Ethan adjusted his cufflinks as he admired his reflection in the mirror. Tonight was perfect. Another lavish party, another public display of their supposed victory.He turned to Vanessa, who was draped in an expensive silk gown, her diamond necklace shimmering under the golden chandeliers of the grand ballroom. She clinked her champagne glass against his, her lips curling into a smug smile.“To us,” Vanessa purred.“To us,” Ethan echoed, taking a slow sip of his drink.Vanessa chuckled. “Aurora for sure didn’t see this coming. It’s been what? Two weeks and she haven’t shown her face to anyone.”Ethan smirked. “She might have accepted her fate already. She shou
Aurora sat in her office, staring at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The faint hum of the bustling metropolis filled the air, but inside her office, there was nothing but silence, thick with the weight of recent events.Everything was back in place. The chaos Ethan and Vanessa had caused was finally contained, and LIT was hers again.But Aurora wasn’t just interested in taking back what belonged to her. She wanted to ensure that Ethan and Vanessa paid for every betrayal and scheme they had orchestrated.She leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming against her desk as Beth walked in, tablet in hand.“All accounts have been frozen, and Calloway Enterprises is now under your control,” Red reported. “Since you were already a major shareholder before the attempted takeover, it was easy to seize full ownership once Ethan was arrested.”Aurora smirked. Too easy.“What about the employees?” she asked, keeping her tone businesslike. “I don’t want them suffering because
The courtroom buzzed with hushed whispers as the trial for Ethan Calloway reached its final stage. The air was thick with anticipation, the weight of judgment pressing down on everyone inside. Reporters lined the back rows, their pens poised, waiting for the moment that would decide Ethan’s fate.Aurora sat at the plaintiff’s table, her posture composed, but inside, she could feel her heart pounding. She had spent weeks preparing for this moment, gathering every piece of evidence, ensuring that justice would be served. Ethan had done more than just betray her—he had tried to destroy her.Across the courtroom, Ethan sat with his defense attorney, his expression carefully schooled into one of innocence. He had been playing the victim for weeks, spinning lies about how Aurora had manipulated him, how she was using their past relationship to ruin him.But the evidence said otherwise.Aurora clenched her hands together, inhaling sharply as the judge re-entered the courtroom and took his
Aurora walked down the long marble hallway of the courthouse, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The trial was over. Ethan was sentenced. Justice had been served. And yet, a strange sense of numbness filled her chest. It wasn’t the overwhelming victory she had imagined. It was just… an ending.Beside her, Lucian walked at an even pace, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored suit. His presence was steady, grounding her in a way she didn’t realize she needed."You did it," he said, breaking the silence between them. His voice was low, filled with something close to admiration. "You stood your ground and won. Ethan’s exactly where he deserves to be."Aurora let out a slow breath. "I know." She glanced at him, offering a small smile. "But why doesn’t it feel as satisfying as I thought it would?"Lucian tilted his head slightly as if he understood. "Because people like Ethan don’t just disappear after a verdict. The damage they caused… it lingers." He paused. "But y
Lucian opened the car door of Aurora. “I’ll join you later. Let’s have a dinner as a celebration.”Aurora smiled. Lucian had been supporting her since the beginning. And she was happy learning that he didn’t leave her.“Sure. I will wait for you in your house.”“Okay.”Aurora entered the car and Lucian closed it. As soon as she sat in the car seat. She felt the exhaustion pressing down on her like a heavyweight.The trial had ended, Ethan was behind bars, and Vanessa was scrambling to regain control of the narrative. But it wasn’t over. Not really. She still has a lot to deal with.She sighed
A dull ache pounded at the back of Aurora’s head as she slowly regained consciousness. Her vision blurred, darkness stretching in every direction as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.Where am I?Panic struck her like a bolt of lightning when she realized she couldn’t move.Her wrists and ankles were tied to the bed. The rough texture of the rope bit into her skin as she struggled against it, but it wouldn’t budge. Her breathing turned ragged, heart hammering against her ribs as fear clawed its way up her throat.The air in the room was thick with the scent of dust and something metallic—blood?Her pulse spiked.The sound of a creaking do
“Then, you will help me instead.”Aurora frowned. “What do you mean?”Aurora’s muscles tensed as the man stood beside the bed. His jaw was tight, but there was no longer any malice in his eyes—only something raw, something desperate.“I… never wanted to do this,” he finally said, his voice quiet, yet filled with an unspoken weight.Aurora narrowed her eyes, still on high alert. “Then why? What is your name?”Nico exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. He seemed to be warring with himself, struggling between duty and conscience.“My name… is Nico. I was just desperate.”
The drive to the hospital was tense, filled with silence thick enough to cut through. Aurora sat in the backseat with Carla, who rested weakly against her shoulder. The girl’s breathing was shallow, her fragile body barely able to stay upright.Every few minutes, Aurora would glance down at her, her heart twisting painfully at the sight.“We’re almost there,” she murmured, gently squeezing Carla’s cold fingers.Carla managed a weak smile, her lips barely moving. “Thank you, Miss Aurora…”Aurora smiled back, brushing Carla’s damp forehead. “Just Aurora. And don’t thank me yet. Save it for after you’re healthy.”Nico remained silent in the driv
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