جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

“Room 4017 or 4071?”Aurora squinted at her phone, but the numbers kept swimming. Everything was blurry. When had she had that last drink? Or the one before that?“Miss?” The hotel staff member looked concerned. “Are you alright?”“Fine. I’m fine.” Aurora waved him off and stumbled toward the elevator. “Just… need to sleep.”She’d never been drunk like this before. But after the day she’d had—after finding those messages on Piagel’s phone, after the fight, after he’d told her she was imagining things—she’d needed to get out. Lelia had dragged her to some exclusive club. There’d been champagne. A lot of champagne.The elevator doors opened. She got in and pressed a button. Fourth floor. Or was it fortieth?The hallway stretched forever. She walked slowly, using the wall for balance. 4017. That was it. She fumbled with the key card. It took three tries before the light turned green.The room was dark. Good. She kicked off her heels and let her purse drop. The bed was right there. She fe

THOMPSON RESIDENCEAurora’s mother was waiting at the door when the car pulled up. She took one look at Aurora’s face and pulled her into a hug without saying a word.“I’m sorry, Mom.”“For what?”“For leaving. For being stupid. For—”“Stop.” Her mother pulled back, holding Aurora’s face in her hands. “You’re home now. That’s all that matters.”Her father was in his study. When Aurora knocked, he looked up from his papers and his expression crumpled.“Princess.”She ran to him like she was ten years old again. He held her while she cried—really cried, for the first time since that morning.“I failed,” she said into his shoulder.“No. He failed.” Her father’s voice was firm. “You kept your end of the deal. You gave him five years. He’s the one who broke the marriage.”“I should have listened to you.”“Probably.” He smiled sadly. “But you’re young. You’re allowed to make mistakes.”“I made a big one.”“Then make sure you learn from it.”“I’m sorry—“ “Shhh, it’s okay, my happiness is t

Aurora made it halfway across the ballroom before her hands started shaking.She’d done it. She’d actually done it. Stood in front of all those people and destroyed Piagel publicly. The look on his face—shock, horror, realization—would stay with her forever.So why did she feel like she might throw up?“Champagne?”A server appeared with a tray. Aurora took a glass gratefully and downed half of it in one gulp.“Easy,” Cody said, appearing at her elbow. “You’re supposed to sip that.”“I just publicly destroyed my ex-husband’s company. I think I’ve earned the right to drink however I want.”He grinned. “Fair point. You were incredible up there, by the way.”“I was terrified.”“No one could tell.” He clinked his glass against hers. “Dad’s proud. Mom’s proud. I’m proud.”“Thanks.” She finished the champagne and set the glass down. “How long do we have to stay?”“At least another hour. People want to meet you. Network. You’re the Thompson heir now—everyone wants a piece of you.”Aurora gro

Chapter 7. “I….” She couldn’t find the right word to use, it felt like her tongue was tied. “I’m not mad at you for the money you left me, it rather piqued my interest.” A lazy smile danced across his lips. Aurora furrowed her brows in confusion, “what interest?.” She blurted out, it came out sharper than intended. “I want to get to know you Aurora”. He whispered in a low husky voice, the atmosphere in the room changed, it was getting hot. Aurora was speechless, Was he indirectly asking her out?. For goodness sake, she just came out of a shabby marriage that almost drove her insane— Now he wants what???. “No thanks.” She dismissed him, shaking her head in a negative response. She’s healing up and needs no one right now. Kieran saw the chaos going on in her eyes, there was pain, doubt, uncertainty, fear, anger and more and it hurt to see her that way, he clenched his fist tightly under the table. “I understand what you have been through and I’m going to give you time

MILLERS GROUP—12PM. Kieran’s office exudes quiet power and elegance, Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the city skyline, while sleek, minimalist furniture in black and gold fills the space. A long glass desk sits at the center, flanked by leather chairs, and behind it, shelves lined with rare books and awards. Every detail speaks of wealth, precision, and authority. Kieran sat on the chair, going through so paper works and signing off documents that needs his signature, when someone knocked at the door. “Come in.” Kieran said without raising his head, he was fully immersed in his work. Diego walked in with some report files in his hands and placed them on his desk, Kieran finally raised his head to spare him a glance. “What are these?.” He asked with a raised brow as he relaxed his back on the chair. “The X—city project you asked me to look into and get the total amount of funds that can be put into it.” Diego answered with his two hands behind him. “Ohh.” Kieran gave a c