Aurora saw Lucas’ message. She just didn’t know how to respond. What did he and his so-called true love have to do with her? The more she thought about it, the more pointless the message seemed. Lucas didn’t owe her any explanations. Their relationship was just for appearances anyway. Why take it so seriously? When Lucas returned home, Aurora happened to be in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. The moment she heard the door, her gaze flickered slightly. She knew exactly who it was. She downed the water in one go and turned to head out, planning to wash up. But as she moved, she found herself blocked in the kitchen. Lucas stood in the doorway, tall and broad, completely sealing off her exit. Unless he moved, she wasn’t going anywhere. Left with no choice, Aurora stopped and asked, a little wearily, "Move. I need to wash up." Lucas looked at her, seeing through her calm exterior as if it were glass. He knew it hadn’t been a mistake earlier at the airp
When Lucas returned to the bedroom, he finally noticed Aurora was nowhere in sight.He searched the entire place before finding her in the guest room.Aurora had clearly made up her mind.She wasn’t going to sleep in the same bed as him tonight.Now that his true love was back, it only made sense to draw the line in their marriage.The image from earlier that day still lingered in her mind, and every time she looked at Lucas, a wave of discomfort rose in her chest, especially knowing those hands had just touched another woman.Lucas stood at the door, his lips parting slightly, as if wanting to say something. But in the end, he said nothing at all.His fists clenched, a wave of helplessness washing over him.Just last night, they had been wrapped up in each other.Tonight, a wall divided them, and so did the silence.The next morning, Aurora got up early.After washing up, she left for the office without even acknowledging Lucas.Normally, she would have breakfast, prepared by him, but
Aurora thought for a moment and said seriously, "He's quite nice, very warm and friendly. But I think he has a younger sister, and her situation is a little... unique." She chose her words carefully and eventually settled on “unique.” She didn’t know the specifics yet, and she hadn't met Leonard’s sister in person. Grace mulled it over. "Alright. Try to learn more about his situation. Leonard is a promising business partner, so keep an eye on that." "Got it." With that, Aurora left the chairman’s office. As soon as she returned to her own office, a message came in from Leonard: "I took my sister to the place you recommended. It’s the first time I’ve seen her eat so much." A faint smile appeared in Aurora’s eyes as she read the message. She replied, "I’m glad she liked it. I know a lot of places that are fun for kids too. We can check some out when there's time." "That sounds perfect. I’m free this afternoon. Are you, Miss Walton?" Leonard replied quickly. Aurora c
No matter what Aurora said, Nora remained quiet and unresponsive, her expression blank. She clutched a bunny plush in her arms and kept herself hidden behind Leonard, entirely in her own world. Even so, Aurora showed no sign of frustration. If anything, her eyes softened with even more sympathy. Leonard couldn't help but speak up. "Aurora, it’s alright. You should go ahead and eat. Don’t worry about my sister. I’ll take care of her. If she wants to eat, she’ll eat." Seeing how patient Aurora was made Leonard feel a little embarrassed. Part of him was surprised. But he couldn’t help but wonder—was Aurora really this kind and compassionate, or was it just a front because of their business partnership? With that thought lingering, he gave her a more thoughtful look. Aurora returned to her seat, a little reluctantly. At first, she’d wanted to get close to Leonard for work reasons, to build a stronger partnership. But now, after seeing what Nora had been through at such a
After the server brought over the extra pudding, she bent down with a patient smile and started chatting with Nora. She gently reminded her not to eat too much at once, saying she could finish this one and come back next time for more. If she liked it, they’d be happy to have her again. In the warm sunlight, the delicate lines of Aurora’s profile seemed to glow, especially when she spoke to Nora—her whole face lit up with a soft, heartfelt smile. Leonard found himself staring, momentarily dazed. His heart skipped a beat without warning. Inside the restaurant, everything else faded into the background. In his eyes, there was only Aurora and his little sister. The warmth in Aurora’s voice, the kindness in her expression—it all made the corners of Leonard’s mouth lift, almost involuntarily. Maybe it was time for Nora to have a little more contact with the outside world. …“Lukey, you’re always working,” Wendy pouted, her full lips forming a perfect little frown, the innoce
Watching the scene unfold, Lucas felt a flicker of dissatisfaction. He was beginning to think it might be time to have a serious conversation with Kenneth about his sister’s entitled behavior. But before he could dwell on it, Wendy switched gears with surprising ease. She held up a shirt with a bright smile. “Lukey, look at this one! I think it’s perfect for you!” She grabbed a matching tie and pair of pants. “And this tie and these trousers—now it’s a full set!” Lucas gave them a once-over, his eyes narrowing slightly. They were exactly his style—simple, sharp, and the kind of clothes he usually wore. Just as he was about to pay, Wendy beat him to it. “I’ve got it. Lukey, this is my gift to you.” For some reason, that warmed him more than he expected. After all, even Aurora had never really bought him anything like this. "Alright," he said, a rare trace of softness in his tone. "Looks like you’ve grown up." Wendy grinned and leaned in playfully. “Of course I have
