Lately, Wendy had been unusually quiet.She hadnât stirred up trouble and tried to disrupt Auroraâs life in any way. In fact, whenever Aurora returned home, Wendy would retreat to her room without a wordâsometimes shrinking away after just a brief glance, like a startled bird.At first, Aurora found it strange. But over time, she got used to it.Wendy seemed to be behaving. And if she was willing to keep to herself like this, then perhaps letting her stay in that room wasnât such a bad idea after all.After all, Wendy was still technically a threat. But keeping her under the same roof meant keeping her in plain sight. If she tried anything, Aurora would know immediately.That alone made Aurora feel justified in her earlier decision not to throw her out.It had been the smart move.An enemy she could see was better than one hiding in the shadows.Aurora didnât keep a close eye on Wendy, but if anything happenedâsheâd know. So far, Wendy had done nothing more than go to work and r
She hadnât expected him to go this far for her.Aurora always assumed men liked the kind of woman who cooked for them, who quietly stayed behind the scenes, preparing meals and tending to the home. That was why sheâd tried learning how to cook, making soup, doing those little things she thought would make him happy.But Lucas wasnât like that, not even close.His first concern wasnât how the food tasted, or whether it was nutritiousâit was her well-being.That thought warmed her heart. Maybe she really hadnât misjudged him. He genuinely cared for her, more than sheâd allowed herself to believe.Thinking back, she even felt a bit immature, almost ashamed, for not realizing it sooner.Still, between them, there was one lingering shadow: his true love.That person had never been mentioned again.She never appeared and stayed unclarified. Yet Lucas had stayed by her side all this time. And still, the term lingered.Just hearing those three words made Aurora quietly jealous."Alright, I
The thought weighed on her.Aurora lowered her lashes, her expression softening into something faintly melancholic.But regardless of what she believed, or didnât believe, about being Lucasâ so-called true love, sheâd been treating him with nothing but care lately. She had even started making soup for him herself.At first, Lucas hadnât noticed. He just thought she was being more affectionate because of her feelings for him.But gradually, he started to sense something was off.That evening, when he returned home, the scent of slow-simmered broth drifted through the airâand there she was, standing in the kitchen, apron tied neatly around her waist, focused on the pot in front of her.Lucas strode over quickly, his voice tinged with concern. "Why are you doing all this?"Aurora didnât even look up. "Iâm making you a nourishing soup. Youâve been running around so much. You need something good for your body.""For my body?" he repeated, puzzled. "You think I need to be nourished all of
Aurora took a deep breath and finally made a decision.If something couldnât be figured out, maybe it was better not to overthink it.Digging too deep would only burden her further. It was more important to focus on the things in front of her and handle them well.With that shift in mindset, she felt an unexpected wave of relief wash over her.Once the mind opens up, even the way one sees the world changes. And at that moment, Aurora could feel it that her entire body and perspective felt lighter than before.She exhaled slowly, then returned her attention to the document in front of her. Her presence seemed to glow with a quiet charisma, and her expression now held a fresh sense of focus and resolve.By the time Ian returned, the version of Aurora he saw was a far cry from the distracted woman heâd left behind earlier.Though slightly puzzled, he was more relieved than anything.This was the Aurora he knewâthe one who couldnât be shaken by outside noise. The one who inspired confide
Ian scratched his head, puzzled. Sure, they hadnât worked with John in a while, but even then, the front desk had always been polite and cordial, at the very least. So why the sudden change in attitude?He stepped up to the door, speaking clearly toward the inside."Hi, I just want to ask a few questions. I wonât take much of your time or disturb your boss."Would you mind opening the door so we can talk face-to-face for a minute?"He kept his tone sincere, trying to strike a professional balance. But the moment he mentioned âyour boss,â the receptionistâs face visibly shifted again."Our boss isnât here anymore. Youâd better just go. Iâm leaving in a few days too," she replied curtly, voice sharp.Her boss wasnât here anymore? That made no sense."Then where is he? Can you at least tell me where he went?"Without another word, the receptionist shut the inner door as well, clearly done with the conversation. The message was loud and clear: she didnât want to talk, and he wasnât wel
In Ian's eyes, Aurora had always been sharp, decisive, and unshakably composed. She was the kind of woman who owned every boardroom she stepped into, never one to zone out or hesitate in the middle of work.That was why todayâs distracted, uncertain demeanor felt so out of place, and frankly, concerning.Maybe she wasnât feeling well?Before Ian could ask more, Aurora glanced up, her expression quickly regaining its usual clarity. "Oh, Iâm fine. Did you finish the report?"Her gaze sharpened, the momentary haze gone.Seeing her snap back to form, Ian breathed a quiet sigh of relief. There she isâthat was the Aurora he knew. That indecisive woman from a minute ago was definitely not their capable general manager."Yes, everythingâs been reported. Our collaboration with the new director, Mr. Lowe, is going smoothly."Aurora nodded. "Good. But if he makes any unreasonable requests, I want to be the first to know.""Understood," Ian replied before quietly stepping out.As the door click