Lucian took a slow sip of his whiskey, his grip tightening around the glass as Scarlet leaned in closer. The air between them was thick with tension—but not the kind Scarlet had likely hoped for. She was too close. Lucian kept shifting away, wary that Aurora might misinterpret the situation. But he wasn’t interested in playing games. He had been keeping his distance, answering Scarlet’s questions with carefully measured responses, subtly moving whenever she tried to close the space between them. Yet, Scarlet wasn’t the type to take a hint. “Tell me something, Lucian.” She swirled the wine in her glass, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Why did you really turn down my father’s marriage proposal?” Lucian stiffened. He had expected the question at some point, but not tonight—not here. “I don’t think this is the right time to talk about it, Scarlet.” Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “There you go again with ‘not the right time.’ Can’t you come up with a better excuse, Lucian? I kno
“So, who is this, Lucian?” Scarlet asked, eyeing Aurora from head to toe.Aurora remained silent, waiting for Lucian to speak.Judging by Scarlet’s expression, it was obvious that she didn’t like her.Lucian cleared his throat.“Ahm, Scarlet, this is Aurora Lancaster, CEO of Lancaster Corporation. Aurora, this is Scarlet. She’s from Chen Company,” he introduced them.Scarlet’s eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t like how Lucian introduced her. But instead of making a fuss, she forced a wide smile.She extended her hand toward Aurora.“Aurora. What a nice name,” Scarlet said sweetly.Though hesitant, Aurora accepted the handshake with a polite but reserved smile.“Thank you, Ms. Chen.”Scarlet immediately withdrew her hand and took a deep breath, her sharp gaze never leaving Aurora.“So, what is your relationship with Lucian?” she suddenly asked.Aurora froze for a moment, then turned to Lucian, her eyes filled with unspoken questions.Lucian exhaled, looking as if he was trapped betwee
Lucian had been chasing after Aurora for a while, but she refused to stop walking. He cursed under his breath, knowing she was angry at him again.He needed to explain everything to her.“Aurora, wait!” he called out once more.With three long strides, he closed the gap between them and grabbed her arm.“Aurora!”Aurora turned to him sharply, irritation flashing in her eyes.“What?!” she snapped, her brows furrowed and her gaze filled with anger. “What do you want?”Lucian exhaled slowly before letting go of her arm.“Let’s talk. I’ll explain everything.”Aurora smirked. “Explain what? So you can lie to me again?” She shook her head. “Forget it, Lucian. Just go back to your fiancée!” she said, annoyed, before turning away.“She’s not—”Before he could finish, Aurora headed toward the restroom. But just as she was about to enter, Lucian quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her inside with him.Aurora’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?!” she asked in disbelief.Lucian immediately locke
Aurora couldn’t stop smiling as she stared at her ring.Even now, she still couldn’t believe that Lucian had proposed to her in a restroom. And what was even more shocking was that she had accepted it.She knew it was risky.After everything that had happened between them in the past, the fear in her heart hadn’t completely disappeared. Especially with Scarlet Chen still hovering around them.“You’re a fool, Aurora! I can’t believe you accepted his marriage proposal that easily!” Rebecca exclaimed in disbelief, shaking her head as she watched her friend from across the table.Aurora had visited Rebecca the next day to tell her everything that had happened at the party.Lowering her hand, Aurora met her friend’s gaze.“I know. But… I don’t feel even a shred of regret, Rebecca.”Rebecca rolled her eyes.“I know why you’re doing this, Aurora. But… does Tita Carmela know about it yet?”Aurora stilled. She averted her gaze and let out a deep breath.She hadn’t told her mother about Lucian’
Aurora held Loyd’s small hand as they walked through the mall, her gaze scanning the shelves lined with school supplies. The smell of fresh paper and sharpened pencils filled the air, and the gentle hum of conversations and footsteps echoed around them.“Mommy, I want this one!” Loyd exclaimed, tugging on her arm as he pointed at a blue backpack with superhero designs. His eyes sparkled with excitement.Aurora chuckled. “That one’s nice, but let’s check if it’s sturdy enough, okay?” She lifted the backpack and examined the stitching. It looked durable. “Alright, we’ll get this one.”“Yes!” Loyd cheered, hugging the bag like it was his new best friend.She smiled, ruffling his hair. “Now, let’s get your notebooks and crayons.”They moved through the aisles, picking up everything he needed. Aurora made sure to check the quality of each item, remembering how some cheaper ones would break too easily. As they filled their cart, she felt a sense of warmth—this was what she had always w
Aurora never expected the news to spread so quickly.Just yesterday, she and Lucian had been in their own world, the engagement a private moment between them. But now, it was everywhere.She could feel the stares the moment she stepped into the café that morning. The hushed whispers. The curious glances. Even the barista, who usually greeted her with a warm smile, now looked at her differently—like she had just become the most interesting topic of the day.“Aurora?” Rebecca’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.Aurora turned to see her best friend approaching, phone in hand, a knowing look on her face.“Have you seen this?” Rebecca asked, sliding into the seat across from her and turning her phone screen toward Aurora.There it was. An article. The headline bold and almost mocking:"Lucian Aldric Engaged Again? Who’s the Lucky Woman?"Aurora’s stomach twisted. She grabbed Rebecca’s phone and quickly skimmed through the article. It was vague, only speculating about the engagement,
