Five Years Later“Be careful, Loyd Astrid!” Aurora called out as they walked through the airport lobby.“Don’t worry, darling! I’ll handle him!” Carmela replied with a laugh.Aurora could only smile as she watched her mother chase after Loyd — her lively, four-year-old son — who was running ahead with boundless energy.Taking a deep breath, Aurora continued pushing their luggage stroller forward, her eyes following the two fondly.It had been five years since she left Evermoore and decided to settle in America. What was supposed to be just a short vacation while waiting to give birth turned into years of staying, mostly because of her mother’s persistence. Carmela had insisted they stay until Loyd was a little older, and Aurora hadn’t been able to refuse.Despite being far from Evermoore, Aurora had still managed to handle the company. Joseph kept her updated with regular reports, and her monitoring system ensured she always knew what was happening.Things hadn’t been difficult for Au
The moment they arrived at the mansion, Loyd couldn’t sit still — a little ball of energy, running around like a wind-up toy. Thankfully, there were plenty of staff around to keep an eye on him.As expected, the first thing he asked for was food, and Carmela immediately took care of him. Aurora wanted to stop her mother and insist she take a break, but Carmela wouldn’t hear of it. Her love for Loyd was overwhelming — and as a result, the little boy was getting spoiled rotten.Letting them be, Aurora decided to start unpacking their things after finishing her meal. She’d managed to get a decent amount of rest on the plane, so at least she wasn’t too tired.Once everything was sorted, they finally put Loyd down for a nap. Of course, even then, the little boy chose to sleep next to h
Aurora Lancaster stared at the man and woman standing before the crowd. Her body shook, and her knees trembled. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard from the man she loved.“I want you all to meet my fiancée, Vanessa Steele!” Ethan Calloway announced proudly.The woman at his side smiled sweetly as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Aurora felt her world shatter as she watched them interact so affectionately as if no one else existed around them.It was a party that Aurora prepared for Ethan for successfully to get a partnership deal with the Drey Corporation, a big company on their town. Aurora turned away. She couldn’t bear to watch any longer. The man who had promised her the world was now engaged to someone else—and she couldn’t understand why.She had always been there for Ethan. When he had nothing, she stood by him. She had left everything from her past behind to prove her love, yet now, he was throwing her away like she meant nothing.Three years ago, Ethan had be
Aurora returned to their apartment, hoping to find Ethan, but he never came home. Instead, their landlady showed up, asking her to vacate the premises as the apartment was now up for lease. Aurora then discovered that Ethan had purchased a new house in an exclusive subdivision.He was truly erasing her from his life.Still desperate to talk to him, Aurora went back to his company, only to learn that Ethan had personally fired her. She begged him for an explanation, but Ethan was unyielding. No matter what she said or did, he had made up his mind—she was no longer a part of his life.Aurora had lost everything. She tried to claim what she believed was rightfully hers, but she was dismissed at every turn. No one in the company even knew about their relationship. To them, she was nothing more than a secretary—a role Ethan had deliberately ensured she played publicly. At first, Aurora didn’t mind keeping their relationship private, but now she understood why he had done it.Now, standing
“Don’t you think this is too soon, Francisco? Your daughter just came back home. Why are we inviting the Blackwoods already?” Carmela asked, her tone laced with worry. They were standing outside the mansion, waiting for their guests to arrive.Francisco waved her concerns away dismissively. “I won’t be deceived again, Carmela. Besides, you know how important this is for us.”“But—”Carmela sighed, turning her attention to Aurora. She gently caressed her daughter’s arm, feeling a deep sense of pity. She knew Aurora had always wanted to be free.“It’s okay, Mom. I’m fine,” Aurora said softly, forcing a smile. But her eyes betrayed her true feelings, revealing the storm brewing within.A few moments later, three cars pulled up in front of the mansion. Aurora held her breath as several men stepped out. Then, from the second car, a man exited the passenger seat. He was different from the others—his commanding presence and the way he carried himself exuded authority. He wore a perfectly tai
Aurora stared out the window, her fingers lightly gripping a wine glass. She sat in the living room, her mind racing with thoughts about her next move. Dinner had concluded, and Francisco and Lucian were still engrossed in a private discussion.Carmela had checked on her repeatedly, concerned for her well-being, but Aurora dismissed her worries with a practiced smile. She couldn’t falter now. Her father wanted her to prove her loyalty, and she needed the Lancaster wealth to accomplish her goal. Ethan had discarded her like trash, despite everything she sacrificed for him. Now that she was back, she would make him regret it.“I see you’re still awake.”Aurora flinched at the voice and turned to find Lucian approaching her. She cleared her throat and redirected her gaze to the window.“I see you’re still here,” she replied coolly.Lucian smirked, stepping closer. “I’ve been watching you, Ms. Lancaster. You seem… troubled.”Aurora raised an eyebrow but kept her eyes fixed on the glass in
