The ride to the hospital felt endless, even though Lucian drove like a man on a mission. The silence inside the car was heavy—thick with unspoken fear and the pounding rhythm of Aurora’s heart. Her fingers twisted in her lap, her nails digging into her palms as she stared out the window without really seeing anything.Lucian reached over, his warm hand covering hers. “He’s going to be okay,” he said quietly, his voice steady, but she heard the worry there too.Aurora didn’t answer—couldn’t. She just nodded and held on tighter.When they arrived at the hospital, the harsh scent of antiseptic hit her immediately, and the fluorescent lights overhead felt cold and unforgiving. The waiting room was full of muted voices and the occasional beep of medical equipment, but all Aurora saw was her mother.Carmela sat in one of the plastic chairs, her face pale and drawn, hands trembling in her lap. When she saw Aurora, she stood up and rushed into her arms, the force of her fear and sorrow hitt
Aurora stood outside the hospital, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as she tried to calm the storm raging inside her. Lucian stood close by, his presence steady and reassuring, but even his warmth couldn’t chase away the growing sense of dread.“I need to go to Lancaster Corporation,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her.Lucian’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea right now? You’ve been through a lot—maybe you should take a breath first.”“I don’t have time for that,” she answered, already pulling out her phone. “If what Mom said is true—if there’s sabotage—I can’t just sit back and wait. I need to know what’s going on.”Lucian studied her for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll drive you.”The ride to Lancaster Corporation’s headquarters was tense and quiet. Aurora’s mind spun with possibilities, each one darker than the last. She hadn’t been involved in the company’s affairs for a long time—her father had taken over completely after she lef
Aurora felt a wave of relief knowing her father was awake, but the heaviness in her chest made everything around her seem bleak and lifeless. The sound of her heels clicked sharply against the cold, sterile hospital floor as she and Lucian rushed toward the ICU. Her heart pounded harder with every step.Outside the glass doors, her mother, Carmela, stood waiting. Her face was pale and streaked with tears, and the moment she saw Aurora, she broke into fresh sobs, clutching her daughter’s hands tightly.“Mom, what happened?” Aurora asked, her voice trembling.Carmela wiped at her eyes, trying to calm herself enough to speak. “He’s stable for now,” she said shakily. “But the doctor said he needs rest… he insisted on seeing you, though. He’s been asking for you since he woke up.”Aurora felt her knees weaken — a mixture of fear and hope tangling inside her. Lucian’s warm hand pressed against the small of her back, grounding her. She nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself.“I’ll se
The world had shattered.Aurora stood in the middle of the chaos, feeling like everything around her moved in slow motion. The sounds — the hushed voices, the quiet sobs, the footsteps echoing down the hospital hallway — felt distant, as though they belonged to some other reality.A reality where her father still existed.But that world was gone now.She hadn’t cried at first. Even when the doctor announced the time of death. Even when her mother broke down beside her, clutching her arms and wailing in disbelief. Aurora had just stood there, frozen, as if the grief was too big for her body to contain.It wasn’t until she felt Lucian’s arms wrap around her — steady, warm — that the numbness cracked and the pain flooded in.And it was unbearable.The next day, the weight of it all became too much. Her mother collapsed. The doctors called it shock and exhaustion, but Aurora knew the truth: it was grief. A grief so heavy it threatened to crush them both.She stayed by her mother’s side as
The house felt heavier now.Even with the constant flow of visitors coming and going, the Lancaster mansion had taken on a suffocating stillness — a quiet that wrapped around its grand halls like a shroud. Aurora wandered through it, numb and distant, like she was floating through a dream she couldn’t wake up from.But reality pressed in with every step.Today was the last day of the wake, and tomorrow… tomorrow, they would bury her father.The thought made her chest tighten, but she forced herself to keep moving. There was still so much she didn’t know — so much she needed to know — and she couldn’t keep ignoring the unease coiling inside her.She found her mother in the sitting room, the firelight casting long shadows across Carmela’s delicate face. She looked smaller than usual, fragile in a way Aurora wasn’t used to seeing. The loss had aged her, draining the color from her skin and the life from her eyes.For a long time, they sat in silence. Just two women trying to hold themse
The Blackwood mansion loomed ahead — a cold, imposing estate that matched its master’s reputation perfectly. The wrought-iron gates had barely creaked shut behind Lucian when the weight of the place settled on him, heavy and suffocating.He stepped inside, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floors, the sound echoing through the cavernous hallway. The house was silent, but not the comforting kind — it was the hush of secrets, the kind that made the air thick with tension.He found Don Ramon in the study, seated behind an ornate mahogany desk. The scent of cigar smoke clung to the air, making the room feel even smaller.“Lucian.” Don Ramon’s voice broke the stillness — smooth, calm, but with that ever-present edge. A quiet authority that made people listen, whether they wanted to or not. He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “You finally decided to come home.”Lucian closed the door behind him, taking a steadying breath before facing the man he both respected and feare
After the storm of grief, accusations, and unanswered questions, the silence should have been comforting — but it wasn’t. It felt fragile, like the calm before another inevitable wave.Aurora sat at the dining table, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass as she watched Lucian bring in the last of the dishes. It was a simple meal — roasted chicken, fresh salad, and warm bread — but the air between them was anything but simple.Lucian set the plate down and glanced at her, his face softening just a little. “You haven’t been eating much,” he said, his voice gentle but laced with concern. “You need to take care of yourself, Aurora.”“I know,” she murmured, forcing a small smile. “Thank you for this. I… I needed it.”They sat down, and for a while, the clink of silverware against plates was the only sound in the room. The tension slowly started to ease — not gone, but quieter.After a few minutes, Lucian broke the silence. “Have you heard from your mother? Did she make it to the U.S. ok
Aurora stood by the massive windows of her father’s office — no, her office now — watching the city stretch out beneath her in a web of light and movement.The title of Chairman of Lancaster Corporation still felt foreign, like a coat she hadn’t quite grown into yet. The office was filled with the scent of leather and the faintest trace of her father’s cologne, and the weight of his legacy pressed down on her.She crossed her arms, her fingers tapping restlessly against her sleeve. The silence felt heavy, filled only with the ticking of the clock and the hum of her thoughts. But it wasn’t the company or the pressure of her new role that occupied her mind — it was Lucian.His reaction this morning… the flash of fear disguised as anger, the way his voice broke with desperation — it unsettled her. Lucian rarely lost control. He was always so composed, so calculated. But the mere mention of Don Ramon had cracked that façade.Why?Before she could spiral further into those questions, the s
Aurora’s breath came in shallow gasps as she scanned the restaurant, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might shatter.“Loyd!” she called again, her voice higher, tighter, laced with growing fear.She moved between the tables, her eyes darting from the entrance to the hallway leading to the restrooms, searching for any sign of him.Nothing.Panic swelled inside her, threatening to consume her whole.She turned sharply, nearly colliding with a waiter carrying a tray of drinks.“Miss? Are you okay?” the young man asked, startled.“My son,” Aurora choked out, gripping his arm without thinking. “He went to the restroom, but he’s not there. Have you seen a little boy? Dark hair, blue eyes—four years old?”The waiter hesitated, his brows furrowing. “I—I don’t think so, ma’am. But I can check with the staff—”Before he could finish, a deep voice cut through the chaos of her thoughts.“Aurora?”She spun around to see Lucian standing just a few feet away, his sharp eyes narrowing with
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.