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
Aurora's deep thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the front door. Maria glanced toward the door, her expression softening.“That must be Julian,” she said with a quiet smile, already moving to her feet.Aurora looked up—confused. How did her mother know him?“Julian?” she asked, knitting her beautiful brows.“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Julian often comes here for a visit. He told me that you were good friends in college. That young man is such a kind-hearted person,” Maria said, praising Julian wholeheartedly. She even had a soft smile on her face. It seemed like they were getting along well with each other.It wasn’t a surprise. Julian was an easygoing person and could blend in anywhere with ease.“Let me get it,” she said, placing the things in her hands on the couch before proceeding to answer the door.Julian was also surprised when he saw her. “Rory…”Aurora offered a small smile. “Julian, come on in,” she said, stepping aside to let him enter.Julian brought a basket of
That day, Aurora didn’t come back to the estate after going to the hospital with Edith. She wanted to take a breath—even just for a little while. The huge space in the estate was growing tighter for the three of them. She was unable to breathe every time she got caught up in Grayson’s possessiveness—and Natalie’s poison was starting to crawl under her skin.She had no reason to be angry about Natalie pouring all her hatred onto her. Natalie was hurt because of Grayson. She had every right to be angry. The truth hurt, but whether she accepted it or not, there was nothing else she could do about it.She had no place in Grayson’s life. That much was clear. What was she to him, anyway? Just a worthless girl—like a ragged doll he could throw away anytime.Aurora badly wanted to get out of that place. But how?Grayson would never let her go.Just as much as her heart never wanted to.She stared blankly out of the taxi’s window for a long time, her unkempt thoughts drifting far away. Her tri
Natalie had been brought to the hospital not long after the accident. The skin on her arm, red and blistered, had already begun to swell.Grayson arrived shortly after receiving the call from Edith.He didn’t ask many questions. He didn’t have to.His footsteps echoed down the sterile hallway, his presence sharp and quiet. The doctor kept pace beside him, murmuring details he didn’t really listen to—something about second-degree burns, how it looked worse than it was, how infection was the real concern. Grayson didn’t say anything. Just nodded once.Outside the private room, he caught sight of Aurora.She was sitting stiffly on a bench against the corridor wall, elbows on her knees, fingers moving restlessly in her lap. Edith sat beside her, a calming presence, though even she looked uncertain.Aurora didn’t look up. Her gaze was fixed on the floor tiles.Grayson’s eyes lingered for only a second before he turned away and stepped inside the room.It was quiet. The kind of quiet that c
Natalie slumped against the wall, gasping, one trembling hand reaching for her throat.Her lips parted in disbelief, but no words came.Just silence.The hallway felt colder somehow. Emptier, even.She stared at the place where he had just stood, where his cold back had disappeared seconds ago—like he hadn’t just snapped. Like he hadn’t just looked at her like she was nothing.This was the first time she had seen him like that.Grayson Moore had always been cruel in a quiet way. Distant. Calculated. He wielded silence like a knife.But this? That flash of rage in his eyes, the raw fury in his voice, the way his hands had gripped her throat without hesitation—That wasn’t the man she knew.He had lost control. And not for her.It was her—Nata