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The weight of the call hung in the air as Dominic listened intently, his expression hardening with each passing second. Aurora stood across the room, her arms crossed, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. She had seen Dominic like this before—cold, controlled, like a predator sizing up his next move. But this time, there was something different in his eyes. The uncertainty, the vulnerability, was gone. In its place was a fierce determination.
He ended the call abruptly, his phone slamming down onto the table with more force than necessary. His hands trembled for a brief moment, betraying the calm exterior he tried so hard to maintain. Aurora could feel the tension building between them, like an invisible wall that separated them, no matter how close they stood.
"Dominic?" she asked, her voice gentle but concerned. "What's going on?"
His jaw tightened as he turned to face her, his eyes dark with frustration. "It's my family. They've found out about us."
Aurora's breath caught in her throat, the words sinking in slowly. She had been dreading this moment—the moment when the reality of their relationship would collide with the world Dominic had spent his life building, a world that had never left room for her.
"Your family?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. "What do you mean?"
Dominic ran a hand through his hair, his gaze darting away from hers. "They know about everything—about you, about the lies I've kept, about the way we've been pretending. And now they're making demands. They want control, and they'll do whatever it takes to get it."
Aurora's heart skipped a beat. "What kind of control?"
"They want me to end things with you," he said, his voice low, his fists clenched. "They want me to choose them, to stay within the family's expectations. They can't stand the idea of me being involved with someone like you. Someone they can't control."
The sting of his words cut deep, but Aurora refused to let her hurt show. She had always known that Dominic's family would be an obstacle, but she hadn't realized just how far they were willing to go to tear them apart.
"They can't dictate your life, Dominic," she said, her voice firm, her heart pounding in her chest. "You don't have to choose them over me."
Dominic turned toward her, his expression pained. "It's not that simple, Aurora. You don't understand what they're capable of. My father is ruthless, and my mother... she'll do anything to make sure I follow the path they've laid out for me. They won't let me go this easily. And if I don't comply, they'll make sure I lose everything—my reputation, my company, my legacy. Everything."
Aurora took a step toward him, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She knew how much Dominic valued his family, his business. But this wasn't just about him. This was about them, about their future together, and the last thing she wanted was for him to sacrifice his happiness to appease people who would never accept her.
"I don't want you to lose everything, Dominic," she said softly. "But I don't want you to lose yourself, either. You're not just your family's legacy. You're not just their puppet."
Dominic's gaze softened for a moment, his eyes flickering with the warmth she had once known. But then the hardness returned, and he stepped back, the distance between them growing again.
"I don't have a choice," he said, his voice tight. "I wish I could walk away from all of this, from my family, from the pressure. But I can't. Not when everything I've worked for is on the line."
Aurora felt a pang in her chest, the crushing reality of their situation settling in. It felt like no matter how hard they tried, they were always being pulled apart—by lies, by secrets, by expectations neither of them could escape.
"You do have a choice," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "You can choose me. You can choose us. You don't have to keep running from this, Dominic. You don't have to keep pretending that everything is fine when it's falling apart."
Dominic's eyes flickered with something—pain, regret, and a deep longing she hadn't seen in him in days. He stepped forward, his hand reaching out to her, but then he stopped, pulling back as if he feared she would pull away.
"I don't want to lose you," he said, his voice low and raw. "But I don't know how to fight this. I don't know how to keep you safe from them."
Aurora's heart ached for him. She could see the torment in his eyes, the battle waging inside him. But she also knew that they couldn't keep running from the truth. Their love wasn't something that could be hidden forever, not when the world around them was starting to unravel.
"You don't have to fight alone," she said, stepping forward and placing her hand gently on his chest. "We can face this together, Dominic. You're not alone in this."
He looked down at her hand, his expression torn. For a moment, it seemed like he might finally let go of his fears, might finally admit that he was ready to choose her—them—over everything else. But just as quickly, the walls went up again, and he stepped back, his gaze shifting toward the window once more.
"I don't want to put you in danger," he said quietly, his voice distant. "My family won't stop until they get what they want. And if they know that you're standing by my side, they'll use you against me. I won't let that happen."
Aurora felt a surge of frustration, her emotions threatening to spill over. She wanted to shout at him, to tell him that she wasn't some fragile thing to be protected, that she was strong enough to handle whatever came their way. But the truth was, she was scared too. Scared that Dominic's family would tear them apart. Scared that he might choose them over her.
"You're underestimating me," she said, her voice trembling. "You're underestimating us. We've made it this far. We can handle whatever comes next, as long as we stick together."
Dominic didn't respond right away, and for a moment, it seemed like the silence would swallow them whole. But then, slowly, he turned back to her, his eyes softening.
"I don't know how to fight this, Aurora," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I will. For you. For us. I won't let them tear us apart. I swear it."
Aurora's heart skipped a beat at his words, the sincerity in his voice striking her deeply. Maybe, just maybe, they had a chance.
But the battle wasn't over yet. In fact, it was only just beginning.
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