Aurora couldn’t help but worry about Genevieve. She watched from the window as Genevieve left the Montgomery family estate, her figure radiating a kind of forlorn desolation that was hard to put into words.
If Genevieve hadn’t done so many despicable things, Aurora might have offered her help. But every time she thought of the suffering her mother endured, or the countless times Genevieve had tried to kill her, her resolve hardened.
Each memory reminded her of just how cruel and venomous Genevieve truly was. Logic and emotion both screamed at her to stay away. Helping Genevieve would be like saving a snake frozen in ice-once revived, it would only turn around and bite her.
Aurora shut the window and returned to her bed, picking up her phone to call Julian. She wondered if he had finished his dinner yet.
“Julian, are you done eating?” Aurora asked.
“Yeah, I just dropped Mona off at her hotel. How’s everything on your end?” Julian replied, just settling into his car but hadn’t yet started it.
“It’s all sorted. Genevieve actually knelt down and begged my father to save Zachary. As if I’d let that happen! What, so Zachary can come out and stab me in the back again?” Aurora scoffed coldly.
“No matter what you decide, I’ll always support you,” Julian said warmly, though his tone grew softer, almost pleading. “So… does this mean we can finally spend some time together tonight?”
Aurora could hear the faint trace of frustration in his voice. She knew he was holding back. Even earlier, when Mona had thrown herself at him in a desperate attempt to seduce him, he hadn’t reacted at all. Yet just one phone call from her had him completely undone.
Mona’s parting words had been crude but true-men are simple creatures, driven by desire. The key difference, however, was that Julian only had eyes for Aurora.
Aurora smiled mischievously. She thought of her “secret weapon,” a little surprise she had prepared but hadn’t yet used.
“Actually… I’m staying here tonight. You should head back to your place.” Her voice carried a sly undertone, barely hiding her amusement.
“Alright,” Julian sighed, a little disappointed but resigned. He would never push her to do something she didn’t want to do.
“You’ve been running around so much for me lately. Take the night to rest, okay?” Aurora said softly, her tone laced with gratitude.
Julian hung up the phone, still a little frustrated, while Aurora immediately sprang into action. She wasn’t going to let the night end like this-not when she owed Julian a surprise for all the ones he had given her.
After saying goodbye to Magnus, Aurora rushed out of the Montgomery family estate and made her way back to her beachside villa. Since her villa was right next to Julian’s, she took extra care not to be spotted. She got out of the car early and snuck back into her home like a thief.
“You little rascal!” Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, exclaimed when she saw Aurora creeping in through the door. She grabbed a broom, ready to smack whoever it was sneaking around.
“It’s me, Mrs. Hill!” Aurora quickly revealed herself, leaving the older woman stunned.
“Miss, you’re back! Why didn’t Mr. Barnet come home with you tonight?” Mrs. Hill asked, bewildered by Aurora’s sneaky behavior.
“He’s busy with something. Oh, by the way, Mrs. Hill, you’ve been helping out for days now. Take the next two days off and get some rest,” Aurora said, eager to clear the house of anyone who might spoil her plans.
Though confused, Mrs. Hill didn’t hesitate to accept. “Thank you, Miss. I’ll be back in two days!” she chirped, quickly removing her apron and practically sprinting out of the villa. Aurora was amazed at her speed.
With the house finally empty, Aurora returned to her bedroom to prepare. She took a long, luxurious bath and applied a bold, seductive makeup look-more daring than her usual style.
She rarely wore perfume, not even for social events, but tonight was special. She spritzed on Julian’s favorite scent, adding an intoxicating layer to her transformation. In the mirror, she hardly recognized herself. The woman staring back was more alluring, more dangerous than the Aurora of daylight hours.
From the back of her closet, she retrieved her secret weapon. Would he like it?
Once everything was perfectly arranged, she picked up her phone and called Julian. Her heart was pounding-she was nervous, for once. Usually, Julian was the one throwing himself at her. This time, she was the one taking the lead.
“Little Bunny, are you asleep?” Julian’s voice came through, low and slightly hoarse, tinged with frustration.
“Already in bed,” Aurora lied smoothly. “Julian, I just remembered-I left a gift for you in my bedroom. I forgot to give it to you earlier. Could you go grab it?”
Julian, who had been sulking under the covers, perked up instantly. “A gift? What kind of gift?” His curiosity was piqued, as it always was when it came to her.
“You’ll see when you get there,” Aurora teased, a sly smile tugging at her lips. There was no way she’d tell him that the “gift” was herself.
“Alright, I’m heading over now!” Julian declared, hanging up before she could say another word.
He initially planned to take the stairs, but that felt too slow. Driven by excitement, he opted for the quicker route-scaling the wall between their villas.
Aurora, knowing him all too well, had anticipated this move. She quickly slipped into the large “gift box” she had prepared, her heart racing as she awaited his arrival.
When Julian landed nimbly on her balcony, he was immediately greeted by the soft glow of candlelight. Dozens of white candles flickered in the night air, casting a warm, romantic glow across the space.
Frowning slightly, he wondered where the candles had come from. But since he thought Aurora was still at the Montgomery family estate, he didn’t dwell on it. He followed the trail of candles into the bedroom.
The room was dark, save for the gentle light of the candles. On the bed, rose petals had been carefully arranged into the shape of a heart. The air was heavy with the scent of his favorite perfume, and on the floor lay an enormous gift box.
If he didn’t know what was happening by now, he’d truly be an idiot.
Each step brought him closer to the box, his heartbeat accelerating with every inch. The room was silent, save for the sound of his own breathing and the distant thrum of his pulse.
When he finally reached the box, he paused. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the lid, anticipation and excitement coursing through him.
Inside, Aurora waited, her heart pounding just as wildly.