AURORA“I don't buy it,” Aubrey said. “This could all just be a mere coincidence. Clay is still hurt,” she said with sadness in her eyes.“We are not disputing Clay's pain or yours,” I said to her. “But if this is even a hint that someone in LeVert 's circle is sabotaging him then we need to figure it out,” I said to her.“Well, you all can do that. I will be with Clay and when this plan doesn't work you come find me,” she said and walks away.“I will go with her,” Madeline said walking behind Aubrey.“I hate to say it but she's right,” Jacob said and I nodded.“Yeah and it sucks,” I agreed with him.“So what do you want to do?” Martin asked me. “I'm with you all the way.”“So is Aubrey,” Carina said. “She's just hurting. She will come to respect both your decisions.”“I know that, Carina but we can't wait long,” I took a deep breath. “Get the footage to Special Agent Bell, let her figure out a way to know who is the second person,” I said to Martin and he nodded.“That's a good start
JACOBI broke the kiss and stared right into her eyes. She looked at me with a smile and took her face away.“Don't,” I brought her face back to look at me. “You shouldn't have done that,” she said, stamping her feet on the ground.“Done what? Kiss you?” I asked, pretending not to know what she's talking about.“In front of the whole world, literally,” she nodded towards the cameras that were all over us.“Let's get out of here then,” I said to her.“Not until I have had a talk with LeVert,” she said and I sighed deeply.“Come on, Aurora,” I took her towards the passenger seat and made her get into the car.“What about my car?” She asked.“It will be delivered back to your place before the end of the day,” I said as I closed the door.I got into the driver seat and started the car.“LeVert,” she whispered and I looked up. There he was, staring at us with hatred in his eyes.“Let's go,” I took her hand and kissed it, making him see me as well.“He is a monster,” she said and I sighed.
AURORAIt's been three whole weeks since the incident at Linda's place. The cops are still actively in the search for the people who broke in and tried to kidnap Anna.The three of them, Linda, Mary and Anna have been living in my place with myself and Aubrey. Jacob and Martin camp around the house most of the time. Providing security with the rest of the team.“I mean why Anna?” Carina asked. Even Carina checks on us sometimes.“Turn her against us?” Madeline asked and I rolled my eyes.“I don't know how they are planning to do that, Anna loves Aurora and even more despite what happened to her Dad,” Carina said.“I don't know,” Aubrey muttered. “If a certain word or way of life is drilled into a child at such a young age, it becomes a part of them.”“Okay, guys. Stop all the negative thoughts,” I said to them.“It's just not negative thoughts, Aurora. It's a fact,” Linda said, coming out of the hallway. “The men who broke into the house didn't come for Mary or me. They came after Ann
AURORAI opened up my eyes and handed Anna to Linda. I looked at the two men who were trying to stand in the way of me and my goddaughter.“Can I see your credentials?” I asked and I heard Aubrey scoff.“You can't really be going for this?” She asked me.“Aubrey, they are Officers of the law. We have to respect and do exactly what they want,” I said to her.“For now, that begins with them showing us their credentials,” I said and turned to the officers.“You were going to show us at one point? I asked.“Of course,” the lighter one said, trying to take something off his pocket.“Easy,” one of my security guards moved towards him, standing between us.“It's just my credentials,” he said, bringing it out.“You don't mind if we check it out, do you?” I asked with my hands stretched forward.“Actually, I do. I'm an Officer of the law. This,” he dangled the credentials in the air. “It's a property of the law.““You idiot…you're going to get yourself killed!” the angry one snapped, his face
AURORAThankfully my driver was able to get to the Beauty Company in no time without breaking any laws. We got there to see Any waiting for us with panic on her face.“What's going on Amy?” I asked as I got to her.“You both need to wear this,” she handed us face masks. I watched as people ran out of the building in haste.“What exactly is going on, Amy?” Carina asked but she kept on walking without answering.“Stop!” I yelled and we all did. She turned to look at me with fear in her eyes.“Whatever happened is not on you, Any,” I said and she nodded, fidgeting.“Uhm, the chemicals arrived and production started,” she said and I scoffed.“I thought I made it clear that the chemicals shouldn't be used until it has been vetted,” I said to her.“You did but by the time I got here, Fiona had already approved of the chemicals he used for the production. Something about not missing the announced deadline,” She said and I sighed.“So what happened?” Carina asked. “What did the chemicals do?