Aurora sat in Lucian’s office, staring at the city lights through the glass walls. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, all centered on the unexpected storm that had hit them.News of their engagement had spread like wildfire, and the consequences were immediate. Stares, whispers, speculation—it was inevitable when you were tied to a man like Lucian Davenport.But what troubled her the most was how her mother had found out.“Aurora.”Lucian’s deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. He stood near his desk, his sleeves rolled up, his sharp eyes scanning her face. He had been watching her since she arrived, waiting for her to say something.She took a deep breath, finally looking at him. “The news got out.”Lucian nodded. “I know. My secretary informed me this morning.” His voice was calm, controlled. “It was leaked. Probably from someone at the party.”Aurora exhaled slowly. “I should have expected this.”Lucian leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “It doesn’t change anything.”She
Aurora didn’t expect the announcement to make such a massive wave in the media.The morning after they confirmed their engagement, the headlines were everywhere."Lucian Aldric to Remarry His Ex-Wife!""From Arranged to Love: The Unexpected Second Wedding of Lucian and Aurora!""Billionaire CEO Reunites with the Love of His Life!"Aurora sighed as she scrolled through the articles on her phone. Some were romantic, others skeptical. But the world now knew—she and Lucian were getting married again.And this time, it wasn’t an arrangement.This time, it was love.She placed a hand over her heart, feeling its steady rhythm. It still felt surreal. Years ago, she had stood in front of the altar, bound to Lucian because of family obligations. Now, she would walk down that aisle again, but not as a pawn in a deal.She would walk toward the man she loved.The sound of tiny footsteps echoed through the hallway, and before she could react, a small body crashed into her side.“Mommy!” Loyd’s ex
Aurora had been staring at Loyd for what felt like hours. He was finally sound asleep in his hospital bed, but she still couldn’t bring herself to leave his side.After everything that had happened, it still didn’t feel real.She hadn’t recovered. Not even close.Don Ramon was out of prison. And worse—he and Lester seemed to be working together.Her chest ached again at the memory of that man.Lucian had lied to her. Again.They had been seeing each other for weeks, and yet he hadn’t mentioned any of it.They were even back together. And still, he chose to keep that secret.But why?“Where’s my grandson?!”Aurora looked up toward the doorway as a voice rang out. Her mother came rushing into the room, breathless and wide-eyed.“Oh God! Thank you, God! Loyd!”Carmela burst into tears and immediately embraced her sleeping grandson.“He’s resting now, Mom,” Aurora said gently, walking toward them. She rubbed her mother’s back, feeling the depth of her worry in every sob.“I thought I’d ne
Aurora's heart pounded as the car raced down the winding roads, city lights blurring like streaks of color. The GPS tracker embedded in Loyd's necklace had led them to a secluded warehouse district at the far edges of the city. The place was eerily quiet—the only sounds were the engine’s hum and the occasional rustle of wind brushing against the trees.“We’re close,” Aurora said, her eyes locked on the blinking dot on her phone screen. “Just a few more meters.”Lucian nodded, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. “We need to be cautious. Lester won’t make this easy.”When they reached the area, Lucian parked the car at a safe distance, concealed behind a row of abandoned trucks. The cold night air greeted them as they stepped out. Aurora pulled her coat tighter around herself, her gaze sweeping across the shadowy surroundings.“This is it,” she whispered. “Loyd is inside.”Lucian placed a steady hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get him back. Together.”They moved in silence, slipping
Aurora couldn’t stay still inside the car. Every passing minute put Loyd in even greater danger.“What’s taking them so long?” she muttered, her frustration mounting.She grabbed her phone and connected to Red.In an instant, Red’s emoji face popped up on the screen and greeted her. “Master! What can I do for you?”“Red, can you connect to any CCTV cameras in my location right now?”Red’s emoji face blinked for a moment. “I’m sorry, Master. But your location is abandoned. I can’t detect any internet connection or existing systems I can hack into.”Aurora’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. “How about a phone signal?”Red went quiet again. A few seconds later, an error message appeared on the screen. “There is a phone signal inside, but… they’re using old models. I can’t access them.”“Damn it! What’s taking them so long?” she snapped, slamming her hand on the steering wheel.Then Red’s voice spoke again—this time with something more urgent. “But… Loyd is not inside, Master.”A
