Chapter 10: Three Years Later

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

The abandoned Bennett Textile Group had transformed into one of the fastest-growing luxury fashion companies in the country. What had once been an empty, dust-covered building was now a sleek glass headquarters buzzing with employees, designers, and executives.

At the top floor, Aurora Bennett stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of her office, overlooking the city she had once fled in heartbreak.

She was no longer the timid woman who had walked out of Blackwood Manor in tears.

She wore a tailored ivory business suit, her hair elegantly tied back, and confidence radiated from every step she took.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in."

Charles Whitmore entered with a warm smile.

"The board members are waiting."

Aurora glanced at the framed photograph on her desk.

It wasn't of a business award or a luxury property.

It was a picture of a little girl with bright blue eyes and a joyful smile.

Her daughter.

Emily Bennett.

Three years old.

Aurora smiled as she picked up the photo.

"I'm doing this for you."

She placed it back on the desk before walking into the boardroom.

---

The directors immediately stood as she entered.

"Good morning, Ms. Bennett."

She nodded.

"Please, sit."

Charles began the presentation.

"Our annual revenue has exceeded every projection."

"Our luxury fashion line has expanded into six countries."

"Our investors have approved the international launch."

The room erupted in applause.

Aurora listened quietly.

Three years ago, she had lost everything.

Now...

She had built an empire.

When the applause faded, she spoke calmly.

"This success belongs to every person who refused to give up."

"But we're just getting started."

"There is one final goal."

Charles smiled knowingly.

"The Blackwood Charity Gala."

Aurora nodded.

Every year, the country's biggest corporations gathered at the gala.

Blackwood Holdings had hosted it for over twenty years.

This year...

Bennett Textile Group had been invited as the guest of honor.

The room fell silent.

Everyone understood what that meant.

Aurora would see Damian Blackwood for the first time in three years.

---

Across the city...

Blackwood Holdings.

Damian stood in his office, looking noticeably older than he had three years earlier.

The confident arrogance that once defined him had softened into quiet determination.

He had spent three years searching for Aurora.

Every investigation had ended the same way.

Nothing.

She had vanished completely.

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

Ethan entered carrying a gold invitation.

"The guest list for the charity gala."

Damian barely glanced at it.

"Anything important?"

Ethan hesitated.

"Sir..."

"I think you should see this."

He handed over the invitation.

Damian's eyes stopped on one name.

Special Guest of Honor

Ms. Aurora Bennett

CEO

Bennett Luxury Group

His heartbeat stopped.

"No..."

He read the name again.

Aurora.

She hadn't disappeared forever.

She had returned.

And she was no longer the woman he remembered.

---

That evening...

The grand ballroom of the Blackwood Grand Hotel glittered beneath crystal chandeliers.

Business leaders, celebrities, and journalists filled the luxurious hall.

Damian greeted guests politely, but his eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.

Every passing second felt like an hour.

Then...

The doors slowly opened.

The room fell silent.

A woman stepped inside wearing a breathtaking emerald-green evening gown.

Elegant.

Confident.

Powerful.

Every camera turned toward her.

Every conversation stopped.

Aurora Bennett had arrived.

She walked with calm confidence, surrounded by executives and security personnel.

She didn't look around nervously.

She didn't hesitate.

She belonged there.

Damian stared in disbelief.

She looked even more beautiful than he remembered.

But there was something different in her eyes.

The warmth he once knew had been replaced by quiet strength.

Their eyes finally met across the ballroom.

For a brief moment...

The world seemed to stop.

Damian took a step toward her.

"Aurora..."

Before he could reach her, a little girl's laughter echoed through the hall.

A beautiful three-year-old girl ran toward Aurora.

"Mummy!"

Aurora smiled warmly and lifted the child into her arms.

"I missed you too, sweetheart."

The little girl wrapped her tiny arms around Aurora's neck before looking curiously at Damian.

Damian froze.

His eyes widened.

The child's silver-gray eyes...

They were identical to his.

His breathing became uneven.

He looked from the little girl to Aurora.

Then back again.

A terrifying realization struck him.

His voice barely escaped his lips.

"Is she..."

Aurora calmly met his gaze.

Her expression revealed nothing.

She gently kissed the little girl's forehead before answering.

"Good evening, Mr. Blackwood."

Her polite tone hurt more than anger ever could.

Then she turned away and walked deeper into the ballroom, leaving Damian rooted to the spot.

He watched the little girl disappear into the crowd.

His heart pounded violently.

One question echoed endlessly in his mind.

Could that little girl... be my daughter?

End of Chapter 10

Cliffhanger: Damian's world is turned upside down when he begins to suspect that the little girl at Aurora's side is his child—but Aurora has no intention of giving him the answers he desperately seeks.