Wendy caught the sharp glint in Lucas’ eyes and finally realized that he was genuinely angry. She clicked her tongue and said casually, “Alright then. You two talk it out. Just don’t fight because of me.” The chill in Aurora’s gaze deepened. She gave a cold scoff and turned to leave, ready to walk out and give them all the space they needed. But Lucas didn’t let go. His hand remained firmly locked around her wrist. Aurora struggled, but his grip didn’t budge. Her voice turned icy. “Let go. Go be with her. Don’t touch me.” A vein pulsed at Lucas’s temple, his jaw tight as he stared at her lips moving—every word cutting deeper than the last. He wanted to shut her up right now. And behind them, Wendy stood with her back turned, the corners of her mouth lifting slowly into a smug smile. “Oh, my dear sister-in-law, this is only the beginning. You’ll get used to it, won’t you? Watching your man slip right through your fingers.”The thought made her giddy. Her steps grew l
Lucas watched Aurora’s retreating figure but didn’t follow. He knew what she needed right now wasn’t more pressure, but space to cool down. If he pushed too hard, it would only make things worse. His fists clenched tightly at his sides. Only when the guest room door slammed shut with a loud bang did he snap out of his daze. Letting out a long, heavy sigh, he turned and headed toward the master bedroom. Meanwhile, in the guest room, Aurora sat in silence, unable to shake the frustration tightening in her chest. She had told herself from the very beginning to never believe a man’s promises. She and Lucas had always been about mutual benefit, and nothing more. And yet, something had started to shift. Something she hadn’t accounted for. Things were slipping out of her control, veering in a direction she didn’t expect and wanted.She raised a hand to her chest, fingers pressing lightly against her heart. That steady thrum felt more and more unmanageable. Why had she go
When Aurora got up, she saw Wendy sitting at the dining table, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lucas."Wow, Lukey, I didn’t expect to taste your cooking again today. I’ve missed it so much!"Wendy exclaimed dramatically, "You have no idea, the stuff overseas is practically inedible. None of it tastes right. Home is still the best. And especially Lukey’s cooking."But Lucas remained expressionless. "Don’t touch anything. Wait till your sister-in-law gets up."Wendy pouted but, under his gaze, reluctantly put down the piece of fried egg.From the corner of her eye, she saw Aurora.The woman didn’t say a word. She just stood there quietly, like an outsider watching it all unfold.Wendy then walked over to her and, feigning intimacy, hooked her arm through Aurora’s. "My dear sis-in-law, look at all the delicious food Lukey made. Don’t stay upset anymore."If you ask me, you really are lucky. Lukey’s looks and background are both top-tier, and he even knows how to cook. Isn’t that the
But Lucas wasn’t falling for her tricks anymore. His face remained cold as he said, "Stay a couple more days if you want, but once you're done having your fun, go back.""You’re kicking me out?"Wendy stared at him in disbelief, her face full of shock. They had known each other since childhood—was that bond really worth nothing now?Lucas stayed unmoved, firm in his stance.No matter how much Wendy pouted or begged this time, he didn’t say another word.In the end, the whole scene ended in frustration, with Wendy stewing in her own anger.Lucas had no appetite left either. Grabbing his coat, he headed out the door.Ever since Wendy arrived, he’d realized he needed to reevaluate his relationship with Aurora. He couldn’t keep treating it so casually.Wendy watched his retreating figure, her fists slowly clenching, eyes wide with fury.She had no idea what kind of spell Aurora had cast. Even after acting that smug, Lucas still indulged her.He even cooked for her.Wendy had never see
"Yes, our GM’s been busy coordinating with a new project partner. She already left for lunch, probably eating at one of the restaurants nearby."The receptionist answered Lucas’ question without holding anything back.He gave a small nod in thanks and turned to leave.Glancing at his still-silent phone, a flicker of unease crept into his chest.It appeared that Aurora was still upset.He stepped out and wandered around the nearby restaurants, checking one after another. With all the people casting glances his way, he reluctantly pulled on a mask and got back in the car, driving slow laps around the area.Honestly, he hadn’t expected much—just hoped he might get lucky and run into her.But then, through a restaurant’s glass window, he caught a glimpse of a familiar smile.At first, from a distance, he wasn’t sure if it was really her. After all, she was sitting across from a man and a little girl.When he rolled the window down for a better look, the uncertainty vanished.It was Auror
The two of them were laughing and chatting, and in Lucas’ eyes, they looked exactly like a family.A flush of red crept into the corners of his eyes as he forced himself to suppress the emotions surging in his chest.He told himself over and over to stay calm and trust Aurora.But watching the scene through the glass, he felt like he was on the verge of losing it.The image of a handsome man, a beautiful woman, and an adorable little girl was the perfect picture of a family. No matter how he looked at it, that’s exactly what it seemed to be.Jealousy churned inside him, bubbling to the surface with every breath he took.In the end, he could only turn and leave.Even though anger simmered beneath his skin, he was still standing near Walton Corporation. He reminded himself that Aurora would give him an explanation.“What if he was only a working partner?” he reasoned, trying to hold on to that thought.…Meanwhile, Joseph paced anxiously in his apartment.He dragged a hand through his
"Judy, I know things have been tough on you lately. Go ahead and pick out whatever you want."With a grand gesture, Joseph handed her a bank card. "You know the PIN. If it’s not enough, just let me know."Judy was momentarily stunned by the gesture, caught off guard by the sudden generosity."Joseph, you’re so good to me."He pulled her into his arms. "You’re my woman. If I don’t treat you well, who else should I treat well? Go to the mall this afternoon. Don’t come back until you’ve spent it all."Judy leaned into him, looking blissfully content. She could only hope all her previous doubts were just in her head.After sending her off, Joseph got himself styled up and prepared to head to Walton Corporation to see Aurora.The more he thought about things, the more stifled he felt.That spiteful woman—Aurora had kept things from him for three whole years. It had to be intentional.There hadn’t been a shred of trust between them—that was what made being with her so exhausting, and what