Preparations for Aurora and Lucian’s wedding began immediately. The news of the union between the Lancaster and Blackwood families caused a stir, especially with Aurora’s unexpected return. Everyone was abuzz, labeling it the wedding of the year.Aurora stood in front of her father’s office door, her heart pounding. With her wedding approaching, she needed assurance for her own plans. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.Inside, Francisco sat at his desk, immersed in papers. He glanced up when he heard her enter.“Aurora. What is it? Shouldn’t you be with your mother, preparing for your wedding?” he asked, his tone neutral but curious.“I just came back from the meeting with the wedding planner. Tomorrow is the fitting for my gown,” she replied with a forced calmness.Francisco gave a curt nod. “Good.”Aurora remained standing, her nerves evident. Francisco noticed her hesitation.“Is there something else?” he asked, setting his papers aside.Summoning her courage, Aurora n
“You’ve been gone for a long time, Master. What happened to you?” Red’s cheerful voice filled the room.Aurora sighed. Red was an AI, but she thought and spoke like a human—a design choice Aurora made years ago to have someone she could talk to, even if that someone wasn’t real.“I’m fine, Red,” she replied evenly.“Why did you come back? And how’s Ethan?”Aurora sighed again, this time with a touch of annoyance. The last time she used Red was before she left the mansion, crying and telling the AI she was choosing Ethan. Thinking about it now made her cringe.“Let’s not talk about him,” she dismissed quickly. “Show me the current state of Lancaster Enterprises.”“Right away, Master!” Red replied with a playful lilt, before her tone shifted to professional efficiency. “Displaying current figures now.”The central monitor lit up, revealing a detailed array of graphs, spreadsheets, and data on the Lancaster empire. Aurora’s expression darkened as she scanned the information.“Our revenue
The moment they arrived at the mansion, Loyd couldn’t sit still — a little ball of energy, running around like a wind-up toy. Thankfully, there were plenty of staff around to keep an eye on him.As expected, the first thing he asked for was food, and Carmela immediately took care of him. Aurora wanted to stop her mother and insist she take a break, but Carmela wouldn’t hear of it. Her love for Loyd was overwhelming — and as a result, the little boy was getting spoiled rotten.Letting them be, Aurora decided to start unpacking their things after finishing her meal. She’d managed to get a decent amount of rest on the plane, so at least she wasn’t too tired.Once everything was sorted, they finally put Loyd down for a nap. Of course, even then, the little boy chose to sleep next to h
Five Years Later“Be careful, Loyd Astrid!” Aurora called out as they walked through the airport lobby.“Don’t worry, darling! I’ll handle him!” Carmela replied with a laugh.Aurora could only smile as she watched her mother chase after Loyd — her lively, four-year-old son — who was running ahead with boundless energy.Taking a deep breath, Aurora continued pushing their luggage stroller forward, her eyes following the two fondly.It had been five years since she left Evermoore and decided to settle in America. What was supposed to be just a short vacation while waiting to give birth turned into years of staying, mostly because of her mother’s persistence. Carmela had insisted they stay until Loyd was a little older, and Aurora hadn’t been able to refuse.Despite being far from Evermoore, Aurora had still managed to handle the company. Joseph kept her updated with regular reports, and her monitoring system ensured she always knew what was happening.Things hadn’t been difficult for Au
Aurora took a deep breath as she stared out from her terrace. If she hadn’t known she was pregnant, she’d definitely be holding a glass of wine right now. But instead, she settled for orange juice, her mind replaying everything that had happened that morning.She won.She’d taken back everything Don Ramon had tried to steal from her. The Lancaster Corporation was finally hers again. And yet… she still didn’t feel happy.Something inside her whispered that something was missing.Aurora placed a gentle hand on her stomach. It was still small, but she could already feel the occasional flutter — soft, steady reminders of the life growing inside her.She sighed again, the weight of it heavy.“I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered. “I guess you won’t ever get to meet your dad.”Even though Lucian had testified against his father, he hadn’t escaped punishment. Like Don Ramon, he was found guilty — though his sentence was lighter. Three years in prison. It was nothing compared to Don Ramon’s twenty
The courthouse was packed — reporters, spectators, and an air so thick with tension it felt like it might suffocate her.Aurora sat at the plaintiff’s table, her back straight, her face calm, but inside, her heart was a storm. The weight of everything rested on this moment — on the truth finally coming to light.Joseph sat beside her, his presence steady and reassuring.Across from them sat Don Ramon Blackwood, his face a mask of cold fury. His lawyers whispered to him in hushed, frantic tones, but Don Ramon didn’t even flinch. He was a man who believed himself untouchable — a man who had built his empire on lies and thought it would never come crashing down.But today, the reckoning began.
