Chapter 2: A Smile That Conceals Vengeance

“Are you happy tonight?”

The question lingered in the air.

Dante didn’t answer right away.

He simply looked at Aurora, as if trying to read something hidden behind his wife’s smile. But just as Aurora had intended—there was nothing to read.

Empty, calm, and perfect.

Aurora was still standing there, the baby in her arms. Her face was gentle, her eyes warm—exactly the Aurora Dante had always known.

But only Aurora knew…

She had changed.

Dante finally gave a faint smile.

“Of course. Why would you ask that?”

Aurora lowered her gaze briefly, then looked back up.

“It’s nothing. I just thought… tonight feels different.”

Dante didn’t respond.

He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

Aurora observed every movement he made. The way he walked. The way he avoided her gaze. The way he didn’t come near their baby.

Small details.

But enough to make everything clear.

Aurora said nothing more.

Because the game… had just begun.

That morning felt too calm.

As if the world hadn’t changed.

As if nothing had shattered the night before.

But for Aurora Blackwood, everything was different.

She stood in front of the mirror for a long time.

Staring at her own reflection.

Her face was pale.

Her eyes slightly swollen.

But there were no more tears.

Aurora picked up a lipstick from her vanity and applied it calmly. The soft red color brought life back to her face, which had briefly lost its color.

She smiled.

Tried.

And succeeded.

The smile was perfect.

No one would ever suspect… that this woman had just witnessed her husband betray her with her own best friend.

Aurora lifted her chin slightly.

“From today onward…” she whispered softly.

Her voice was calm.

“…I will not be the same woman anymore.”

She carefully picked up her baby and walked out of the room.

Her steps were steady now.

No longer wavering.

As if each step was guided by a new purpose.

In the dining room, the aroma of coffee and toasted bread filled the air.

Everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Dante sat in his chair, casually reading the newspaper. As if nothing had happened the night before. As if he weren’t the man who had just betrayed her.

Aurora looked at him for a few seconds.

Her heart no longer trembled.

No longer ached like it had last night.

What remained was… coldness.

“You’re up?” Dante asked without really looking at her.

His tone was flat.

Casual.

Aurora approached slowly, then took her seat.

“Yes,” she answered softly. “I didn’t want to rest too long.”

Dante finally looked at her.

His gaze was brief, but enough to show a flicker of surprise.

Perhaps he had expected Aurora to look weak.

But what he saw now…

Was a calm woman.

Too calm.

“Shouldn’t you still be in your room?” Dante asked.

Aurora smiled faintly.

“I’m fine.”

A simple answer.

But enough to end the conversation.

That was when footsteps approached.

Aurora didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Lily.

She appeared in a simple dress, her face fresh like a beautiful morning. There was no trace of guilt. No sign that she had betrayed her own best friend.

Aurora glanced at her briefly.

Her smile remained warm.

But her eyes… were empty.

“Good morning,” Lily greeted cheerfully.

Aurora gave a small nod.

“Morning.”

Lily sat across the table. The same distance as always. The same position.

But it felt… different.

Very different.

Aurora poured tea into her cup calmly. Her movements were graceful. Controlled.

As if no emotion disturbed her.

“Thank you for coming last night, Lily,” Aurora said gently.

The sentence sounded sincere.

Perfect.

Lily smiled.

“Of course. I’ll always be there for you.”

Aurora lowered her gaze, staring at the tea in her cup.

Those words now felt like poison.

But she showed nothing.

Not a single thing.

Good… keep it up.

Aurora slowly lifted her cup.

Keep pretending. Because starting today, I will do the same, she thought.

Breakfast passed in a strange silence.

Dante occasionally read the newspaper.

Lily played with her spoon.

Aurora… simply observed.

Every movement.

Every glance.

She noticed how Dante would occasionally glance at Lily.

Very briefly.

But enough.

And Lily…

Returned it the same way.

A small detail Aurora might not have noticed before.

But now, everything was clear.

Aurora leaned back slightly.

Enjoying the scene.

Not as a wife.

But as… an observer.

“I’m thinking of returning to the office this week,” Aurora said suddenly.

Dante immediately looked at her.

“What?”

His tone rose slightly.

Aurora met his gaze calmly.

“There are many things I need to take care of.”

“No need to rush,” Dante replied quickly. “You just gave birth.”

Aurora smiled faintly.

“The company is mine, Dante.”

Silence.

The sentence was simple.

But it carried something different.

Sharper. Firmer.

Dante stared at her for a few seconds.

As if trying to read something.

But found nothing.

Because Aurora was no longer easy to read.

“Alright, if that’s what you want,” Dante finally agreed.

Aurora nodded.

“Yes. That’s what I want.”

Lily, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Aurora, are you sure?”

Aurora turned to her.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Aurora smiled.

The same smile as before.

“I’m sure.”

But there was something behind that smile…

That made Lily feel uneasy.

After breakfast, Aurora returned to her room.

She carefully placed her baby in the crib.

Then sat in the chair near the window.

Her gaze was empty.

But her mind… was working.

Fast.

Orderly.

Aurora recalled everything she had seen the night before.

Every detail.

Every word.

And one thing stood out the most—

Dante’s words.

“That child isn’t mine.”

Aurora clenched her hand.

She knew it wasn’t true.

She had never touched another man.

Never.

So why would Dante say that?

There was only one answer.

Someone had planted that lie.

And Aurora didn’t need long to know who.

Lily.

Aurora gave a faint smile.

“Cunning…” she whispered softly.

But the smile didn’t last long.

Because what replaced it was something far more dangerous.

Resolve.

That afternoon, Aurora quietly summoned her assistant.

She gave a simple order.

“Prepare all of the company’s financial reports from the past two years.”

Her assistant looked surprised.

“All of them, ma’am?”

Aurora nodded.

“Without exception.”

Her tone left no room for refusal.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And find a trustworthy nanny. Someone who can protect the baby… even if it means standing against anyone but me.”

Aurora looked out the window after her assistant left.

The city stretched beneath her.

A kingdom she had once neglected.

A kingdom she had entrusted to Dante.

The biggest mistake of her life.

But not anymore.

That night, the atmosphere was calm again.

Too calm.

Aurora sat in the living room, holding her baby.

Dante sat not far from her.

While Lily… stood by the window.

Aurora slowly lifted her gaze.

Looking at both of them.

For the first time…

She no longer saw them as the closest people in her life.

But as… enemies.

And strangely, she felt no fear.

Not at all.

Instead… she felt calm.

Because now she knew what she had to do.

Aurora rose slowly.

Her steps were graceful as she approached them.

She stopped right between Dante and Lily.

Close.

Very close.

Her smile appeared again.

The same smile.

But now… it carried a different meaning.

“I have a plan,” she said softly.

Dante frowned.

“A plan?”

Aurora nodded.

“For the company.”

Lily looked at her, slightly tense.

Aurora glanced between them.

Then said in an unreadable tone—

“I want both of you to help me.”

Silence.

Dante and Lily exchanged a glance.

Brief.

But enough for Aurora to catch it.

Everything.

Aurora’s smile deepened.

“Why so quiet?”

She tilted her head slightly.

Her gaze sharp, yet wrapped in perfect gentleness.

“Or…”

She paused.

Her voice lowered, almost a whisper.

“Is there something you’re hiding from me?”