CHAPTER 2 – BACK TO THE START

Aurora’s Pov

When I opened my eyes, I didn’t move. My head felt heavy and my chest hurt. The last thing I remembered was the brake of my car failing, but now I was lying in my bed, in my old room. The same white curtains, the same poster on the wall. The same smell of my old body spray.

I sat up slowly and looked around. My heart started racing, my phone was on the table beside my bed. I picked it up fast, the date on the screen made my hands shake. It was three years before the wedding, three years before the crash, three years before everything went wrong.

“No,” I whispered.

I opened my calendar, checked the year again, checked my texts, checked the photos. Everything matched, my head felt dizzy. I touched my face and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was longer and my skin looked smoother. I looked like I did years ago.

It didn’t feel real. I sat on the floor and stared at my phone again, scrolling through old messages. There was one from Seraphina, telling me to come down for breakfast. I almost laughed, but it came out as a shaky sound.

I dropped the phone and covered my face. The tears came before I could stop them. I cried until my throat hurt and my face felt hot. I cried for everything I lost, everything they took from me. I cried for the stupid girl who trusted them.

When I finally stopped, I sat there breathing hard. My body felt weak, but my mind was clearer. I had time now. Three years before the wedding, before the betrayal, before my death.

I wiped my face and whispered, “This time I’m not the prey.”

I stood up and went to the window. The sun was out. I saw Dad’s car parked outside, my chest ached. He was still alive, i could hear faint sounds downstairs. It was his voice, I pressed my hand against the glass and closed my eyes.

“I’ll protect you this time,” I said quietly.

I washed my face, changed into jeans and a shirt, and stared at myself again in the mirror. I looked normal, like nothing happened, but inside I felt different. I was scared but also angry. I knew what they were capable of, and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

When I walked downstairs, I smelled coffee and pancakes. The dining room looked the same as before. Seraphina was sitting by the table, smiling sweetly at Dad. She looked so innocent, like someone who couldn’t hurt anyone. My stomach turned.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said when she saw me.

I forced a small smile. “Morning.”

Dad looked up from his newspaper. “Finally awake. You missed breakfast yesterday too, you need to stop staying up late,” he said.

Hearing his voice again almost made me cry. I bit my tongue and nodded. “Sorry, Dad.”

He smiled softly. “Come sit down.”

I sat across from him and picked at the pancakes even though I couldn’t eat. Seraphina was talking about some charity event, her voice calm and cheerful. I stared at her and remembered her face that day in the hotel room. The way she smiled after destroying me. I had to look away before my anger showed.

Dad started talking about the company again, saying he was proud of how Damien had been helping with a few deals. My heart skipped when I heard his name. I didn’t want to think about him, not yet but it was too late. The sound of the front door opening made my stomach twist.

“Speak of the devil,” Dad said lightly as Damien walked in.

I froze.

He looked the same as always, confident and charming, with that fake smile I used to fall for. My chest tightened and my fingers dug into my lap as I forced myself to breathe normally.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said. His eyes found mine right away. “Aurora, you look lovely today.”

I felt sick but smiled anyway. “Thanks.”

Inside, I was screaming. I could still see the image of him with Seraphina, the way he looked at me when I caught them. 

Dad greeted him warmly, talking about work and the upcoming projects. Seraphina joined in, laughing softly at his jokes, i sat quietly, pretending to listen, pretending I didn’t want to throw something at them both.

Every second felt like torture. The way Damien’s hand rested on the table, the way his voice stayed calm, it was all too familiar. I used to think that calmness meant safety, now I knew it meant danger.

When breakfast ended, Dad excused himself to take a call. Seraphina left to check on something in the kitchen. I stood up, ready to escape, but Damien caught my wrist gently.

“Aurora,” he said in a low voice. “You seem quiet today. Are you okay?”

I pulled my hand slightly, but he didn’t let go. “I’m fine,” I said.

He smiled a little. “You sure? You know I worry about you.”

I wanted to slap him. I wanted to tell him I knew everything, that I remembered every lie, every word, but I couldn’t. 

He leaned closer. “I missed you.”

Before I could step back, he kissed me.

It was light and soft, but it felt disgusting. My heart pounded so hard I thought I’d pass out, his touch made my skin crawl. I forced myself not to flinch.

When he pulled away, I smiled weakly. “I should go freshen up.”

He nodded, looking pleased.

I turned and walked upstairs fast. My legs shook the whole way. As soon as I reached the bathroom, I locked the door and fell to my knees. I threw up into the sink, my stomach felt like it was twisting inside me.

When I was done, I looked up at the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes red. I didn’t look like myself. I saw two people in that mirror, the old me, the weak one, and the new me, the one who had to survive.

“You can’t be her anymore,” I whispered. “You can’t.”

I washed my face again and went to my room. My laptop was still on the desk, i turned it on and sat down.

If I wanted to beat Damien, I needed to know his weak points. I remembered the one name he hated hearing, Lawrence Astor. I had heard him mention it once before i died. The way his voice changed, the way his hands shook, told me enough.

I typed the name slowly. Lawrence Astor.

Articles popped up on the screen. He was powerful, rich, and dangerous, a man who didn’t play fair. The kind of person even Damien feared.

I read everything I could find, each line making my heartbeat faster. If I wanted to take Damien down, I needed someone who could fight him from the outside. And maybe that someone was Lawrence Astor.

I leaned back in the chair. My hands stopped shaking, i could already feel a plan forming in my head.

I smiled a little, not the kind of smile I used to have, but one that felt new and cold.

“Time to make a deal with the devil,” I whispered.