Once they were outside, Tristan turned to her, worry etched on his face. "Aurora, are you okay? That was intense."
"I didn't want to kiss him," she admitted, the weight of her emotions spilling out.
"I get it," he said, stepping closer and gently holding her shoulders.
Aurora looked up into his eyes, feeling an overwhelming urge to lean into him. "I'm trying so hard to be the person I want to be."
Tristan's gaze softened, and he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't have to do this alone, Aurora. I'm here for you. Always."
Without thinking, Aurora reached out, pulling him closer as she kissed him softly, feeling the warmth of his lips against hers.
It was sweet, comforting, and a stark contrast to the chaos inside the ballroom.
For a moment, the world faded away, leaving just the two of them under the stars.
Aurora pulled away, her heart still racing from the kiss, but she felt more grounded now.
The intensity of the evening, the chaos with Daemon, and the comfort Tristan had brought her all seemed to swirl around in her mind.
She took a deep breath, stepping back and looking up at the starry night sky, feeling the cool breeze against her skin.
"I don't know what I would do without you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Tristan smiled gently, his hand still resting on her shoulder.
"You're stronger than you think, Aurora," he said softly. "You don't need anyone else to tell you that. But I'll be here to remind you whenever you forget."
Aurora looked at him, her emotions swirling.
She had known for a while that Tristan had feelings for her, but she had never let herself fully consider it.
Now, standing outside with him after everything that had happened, she couldn't deny that he made her feel safe in a way Daemon never had.
Still, there was too much history, too much pain to untangle in a single night.
"We should head back inside," she said, breaking the silence. "We still have work to do."
Tristan nodded, though the softness in his eyes lingered. "Yeah, you're right. But remember, Aurora—don't let Daemon or anyone else control you. You've come too far for that."
As they walked back toward the entrance of the gala, Aurora couldn't help but feel the weight of the night's events.
Daemon's sudden kiss had shaken her more than she wanted to admit.
She hadn't expected the flood of emotions it would bring—the anger, the hurt, the strange familiarity of his touch.
But Tristan's kiss… that had felt different. It wasn't laced with control or manipulation. It was gentle, kind.
A part of her longed to explore what that meant, but she also knew it wasn't that simple.
The world she lived in didn't allow for easy decisions or clear paths.
Just as they reached the doors to the ballroom, Tristan paused, turning to face her one last time. "I mean it, Aurora. You don't owe Daemon anything. Not anymore."
Aurora nodded, her resolve hardening again. "I know. I just have to be careful. We still have a lot to do, and I can't let my emotions get in the way. Not yet."
With a deep breath, she pushed open the door, stepping back into the brightly lit room.
The noise of the party washed over her once again, but this time, she felt more in control.
She was here for a reason, and nothing—not Daemon's games, not her conflicted feelings—would stop her from achieving her goals.
As they walked through the crowd, she spotted Daemon again, his cold eyes following her every move.
She forced a calm smile, knowing that he was watching, waiting for her to falter. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
Instead, she focused on the task at hand. She had built a life outside of Daemon's world—a successful one.
The Rhysanders Corporation was thriving under her leadership, and tonight was crucial for their business.
Investors, competitors, and potential partners were all here, watching, waiting to see what she and Tristan would do next.
Tristan leaned in, his voice low. "We need to close the deal with Hansen Industries. If we can secure that partnership, it'll be a huge blow to Daemon's company."
Aurora nodded, her business mind kicking into gear. "I'll handle it. Just keep an eye on Daemon. He won't go down without a fight."
As the evening wore on, Aurora found herself in deep conversation with Mr. Hansen, a powerful investor who could tip the scales in their favor.
She smiled, charmed, and discussed their future plans for expansion, all while keeping one eye on Daemon, who remained on the other side of the room, brooding but silent.
The night ended on a high note, with Hansen agreeing to consider their proposal.
Aurora felt a surge of triumph as they said their goodbyes and made their way toward the exit.
Tristan gave her a sideways glance as they stepped into the cool night air again. "You did it."
Aurora smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. "We did it."
But as they walked toward the waiting car, Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of her battle with Daemon. He wouldn't stop.
Not until he had her back—or destroyed everything she had built.
For now, though, she would take the victory. The road ahead was long, but with Tristan by her side and her newfound strength, she knew she could face whatever came next.
As they climbed into the car, Aurora leaned back against the seat, exhaustion finally settling in.
Her mind drifted back to the kiss with Daemon, then the kiss with Tristan. One was a reminder of her past, and the other, a glimpse of what could be her future.
She wasn't sure what path she would take yet, but one thing was certain: she wasn't the same girl who had once been scared of her own shadow.
She was Aurora Rhysanders now, and no one—especially not Daemon—would ever control her again.