LEVERT POV“Yes!” I yelled as I watched the television. If she thinks saving a child will change the world's mind against her, then she is wrong.“Get me my favorite Champagne from the bar, we need to celebrate this,” I said as j stood up.“Uhm, boss. I don't think there is anything to celebrate,” my assistant and right hand man, Neil said to me.I looked at him and he pointed at the Television. I turned around to see Aurora speaking with calm and excellence.“What happened?!” I yelled. “A second ago she was ready to pounce on the reporter,” I said loudly.“Maybe the friend stopped her,” Neil said.“Maybe?” I scoffed. “We both saw her try to hit the fake reporter you planted but right now all I see is her making nice.”“I will get to the bottom of it,” he said, about to leave my office.“No, cut her loose,” I said as I placed my scarf around my neck.“Sorry boss,” those are the same words he says whenever he is pretending not to hear me.“I know you heard me, Neil but no, I don't mean
AURORA“Hey, be careful with that,” I said to the maintenance operator trying to fix up Fiona's office with my Mom's picture.“She's gorgeous,” Carina said.“Well, I had to take my looks from somewhere,” I said, giving a little dance.The maintenance operator smirked as he carefully adjusted the frame on the wall. I watched, feeling an odd mixture of pride and nostalgia. My mother’s photograph seemed to cast a gentle warmth across Fiona’s typically sterile office.Carina leaned in, examining the picture more closely. “I can’t believe I never knew your mom was this stunning. You always mention her, but this—”I nodded, a bittersweet smile crossing my lips. “Yeah, Martin said she had this way of making everyone feel seen. Even in a crowd, it was like she was looking right at you, understanding everything you were thinking.”“Must be where you get your intuition from,” Carina said, winking.Before I could respond, Amy walked in, her usual brisk energy trailing behind her. She stopped mid
AURORA“No way,” I dropped the photo, shocked and confused.“I double checked Aurora,” Martin said to me. “I have medical records to prove it,” I heard some raffling behind me and I turned.“How did you get those?” I asked him. He tilted his head. Right, knowing the answer to that is probably a bad idea.“How can this be possible?” I asked. “What, he just woke up one morning and decided not to be a woman?” Martin sighed, running a hand through his hair as if trying to untangle the mess of thoughts in his head. His eyes met mine, filled with something between sympathy and disbelief.“Look, it’s not like he just decided one day. From what I’ve pieced together, it was years in the making, a struggle buried beneath layers of secrecy and shame.” He paused, holding up one of the papers. “The records show treatments, therapy sessions… it was deliberate, Aurora.”I picked up the photo again, my fingers trembling slightly. The face staring back at me was both familiar and alien, a ghost of th
AURORAI have been in a moving vehicle for the better part of ten hours. Wherever my captors are taking me, they don't seem to have an idea what they are doing.This can't be LeVert, he won't make such a mistake by hiring amateurs, even if he is doing it by himself. He has enough experience to do it right.Suddenly the vehicle stopped moving, the back of the vehicle opened and I was brought out. One of them was about to speak when the other one shut him up without speaking.I kept my mouth shut, I need to be brave, for myself and for my family. My wedding is in a few hours along with Carina's and there is no way I'm missing it.They tied the blindfold around my eyes even tighter, causing the darkness to engulf me.The rough fabric of the blindfold pressed harder against my eyes, sending a jolt of sharp pain across my temples. Darkness was absolute now, not just the absence of sight but the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. I tried to focus on my breathing, forcing myself to s
JACOB“I can't believe you are getting married!” Braden slammed into me. Trying to ruffle me up a little.“Says the married man,” Andre said to him. It's funny how we are all friends now and we have Aurora to thank for that. She brought all of us together. That's my future wife.“What are you smiling about?” Grey asked me.“You better not be thinking about my sister in some certain way in front of me,” Martin said and we all laughed.I have asked all of them to be mine and Andre best men including Michael, Ryan and Clay. Liam insisted on being the DJ for the service. Right now we are having our bachelor party and having loads of fun. “Thank you for allowing Aurora to do this with Carina,” I said to Andre holding his shoulder.“Are you kidding, Carina will have my head if I don't agree, plus we get to give the world the wedding of the year,” he said and I smiled.“Good man,” I shook his hands and walked towards Grey. “Hey bro,” he turned around and placed his phone in his pocket.“Th
AURORAONE YEAR LATER“What about this?” I walked out of my closet in a black gown filled with diamonds and a white off shoulder handle.“Perfect,” Carina squeaked. I rolled my eyes and walked deeper into the room.“People see me on this, they might think tonight is my rehearsal dinner,” I said to the soon to be bride.“Oh come on, you are the chief bridesmaid, you are meant to dress as elegant as the bride,” Aubrey said, adding her own wisdom to the situation.“Well, apart from that, I will think you guys are just playing dress up with me for me to impress Jacob,” I said to them and they both laughed.“Why are you laughing?” I asked them.“Nothing, just remembering how you blunted out I love you to him,” Carina said, still laughing. I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my blushing face.“Aubrey smirked, “Oh Aurora, you were so abstract about it. It feels like you have been bottling that emotion.”“Maybe I was. I guess my body moved before my mind,” I said to her.“And your timing couldn'
