The book Dual Facades tells the story of Glimmer, a high school girl suffering from severe depression due to family issues and academic pressures.Every day, Glimmer forces a smile with her classmates, trying to fit in, but returns home to silently shed tears, haunted daily by thoughts of suicide.When Glimmer confides in her teachers and peers about her depression, her teacher advises her to focus on her studies, while her classmates mockingly say, 'Wow, that's so cool.' Her mother, impatient, dismisses her concerns, urging her back to her homework.Glimmer's attempts to seek help from the outside world fail one by one, and her condition worsens day by day. Despite fighting desperately to cling to hope and help others, she ultimately succumbs to suicide.This book is a complete tragedy. Glimmer struggles to survive, tormented by depression, leading to her untimely death.The book's acclaim is due to the author, Luce, who himself suffered from depression. He infused his life experienc
The next day, Aurora woke up early, eagerly awaiting Heath to take her to meet Ms. Luce.Driving her to a villa, Heath said, "This is the place."Aurora smiled, "I'll go myself. You wait here."Heath sighed, "Rory, this isn't going to be easy."Her smile beaming, she replied, "I know. If it were easy, someone would have succeeded already. It's the challenge that makes it exciting!"Heath tenderly touched her hair, encouraging, "Go on, good luck."Aurora got out of the car, rang the doorbell, and soon a butler opened the door, asking, "Who are you looking for?""I'm here to see Ms. Luce. Is she home?" Aurora inquired.The butler nodded, spoke inside, then came back and ushered her in.Aurora turned to Heath, gesturing a triumphant "Yes!" before following the butler into the villa.Inside, the villa was spacious and decorated in a classic European style. Aurora followed the butler through winding corridors to an outdoor garden.In the heart of summer, the garden bloomed with beautiful r
Now, as Aurora sat admiring the sketch, Heath fondly recalled her demure, adorable presence beside him during the day.Heath, without a word, strode over and toppled Aurora, capturing her lips in a kiss.Aurora froze. What was with this man, suddenly pouncing and nipping at her at every turn?She struggled briefly, pounding on Heath's shoulders, only to have her wrists caught and lifted above her head.Heath's breath tangled with hers, his large hand caressing her waist, the fresh scent of his shower enveloping her, every cell within her crying out for more.But Heath couldn't give in. To him, Aurora was both poison and treasure. He guarded her cautiously, fearing any harm might befall her, not wanting to frighten or upset her.He felt a pang of frustration, turning to nibble on her earlobe. Aurora, sensitive in that spot, couldn't hold back a soft moan. Heath tensed, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his voice husky, "Rory.""Mmm..." Aurora curled up in his embrace, daring n
Ms. Luce watched Heath's retreating figure and remarked, "Girl, I may never have been married in my life, but I can clearly see the way you look at him. Isn't he more than just a boyfriend?"Aurora paused, then laughed, "Madam, what kind of look do you think I give him?""Dependence, trust, and sheer joy," Ms. Luce said.Aurora gazed outside at Heath's departing car, murmuring, "Yes, everyone can see it, and he must see it too, right?"Ms. Luce took Aurora's hand, patting it gently, "Darling, recognizing it is one thing, but expressing it is quite another."Aurora, sitting in a wicker chair, pondered and asked, "Do I have to say it out loud? Isn't it enough that we know it in our hearts?""Well, when I was younger, I was deeply in love with someone," Ms. Luce said, looking into the distance."And what happened then?" Aurora inquired.Ms. Luce smiled wistfully, "My father disapproved. We lived in America, and he was across the ocean. I thought he knew how I felt, and that after my grad
After the blonde woman returned, she sat next to William, laughing and drinking, even giving Aurora a smile. Aurora, however, couldn't return the smile. The way the woman sat and the bulge under her clothes were all too familiar to her – it was a gun.William spoke up, "Mr. Ironside, the price is set. Five crates of arms for two kilograms of the goods."Eamon shook his head, "Three crates."William laughed sinisterly, "Mr. Ironside, you know the rules of our circle. You're pushing it with that price. Are you sure you want the goods, or are you perhaps a cop?"Eamon replied with a light smile, "Of course not. Just business talk among traders.""If we can't agree, then let's forget it. We won't bother Mr. William further," Heath interjected.He nudged Aurora, who then said, "I'll just go to the restroom."Without a word from William, Aurora left the private room. Several people in the hallway gave her a second glance as she casually made her way to the restroom.The situation was clear
The car rushed to the hospital, and medical staff hurriedly wheeled Aurora into the emergency room. Heath followed closely, only to be stopped at the door.This operation had been Eamon's plan to target William's stronghold. William, not acknowledging Eamon, dealt only with Heath. Heath had thought Aurora would be safe at Ms. Luce's home, unaware that Eamon, concerned for Heath's safety due to William's heavy armament, had planned to use Aurora as a means to extract Heath from the situation.No one expected Aurora to intervene so bravely, taking a bullet meant for Heath.With William captured, Eamon had to deal with the Philadelphia police, leaving KING organization members busy. In the empty hospital corridor, Heath stood alone, staring at the glaring red "In Surgery" sign.Heath was secretly displeased when Ms. Luce suggested that Aurora hadn't acknowledged him as her boyfriend. He was a petty man but had been patient for Aurora's sake, understanding her shyness and hesitation.When
