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
The soft beeping of the monitors filled the quiet hospital room. The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, but Aurora had gotten used to it over the past few days. She sat on a chair beside Carla’s bed, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from the girl’s forehead. Carla was still asleep, her small body looking fragile under the hospital sheets.Aurora sighed and leaned back, exhaustion evident in her posture. She hadn’t left Carla’s side since the surgery. The doctors said she was stable, but Aurora wouldn’t feel at ease until the girl opened her eyes and spoke.Nico stood by the window, watching Aurora’s every move. His arms were crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. He had spent most of his life distrusting people like her—rich, powerful, untouchable. But seeing Aurora take care of Carla with such gentleness, without expecting anything in return, was something he hadn’t been prepared for.He felt guilty.This woman—the same woman he had kidnapped—was now saving h
Aurora watched Nico to be taken by the police. She grunted. “This isn’t right, Lucian!” she argued, turning sharply to face him. “Nico told the truth. He was being used. He doesn’t deserve to be locked up like a criminal.”Lucian exhaled sharply. “Aurora, he is a criminal. He kidnapped you.”“He didn’t hurt me,” she shot back. “And he was desperate. You saw how much he loves his sister. He was willing to do anything to save Carla.”“That doesn’t excuse his actions,” Lucian said firmly. “If we let him go just because we understand his reasons, then what kind of message does that send? Actions have consequences.”Aurora clenched her jaw. She understood that. She really did. But something about this situation felt unfair.A sudden knock at the door interrupted their argument. One of Lucian’s men stepped inside, his expression serious. “Sir, Miss Aurora, Carla has woken up.”Aurora’s frustration vanished in an instant. Without another word, she turned and rushed out of the office, making
The media frenzy surrounding Ethan’s escape was relentless. News anchors dissected every possible theory about his whereabouts, reporters swarmed the prison for answers, and social media was flooded with speculation.The manhunt had begun, and yet, Ethan was nowhere to be found.Vanessa, ever the opportunist, had seized the moment.She played the role of the heartbroken fiancée flawlessly, crying on national television, begging for Ethan to return home.Aurora sat in Lucian’s office, watching the press conference play out on the large screen mounted on the wall.Vanessa dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, her voice trembling with just the right amount of fragility.“I… I just want him to come home,” she sniffled. “I know Ethan. He’s scared. He thinks he has no way out. But, Ethan, if you’re watching this, please—please turn yourself in. We can fix this together.”Aurora scoffed, shaking her head. “She’s good, I’ll give her that.”Lucian, who stood behind her with his arms crossed, let
Aurora sat in her lawyer’s office, her fingers drumming against the mahogany desk as she listened intently. The weight of everything pressed against her chest. She wanted to help Nico—he had made a mistake, yes, but he wasn’t like Ethan or Vanessa. He wasn’t a monster.“I don’t want to file charges against him,” she stated firmly, her voice resolute.Her lawyer, Mr. Rivas, adjusted his glasses and sighed. “Aurora, I understand your sentiment, but legally speaking, Nico is still the one who kidnapped you. No matter his reasons, he committed a crime.”Aurora clenched her jaw, frustration bubbling inside her. “But he had no choice! He was desperate to save his sister. I don’t want him to suffer for something that Vanessa orchestrated.”“I get that,” Mr. Rivas said, leaning back in his chair. “And that’s why I propose an alternative. We can negotiate a deal with the prosecution. Instead of facing the full extent of the charges, we can push for him to be the star witness against Vanessa.
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