She couldn’t help wondering—what did his wife look like? What kind of woman was she? The man she’d had her eyes on for so long, the one she grew up with, had been taken by someone else just like that. How could she possibly be willing to accept it? Today, she was determined to meet this so-called wife. After dinner, Lucas offered to drive Wendy back. But she refused. “Lukey, I hardly ever come to Ravenshore, and you’re really going to make me stay in a hotel the whole time?” She sat in the backseat, turning her head toward the window, lips slightly pouting. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to sit in the front. She had tried until Lucas’s reaction made it very clear she shouldn’t. The moment she’d reached for the passenger door, he had snapped, telling her that seat was reserved for his wife. She would never forget how he’d shut her down when she joked, “Not even me? I’m not like those other women. We grew up together!” She’d teased him playfully. “Come on, Lukey, sav
“It’s fine. No need to explain.”Aurora looked at the two of them standing together—the tall, striking man and the delicate, sweet-looking woman beside him.They looked oddly well-matched together.In that moment, it felt like something hollowed out inside her chest.She couldn’t even describe what she was feeling.Wendy stepped forward, her eyes quickly scanning Aurora’s face, a flicker of jealousy passing through her gaze. Then she smiled and said sweetly, “So you’re back, my dear sister-in-law.“Don’t get the wrong idea. There’s nothing between Lukey and me. We’ve known each other since we were kids. He brought me home because I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”Her hand was still linked around Lucas’ arm as she glanced up at him, urging him to speak. “Lukey, go on and explain things to her. She looks really upset.”“Since childhood?”Wendy blinked innocently. “Of course. Didn’t Lukey ever mention me to you?”Aurora raised an eyebrow.That one sentence lit a fire in her chest she c
Aurora stood in front of the wardrobe, feeling a little awkward.Looking at Lucas like this, she wasn’t sure what she felt.Usually, he was cold and aloof, like someone untouchable.The only times his emotions ever surfaced around her were in bed.Other than that, he always appeared gentle, calm, and composed.This was the first time she’d ever seen Lucas so helpless.Aurora couldn’t help but lower her voice. "Lucas, let go of me first.""No..."His head felt increasingly foggy, but he was still fully aware of what he was doing.With that thought, he tightened his arms around her.Only then did Aurora realize something wasn’t right.She pushed aside the confusing mess of emotions in her chest, turned around, and pressed her palm to his forehead. She gasped, "You're burning up! Are you running a fever? Did you take any medicine?"Lucas stubbornly clung to his need for an answer. "Don’t be mad at me, okay? Rora, I just want an answer. Nothing else matters.""How can it not matter!" Auro
The manager looked a little puzzled. "Sort of. We do have quite a few conflicting projects with Walton Corporation, but don’t worry, Miss Shaws, we and Walton…"Before he could finish, Wendy cut him off. "I already know the rest. Just assign me to the projects that go head-to-head with Walton Corporation."The manager was stunned.To be honest, Walton Corporation was indeed a formidable competitor. On top of that, they’d recently aligned themselves with Vanguard Group. Their standing in Ravenshore had surged dramatically."Miss Shaws, you haven’t been in the country much, so you might not be too familiar with Walton Corporation. They’re actually quite capable."Wendy replied with obvious displeasure, "So what? If they weren’t, I’d find it boring. I want this project. You don’t need to worry about the rest."Here, Wendy was putting on her full heiress airs.The manager clenched his fists, recalling what the higher-ups had said. In the end, he nodded without realizing it. "Right, got
Now that she’d come to terms with it, Tessa knew she couldn’t let things keep going smoothly for Aurora. She needed to start planning for her own future. Sitting nearby with a soft, pleasant smile, Tessa appeared to everyone else like the embodiment of warmth and grace.But to Aurora, it felt unsettling. That smile of Tessa’s reeked of falsehood—she was definitely up to something. Aurora’s eyes flickered with a trace of coldness, but she pushed down the feeling and stayed quiet. After breakfast, Grace and Aurora shared a car to the office. The ride was surprisingly pleasant, as if last night’s tension had completely evaporated. Aurora liked this kind of peaceful interaction, and she didn’t have the heart to ruin the rare calm. Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last long, before she knew it, they had arrived. Each went to her own office and got to work. Aurora was already well-versed in most of the company’s operations. The only thing left on her plate was evaluating