Aurora could barely breathe as they drove to the location Lester had sent them.She still couldn't believe that Lucian had no idea about his brother.After all these years, he'd managed to hide—and now he chose to reappear.“There!” Aurora pointed at the abandoned building in the distance.Lucian immediately pulled the car over, stopping just far enough from the structure.She was about to get out, but Lucian quickly held her back.“What are you doing?” Aurora asked, confused.Lucian took a deep breath.“Don’t rush in, Aurora. We need to plan this out. I’m sure Lester’s not alone in there.”Aurora’s brows furrowed.“Lucian, he took my son. Our son. I’ll face whatever danger’s waiting in there. So if you’re scared, you can turn back now.”“That’s not what I meant, Aurora. I’m saying we have to be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to either you or Loyd. We won’t be able to save him if we just charge in blindly.”Aurora paused, taken aback. Her fear and desperation for her child
Aurora barely had time to think as she rushed through the grand hallway, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Every second felt like an eternity, and every breath was filled with a sense of urgency. Loyd was out there, somewhere, trapped in the hands of a man she had thought was long dead.Lester Aldric.The name sent a shiver down her spine. She had spent the last few hours wrestling with the shock of it, but there was no time for hesitation now. If what Red had found was true, then Lester was alive, and he was the one behind her son’s kidnapping.She clutched her phone tightly in her hand as she stormed toward the front door. She was going to end this.But just as she reached the entrance, the heavy doors swung open, and Lucian stepped inside.Aurora’s breath hitched.Lucian was dressed in a sharp black suit, his tie loosened slightly as though he had rushed here. His golden eyes immediately locked onto her, dark with intensity. The moment he saw her standing there,
Aurora hadn’t slept for hours. The weight of the situation had turned her mind into a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them bringing any comfort. The room felt suffocating, the silence deafening. It was the kind of silence that screamed for answers—answers that she still didn’t have.She sat in front of her laptop, staring at the screen as Red’s interface blinked at her, its cheerful emoji face betraying the severity of the situation.“Find him, Red. Find Loyd,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from the strain of the past 24 hours.Her hands moved across the keys, the same commands over and over again. Every search, every trace led to a dead end. Loyd’s whereabouts were still a mystery. The police were still investigating, but they had no leads. No clues. The frustration gnawed at her like a beast trying to break free from its cage.Every second felt like an eternity. Every thought was a question. Where is my son?Her mind wandered to the last time she’d held him, kissed his forehead, t
Aurora sat in the living room, her hands gripping her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The room was filled with police officers, their radios buzzing, their voices low but urgent as they coordinated the search for Loyd.But it wasn’t fast enough.Nothing was fast enough.Her baby was missing.Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, her breathing uneven.Loyd.Where was he? Was he scared? Was he crying for her?The thought made her stomach churn.She forced herself to stay strong. She couldn’t afford to fall apart—not now.Taking a shaky breath, she pressed the call button.Lucian picked up on the first ring.“Aurora,” he said, his voice sharp, controlled—but she could hear the underlying panic.“It’s Loyd,” she choked out.“I know.”There was silence for a brief moment. Then—“I’ll handle it.”Aurora clenched her jaw. “We need to tell the police—”“No.” Lucian’s voice was firm, cutting her off.She frowned. “Lucian, they can help—”“They won’t,” he bit out. “They’l
Lucian clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he paced his office.His plan had failed.Aurora knew everything now.He had wanted to protect her—to handle this mess before she ever found out. But now, the fragile trust they had rebuilt was at risk of shattering.Lucian slammed his fist against his desk, his chest heaving.Damn it.He never wanted to invest in CRS Holdings. Never wanted to be involved with Don Ramon again. But the old man had forced his hand. Blackmail.If Lucian hadn’t complied, Don Ramon would have unleashed something far worse.And now?Now, he was losing Aurora.A bitter taste filled his mouth as he grabbed his suit jacket. He couldn’t let this continue.He had made a mistake, but he could still fix it.He was going to see Don Ramon.And this time, he was cutting ties for good.—Don Ramon sat comfortably in his leather chair, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. His gray eyes gleamed with amusement as Lucian stormed into his office.“Well, well,” the older
Aurora’s heart pounded as she watched Red process her request. The AI’s animated face flickered for a few seconds before its voice chimed through her AirPods.“Scanning for data… Please wait, Master.”Her grip on the iPad tightened.She didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe she wanted Red to tell her that this was all a mistake—that Don Ramon was still locked away where he belonged. That someone was playing a sick joke on her.But she knew better.The locket in the black box had been real. And Don Ramon wouldn’t send something like that unless he wanted her to know he was free.Minutes passed in tense silence. Aurora sat frozen at her desk, her mind racing.She had spent years trying to rebuild her life after everything he had done. She had buried the past. She had fought through her pain, through her anger, and finally, she had found peace.But now?Now, he was back.Red’s voice pulled her from her spiraling thoughts.“Search complete! Displaying results now.”Aurora’s screen fli