Aurora returned to their table, the air around her now thick with tension. She sat down across from Lucian, who immediately noticed the shift in her demeanor.“Aurora, is everything alright?” Lucian asked, his voice low with concern. His eyes scanned her face, trying to read what was wrong.Aurora forced a smile, masking the turmoil inside. She didn’t want to bring the conversation about Ethan and everything that had happened back into the evening. Not now. Not with Lucian.“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice steady but distant. “Just a little tired, that’s all.”Lucian seemed to accept her answer, though the doubt lingered in his eyes. He didn’t press further, but he continued to watch her quietly, perhaps sensing that something wasn’t quite right.They finished their drinks, the silence between them growing heavier. The rest of the evening felt like it was happening in slow motion, with the clinking of glasses and soft chatter from other patrons fading into the background. Nothing ma
Carmela stared at her daughter’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes brimming with tears.“I can’t believe this is happening,” she murmured. “You’re getting married, my dear.”Aurora forced a small smile, though a bitter feeling lingered inside her. She was already dressed in her wedding gown, the elegant white fabric hugging her frame perfectly. Her makeup was light, accentuating her natural beauty. She had always imagined this moment, picturing herself as a radiant bride.But in her dreams, she had been marrying Ethan.She had once thought she would walk down the aisle toward the man she loved, but fate had rewritten her story. Now, she was about to marry Lucian Blackwood—a man she barely knew. He seemed kind, but that didn’t change the fact that her heart wasn’t in it. Still, she had no choice. Her father made it clear that if she didn’t go through with this, she wouldn’t get the help she desperately needed.“Me too, Mom,” Aurora said softly. “I can’t believe I’m getting married.”C
At Blackwood Manor, Lucian stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the landscape outside. His posture was rigid, his hands tucked into his pockets. Behind him, Don Ramon Blackwood sat on the couch, sipping his black coffee, deep in thought.“You’re already married to her,” Don Ramon said, his voice measured. “What’s your next move, son?”Lucian inhaled deeply, his expression unreadable. “I’m already working on it, Father.”Don Ramon arched a brow and studied his son’s back.“I hope your focus hasn’t wavered. You still remember our plan, don’t you?” His tone carried a quiet warning. “Remember your past.”Lucian’s jaw tightened. His fists clenched at his sides.Forget? Never.He turned around, his dark eyes meeting Don Ramon’s. “Of course, Father,” he said firmly. “My revenge is still in motion.”A slow, satisfied grin spread across Don Ramon’s face.“Good.”—Aurora smirked as she stared at her phone screen.Another missed call from Ethan.It was his fifth attempt this morning, and she
Aurora gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove toward the Westmoor Division, her mind racing with all the possibilities. This branch wasn’t just any part of the Lancaster business—it was a critical division focused on manufacturing appliances, a steady and reliable source of income that supported many of their other ventures. Losing it would be disastrous.As she pulled up to the building, the sight that greeted her was disheartening. The parking lot, once bustling with activity, was nearly empty. The imposing glass doors of the entrance seemed to have lost their former luster, the once-thriving energy of the place now reduced to a dull, fading presence.Aurora pushed through the doors, her heels clicking against the marble floor of the lobby, the sound echoing in the near silence. Only a handful of employees wandered about, their faces downcast and tired. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant, fast-paced atmosphere she remembered.A security guard approached her, stepping di
Mario’s eyes widened as he shot up from his seat, his expression caught between shock and forced enthusiasm.“Aurora! What a surprise! I had no idea you were back!” he said, feigning delight.Aurora smirked, tilting her head slightly. “Didn’t you? I’m pretty sure we sent you an invitation to my wedding. You never showed up.” She glanced around the room. “I can see why—you’ve been busy.”Mario chuckled nervously. “Ah, Aurora, this is nothing, really. Just a simple business discussion. Should we talk outside?” He took a step toward her as if trying to steer her away.Aurora raised an eyebrow. “About what? About selling the company?”Mario stiffened. His nervous chuckle faltered. “O-Oh… Haha! No! Of course not!” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Let’s talk outside,” he whispered, his tone more urgent, his face now serious.Aurora was amused by how desperate Mario was to stop her from speaking in front of the guests. Ignoring him, she turned her attention to the three individual
