Mag-log inIf you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading Aurora’s story. I know some of you expected Aurora to end up with Damien.After all, he was introduced as the male lead. He was her soulmate. The man fate seemed to choose for her.So why didn’t she choose him?Because love isn’t always enough.Sometimes, the person you’re meant to love is also the person who hurts you the most.But that doesn’t automatically make them evil.Damien wasn’t a monster. He grew. He regretted what he did. He apologized sincerely. He became a better man.But healing yourself doesn’t erase the scars you’ve left on someone else.Aurora spent years begging to be loved.She chased affection from her father until she lost herself. Then she chased it from Damien, believing that if she just tried harder, loved harder, endured a little more, eventually she’d be enough.She wasn’t living at some point, she was just surviving.The moment she walked away wasn’t because she stopped loving Damien.It was because she fin
_Aurora’s POV_Our eyes were fixed on each other as we closed the distance between us. And then we stopped. It was like we had both decided on a safe distance to keep while staring at each other And for a moment my mouth refused to work. I parted my lips and closed them again, trying to force out the words that refused to come out. “You came here…” Nikolai whispered and I nodded my head. “Yes, I did…” I said, tears forming in my eyes. A thousand words sat in my chest, but for some reason none of them seemed enough. “I almost missed you,” I whispered and I watched as his jaw tightened. If he had walked into that plane a few seconds earlier. If I had been a few seconds late. I would have missed him forever.“I came here as fast as I could and I almost crashed my car..” I rushed out and his eyes widened instantly.“What?” He asked in panic.“I…” My voice trembled. “I wasn’t thinking. I called Elena and she told me you were leaving.”He closed his eyes for a second and when he o
_Aurora’s POV_Elena hung up but I remained frozen for a while. The phone slowly slipped from my fingers, landing on the bed beside me. But my heart wouldn't stop racing and my mind wouldn't stop working. She said his flight was meant to be by Two O’clock and she told me what airport he had gone to.She really hoped I went after him because of how miserable we both seemed. I looked towards the clock on my bedside table. 12:40 a.m.I still had time. I still had time to get to him and tell him how I really felt. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.If I left right now, I could still make it. I just had to hurry up. I jumped off the bed so fast I stumbled over my own blanket.“Oh, God.” I cried when I almost kissed the floor but I picked myself back up again. My voice shook as I ran into the living room. Where were my keys?I couldn’t remember where I had tossed them off to. Where—I looked around frantically before spotting them sitting inside the bowl by the door.
_Aurora’s POV_The drive back to my place felt longer than it should have.Every red light lasted forever and every turn blurred together. I didn’t even think I should be driving, but here I was. My hands tightened around the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, but they still wouldn’t stop shaking.Elena’s words kept replaying in my head.He looked for you.I swallowed hard.The road in front of me blurred and I blinked quickly to clear my sight. Then another sentence followed.He flew to America.A tear slipped down my cheek.No.No…He couldn’t have. Nikolai had loved that job. He had worked for years to get it.He used to light up whenever he talked about it.He had plans. Dreams. Goals.And I’d convinced myself leaving him was protecting all of that.My laugh came out broken.How stupid I had been. How unbelievably stupid.I had spent an entire year comforting myself with one lie.At least he still has his career. Now even that was gone.“He quit…” I whispered to my
_Nikolai’s POV_I watched the white delivery van disappear through the iron gates.Until it became nothing more than a tiny white dot.I waited to see how that would make me feel. But all I felt was nothing. She was gone. Again.I stood there long after the van had disappeared, my hands buried deep inside my pockets.The cool breeze brushed against my face, carrying the scent of fresh roses she’d arranged only an hour ago.She was really here.After an entire year, I had finally seen her again and she had been standing barely a few feet away from me.And now she was gone. Again.I let out a slow breath, still staring out of the window. “It’s over,” I said. The words sounded hollow even to me.She had apologized. I’d said everything I’d wanted to say. There was nothing left between us now.Nothing except a year of silence neither of us could undo.I turned away from the gates and headed back inside the manor.The reception hall buzzed with laughter.Crystal chandeliers sparkled ove
_Aurora’s POV_I stood alone beneath the floral arch long after Elena disappeared into the manor.Around me, staff hurried back and forth carrying trays of champagne and linen.Someone laughed.A violinist tested a few notes.The wedding continued preparing for one of the happiest days of someone’s life.Yet all I could hear was Elena’s voice.“You should.”What happened after I left? I tried to force myself to focus, but all I could think of was what Elena had said. There were still a few arrangements to inspect before I left.The sweetheart table. The aisle flowers. The bridal bouquet.I checked them all twice. Then three times.I tried to distract myself, keeping my hands moving. And time went by. One of the venue staff approached me and I turned to her. “We’ve finished placing everything.”I blinked, and then..“Oh… thank you,” I answered. But she kept standing there. “Will there be anything else?” She asked and I thought about it before shaking my head. “No.”I looked aroun