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
Wendy avoided her gaze, pretending not to understand what Aurora was saying."What are you talking about, Aurora? I don’t get what you mean."Aurora let out a cold scoff, saying nothing, just watching this woman put on her little act.Her performance was so clumsy that anyone with half a brain wouldn’t fall for it.But of course, someone actually did.Rachel jumped in without a second thought, standing protectively in front of Wendy. She snapped at Aurora, "Don’t make things hard for Wendy. She can say whatever she wants. It’s none of your business."You’re nothing more than Wendy’s shadow anyway."That line struck a nerve. Aurora’s fingers curled into a tight fist.Even Leonard couldn’t help but glance at her.Her face turned grim, eyes locked coldly on Wendy.So, this was what Wendy had been spreading behind her back. And now, with Lucas nowhere around, she didn’t even bother keeping up the act.This was the good little childhood friend Lucas always talked about?Wendy tugged at Ra
Leonard spoke up at just the right moment. "That’s how she shows affection—by staring at someone she likes without blinking."Aurora’s smile widened. With a casual wave, she ordered a few more desserts that kids usually loved.Watching the two of them together, Leonard felt a warmth bloom in his chest, so full it nearly overflowed.That afternoon, the three of them arrived at the biggest mall in the city—Grand Zen Mall.They had a clear goal and headed straight for the clothing section on the third floor.Faced with rows of colorful children’s clothes, Aurora felt a bit overwhelmed by all the choices.Leonard, carrying little Nora in his arms, followed closely beside her."Aurora, should we head straight to the kids’ section?""Yeah, just through the women’s section. The children’s clothes are right past it."The moment Leonard heard the words women’s section, his eyes lit up and he quickly suggested, "Well, since we’re not in a rush this afternoon, do you want to take a look at some
"Balancing adults and children—that’s what real living is about. Just getting back to the essence of life."Aurora's eyes lit up. "You’re absolutely right!"Leonard didn’t say much in response. He knew exactly what kind of design Aurora liked.This concept was grounded in everyday life—something close, something real.That was why he was confident. He knew Aurora would love this design."Alright, I’ll show this to the chairman."Her gaze toward Leonard was filled with appreciation.This was real talent, and someone the Walton Corporation couldn’t afford to lose.Her mother was right. They couldn’t let him go work elsewhere.The two of them went on to discuss more ideas around the project. The deeper the conversation went, the more Aurora admired Leonard.And Leonard felt the same—refreshed, even exhilarated.It had been a long time since he’d met someone who clicked with him so well.Not to mention, people who could keep up with his thought process were rare to begin with.But Aurora
Tolerating her once or twice was fine, but it just became annoying after having to do it too many times.He had his own life too. There was no reason to waste all his time on her. No need at all.After breakfast, Aurora headed to work at Walton Corporation.This time, she drove herself.As usual, the receptionist greeted her politely."By the way, Miss Walton, I saw Mr. Knight waiting in the reception room."Aurora nodded. "Got it."She was a little surprised. The design draft was supposed to take three days—it had only been two. Leonard was already here?That thought stirred a bit of excitement in her.When she entered the lounge, sure enough, Leonard and Nora were already there.Hearing the sound of heels, Nora tensed at first. But once she saw Aurora, her expression clearly relaxed.Leonard’s smile widened slowly as he looked at Aurora."Sorry for bothering you so early."Aurora smiled and countered, "You’re being too polite. Besides, this is my working hour anyway."Leonard cons
But the next morning, when Wendy saw the two of them walk out of the room together, the smile on her face instantly froze.Aurora found her stunned expression amusing.In fact, she even greeted her cheerfully. "Morning. Why’s your mouth hanging open like that?"At that, Wendy quickly tried to manage her expression.She shot a panicked glance at Lucas, only to see him eyeing her with quiet scrutiny.Awkwardly, Wendy explained, "It’s nothing. I just haven’t seen you for a couple of days. I was surprised. I thought you were mad and decided not to come back..."The moment those words landed, the look in Lucas' eyes turned icy cold.He’d just managed to coax Aurora back—what was Wendy trying to do?Sure enough, when Wendy glanced at him again, she got a glare in return.But she didn’t care. With her childhood bond with Lucas, the one who’d end up pushed aside would be Aurora—the outsider who came in later.She was hoping Aurora would lose her temper and go file for divorce right away.Even
Aurora turned her gaze away. "Don’t you know exactly what I mean? You’re even living with her now, and you still say you don’t know?"Men really were all the same, no matter who they were. Even at a time like this, he was still pretending not to get it.Lucas finally realized that Aurora was talking about Wendy.So that was what had been bothering her all along. No wonder she kept picking fights with him. It turned out that his Rora was jealous.The moment he figured it out, a surge of energy coursed through him. He no longer felt weak and powerless—the fire in his eyes was striking."You really don’t know who my true love is?"Aurora looked at him in shock, only to meet his eyes that seemed to hold a teasing glint.There was a sparkle in his gaze, filled with emotions she couldn’t quite decipher.Aurora parted her lips slightly and asked uncertainly, "Am I supposed to know?"Looking at her adorable expression, Lucas pulled her into his arms even tighter, resting his forehead ag
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