act like one? Always causing trouble! Are you satisfied only if your own sister ends up in jail?”“Enough!” her grandfather slammed his cane. “You talk about Aurora not acting like a daughter. What about you as a father? Have you ever truly looked after her? Blaming her for trouble, when i
The next day, the servants packed Sophia's luggage as she prepared to leave for the airport, destined for the United States. Stepping out, Sophia encountered Aurora, dressed in a sharp business suit, ready for her studio. Sophia remembered then – Aurora owned her own company, and all the hot new stars were under her wing. Aurora glanced at them and continued walking, Jay already holding the car door open for her. Sophia suddenly blurted out, "Aurora, I will be back!" Aurora turned, a mocking smile on her face. Sophia looked haggard, her threat hardly intimidating. "Sophia, you're going to the States because I spared you. Otherwise, you'd be in jail. Know your place," she said coolly. Sophia clenched her teeth, "Aurora! You stole my shares, my career, my life! I will come back for revenge!" Aurora shook her head in exasperation, "Sophia, I've said
As soon as Silas stepped through his front door, he was summoned to the study. His father, Mr. Song, thrust plane tickets and documents into his hands. "Get to the airport now! Lay low abroad and then return!"Silas, pushing back, protested, "Dad! Why are you sending me out of the country all of a sudden?"Mr. Song, furious, hurled his phone at Silas, snapping, "You've crossed the Fairbanks! Now Heath Fairbank wants you in jail, and I can't save you! Get out before the police file a case!"Silas retorted angrily, "How was I to know messing with some minor model would cause this mess?"Mr. Song hadn't anticipated this either, but as it turned out, Silas had meddled with someone under the Fairbanks' protection.There was no recourse; Heath was known for his ruthless decisiveness in business. Anyone he targeted had little hope of escape.In a flurry, Mr. Song rushed Silas to the airport. He had only one son, and despite his faults, he couldn't bear to see him behind bars.As Silas queued
Aurora felt a tinge of regret, having thought that the black coat would have been perfect for Heath.Vespera frowned and asked, "Why would Evelyn buy a men's coat when she doesn't have a boyfriend?"Aurora, somewhat annoyed, replied, "Who knows? She's probably just trying to spite me!"Vespera, seeing Aurora's mood, examined a dark red coat and said, "Aurora, this one is also nice. It has the same style as the black one, just in a different color."The saleswoman added, "Yes, and men often wear black, which is quite common. This dark red color will be more distinctive!"Aurora knew the red coat was okay, but wondered if Heath would wear it.Vespera encouraged her, saying, "Trust me, even if it's a sack, Heath will like it!"In the end, Aurora bought the dark red coat, planning to give it to Heath. If he didn't like it, she'd give it to Jay instead, not wanting to waste such an expensive item.As Evelyn left the store, she handed the coat to Elowen, saying with a smile, "Take it to Hea
On the eve of the annual leave, all the major companies are busy with their year-end parties.Fairbank's annual party was always grand. In addition to high-end food and drinks, and employee benefits and bonuses, numerous female employees eagerly anticipate seeing the god-like Heath Fairbank.To them, Heath Fairbank was the most perfect man in the city.Gaining Heath's favor was more valuable than clinching a million-dollar deal.Interestingly, there was an event at the party where one person gets the chance to dance with Heath to open the ceremony.That night, every young female employee used all their wiles, hoping to catch Heath's eye.While Heath headed to Fairbank's for the opening speech of the party, Aurora was holed up at the villa, spending time with Cheryl and Vespera, as Cheryl had less work at the end of the year.Over the year, Cheryl and Vespera had become Aurora's close friends. As Zane put it, "three women make a drama."Cheryl poked Aurora, "Your man is going to dance