The silence in the estate was deceptive.Aurora could feel the weight of it pressing down on her as she wandered the hallway near the east wing, where sunlight slanted softly through the open space of the big terrace—painting everything in a golden hue that felt too gentle for what was coming.She hadn’t eaten anything since morning. Her thoughts were too tangled to allow her appetite room.Natalie’s return had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. And though Grayson had barely said a word to her since, his silence was a language she’d come to understand. But last night—the things he said…Her fingers curled over the edge of the railings of the balcony, knuckles turning pale. She couldn’t pretend those moments didn’t happen. And yet this morning, he’d walked Natalie back to her room like nothing had changed.Aurora bit down hard on her lip.She didn’t want to be angry. But she was.She didn’t want to feel jealous. But she did.And she hated that all of this was making her fall f
The door shut behind Grayson with a thud, but the echo followed him all the way down the hallway.He didn’t look back.Because if he did, he might see Natalie’s face again—shocked and speechless.And he couldn’t afford to feel sorry for her right now.No matter what, she had been his fiancée for a long time. But he had made his decision.He got into his car in silence and drove straight to the city, his grip on the steering wheel was too tight the entire ride. His mind wasn’t blank—it was chaotic. A thousand thoughts circling with no order, no beginning, no end.By the time he stepped into his private office at Sunnydale's headquarters, the silence that greeted him was both a relief and a curse.He tossed his coat onto the couch and yanked his tie loose, the tension in his chest refusing to fade.The breakup had been long overdue—but that didn’t make it any easier.Eight years. Eight years of shared history. Of expectation. Of being told what kind of man he was supposed to be—and what
The morning sunlight spilled quietly into the grand halls of the Moore estate, but nothing about the atmosphere felt warm. It was still the same suffocating morning—like the calm before a storm that everyone could feel coming.Aurora walked silently through the corridor, her hands clasped in front of her, her heart still sore from last night.She hadn’t slept much. After everything that had happened in the car, she didn’t know what to feel.Grayson’s words had broken something in her—but not in the way she expected.He had confessed.Not with flowers or soft promises, but with fire and desperation—as if it were the only way he knew how to say it. And in return, she had given herself to him again.Completely.But now, as she descended the staircase, her steps slowed.A soft, familiar voice echoed from below.“Where did you go last night? I was waiting for you. I thought we'd have dinner together,” Natalie’s gentle voice floated in the air.“I was busy,” Grayson’s deep voice replied cur
Grayson yanked the car door open and slammed it shut the moment Aurora was inside. His grip on the wheel was brutal—knuckles white, jaw locked tight.He didn’t wait another second. The engine roared to life as he pulled away from the curb with a screech, speeding down the empty road like he was trying to outrun the storm inside him.Aurora sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her breath shaky. Her eyes darted toward him—wide, disoriented, afraid, and slowly boiling with anger. She clutched the seatbelt tightly, like her life depended on it.This was the second time she’d seen Grayson erupt in anger because of Julian. He was always too hostile whenever Julian was around her—and that only made her more confused. Why did he have to be so overbearing, reacting like this? She was nothing but a plaything to him. So why did he act so possessive all the time?He nearly killed Julian earlier. And she was terrified by it.Grayson was getting out of hand. He was dangerous. And she couldn’t take i
The dinner ended, but Grayson’s anger remained—fierce and simmering beneath his perfectly composed, stoic face.He had been holding it since in the park when he saw them both together—happily talking and taking pictures. Seeing Aurora’s warm expression and smiling because of another man, it hit his gut—hard. Aurora was his—heart, body and soul. Her whole world is supposed to be his—not with another guy. His hand itches to smash Julian's face, really. He only endured it—longer than he thought he would. All throughout the meal, his sharp eyes stayed glued to Julian, observing every bold movement, every smug smile, and especially every time he placed food onto Aurora’s plate like it was his right. He was challenging him in silence. The audacity was maddening.Grayson clenched his jaw so tightly that a vein pulsed along his temple. The only reason he hadn’t snapped at the table was because of Maria—Aurora’s mother, who kept smiling brightly as if she didn’t feel the thick tension poison
The walk back to the apartment was quiet but comfortable. Julian walked her home—carrying a small paper bag of pastries that her mother liked when they passed by a small bakeshop. Aurora kept her pace beside him, arms folded loosely, lost in her own thoughts.“Rory...” Julian uttered, breaking the silence between them.Aurora looked up and met his sincere gaze.“What is it?” she asked, blinking her eyes.Julian retracted his gaze and sighed deeply. “Nothing... I just want you to know that I'm always here for you. If you need help or anything, don't hesitate to call me,” he sincerely said.Aurora lowered her head—she didn’t dare show her struggle to Julian. Even if she needed help, she didn't want to drag Julian into her miserable life. He didn't deserve it.“Thank you, Julian,”she simply replied as she looked up. Silence pervaded between them again until they arrived home. But as soon as they stepped inside the apartment, Aurora froze.Her breath caught in her throat.There, sitting