Two towering and handsome men brawling at the hospital entrance left bystanders in shock.Heath threw just one punch before stopping. Eamon, with a rapidly bruising corner of his mouth, lay on the ground, coughing twice before exhaling and saying, "I knew it. I had to get beaten by you."He and Heath were like brothers in arms. Eamon knew Heath wouldn't seriously hurt him over this. But he was also aware that his endangerment of Aurora wouldn't go unanswered by Heath.If Heath had looked on indifferently, it would mean utter disappointment, signaling the end of their brotherhood. But Heath's fight was the rage of a man pained by the peril of his woman.Eamon regretted his suspicion and disdain towards Aurora. It was unforgivable to have used her in a moment of folly – that went against a man's principles.Moreover, the bullet Aurora fired had saved Eamon. Otherwise, he would be the one lying in the hospital bed today.He deserved this punch for his stupidity.Heath extended a hand, sa
Ms. Luce was leisurely sipping coffee in the garden, seemingly spending most of her time there, enjoying coffee and flowers like a celestial being detached from worldly concerns.Upon seeing Aurora arrive, Ms. Luce greeted her cheerfully, "Aurora, it's been a while."Aurora smiled, "Madam, it's been a long time indeed."Noticing the intertwined hands of Aurora and Heath, Ms. Luce's smile grew wider, "So, have you finally opened up to each other?"Aurora's cheeks flushed, "Yes, I've learned much from your advice."Heath nodded slightly, smiling, "Madam, you've been a great help to me."Ms. Luce invited them to sit and chuckled, "I haven't helped. If you mistreat Aurora, I'll advise her to leave you."At that moment, Ms. Luce's smile was mischievous, like that of a twenty-year-old girl.Heath, holding Aurora's hand tighter, assured, "Don't worry, Madam. I dare not mistreat her."The servant brought in floral tea, specially serving Heath traditional tea leaves, remembering he wasn't fond
The next morning, Vespera was woken up at dawn, barely getting a few hours of sleep. Known as a dedicated designer, she was usually the first one awake, but today she could barely keep her eyes open. As the stylist worked on her hair and makeup, Vespera sat half-dazed, drifting in and out, completely unaware of the hands tugging her in all directions.Two hours later, with her hair and makeup done, Vespera finally slipped into her wedding dress. The reality hit her, and for the first time, she fully realized she was about to get married.Memories flooded back, particularly that first encounter with Alaric. He’d been sprawled on the steps outside, a bit too tipsy, looking up with half-closed eyes, asking, “What’s wrong with me?” Vespera, surprising even herself, had replied, “Nothing at all.”Back then, he was just a bright, headstrong young man, carrying so many dreams and frustrations. Somewhere along the way, he’d grown into this strong, grounded man. And somehow, after everything,
It wasn’t until a few days after their engagement that it even crossed Vespera’s mind to ask about the villa.Alaric confirmed he’d bought it, explaining that he’d thought she might like it and decided to go for it. As for renovations, he wanted to wait until she officially agreed to everything; after all, they’d eventually need their own place—living with Zane forever wasn’t exactly an option.By now, the news of Alaric and Vespera’s engagement had spread everywhere. Alaric was practically ready to announce it to the world on social media, but thankfully, Aurora stepped in, suggesting he keep things low-key since he was the company CEO. Plus, Vespera wasn’t exactly a fan of the public spotlight.Alaric reluctantly held back but couldn’t resist dropping hints in his friend group chat every other day. Heath and the rest were used to it by now—except Lysander, who constantly complained that he was drowning in a sea of "lovey-dovey vibes," being the lone single guy among them.When Auror
The next morning, Alaric woke up, remembering last night’s events. He pinched himself—no, it wasn’t a dream. Vespera had actually said yes.He jumped out of bed, showered, changed, and even straightened his tie before driving to her studio. There she was, focused on work, wearing a stylish dress and light makeup, looking absolutely radiant.When he walked in, Vespera looked up, surprised. “Finally awake?” she asked with a smirk.Alaric simply nodded, taking her hand without a word and leading her downstairs. She stumbled after him, asking, “Where are we going?”Alaric gently nudged her into his car, driving her toward a villa. Vespera was clueless and a bit shocked, glancing around, unsure of what was happening.They finally arrived at a beautiful villa. Alaric opened the door, and she asked, “Did you just buy this?”&n
