Lucas stood before the mirror, his reflection ruined by a tired, unhappy expression.
Dark circles framed his eyes, evidence of the sleepless nights he'd endured. He had tossed and turned, sleep slipping away as his mind replayed the scene at Sophia's apartment.
His eyes drifted to the wedding photo on the table, the image of him and Aurora on their wedding day.
A huff of frustration escaped him. He remembered the time he'd nearly burned it, angered by Julia's departure and convinced that he was in love with her instead.
But eventually, he had tried to make the marriage work.
He had pictured a future where they could be happy together, even planning a family picnic after their baby was born. In his mind, it would be the three of them—Aurora, the baby, and himself—living in harmony.
Then the miscarriage happened. It was as if the ground beneath him crumbled. The burden of the loss pressed down on him, and guilt became his constant companion.
He couldn't stop thinking that if only he'd been there for her more, instead of burying himself in work, their pup might have survived.
Regret filled his mind, and he found it harder and harder to return to the mansion, the place now haunted by what could have been.
Forgiving himself seemed impossible.
Then, the shock came—a set of evidence landed in his hands, revealing everything he thought he knew.
Aurora had been the one behind Julia's sudden departure. She had tormented Julia since childhood, forcing Julia to obey out of fear.
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Aurora wasn't just his grieving wife; she was the one responsible for driving Julia, the woman he truly loved, away.
The revelation turned his world upside down.
He had returned to the mansion that night with one purpose—to escort Julia from the airport. What transpired between him and Aurora was a mistake, one he regretted deeply. Yet, the relief he felt after handing Aurora the card was brief.
Without lingering, he hurried off to meet Julia.
As soon as he arrived, Julia laid everything out for him.
Aurora had arranged a scheme to secure a share of his wealth. The pregnancy that had supposedly trapped him into marriage was nothing but a fabrication, and the miscarriage had been a sham as well.
Lucas's blood boiled as Julia's words sunk in, fury surging through him.
He climbed into his car, his mind racing with thoughts of Aurora's deceit. He despised her for what she had done.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the passenger seat, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He glanced at the screen—Nora was calling. A sigh escaped him as he picked up, already expecting her usual request for money.
"Isn't it too early to be asking for cash?" he asked, irritation clear in his voice.
"Brother, I didn't call to ask for money," Nora's sweet voice came through the speaker, but then she added lightly, "Though, you could always send some if you're feeling generous."
Lucas rolled his eyes, his patience thinning. "Why did you call then? I'm on my way to the office. This can wait."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Nora spoke again, her tone more serious this time. "It's Nana… She fell and broke her spine. She's in a terrible condition."
Lucas's heart skipped a beat. "What?!" he shouted, his voice so loud that the driver instinctively slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden stop.
He rubbed his temple, trying to process the situation. "I'll be at LK hospital."
His mother's voice cut in, sharp and urgent. "LK hospital? She's with us, Lucas. Nana refused to go to the hospital or let any doctor near her. She's been asking for you and that witch—Aurora. If you don't get here soon, I'm afraid she might collapse or worse!"
Lucas's grip on the phone tightened as he heard his Nana's faint voice in the background, stubbornly insisting, "I won't see any doctor until I see Aurora and Lucas."
Before he could respond, the call ended.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing, then turned to the driver. "Turn the car around."
---
Aurora stirred late into the morning, the quiet of the room wrapping around her like a cocoon.
Her prolonged sleep was unusual, especially after the restless night she'd had, plagued by the scenes from the audition and the sting of Julia's words.
Perhaps, for once, her mind was at ease, allowing her to sink into a deep slumber despite the turmoil of recent events.
After a quick bath, she hurried into the living room.
The room was still and empty, with only the faintest trace of Sophia's scent lingering in the air.
Had Sophia left for work so early?
Her thoughts were cut short by the sudden buzz of her phone.
She answered the call and spoke sweetly, assuming that the caller was Sophia.
"Babe, where are you?" she said sweetly, her voice laced with concern. "The house feels empty, and I can't find you in any of the rooms."
