Aurora stood in the grand hall, her fingers clutching the edge of her apron nervously as Lina barked orders.
“You’ll go into the city for me,” Lina said with a syrupy sweet smile that didn’t reach her cold eyes. “Pick up a package from the address I’ll give you.”
Aurora blinked in surprise. She had never been sent out of the mansion before. The thought of leaving, even for a brief errand, unsettled her.
“I’ve never done this before,” Aurora said hesitantly.
Lina’s smile grew sharper. “There’s a first time for everything, isn’t there? It’s a simple task, Aurora. Or is even this beyond you?”
Damian, who had been silently observing from the doorway, stepped in. His dark eyes bore into Lina. “Aurora doesn’t go out. Send someone else.”
Lina raised a perfectly arched brow. “Why? Is she so fragile she can’t run an errand? Or are you afraid she’ll run away?”
Damian’s jaw tightened. His hands clenched at his sides, but he didn’t respond immediately. He turned to Aurora instead. “You don’t have to do this.” His tone was softer now, almost pleading.
Aurora’s chest tightened at his words. For a moment, she thought about agreeing, about staying where she felt safer. But then Lina’s mocking laughter echoed in her ears.
“I’ll go,” Aurora said firmly, surprising herself.
Damian’s gaze snapped to hers, his expression unreadable. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Aurora replied, her voice steady even though her heart wasn’t. She needed to prove she wasn’t weak, that she could handle herself.
Lina clapped her hands together. “Perfect! Here’s the address.” She handed Aurora a small piece of paper. “Be quick about it, will you?”
As Aurora walked toward the front door, Damian followed her. “Aurora,” he called, his voice low.
She turned to face him, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes concern, maybe even fear.
“You don’t have to do what she says,” he told her.
Aurora hesitated, the weight of his words settling in her chest. Part of her wanted to refuse, to stay in the mansion where she felt protected. But another part of her, the part that was still stubborn and prideful, refused to let Lina think she was weak.
“I’ll be fine,” she said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Damian’s frown deepened, but he nodded and stepped back.
As Aurora stepped outside, the cool breeze hit her face, and for a brief moment, she considered running.
She stood still at the edge of the driveway, the paper crumpled in her hand. The thought of freedom, of escaping the mansion and all its darkness, filled her mind. She could go anywhere find a new life, start over.
But then Damian’s face flashed in her mind. His sharp gaze, the way he had been protecting her despite everything, the rare moments of softness he showed her.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Running away wasn’t an option anymore. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but her heart was no longer her own. She was falling for him, and the realization was as terrifying as it was comforting.
Her fingers tightened around the paper. No. I’ll do this. I’ll prove I can handle myself.
The driver opened the car door for her, and Aurora slid into the back seat. The ride was quiet, the city’s noise growing louder as they moved farther away from the mansion. Aurora stared out the window, her thoughts a mix of determination and unease.
When they arrived, the driver didn’t say a word. Aurora stepped out, clutching the address. It was a small, quiet street lined with old shops. The air felt heavy, as though something unseen lingered in the shadows.
She pushed open the shop door. A bell chimed above her, but the space inside was empty.
“Hello?” she called out, her voice echoing in the silence.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps sounded behind her. Aurora spun around, her heart pounding.
Two men stood in the doorway, their faces partially obscured by hats.
“Can I help you?” Aurora asked, her voice trembling slightly.
One of the men grinned, his eyes cold. “Yeah. You can come with us.”
Aurora’s instincts screamed at her to run, but before she could move, the second man grabbed her arm. She struggled, panic taking over.
“Let me go!” she yelled, but a rough hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her.
“Shut up,” the first man hissed. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
Tears pricked Aurora’s eyes as they dragged her out of the shop and toward a waiting van. She thrashed against their grip, but they were too strong.
“What do you want from me?” she managed to choke out.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” one of them said with a smirk.
Lina paced in her room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She had been waiting for the call, and when it finally came, she answered immediately.
“It’s done,” the voice on the other end said.
A wicked smile spread across Lina’s face. “Good. Make sure she’s delivered to the buyer. And remind him of the terms no mistakes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the voice replied before the line went dead.
Lina tossed her phone onto the bed, satisfaction washing over her. Damian had been too blind to see what Aurora really was an obstacle. But now, with Aurora out of the picture, Lina would finally have her chance.
Her plan was flawless. Damian’s father, always eager to get rid of anything or anyone threatening his control, had been easy to convince. Together, they had orchestrated the perfect trap.
In the van, Aurora sat huddled in the corner, her hands tied behind her back. The men didn’t speak much, but their occasional glances in her direction made her stomach churn.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her voice shaking.
One of the men laughed. “Far away from here. That’s all you need to know.”
Aurora bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. She had no idea what awaited her, but the thought of Damian finding out and thinking she had run away was almost unbearable.
Will he even look for me? she wondered. The doubt cut deep, but she forced herself to stay strong.
Back at the mansion, Damian sat in his study, staring at his phone. Something didn’t feel right. He had tried calling Aurora’s driver, but there had been no response.
“Where are you, Aurora?” he muttered under his breath.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. It was Lina, her expression smug.
“Everything okay?” she asked sweetly.
Damian didn’t answer. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong.