Chapter 2

Aurora's POV

"Oh my God, Aurora actually agreed?"

"What's so strange about that? When has she ever refused Leonardo?"

The laughter in the room grew louder.

As I was seated at the center of the private room, I could feel the weight of countless mocking stares—all except Leonardo's.

His head was bent low as he tenderly tucked a loose lock of hair behind Sofia's ear. Whatever he whispered to her, she immediately broke into a radiant smile.

For a moment, I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry. He had just tossed my dignity into the middle of the room for everyone's amusement, and yet he never once looked back at me.

Then again, when I really thought about it, nothing was surprising about that.

Sofia had always been the woman he couldn't forget. Now that she had finally re-entered his life, his attention, his patience, his indulgence, and even all his tenderness had found their rightful place once again.

In fact, I had never stood a chance against the ghost of that old love he'd longed for all those years.

I forced down the bitterness surging in my chest and lifted my gaze to Leonardo.

"If I do this, does it count as one?" I asked.

The room fell briefly silent.

"Count as one what? Aurora, are you settling scores with Leonardo?" someone asked.

Scattered laughter broke out around the room. They thought I was joking.

Only Leonardo didn't laugh. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly—because he knew exactly what I was talking about.

After a few seconds of silence, he nodded slowly. "Yes."

My fingers tightened sharply around the wine glass.

I forced out a smile and said, "Very well, then. I'll do it."

No one could follow our conversation, much less know of the promise we'd made eight years before.

I was 19 years old that year, fresh to the world of show business. At a private cocktail party, a wealthy businessman invited me to what he euphemistically described as an "overseas engagement".

I accepted, only to be taken to a nameless island.

For three whole months, I lost my freedom. Every morning when I opened my eyes, I wondered if I would ever leave that place alive.

Later, it was Leonardo who saved me. At that time, he was already the youngest Don of the Bianchi family.

To find me, he nearly turned half the underworld upside down.

One by one, he hunted down everyone involved, and they all received their due punishment. Their companies were bought out, their funds frozen, their cases reinvestigated.

In the end, Leonardo brought me home.

For a very long time, I believed it was fate. It wasn't until later that I learned I reminded him of someone.

The curve of my smile, the shape of my eyes, and even the way I habitually tilted my head when lost in thought—they all carried a resemblance to Sofia.

When I learned the truth, it hurt so much I could barely breathe. But by then, I had already fallen in love with Leonardo.

The night he saved me, I asked him how I could ever repay him.

He leaned back into the couch, a teasing yet tender smile on his lips. "I want you to stay by my side."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm being serious."

His smile deepened, and he reached out and pulled me into his arms.

"Then give me 100 forgiveness credits."

"What do you mean?"

"If I ever hurt you one day, just mark it down. It'll count against one credit, and you'll forgive me."

I couldn't help but laugh at how absurd the idea was. "And what if you used up all 100 of the credits?"

His smile gradually faded. "Then we're even."

Back then, neither of us ever imagined there would come a day when we would actually use the forgiveness credits.

And for many years after that, we indeed didn't.

Leonardo cleared every obstacle from my path, provided me with resources and opportunities, and protected me all the way into the spotlight.

By the time I was 25 years old, I had already made it onto the international screen and become a regular fixture on countless magazine covers.

Every time a reporter asked me about marriage, I always smiled, because I truly believed I was loved.

It wasn't until Sofia came back that everything changed.

…

"Fine, I'll strip in place of Sofia," I said.

I snapped back to the present and began to unbutton my dress. The fabric slipped from my shoulders and pooled at my feet.

My vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.

People around me were cheering, clapping, and a few were even whistling.

I didn't stop. I reached for the next piece, then another one.

When the last garment fell away, my sight had grown hazy and unsteady. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself, then slowly sank onto the nearest couch.

This was the 98th time.

I lowered my eyes and stared at the floor.

The dim lights reflected off the polished marble, and on its surface I caught a glimpse of my own pale face.

Leonardo only had to hurt me two more times, and everything between us—the gratitude, the debts, the promises, and all those years of twisted love and resentment—would come to an end for good.