AURORA“Okay, alright. Be safe,” I said and hanged up the call.“Is everything alright?” Carina asked me. I looked at her with my puffy eyes. I can't believe I asked her to move her wedding date all because of LeVert. I feel so sad and heartbroken.“No, don't do that,” she said, hugging me. “Everything will work out. We just need to protect Anna and Mary and we all will be safe.”“But your wedding…”“Can wait,” Andre said, standing beside her. “We all need to be together right now.” He took my hands and I nodded.“Okay,” I exhaled, wiping my face with my other hand. “Let's do this then.”“The girls are pulling up,” Aubrey said to me. We raced towards the car to stop the paparazzi from taking pictures of them.“How come there are so many paparazzi?” Madeline asked as we moved through the crowd.“LeVert probably called them here to witness whatever he had planned,” I said to her.We finally got to the car and help Linda protect the girls from the cameras.“Aunt Aurora,” Anna and Mary hu
JACOB“What does Christina has to do with any of these?” I asked her.“I'm sure you heard from your stepbrother, Grey?” She asked.“Lara, what are you doing?” Aurora asked her. “Grey is not to be trusted.”“I was the one who told Grey to meet with you,” she said looking at me. “He is trying to make amends. You should let him.” I looked at Aurora, who just shrugged her shoulders.“So what about Christina?” Amy asked, standing in front of her. “You can't just drop a bombshell like that and not say anything to it.”“I was getting to it,” she handed her USB drive to Liam, “here, input it to the system,” Liam looks at me hesitant to do it. “Do it Liam,” I nodded.”A lot of files displayed on the bug screen. “These are all of the operations I could find that can be linked to LeVert, including serial killing of high profile women.” “Which one involves my step mom?” I asked, and a more detailed document displayed on the screen.“Wait,” Aurora scoffed. “You have this much evidence and LeVert
JACOBI kept pacing around, it's been almost two hours since Aurora left and she isn't back yet.“Martin is with her,” Madeline said to me, “he won't let anything happen to her.”“But if he can't,” I said and she looked confused. “Whatever is going on is beyond his power,” she sighed and shook her head.“Hey, you have to think good thoughts bro,” Amy said, holding my shoulder. “Aurora didn't come this far to give up or jeopardize everything.”“She is right, J,” Braden whispered, standing beside me. “You have to be able to trust Aurora, trust that she knows what she is doing,” he said and scoffed, “because she has been doing this long before she returned back to her life.”“I just want to protect her, want to keep her safe,” I said to him.“I know bro, but she got this and you know it.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, even though every fiber of my being screamed to go after her. Braden was right, though. Aurora had proven time and again that she could handle herself.
AURORA“Thought I would recognize you?” I asked her.“Hoped,” she said, jerking her hands from Martin who was still looking shocked.“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked her with gritted teeth.“I don't know, hiding from my brother,” she said and I scoffed.“You are not that bumped into me,” I said to her. “You were at the precinct.”“No, you only saw me at the precinct when I came out, not before,” she said and I looked at Martin.“I will prove it to you,” she said and I turned to her.“How?” I asked, folding my hands. She tried to move but Martin stopped her. “Let her go, Martin. She knows she needs us,” Captain Marlow scoffed and walked deeper into the room.“Here,” she placed a material over her head and I could see the face of the woman we saw in the CCTV camera video.“Unbelievable,” I whispered. “Have you seen something like this before?” I asked Martin.“Heard of it but haven't seen one this real,” he said as Captain Marlow took it off.“Spent almost all the money I co
AURORA“You know he is just scared for you,” Martin turned around in the car and said to me.“If you are referring to Jacob then don't. I don't need a lecture right now,” I said and he sighed.“He just wants to protect,” I glared at him and he raised his hands in defense. “That's all I'm going to say,” he turned around facing the traffic.“I have been on my own for a while, I can handle myself,” I said out loud.“I thought you guys have moved past that?” Martin asked me.“Move past what?” I asked, feeling confused.“Move past what he did almost ten years ago?” He asked and I sighed.“We have but he has to know that I didn't have him or you protecting me then and I was still able to survive Copper and being kidnapped,” I said to him.“I get that but he is here now and from the look of things he wants to protect you at all cost.”“Why do you think I brought Michael with us?” I asked and Micheal smiled. “At least Michael can report to him if anything happens.”“We are here, Miss Aurora,”
AURORA“Hey,” I kissed Jacob on the lips as I took off my jacket.“I miss you,” he said, kissing my neck. I bit my lips smiling.“I know but we have work to do,” I pushed him slightly and walked over to the workstation he had set up in his penthouse.“Are you sure this place is secure?” Martin asked him as he walked in.“Yes, nobody knows about this place, not even Christina,” he said and I sighed.“Does Grey know about this place?” I asked him, for a while he has been having a blind spot when it comes to his step brother.“Jacob?” I called his name when I noticed he was hesitant to answer the question.“Yes he does,” he said and I dropped my hands loudly against my laps.“Why would you do such a thing? Grey is not to be trusted,” I said to him.“Look, Grey might have done a lot of things in the past but he helped us back in my airport.”“Or he brought you there to set you up along with Martin,” Braden said.“I agree with Braden,” Amy said and Jacob glared at her.“Don't do that, they