Mag-log in_Aurora’s POV_Three hundred and sixty-five days.That was how long it had taken me to build a life that finally felt like mine.If you could just move the peonies a little to the left…”I smiled at my assistant.“Perfect.”She stepped back, admiring the display in the front window.Sunlight streamed through the glass, catching the soft pink petals and making the entire storefront glow.Exactly the way I wanted it.I smiled to myself.A year ago I had been crying on the floor of my little flower shop.Today I owned one twice the size. Funny how life changes in a year.The sign outside read:Petal’s ParadiseThe words still didn’t feel real sometimes.After Damien had come to see me, I had packed everything I owned into two suitcases and boarded the first flight to London.It was a last-minute decision and I told myself it would only be for school.A fresh start.Nothing more.Then life happened.Hospitality Management had turned out to be everything I never knew I wanted.I loved it.
_Aurora’s POV_My eyes widened as I stared at the man who was standing in front of me. I had hoped that day at the courtroom would be the last time I ever saw any of them. Quietly, I bent and picked up the scissors from the floor, placing them on th counter before I turned to him once again.“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly. I gave myself credit for not shaking or crying already, finding my body calmer than I would have expected. Which was strange. I watched different expressions run across his face, and he cleared his throat. “I wanted to see you,” he said. I paused. I tried to figure out what made me feel that way. If my heart raced or if I felt nervous. If I felt like I was about to die. But all I felt… was nothing.And then I nodded, “I've seen you.” I said. I had no idea why he was actually here. But I wanted him to leave. My shop fell into another silence.“So..” he started and I folded my arms across my chest. “You can leave now,” I said, not giving him t
_Damien’s POV_It's been a few weeks and I suddenly found myself parked outside the small flower shop Aurora used to work in. My fingers tapped against the steering wheel so many times as I stared at the door. I could still leave. I thought as I watched people walk in and out. I mean, I still had time to rev my engine and drive away. Maybe the best apology I could ever give Aurora was staying as far away from her as possible. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her standing in that witness box once again.“I almost killed myself… because of you.”The words wrapped around my throat until I could barely breathe.And then suddenly, I shut the engine off.Forcing myself out of the car before I could change my mind, I walked to the shop. The little bell above the shop door chimed softly as I stepped inside.The scent of fresh roses and lilies immediately filled the air.This seemed exactly like the type of place Aurora would work in. Margaret looked up from where she was trimming
_Damien’s POV_The judge quietly reviewed the notes in front of her. She read through page after page without looking up.The only sound inside the courtroom was the turning of paper.I sat perfectly still beside Jonathan, my hands clasped together so tightly my knuckles had turned white. This was it.I thought, watching her as I waited for her next verdict. Everything came down to the next few minutes.Jonathan leaned closer to me and I waited for what he was about to say next. “Whatever happens…” He lowered his voice and I nodded my head. “…don’t interrupt the judge.”I looked at him, but said nothing else. We were getting close to the end now. Across the room, Kingston sat rigidly beside his lawyer.For the first time since these proceedings had begun he didn’t look so confident.He looked worried actually. The judge finally closed the file and the sound echoed through the silent courtroom. She had concluded. My heart skipped a beat. She removed her glasses and looked dir
_Damien’s POV_“What.. did he just say?” She whispered, her gaze pinned on Kingston. The color drained from her face so quickly I thought she was going to collapse. “Custody?” she whispered, looking around from Jonathan to thr judge and then back to Kingston. “Isabelle?”Nobody answered her and her breathing became uneven. Jonathan frowned. “Ms. Kingston… were you not informed this hearing concerns Mr. Kingston’s petition for custody of Isabelle Blackwood?”Aurora stared blankly at Jonathan as he had suddenly grown two extra heads. “What…?” She whispered, sounding so broken. She looked completely lost as she stared around, like she didn’t understand a single thing happening. “No…” she whispered, shaking her head slowly. “No…”Her eyes never left Kingston like she was waiting for him to say it was all a lie. “You told me-“ her voice cracked and she had to force herself to complete the sentence. “…you said this was about you.”Kingston didn’t answer her and I stared at him in
_Damien’s POV_I watched as Aurora’s fingers tightened around each other. And then Jonathan repeated his question.“Why did you leave home? What did you need a start from?” Different emotions ran through her face at the same time before she answered. “Everything..” Jonathan tilted his head, like he was confused about what she meant. We needed more context on that. I shifted on my seat, my heart racing in my chest. I knew I was one of the reasons she had moved.Aurora nodded my head. “My family. My life..” Her voice got quiet. “And my father…”Kingston closed his eyes; his lawyer shot up in his seat, but the judge raised her hand, silencing him before he even spoken a word.“When you mean your father, can you please elaborate?” Jonathan asked and Aurora let out a deep breath.“Everyone knew our relationship is strained. It’s not something new…” I watched as Jonathan’s lips almost widened. Like we got Kingston where we needed. But at this point, I was more worried about Auror







