LOGINLucienThe bright, eager energy Luke had carried all morning had completely vanished.My little boy sat between us in the middle row, holding his potted seedling flat against his lap like a fragile shield. The bouncing, endless chatter that had filled the cabin on our way to Oakridge Academy was gone, replaced by a heavy, unnatural quiet.Over the next three hours, we toured three more elite institutions across Vegas. Each headmaster paraded us through their school’s prized facilities— from sprawling athletic complexes, to robotics labs, and equestrian centers. But Luke refused to engage. Even as Aurelia tried her best to cheer him up—pointing out colorful murals, asking him soft questions, and trying to draw out his curious smile—he simply pouted, his small shoulders drawn tight, giving polite, one-word answers before lapsing back into silence.Instead of looking at the lavish facilities, his dark eyes kept drifting back to us. He watched every step we took, measuring the distan
LucienFrom the side of my eye, I caught the subtle shift in Aurelia’s posture. She sat unnaturally still, her hands pressed tightly in her lap as her gaze lingered on Luke's hand resting in mine. There was a raw, heavy sadness in her eyes—a quiet sorrow she was clearly trying to fight back. But the second she caught me watching the cracks in her composure, her vulnerability instantly turned to stone, and her defenses snapped right back into place."What?" she snapped softly, her voice laced with sharp suspicion.Without waiting for an answer, she turned her head back toward the car window, staring fixedly at the passing desert palms. She didn't realize that I wasn't the only one taking note of her guard. Sensing the sudden change in his mother's mood, little Luke instinctively shrank back against the leather seat, his tiny shoulders curving inward as he registered his mother’s sharp reaction.A quiet pang tightened in my chest. I reached over, letting my palm rest gently atop my
Aurelia"Mommy!"Luke stretched his arms out wide, eager to jump to me. A genuine, effortless smile broke across my face as I leaned down and lifted him into my arms, inhaling the familiar, sweet scent of my little boy."Mommy, did you sleep well?" Luke asked, wrapping his tiny arms around my neck. "Father said you were tired last night, so I didn't bother you!""Mommy slept very well, honey," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "How about you?""I slept with Father! On top of a big, giant bed, Mommy!" Luke stretched his hands wide to emphasize the size, his eyes sparkling with an awe and excitement that sent bittersweet ache straight through my heart."I'm glad you settled in so well, sweetheart," I said softly, setting him back down in the chair beside mine.Seeing him so bright-eyed made my throat tight. Even when Luke was smaller, he had always searched for a father figure. He had learned about fathers from the storybooks I read to him, but whenever he asked me about his own, I coul
AureliaA sharp beam of golden sunlight pierced through the darkness, forcing my eyelids to flutter open.I blinked against the sudden glare of sunlight as Ms. Gable stepped back from the wide floor-to-ceiling windows, pulling the sweeping sheer drapes wide open.The morning light flooded the vast bedroom, illuminating the high, clean lines of the ceiling and the soft natural stone walls I had barely noticed in the dark hours of the night."Good morning, Miss Aurelia," Ms. Gable said softly, her posture poised yet welcoming as she walked over to the side of the bed. "I hope you rested well. Master Thorne is waiting for you at the breakfast table."I sat up slowly, still feeling disoriented from the deep, heavy sleep that had overtaken me after my late-night wanderings. My voice was rough as I asked, "Where is my son?""The Young Master is already with his father, Miss Aurelia," she replied with a gentle, reassuring smile. "He woke up early and has been with Master Lucien since."She g
AureliaMy eyelids fluttered open, heavy and weighed down by exhaustion. I stared up at an unfamiliar, vaulted ceiling bathed in dim shadows. For a few disorienting seconds, my mind was a blank slate—I couldn't remember where I was.Then the reality of this morning surged back with violent clarity. The chaos at the hospital. The paternity test. The cold, dangerous thread of leverage Lucien had wrapped around my throat to drag me back.A heavy, bitter sigh escaped my lips. After five years of freedom, of raising my son in the quiet sunlight, I was back in a golden cage.I sat up, pushing the dark sheets aside. Moonlight streamed through the glass balcony doors, painting the room in cool silver tones. Drawn by a sudden need for fresh air, I stood up and walked toward the terrace.When I stepped outside, the view that greeted me was something I never expected.Sprawled beneath my balcony was a lush, vibrant oasis garden carved directly into the arid desert. Pathways of smooth river
Lucien"Welcome home, Aurelia."I extended my hand toward her, a gesture of truce. But instead of taking it, Aurelia narrowed her eyes, her gaze cutting through me with sharp, cold distrust.She folded her arms tightly across her chest and averted her face, refusing to yield even an inch of warmth. "Now show me where my room is. I'm tired and I need to rest."Without waiting for my answer, she turned on her heel and started walking toward the door.I looked down at my empty hand, still hovering in the air, completely ignored. Yet, despite the subtle snub, a quiet, amused smile touched my lips."Arthur will show you where to settle down," I said, lowering my hand back into my trouser pocket."Great."She marched out of the office without looking back, pulling the heavy dark wood door shut until it settled into the frame with a solid, echoing thud.Silence reclaimed my vast office room.Judging from her stance earlier, she knew she was walking straight into a trap I had meticulously la
Lucien's POV The view from the penthouse of the Thorne Tower was supposed to be the ultimate prize, but tonight, the sprawling lights of the Las Vegas Strip just looked like a circuit board I’d already mastered.I leaned back in my leather chair, the amber liquid in my glass catching the glow of t
Aurelia's POVThe fluorescent hum of the diner always seemed to vibrate at the exact frequency of my headache.I wiped down the counter for the hundredth time that night, my movements mechanical and precise. Outside the window, the Las Vegas Strip shimmered in the distance—a playground of neon and
Aurelia’s POVI stood paralyzed in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room, scanning my appearance from head to toe. The white lace outfit Mama V had provided for tonight felt like a beautiful trap. The garment was a structural contradiction of purity and absolute vulnerability—a halt
Lucien’s POVThe air in the boardroom was thick with the smell of cold sweat and fear. I didn’t look up from the ledger in front of me as my head of logistics stammered through an excuse."The port authority is asking for a twenty-percent increase on the quiet-fee, Mr. Thorne. They say the risk

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