Aurora stood at the courthouse steps, the sun beating down on her face, but she barely felt its warmth. The weight of everything she’d been carrying for weeks—no, for years—pressed down on her shoulders, but there was a new sense of determination in her stance. She wasn’t just fighting for herself anymore. She was fighting for her future—their future.Joseph stood at her side, his jaw set and his eyes hard. Their lawyer, Ms. Reyes, adjusted the stack of documents in her arms, the sound of rustling papers filling the tense air."Are you ready for this?" Joseph asked, his voice low.Aurora took a deep breath. "I’ve never been more ready."Together, the
Aurora woke to the soft murmur of voices and the sterile scent of antiseptic. Her eyelids felt heavy, the light filtering through them warm but too bright. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open, squinting against the glare. The room around her came into focus — pale walls, the steady beeping of a heart monitor, and the cool air brushing against her skin.A hospital.Panic surged in her chest as memories rushed back — the dizziness, the ground rushing up to meet her, and then… nothing.“Ms. Aurora?”The gentle voice pulled her back, and she turned her head to see Paula sitting at her bedside, her eyes red and puffy. Behind her stood Lucing and June, their worry etched into every line of their faces.
The days at the vacation house blurred together in a rhythm of quiet desperation. Aurora threw herself into her work, trying to drown the ache in her heart with purpose. The steady hum of Red’s system in the basement became her constant background noise, the clicking of her keyboard her only company late at night.Joseph and Beth visited when they could, sneaking in through the back roads, their loyalty a small but powerful light in the darkness threatening to swallow her whole. Joseph brought updates from the company — most of them bleak — while Beth kept Aurora from completely falling apart with warm meals and quiet words of comfort.“Your mother’s asking about you,” Beth said one evening as they sat on the porch, the sky streaked with the warm colors of sunset.Aurora sighed, closing her eyes against the guilt pressing down on her. “I know. But she’s safer in the US. If she were here, Don Ramon would use her against me.”“You don’t have to do this alone,” Beth said softly. “We’re
The vacation house was quiet — too quiet. Even as Aurora moved through its familiar halls, the silence pressed against her like a weight.This house had always been a refuge, a place of warmth and laughter. But now it felt like a fortress — cold, empty, and heavy with the burden of everything she’d lost. And the worst part? She was building that fortress with trembling hands.The work kept her from falling apart.She spent the day putting things in order — securing the house, stashing away the family’s remaining assets, and setting up Red’s mainframe in the basement. It was an old, reinforced room meant for storage, but it would serve its new purpose well. She kept everything hidden there: the jewelry, the cash, and the few important documents she’d managed to grab from the mansion before the banks could seize them.Lucing and June, their longtime caretakers, helped her without hesitation. Despite everything, they had stayed loyal when so many others had turned their backs. Their daug
It felt like history was repeating itself — like the universe had some cruel obsession with taking everything Aurora loved and leaving her with nothing but the broken pieces.The company her father had built with his blood, sweat, and vision — the company she had nurtured and protected — was slipping through her fingers. And this time, there was no one left to save it. No father to step in with his calm wisdom, no allies to rally around her. Just silence and betrayal.And Don Ramon Blackwood was at the center of it all.He wasn’t satisfied with taking the chairman seat. No — that would’ve been too simple. Too kind. Instead, he was going after everything. Piece by piece, Lancaster Corporation was being carved up. The branches they’d fought so hard to establish were being seized one by one, their assets frozen under a mountain of lawsuits.Lawsuits… against a dead man.Aurora still couldn’t wrap her head around it. How it was even possible, she didn’t know. But somehow, Don Ramon had fo