Aurora stirred awake in the middle of the night, her hand reaching out instinctively. The bed felt cold and empty, and her brows furrowed as she realized Damian wasn’t beside her. She sat up slowly, brushing her hair out of her face. The room was dim, the moonlight filtering through the curtains, but it offered no answers.
“Where could he be?” she murmured to herself.
Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, Aurora swung her legs off the bed and stood, her steps quiet as she made her way out of the room. The house was silent, save for the faint ticking of a distant clock.
As she moved through the hallways, her thoughts swirled. It wasn’t like Damian to leave her in the middle of the night. Was he working? Was something wrong? The questions made her heart race slightly.
Aurora reached the study and noticed the door was slightly ajar. A faint light spilled out into the hallway, guiding her steps. She pushed the door open gently and paused when she saw him. Damian was slumped over his desk, his head resting on his folded arms. Papers were scattered across the surface, and a nearly empty glass of whiskey sat nearby.
She stepped closer, her heart softening at the sight of him. He looked exhausted, his usually sharp features softened by sleep. Aurora leaned down, her hand resting lightly on his chest. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, a comforting sign that he was okay.
“Damian,” she whispered, but he didn’t stir.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she bent forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. His eyelids fluttered, and he let out a soft groan before opening his eyes.
“Aurora?” Damian mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
She straightened, her hand still on his chest. “You weren’t in bed,” she said softly. “I came to find you.”
He rubbed his eyes and sat up, his hands reaching for her instinctively. “I didn’t mean to worry you,” he said, pulling her closer.
Aurora smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “You look like you’ve been thinking too much again.”
Damian chuckled lightly, his arms wrapping around her waist. “You’re not wrong,” he admitted. “Come here.”
Before she could protest, he pulled her onto his lap, her legs draped over his thighs. She settled against him, her hands resting on his shoulders.
“Damian,” she said, her tone gentle but curious, “what’s going on? You’ve been distant lately.”
He let out a long sigh, his fingers tracing small circles on her back. “Aurora, there’s something I need to tell you,” he began, his voice serious.
Her brows furrowed, concern flashing in her eyes. “What is it?”
He took a moment to collect his thoughts, his gaze locked on hers. “Your father called me,” he said finally.
Aurora’s breath caught, and her grip on his shoulders tightened. “My father?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes,” Damian said, his tone calm but firm. “He called me again, and this time he revealed his name.”
Aurora stared at him, her heart pounding. “Who is he?” she asked, her voice shaky.
Damian hesitated, his jaw clenching slightly. “It’s Taylor,” he said. “The same man who attended the business meeting at my house.”
Aurora’s eyes widened, and she shook her head in disbelief. “Taylor?” she echoed. “I’ve never met him. I don’t know anything about him.”
“I know,” Damian said, his hand moving to cradle her face. “I believe you. But there’s more you need to know.”
Aurora nodded slowly, her eyes searching his. “Tell me.”
Damian’s expression darkened, and he let out a heavy sigh. “Taylor… he’s not just your father. He’s the man responsible for my sister’s death.”
Aurora’s breath hitched, her hands trembling as she gripped his shirt. “What?” she whispered, her voice filled with shock.
Damian nodded, his jaw tightening. “When I was a boy, his men attacked my family. My sister, Clara, was killed that night.”
Aurora’s heart ached at the pain in his voice. She placed her hand on his cheek, her thumb brushing gently over his skin. “Damian, I… I don’t know what to say.”
He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing briefly. “I don’t blame you, Aurora,” he said firmly. “You’re not responsible for what he did. But this… it’s not easy for me to process.”
Aurora swallowed hard, her mind racing. “I didn’t know,” she said softly. “I didn’t even know I had a father out there. My mother never talked about him.”
“I believe you,” Damian said, his tone gentle. “But now he’s reaching out, and I don’t know why. I don’t trust him, Aurora. He abandoned you and your mother. And now he’s trying to insert himself into your life.”
Aurora’s gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt. “What does he want from me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know,” Damian admitted. “But I promise you, I won’t let him hurt you. You and our child mean everything to me.”
Aurora looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. “Damian, I trust you,” she said quietly. “I know you’ll protect us.”
He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Always,” he whispered.
They sat in silence for a moment, their breaths mingling as they held onto each other. The weight of the conversation hung in the air, but so did the strength of their bond.
Finally, Aurora rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on his chest. “Whatever happens,” she said softly, “we’ll face it together.”
Damian tightened his hold on her, his voice firm as he replied, “Together.”