Upon hearing someone enter, Heath, with his eyes closed, said, "I won't tell you where Eamon is."Ludi gave a sinister chuckle and replied, "I've got a wedding to celebrate today, no mood to interrogate you. Let me introduce you to our VIP, the infamous Olivia, have you heard of her?"Heath's body jolted, and he struggled to sit up, clearly in pain from his injuries, making even the act of sitting an effort.Heath looked past Ludi and when he saw the girl wearing a mask, his expression froze.He recognized Aurora at a glance. The young girl, clad in black leggings that accentuated her slender waist and smooth legs, looked more mature in her dark red leather jacket, and with the black mask, she was undeniably sexy and alluring.But Heath knew this was Aurora."Is... is she Olivia?" Heath asked.Ludi laughed, "Yes! A top international assassin has joined my team. One day, I'll find Eamon and make him pay in blood for his crimes! Olivia, I've heard your assassination record is spotless.
Inside the stronghold, Aurora huddled in bed, reassured that Heath was still safe. It was clear that Rudi's target was Eamon, not Heath, so there was no immediate threat to Heath. Aurora needed to find the right moment to escort Heath out safely.Aurora strolled to the room where Heath was held captive. The guard, recognizing her, promptly opened the door to let her in. With a frosty demeanor, Aurora entered and shut the door behind her.Upon seeing her, Heath greeted, "Miss Olivia, is that the correct way to address you?"Before Aurora could respond, Rudi barged in, saying, "Olivia! What brings you here in the dead of night?"Aurora coldly replied, "Since when do I need to report my whereabouts?"Rudi, trying to play it down, said, "No, of course not. It's just that Mr. Fairbank is no ordinary man. I'm concerned he might hurt you."Heath let out a sardonic laugh, prompting Rudi to ask, "What's so funny?"Heath smirked, "Nothing. Just pondering what face lies beneath that mask."Irrit
Ludi strode forward and, with a swift motion, slapped Aurora hard across the face, his voice thundering with accusation, "Wench! Was it your doing?"Accustomed to the battlefield, Ludi's strength was no match for the ordinary man. His slap turned Aurora's head sharply, drawing bright red blood to trickle down from the corner of her mouth, her cheek swelling instantly.Heath stared intently at Aurora. Could this woman not keep her mouth shut? Did she have a death wish?With a cold laugh, Aurora spat blood mixed with saliva onto the ground. Turning to face Ludi, her eyes sparkled with a fearless determination. "Seeking revenge?" she challenged. "No need to hunt down Eamon. It was I who ended your reckless brother. He pointed a gun at my man, so I aimed straight for his head and, without hesitation, blew it apart without as much as blinking an eye…"Ludi grasped Aurora's jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze, while pressing a pistol against her throat with his other hand. His eyes were sinis
Aurora stamped out the campfire, reclaimed her shirt, tore it into strips, and wrapped them around the wound on his shoulder, temporarily stopping the bleeding.Exhausted and sweating profusely from her efforts, Aurora had also been injured, having taken a beating from a group of men. But she couldn't rest.Though the fire was out, the smoke had already drifted away. If someone saw it and followed, they would be doomed.Taking a deep breath, Aurora hoisted Heath onto her back and pressed forward. Despite his tall, lean frame, the 6'1" man was surprisingly heavy. Even for Aurora, accustomed to carrying weights, he was a burden.Heath, in a daze, opened his eyes and murmured, "Rory..." looking at the back of Aurora's head."I'm here," Aurora reassured him, pulling him up, "I'm here, honey."Heath passed out again. Aurora had seen the bruises and wounds covering
Eamon demanded furiously, "Where's Rudi? Interrogate him! The moment you find out where Rudi is, report to me immediately!"Heath and Aurora had disappeared, along with Rudi and several of his elite men—none were to be seen, an ominous sign.Finally, after personally conducting the interrogation all night and nearly exhausting all means, someone cracked, revealing that Rudi had taken a few men into the jungle in pursuit of Aurora and Heath.Jasper, with a cold expression, remarked, "The jungle is vast and endless. It's easy to enter but hard to leave. Rudi actually dared to lead people in pursuit?"Jay looked coldly at Eamon and said, "The person who confessed said that Aurora admitted herself that she killed Luca. If it weren't for our throwing the bomb, Rudi would have shot Aurora dead by now. Eamon is always suspicious of Aurora. If Aurora really had ill intentions towards Heath, why would she put herself in such a deadly situation?"Eamon sneered, "Perhaps your Miss Aurora wants t
Aurora rushed forward, her hands trembling. She was completely stunned, uncertain whether she should pull out the knife or do something else.All she could do was futilely cover Heath's abdomen, the warm blood seeping through her fingers, symbolizing Heath's rapidly fading life. No matter how desperately Aurora tried, she couldn't stop the flow.With a trembling voice, Aurora said, “It’s going to be okay... it’s going to be okay... I’ll get you out of here... nothing bad is going to happen...”She knew it was futile because she had carried Heath on her back for a day to get here. If she tried to carry him for another day without finding a way out, Heath would die from blood loss.She shook her head, trying to think of another solution, but in this godforsaken, desolate place, there was no way to stop the bleeding from Heath's abdominal wound.Heath closed his eyes, seemingly exerting a lot of effort to open them again and look at Aurora. He said, “Just go, Rory.”Aurora shook her head
When Aurora awoke, she found herself confined to a dim cell, its darkness unrelieved by any window or light. Eamon had taken her captive, yet he had refrained from inflicting pain, instead ensuring she received sustenance through IV fluids and three daily meals, her primary constraint being the handcuffs encircling her wrists.Aurora huddled in the cell's shadows, losing track of time. She had no appetite, the thought of food repugnant until she could lay eyes on Heath once more.Upon his arrival for an interrogation, Eamon discovered Aurora lying on the cot, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. He settled into a chair and inquired, "Should I address you as Aurora or Olivia?"Aurora maintained her silent vigil, eyes still on the ceiling.With a sigh, Eamon pressed, "I've not resorted to torture. I harbor no desire to harm women. What I seek to understand is your unwavering loyalty to Heath. Why do you remain by his side?"Drawing her knees to her chest, Aurora met Eamon's gaze. "If I divulg
Heath paused at the door to the dimly lit room, a moment of hesitation before he pushed it open.The door swung open, and Heath and his entourage were stunned into silence.The room was starkly empty, the handcuffs on the corner wall pried open, leaving no trace of Aurora.But Heath was certain, just moments ago, he had clearly seen Aurora huddled in the corner of this very room!The only explanation was a breach in the surveillance room. The footage Heath had seen must have been from another day altogether.And Aurora? She might have left this place a long time ago."Boss..." Kieran, looking worriedly at Heath's complexion, spoke up. Despite his severe injuries that warranted bed rest, he had insisted on coming to find Aurora, who now was nowhere to be found.Heath, clenching his fists, demanded, "Who took her?"Lysander, momentarily taken aback, ventured, "Heath, you don’t suspect Eamon, do you?"Heath, his face a shade of stormy, turned back, colliding head-on with Eamon. Shaking o
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,