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The morning sun spilled through the windows of Aurora's penthouse, golden and calm—so unlike the chaos brewing just outside her perfect little world.
She stood in the kitchen barefoot, wearing one of Dominic's shirts, her wild curls tied up as she stirred her coffee absentmindedly. Her mind was light, for once. The storm she'd weathered with the press conference had passed, and she could finally breathe.
She was even humming—a soft, content little tune—completely unaware that the man she loved was unraveling just two floors below.
Dominic stood in his office at Raine Enterprises, his eyes fixed on the matte black envelope Juliana had slipped into his hands last night.
Inside, the photograph stared back at him: a little girl, barely three. Brown curls. Soft, almond-shaped eyes. His eyes.
At least, that's what Juliana claimed.
His hand clenched around the envelope.
"I told you," Juliana had whispered the night before, her voice silk over poison. "She's yours, Dominic. And if you don't keep Aurora out of the picture, I'll tell the world… and her."
He hadn't slept.
He didn't know what terrified him more—the possibility that Juliana was telling the truth… or that she wasn't, and he was being played, again. Either way, the damage to Aurora would be the same.
"Sir?" Maya peeked in through the door. "Miss Lane's on her way up."
His heart stopped.
He didn't have time to hide the photo before Aurora walked in, radiant, alive, and carrying a small velvet box in her coat pocket.
"Good morning," she said, closing the door behind her with a playful smile. "You look like someone just told you the market crashed."
He forced a grin. "Just thinking."
She tilted her head. "About us?"
That shook him. "What?"
She stepped closer, confidence gleaming in her eyes. "You said you needed time. After my speech. I gave you time."
He nodded slowly. "And?"
Aurora reached into her coat and pulled out the tiny box. "And now I'm taking a risk."
Dominic's throat dried.
She opened the box—not to reveal a ring, but a simple silver band with the word "Yes" etched inside.
"I want forever with you, Dominic," she whispered. "Whatever that looks like."
Dominic stared at her, shattered inside.
God, she had no idea.
He wanted to fall to his knees and say yes.
But Juliana's threats clawed at his mind.
If the world found out he'd fathered a child and kept it secret, it would destroy Aurora's public image. Worse—if she thought he'd betrayed her…
"I…" His voice broke. "Aurora, I need a little more time."
She froze, then nodded with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sure. I get it."
But he saw the flicker of doubt in her gaze. She thought it was about her.
And he couldn't even tell her the truth.
She leaned up, kissed his cheek gently, and left him standing there—bleeding inside and bound in silence.
---
Meanwhile – Juliana's Private Suite
Juliana sipped her wine as she watched the security feed showing Aurora walking out of Raine Enterprises.
"Well?" she asked the man seated across from her—Victor, her legal consultant with far too many skeletons of his own.
"She proposed," he confirmed. "He didn't accept."
Juliana's smile spread like wildfire. "Good. Let the doubt grow."
Victor raised a brow. "You really want to go this far?"
"I warned him," she said coolly. "Now he can either play by my rules… or lose everything."
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Later That Evening – Aurora's Apartment
Aurora curled up on her couch, a glass of red wine in one hand and her phone in the other.
Her message to Dominic sat unread.
He was pulling away again. She could feel it.
First, the press. Then, the proposal. And now… this distance.
She tried not to spiral.
Tried not to believe he didn't want her.
But love was cruel like that—it didn't wait for logic. It gnawed at your certainty like moths through silk.
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Raine Enterprises – Midnight
Dominic stared at his phone for an hour before finally replying.
> "I want everything with you, Aurora. Just not until I clean up the mess I've made. Please trust me. – D."
He deleted it twice before finally hitting send.
Then he turned off his phone, walked into the shower, and stood there under scalding water, wondering how long he could hold everything together before it shattered.
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