Aurora sat in her new office, her fingers drumming against the polished mahogany desk as she planned her next move. The events from earlier still lingered in her mind—her uncle’s betrayal, the attempted sale of the company, and the unexpected mention of Lucian’s interest in Lancaster Tech Innovations. Too much was at stake for her to waste any time. She needed to understand exactly what was happening within the company.She took out her tablet from her bag and put on her earpiece. The screen flickered to life, and soon, Red’s animated emoji face appeared.“Hello, Master! Do you need something?” Red’s lively voice chimed through the speakers.Aurora nodded. “Yes. Can you connect to LTI’s system?”“Of course, Master! It’s easy! Do you want me to proceed?”“Go on.”The screen shifted, displaying a series of flashing codes and security bypasses. Within moments, Red had successfully hacked into LTI’s system, granting Aurora access to everything—internal files, financial reports, and even t
Aurora stood before the vast glass window of her new office, the city lights below twinkling like stars captured in the night sky. The weight of the past few weeks settled on her shoulders—not with exhaustion, but with a deep, undeniable satisfaction. Lancaster Tech Innovations was back. And it was hers.She had spent countless hours undoing the damage her uncle had inflicted. One by one, she reinstated the talented employees he had unjustly fired—those who had once made LTI the powerhouse it used to be. She personally oversaw the restructuring of departments, making sure that no trace of Mario’s corruption remained. The siphoned funds? Retrieved. The reputation? Slowly, but steadily, being rebuilt.Now, Lancaster Tech Innovations was no longer a crumbling empire. It was standing tall again, its doors wide open to the public. And tonight, the world would witness its rebirth.A grand reopening gala had been arranged in her honor, marking her official return as CEO. It wasn’t just a par
The party buzzed with energy around Aurora, yet she felt disconnected from it all. The endless conversations, the clinking of glasses, the polite smiles—none of it truly reached her.For over an hour, she had stood among the city’s elite, shaking hands with businessmen and women who had once dismissed her. Now, they were eager to be in her presence, their words filled with flattery and shallow admiration. Yet to her, their voices were nothing more than background noise.Her feet ached, her legs burned from the constant standing, but the real exhaustion ran deeper. It was the weight of the charade, the ceaseless political games, the carefully measured words and masked intentions.She needed a moment. Just a brief pause.Scanning the grand hall, bathed in golden light from the chandeliers above, her gaze landed on her table—a quiet corner, untouched by the main commotion. Without hesitation, she made her way toward it, her stiletto heels clicking softly against the marble floor.Finally
Aurora spent the morning distracting herself with plans for her son.It was easier that way — easier than thinking about Lucian’s words, his touch, the way he had looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world.She pushed all of that aside and focused on something far more important: Loyd’s future.She had been putting it off for a while, unsure if she was ready for her little boy to take this next step. But after everything that had happened, she knew she needed to give him as much normalcy as possible — something stable and safe.And that’s why she found herself filling out forms and speaking with teachers at one of the most prestigious kindergartens in the city.
Aurora cried for the entire ride home.She sat in the backseat of her car, her face buried in her hands, as the weight of everything that had happened crashed down on her. She thought she’d been strong enough to face Lucian — thought she’d finally built the walls high enough to keep him out. But she was wrong.That kiss…It shattered everything.It shook her to her core, stirring up emotions she had spent years trying to bury. Anger, pain, longing — it all came flooding back, and no matter how hard she tried to push it down, it overwhelmed her. And worst of all… she hadn’t hated it.That scared her the most.By the time she reached the m
Aurora hurried toward the parking lot, her sobs breaking through the night’s stillness. She couldn’t believe her own reaction to what Lucian had done.He kissed her.And what made her even more furious — with herself — was that she had liked it.Something inside her had ignited the moment his arms wrapped around her, the second their lips met. It was as if she’d been transported back to a time when she hadn’t yet known about his betrayal. Back when she’d believed in him. Back when she’d loved him.God, she was so stupid.Why was she still letting him affect her like this? After everything he had done, after all the pain, how could he still have this kind of hold on her?
