Aurora shook her head helplessly and said, "Sis, you're hopeless. How on earth do you think you can outsmart me?"Evelyn didn't believe it. Staring at Aurora, she smirked sarcastically and said, "You're not going to tell me that Heathlikes you, are you? Or did he propose? Aurora, have you lost your mind again?"Aurora replied helplessly, "Forget it. Since you don't believe it, there's nothing I can do. Just remember, I warned you. You’re backing the wrong side here."Aurora and a few others, including CherylandVespera, went to the lounge area, grabbed some snacks, and sat on the couch chatting and eating. Cheryl sighed and said, "Aurora, is Evelyn kind of dumb or what?"Munching on a pastry, Aurora mumbled, "Who knows! Let's just ignore her."The three were chatting about recent life and gossip when a man, Maxwell, walked past. Aurora looked up, alarm bell
Elowen bolted downstairs the moment she saw Aurora and Heath about to come out. Catching sight of Evelyn, tears immediately started rolling down her face as she sobbed. Evelyn kept asking, “What’s wrong, Elowen? What happened?”Through her tears, Elowen glanced upstairs and said, “Aurora, she—she is with Heath, in the room—”Her voice was shaky and broken, and though her words were few, they were enough for Evelyn to picture the scene. Furious, Evelyn snapped, “That shameless tramp! Elowen, we can’t just sit back and do nothing!”Evelyn grabbed Elowen, determined to confront Aurora. She could tolerate Heath overlooking her, and even Heath being with Elowen, but not Heath tangled up with Aurora Pendleton. What was Aurora, anyway? Nothing but a child of no good! How dare she compare herself to Evelyn? And how could she possibly get her hooks into Heath? Evelyn was supposed to be the one marrying into the Fairbanks, especially since she was about to marry Thane.Aurora, arm in arm with H
Aurora was totally done with it. With the way Elowen was looking, anyone who didn't know better would think Heath had done her wrong. But Heath didn’t care about this stuff, Aurora did. She didn’t want to hear anyone speak ill of Heath.So, Aurora said to Elowen, “Why do you always look at Heath like he’s wronged you? Anyone who doesn’t know the situation would think he’s done something terrible to you. But really, it’s all just a show you’ve put on yourself. All this talk about engagements, promises, feelings—it’s all just fantasies you’ve made up to fool people. You’ve told the lies so often that even you believe them now. The truth is, Heath has nothing to do with you. At most, he just met you a bit earlier than others. He never said he’d marry you, and his family never arranged any marriage.”Aurora made her point crystal clear, not for any reason other than to make sure everyone present understood that Heath hadn’t let anyone down.“It’s not true! You’re lying! It’s not like that
Some cops suddenly barged in and grabbed Evelyn. Evelyn struggled and yelled, "What are you doing! Why are you arresting me!"Thane rushed over and asked, "What's going on? What did she do?"The cops said, "According to Miss Soraya, Evelyn Pendleton is the mastermind behind the kidnapping. We need her to come with us for questioning."Evelyn struggled and screamed, "It wasn't me! I didn't do it! Let me go! Thane, help me!"Just as Thane was about to step in, Heath gave him a cold look, and Kieran grabbed Thane, saying, "Sir, the senior Mr. Fairbank would never let you marry a criminal. Why bother upsetting everyone for nothing?"Thane knew his place; he couldn't mess with Heath. Even if he liked Evelyn, he wouldn't offend Heath for her. Last time, just because his little model pushed Aurora a bit, Heath had blacklisted that woman to this day. How much more for Evelyn? He couldn't afford to mess with Heath now or Aurora in the future.So no matter how much Evelyn yelled, Thane just sto
But in the past, the Pendletons was so grand and imposing. Even after relocating to the capital city, they were among the top families. How did they end up in such a state today?Aurora seemed to know what Sophia was thinking and scoffed sarcastically, "The magnificent Pendletons of the past was mine, not yours. I told you four years ago—if you didn't kill me, I would take everything from you: your emotions, career, reputation, family, even your freedom. It's all taken by me. The Pendleton family is mine; all the shares, the companies, the properties are mine. You have lost utterly, Sophia. Haven't you realized that yet?"Sophia stared at Aurora but remained silent, for she had nothing to say. She had to admit, Aurora was right; everything had been taken from her. She had nothing left, utterly defeated.Aurora smiled kindly, "But in the end, we don't have any deep hatred. If you leave the capital from now on, stay out of my sight, I might just spare you..."Sophia's eyes lit up, but t
Aurora looked at her coldly and said, "I'm giving you a chance, sis. You'd better understand the times. I will definitely investigate the events of the past thoroughly!""Aurora, you're just relying on Heath's support. Without him, what else do you have to show off?" Evelyn suddenly asked.Aurora was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Yes, you're right. I am indeed relying on Heath's support, and he will continue to support me. I can strut around all my life!"Evelyn stared blankly at Aurora. She had long forgotten when this girl's eyes had ceased to show timidity and fear. Now they shone with confidence, strength, intelligence, and acumen, glittering with the light of hope and suppressed flames of revenge, making her look distinctly beautiful with a touch of danger and allure.Evelyn realized that she had been too full of herself over the years, thinking she would always be the unbeaten darling of the entertainment industry, forever the radiant miss of the Pendleton fa
The lies she and Jasper Bennett had woven had somehow become a tangible reality. She and Aurora were indeed twin sisters separated by an ocean!She was meant to have a complete family, at least an ordinary childhood and life, but because of Madeline's selfishness, Aurora's family was destroyed, and she was forced to flee to a foreign land.Sebastian Pendleton, who had been sitting on the floor in despair, paused upon hearing these words, then burst into laughter. His crazy laughter gradually turned into a middle-aged man's sobbing; he knelt on the ground, buried his head in his hands, half-crouching, crying loudly.All the feelings that had not been expressed over the years, and the misunderstandings that had not been clearly explained, were resolved today. The noble and aloof woman had never betrayed him; she had even borne him a pair of beautiful twin daughters. Yet he, an idiot, had been thoroughly deceived by the viperous woman before him, abandoning his wife and daughters.At thi
Heath led Aurora out of the elevator, and after a journey marked by countless stares and furtive glances, Aurora no longer felt like crying. She followed Heath into the office, her voice heavy with nasal congestion, and said, "You didn't have to postpone your meeting for me..."Heath smiled and replied, "It's no trouble, just a regular meeting."Aurora nodded, and Heath asked, "Did you see Madeline Pendleton?""Yes," Aurora said, "she revealed the truth about the past."Heath nodded, "Kieran has already informed me. Madeline's account mostly matches what we've found, but there's something else I need to tell you. Don't rush.""What is it?" asked Aurora.Heath took out a photo given to him by Aurora’s grandpa and said, "Your grandpa once asked me to look into your mother's past. The Pendletons doesn't know where she came from. Callista’s past has always been a mystery."Aurora was stunned and asked, "What have you found? Do you know where my mother was from? Does she have any family le
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,