But instead of Sophia's warm tone, she heard a sharp hiss. Aurora's gaze fell on the caller ID—Lucas.
"Sorry, I thought it was someone else," she said, her irritation evident.
On the other end, Lucas's face flushed with anger.
The image of Aurora with another man flashed in his mind. The idea that she might have spent the night with him burned in his chest.
His grip tightened until his knuckles turned white.
How could she move on so quickly, especially after their divorce?
Julia's words about Aurora's behaviour echoed in his mind.
She had been nothing but a whore!
"You aren't replying," Aurora's voice cut through the silence, rising in irritation.
"I need to speak with you privately. Meet me at Venus Cafe," Lucas said, his tone clipped.
Aurora's eyes narrowed. "Hold on, I can't just go to any cafe because you say so. What's this about? I need to know before I waste my time."
"Waste your time?" he said, biting back a scowl. He snapped, "Grandma fell and broke her spine—"
Aurora's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in horror.
His grandmother, Nana Rossi was the only in-law who treated her nicely. She had always been comforting to Aurora and they were very close to each other.
"I'll be there. Just give me a few minutes," Aurora cut in, her voice tense as she ended the call abruptly.
She dashed to her room, throwing on clothes in a hurry.
Once dressed, she made her way to the cafe, her eyes scanning the crowd for Lucas.
When she finally spotted him, their gazes locked—his piercing blue eyes held a fleeting warmth before darkening into an intense stare.
She couldn't help but notice the chiseled features of his handsome face, the sharp jawline, and the tailored coat framing his broad shoulders.
Pushing through the crowd, she kept her eyes on him, whispering to herself, "There he is, my ex-husband, Lucas."
Aurora slid into the seat across from him, concern etched on her face as she sighed, "Is she alright?"
"Yes," Lucas responded, his tone as frosty as his stare. "Fortunately, Nora found her and got help."
Without another word, Lucas pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket and set it on the table. "Grandmother seems to be fond of you. Take this, and let's go visit her."
Aurora's eyes narrowed. "Do you think I'll visit her just because you threw money at me?" Her irritation was clear.
Lucas nonchalantly added another stack of bills to the pile, a move that nearly pushed Aurora over the edge.
"If I had been using your grandmother for money, I'd be living in luxury by now. I've been with her for over six months. Have I ever asked you for anything?" Aurora asked.
Lucas's jaw tightened as he watched her, a flicker of frustration in his eyes.
Determined to assert control and silence her accusations, Lucas reached into his pocket once more, pulling out another bundle of cash.
He hoped that the money would redirect the conversation and make her focus on the immediate crisis.
Aurora's patience snapped. "Pull out one more, and I'll shove it in your face," she warned, her irritation clear.
Lucas's jaw tightened, but he swallowed his frustration.
"Fine, I get it," he said, pulling his hand back from his pocket. "I'll stop with the cash. But we both care about Nana Rossi. She needs us right now. Can we put our differences aside for a few hours and make sure she's okay?"
Aurora's anger faded slightly as she considered his words. She took a deep breath, her thoughts shifting to Nana Rossi, who had always been kind to her. Despite their strained relationship, the elderly woman's well-being was important.
"Alright," Aurora said reluctantly, her voice softer. "I'll go with you. But only for her sake."
Lucas nodded in agreement, masking the relief that flickered within him.
Despite everything, he had managed to get her to go with him. Still, he kept the money close, certain that she might change her mind at any moment.
They walked out of the café together, their steps echoing as they approached Lucas's car.
Across the street, from the window of a cheap cab, Julia watched them intently.
Her eyes narrowed as she saw Aurora walking beside Lucas, the sight of them together igniting a dark fury within her.
She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles whitening as she fought to contain her anger.
Seeing Aurora so close to Lucas felt like a direct threat to all her efforts. She had invested so much in driving them apart, ensuring their divorce.
But as she watched them walk away together, a chilling thought gripped her—what if all her efforts had only pushed them closer?
Her heart pounded in her chest as she whispered to herself, "No… I can't let this happen."