After the dance with Martin, Aurora stayed at their table, though she could no longer sit still. Every time she glanced around the room, her eyes would inevitably meet Lucian’s.The intensity of his gaze pinned her in place, and regret bloomed inside her — regret that she had come to this event at all."Still okay?" Martin’s gentle voice broke into her thoughts.Aurora turned to him, forcing a smile. "Yes. Don’t mind me."But Martin wasn’t convinced. He sighed quietly, his sharp eyes having long noticed the way Lucian’s attention never strayed from them."It’s him, isn’t it? Your ex-husband?"Aurora froze, the words like a cold
Martin Grey had been a constant source of support for Aurora while she was in the US. The moment he found out she was single, he wasted no time clarifying his intentions. But Aurora wasn’t ready — not yet. Her heart was still healing, and she told him as much, asking if they could just stay friends for now.But Carmela had other ideas. She kept pushing Aurora toward her godson, insisting that Martin was perfect for her.And maybe he was. But Aurora’s heart wasn’t so sure.Martin arrived right on time, his sleek black car gliding smoothly to a stop in front of Aurora’s mansion. When she stepped outside, his eyes widened with admiration, and for a moment, he looked completely stunned.“Wow,” Martin breathed, his gaze sweeping over
“Hey, babe! I’m so sorry I couldn’t join you two. I’ll make it up to you next time, I promise!” Rebecca’s voice came through the phone, warm and familiar.Aurora smiled. “It’s okay, Rebecca. You can visit him anytime.”Rebecca had called that afternoon to apologize for missing their day at Star City. Now, Aurora was getting ready for the party she was attending that night.Fresh out of the shower, Aurora sat in front of her vanity while the hair and makeup team she’d hired worked on her. She held her phone to her ear, listening to Rebecca rant as the stylist carefully curled her hair and applied soft, natural makeup.“That’s what’s so annoying!” Rebecca grumbled. “My dad forced me t
Aurora stood at the edge of the playground, the sound of children’s laughter filling the air.She was here to enjoy with her son and mother, and yet she still can’t forget the events of last night.She had seen Lucian again. And base of his reaction, he was as shock as her. She barely slept because of it.Aurora watched her son, Loyd, as he ran with the other children, his face lit up with pure joy. His small legs pumped furiously as he chased after a red ball, his laughter ringing out every time he got close but missed.Seeing him happy should have made her feel the same — and it did, to some extent. But there was still that heavy ache in her chest, one she couldn’t quite shake.&ldq
Back at his penthouse, Lucian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his eyes fixed on the city lights that stretched far below him.No matter how much time passed, the ache never lessened. Not when it came to her.Aurora.He still couldn’t believe he had seen her again — and held her, even if only by accident.The warmth of her body pressed against his had been so familiar, so painfully familiar, that it had nearly shattered his resolve right there on that cold street. It had taken every ounce of strength not to beg her right then and there to give him one more chance.But the way she had looked at him…Cold. Distant.
Three years agoLucian walked out of the correctional facility, the heavy gates clanging shut behind him. Three years. He had spent three long years paying for his mistakes — not just to the law but to Aurora as well.He exhaled slowly, stepping fully outside. The first thing he saw was Alfred standing by a car, offering a reserved smile.Carrying a small bag with just a few clothes, Lucian approached him.“I didn’t expect you to be here,” Lucian said quietly.“I’m here to fetch you, sir,” Alfred replied with his usual calm demeanor, opening the car door for him.Lucian sighed and slid into the passenger sea