All Chapters of Once a Fool, Now a Queen : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻Trust was a dangerous thing.And as I sat across from Killian Wolfe in the dimly lit lounge of a private club, I wondered if I was making the biggest mistake of my life.Between us, a half-finished bottle of whiskey caught the low light, the amber liquid reflecting back at me like a warning.“Say it,” Killian said, leaning back against the leather booth, his gaze locked onto mine. “Say you want my help.”I exhaled slowly, gripping my glass a little tighter. “I want your help.”A victorious smirk played on his lips. “Smart woman.”“Don’t flatter yourself.” I set my drink down with a deliberate clink. “This is business, not loyalty.”Killian’s fingers drummed lazily on the table. “And yet, you hesitated before agreeing. What was it, Sinclair? Fear? Or are you just waiting for a better deal?”I refused to take the bait. “I don’t make deals

Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*A Dangerous Balance*Killian Wolfe was a storm.Unpredictable. Ruthless. Impossible to ignore.And for some reason, I kept finding myself in his orbit.“Do you trust me, Aurora?” His voice was low, cutting through the tension in my office.I exhaled slowly, my fingers tightening around the edge of my desk. “Trust is a luxury I can’t afford.”He smirked, as if he expected that answer. “Then consider this a business transaction. Nothing more.”Liar.We both knew this was more.⸻*The Game He’s Playing*Killian and I had been working together for weeks now—strategizing, planning, maneuvering against Damian with the precision of a well-played chess game.But the more time we spent together, the more I felt the lines blur.It was in the way he stood too close when we analyzed reports. The way

Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*The Weight of a Name*The moment I stepped into the room, the air shifted.It wasn’t obvious—no sharp gasps, no overt stares—but I felt it. The way conversations quieted just enough for my name to slither between them. Aurora Sinclair. Damian Blackwood’s ex-wife. The woman who tried and failed.I knew this was coming. It didn’t make it any easier.The business world had always been ruthless, but for a woman clawing her way back from ruin? It was carnivorous.I adjusted the silk lapels of my blazer, lifted my chin, and walked deeper into the lion’s den.Killian was already there, leaning against the bar with his usual controlled ease. He caught my gaze but didn’t move to greet me.Good.If I was going to prove I deserved to be here, I needed to do it alone.⸻*The Skeptics*A waiter passed by with a t

Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*The Counterattack*I should have known Damian wouldn’t stay quiet.By noon, every major news outlet was broadcasting his press conference. He stood behind a polished podium, dressed in a navy suit that screamed integrity, his expression a careful mix of disappointment and pain.“I never wanted to bring my personal life into the public eye,” he began, his voice steady, perfectly rehearsed. “But recent events have forced my hand. I can no longer stay silent while my reputation—and the company I built—is dragged through the mud.”I gripped my phone, my knuckles white as I watched him on the screen.Damian exhaled, shaking his head as if he were burdened by the need to defend himself. “My ex-wife, Aurora Sinclair, has been spreading lies, painting herself as the victim. But the truth is, during our marriage, she was reckless with company finances, making decisions th

Once a Fool, Now a QueenAurora Sinclair’s POV⸻*The Art of War*The moment I stepped into the gala, I knew he was watching.Damian stood at the far end of the ballroom, surrounded by men who still clung to his influence, their laughter thick with the scent of expensive whiskey and thin loyalty. He looked the same—impeccable in a tailored suit, his expression unreadable, his presence still commanding a room like he owned it.Once, that presence had made my world smaller. Now, it only fueled my resolve.A waiter passed by, and I grabbed a glass of champagne, feeling the weight of every gaze that trailed me. Some curious. Some skeptical. Some waiting for me to fall.I lifted my chin. They’d be waiting forever.A voice cut through the noise. Smooth. Poisonous.“Well, well. If it isn’t the woman of the hour.”I turned, already bracing myself.Damian’s smirk was sharp enough to dr