The next morning, Alaric was finally over his fever. When Vespera woke up, he was already waiting in the living room. After breakfast, they both headed to their respective offices.Aurora’s team reported they’d successfully returned to the Whitmore family’s estate. For her, that had been a fierce battle. For Vespera, however, the real challenge lay ahead: the design competition.Ever since her last conversation with Yvonne, where Yvonne had hinted that everything she had was due to Aurora and Alaric’s support, Vespera had been determined to prove herself. She wanted to be worthy of Alaric and was pouring all her energy into this competition.After submitting her designs, Vespera anxiously waited at home for results. When the winners were finally announced online, she saw her name in second place. The relief and pride were overwhelming. She had finally achieved something worth sharing with Alaric. Now, with the award ceremony in the UK, she had no choice but to let him know.Expecting
Vespera had reclaimed her brand, and Alaric seemed to be maturing by the day, treating her like she was his entire world. Everything seemed to be falling into place.After that showdown in Alaric’s office with Elowen, she hadn’t shown her face again. Vespera figured it was over, that Elowen had finally given up. Everyone else thought the same.But on the day they took graduation photos, Aurora disappeared. Heath and Alaric eventually tracked her down — Elowen had taken her. Vespera was frantic, blaming herself for not protecting Aurora better.Heath and Alaric couldn’t stop Aurora’s flight at the airport, so they booked tickets to the UK to get her back. Vespera had too much to handle here to join them, so she only saw Alaric off at the airport.He held her close, whispering, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, and Aurora will be safe.”Vespera hugged him back tightly. She trusted him. Alaric and Heath would get this done — Elowen had crossed a line that couldn’t be ignored, and she knew
This past week, Aurora had been tirelessly setting up to counter Evelyn and her allies, Yvonne and Elowen. Meanwhile, Alaric, working alongside Aurora to reclaim Elowen’s brand.A week later, the press conference went ahead as planned. Alaric helped Vespera pick an outfit, stayed until she’d finished her makeup, and then drove her to the venue himself.The conference, led by Evelyn, was a disaster for her team. They failed to take over Aurora’s company, couldn’t drive her out of the Pendleton family, and made no progress in placing Yvonne and Elowen as CEO and head designer. Their plans had backfired entirely.Leaving the venue, Yvonne, clearly shaken, stepped in front of a car without looking and was hit, blood pooling around her. Vespera, stunned and dizzy at the sight, would have collapsed if Alaric hadn’t steadied her.Frantically, Vespera fumbled with her phone to call home, stammering, “It’s Yvonne… she’s bleeding so much…”As someone unaccustomed to such violence, Vespera was t
Alaric looked at Vespera with an innocent expression and said, “It’s not what you think. I’m not a creep.”“Not a creep?” Vespera glared at him. “Then what were you doing in my room?”Alaric almost groaned. “If I told you I was here to give you a massage, would you believe me?”“Total creep!” she shouted. “Sneaking into my bed while I was asleep!”Alaric shot back, “I did not! When I woke up, you were the one curled up on me!”Vespera paused, recalling the moment she woke up. Okay, maybe she had been cozying up to him. Wait a second—was he implying she was the one acting out of line?Seeing her hesitation, Alaric grinned smugly. “See? You were just as comfortable with it!”“Get out!” Vespera yelled.Alaric left the room, trying not to smile too much. Sure, nothing happened, but just getting to hold her felt amazing. Although… his shoulder was sore from her leaning on him all night, so he headed back to his room to grab a few more hours of sleep.Vespera, alone in her room, listened as
Vespera walked ahead, casual and carefree in a T-shirt and shorts, no makeup, and even bare of high heels, while Alaric trailed close behind with a jacket in hand, grinning like a fool. Everyone in the lobby couldn’t help but notice—their usually composed CEO was tagging along, practically beaming.Catching up to her, Alaric draped his jacket over her shoulders. “How could you leave without dressing warmer? You’ll end up with a stomach ache tonight,” he said, his voice soft with affection.Vespera felt a warm flutter in her chest but stayed quiet, letting his jacket settle around her as they walked out. Alaric was thrilled she hadn’t brushed him off; emboldened, he slipped his hand into hers, wrapping her cold fingers in his.For a moment, she stiffened, then relaxed, letting her hand nestle securely in his. Together, they headed to the parking lot, Alaric practically floating with joy. This felt better than winning the lottery!Bringing her home, Alaric felt out of his depth—things h
Alaric stood in his office, with Elowen right in front of him, her hand tugging at his tie, a faint smirk hidden beneath her slightly indignant expression.Seeing the scene, Vespera nearly turned around and left right then and there. But she reminded herself of her purpose for coming today. She was done hiding from Elowen. Even if Alaric wasn’t hers in the end, she’d be damned if he ended up with someone like Elowen.So Vespera strode into the office, fixed her gaze on them, and asked, “What’s going on here?”At the sound of her voice, Alaric spun around, fumbling to free his tie from Elowen’s grip. But Elowen held tight, glancing over at Vespera with a slight smile. “Miss Thornfield? You’re here?”Vespera closed the door behind her, gave a slight nod, and asked again, “What exactly is this about?”Elowen smirked. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to ask Alaric if I could borrow a few people to help promote my new fashion line. Not sure if he’s on board with it, though.”“Not a chance,