Aurora nodded as Grace spoke. "Alright, Mom. I understand." But Grace could tell she hadn’t really taken her words to heart. She couldn’t help but add, "This was your choice, Aurora. No one can walk it for you. "If it’s the path you chose, then you have to stick with it. What truly matters is the two of you are doing well." Aurora lowered her gaze. She understood exactly what her mother was getting at. It was just like the past when she chose to be with Joseph. "I get it, Mom. You should get some rest. I’m an adult now." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked at her mother, speaking clearly and steadily. "Don’t worry. I can handle a lot more than you think." Grace felt a flicker of comfort in her heart. "That’s good. Our little Rora really has grown up." Aurora froze for a moment when she heard that. It had been a long time since her mother had called her by her nickname, and she wasn’t quite used to it.Grace noticed the way her daughter paus
Aurora shut the door behind her, completely unaware of Tessa’s furious muttering downstairs. Not that it would’ve mattered—she couldn’t care less. Tessa was only acting this arrogant because their mother wasn’t home. Without anyone to answer her, Tessa sat fuming alone in the living room, her cheeks flushed with anger. She raised her hand, ready to sweep everything off the coffee table in a fit of rage when Grace walked through the front door. "What’s wrong, Tessa? Your face is all red. Are you feeling unwell?" No matter what her daughter had done at those business events, Grace couldn’t bring herself to stay mad. Tessa was still her child, the one she’d doted on since she was little. Even if she was upset, she couldn’t truly be angry with her. Tessa was briefly caught off guard.She quickly pulled herself together and responded to her mother’s concern. "I’m fine, Mom, really. Aurora just got back, and I was a little worried something might’ve happened to her out th
"This ungrateful brat!" The assistant beside him spoke up timidly, "Mr. Hunt, should we find a way to get the Mr. Joseph out?" "Of course!" Melvin looked furious, burning with shame. "At a time like this, what else can we do but get him out?" No matter how disgraceful his son was, once the news got out, it would be the Hunt family’s reputation on the line. What would happen to Hunt Enterprises’ stocks then? He couldn’t afford to take that risk. Seeing Melvin’s expression ease a little, the assistant finally breathed a sigh of relief and went off to find someone to figure out how to get Joseph out. Joseph was already in jail but still hadn’t fully processed what had happened. Aurora had really thrown him straight into jail like that? "Hey! Let go of me!" Joseph yelled at the officers. "Do you even know who I am? How dare you treat me like this!" One of the officers rolled his eyes. "I don’t care who you are. If you’ve broken the law, you’re not getting away with it.
All it did was make Aurora feel like her past self had been unbelievably naive.But Joseph kept going, oblivious to her discomfort. "Those were our best memories. I still remember the first time you blushed, the way you looked in that white dress—so sweet and shy. “You were always so gentle and soft when you were with me… it was such a beautiful time."As he spoke, he watched her face closely, searching for some flicker of emotion.But to Aurora, hearing those words from him made her skin crawl.The more he went on, the more irritated she became. Her expression turned colder by the second.She reached for her phone, ready to call a ride. Staying here any longer felt like a direct assault on her intelligence.Joseph noticed the gesture. That was when it hit him—she hadn’t been listening to a single word he said.And in that moment, he felt like a complete fool.He had poured out his heart, and yet this woman—this ungrateful bitch—could still be so heartless.His eyes darkened. He
Aurora’s anger ignited the second those words left his mouth.Without hesitation, she slapped Joseph hard across the face, her voice sharp and cold. "What the hell is wrong with you?"This is still Walton Corporation, and you think you can throw a fit right here? Whether I talk or not is none of your damn business. Try worrying about yourself."The slap caught Joseph completely off guard. Before he could react, Aurora had already snatched her phone back.He clutched his cheek, momentarily stunned, not even sure where to look.Rage overtook him. "You bitch! You actually hit me!"Aurora raised her chin defiantly. "So, what if I did? You brought it on yourself."Joseph couldn’t stand the smugness in her expression. Grinding his teeth, he snapped, "You think you can just cut me off like that? It’s not gonna be that easy!"Aurora, we were together for three years. Don’t forget, I’ve seen everything. You're not afraid I’ll send it all out?"His threat made Aurora pause, eyes narrowing as s
After all, this was a choice, and a gamble, Aurora had made for herself.Even if she lost the bet, she knew she'd have to deal with the consequences on her own.She pulled out her phone, opened the ride-hailing app, and was just about to book a car when a voice laced with fury and bitterness cut through the air."Aurora Walton, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"The sudden sound startled her. She hadn’t even noticed someone standing nearby.Steadying herself, Aurora looked up, only to be met with Joseph’s face, dark and twisted with resentment."Well, look who’s changed careers," she said dryly, unable to resist the jab.Joseph blinked, caught off guard. "What’s that supposed to mean?""Nothing much. Just surprised to find a clown performing right outside my office," Aurora said casually. "Now move. Stop blocking my way."At that, Joseph’s expression twisted. The fresh style he’d worked so hard on couldn’t hide the rage contorting his face. "What the hell does that mean? I ca