Chapter 21
Nathaniel left, compelled by the knowledge that Felicia stood on the ledge of their corporate headquarters, ready to jump if he didn’t arrive.
The livestream had already topped 150,000 viewers. It felldis followed through, Nathaniel would be utterly ruined–the Rhodes dynasty would disown him, and the Sinclairs would pounce on the opportunity to crush what remained of his empire.
Nathaniel looked deeply into Aurora’s eyes one last time, pressing the velvet ring box into her palm with trembling fingers]
“Aurora…“his voic
voice tracked with vulnerability she’d never heard before. “Could you just wait for me? One last chance?”
He pleaded–almost prayed–for the slightest nod, but Aurora merely glanced at the box before deliberately withdrawing her hand]
I’m sorry, Mr. Rhodes,” she replied, emphasizing the formality between them, “but I’ve committed to Damian. We have a child together. Her eyes hardened. “Unlike you. I don’t make a habit of discarding people who love me.”
Each word Aurora spoke was another bullet to Nathaniel’s heart–a firing squad of painful truths that left him mortally wounded, barely able to stand]
His face turned ashen as his knees threatened to buckle. Aurora showed no concern whatsoever, not even the reflexive empathy one might offer a stranger. This realization wounded him more deeply than any physical pain ever could.
The A
The Aurora who once panicked at his smallest paper cut, who brought him home from the streets and read him stories until he own leg to save his life–that Aurora was gone forever. He had killed her himself.
ntil he fell asleep,
who sacrificed her
If not for Len supporting his elbow, Nathaniel might have collapsed face first onto the manicured lawn
Summoning his remaining strength, Nathaniel removed the emerald ring from its box and, despite Aurora’s resistance, forcefully pushed it onto her finger.
The next moment, Damian’s fist connected with Nathaniel’s face with a sickening crunch.
Look around you, asshole,” Damian growled, standing protectively in front of Aurora “she chose me. She’s building a life with me. What the fuck gives you the right to put your hands on her?–|
Damien’s blow was devastating, splinting Nathaniel’s eyebrow and sending blood cascading down his face. Yet Nathaniel remained kneeling before Aurora, offering no resistance, blood dripping onto his custom tuxedo.
1
“Aurora. I’m begging you,” he whispered, looking utterly broken. “Can y
you wait for me? Just this once–one last time. Please?”
“When I come back, we’ll get married for real, I’ll adopt your son as my own. I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for everything I did. Please?
“Auzura……..come home.“[
The word “home” brought unexpected tears to Aurora’s eyes, but that place no longer existed for her. She had built her own sanctuary now, with hadn’t betrayed her at every turn.]
people who
Aarota turned away, using all her strength to pull her hand free and remove the ring, dropping it back into Nathaniel’s palm like it burned her skin.]]
But he refused to accept defeat, still clinging to the delusion that if she wore his ring, she might remember what they
yonce had. He forced what he thought was his most charming smile–the same expression that used to make her heart race.
7’s okay,” he said desperately. “You don’t need to answer now. just… wait for me to come
me to come back.
ve last miracle:[]
With that, Nathaniel staggered to his feet and departed, his steps unsteady and hurried, like a dying man seeking one
SoNathaniel left again, and Aurora felt neberieartbreak nor surrow–only the cold validation of what she’d known all along[]
Once more, he had chosen Felicia over her.|
Even knowing th after today she would be officially bound to another man, Nathaniel hadn’t hesitated for a seconit.||
Damian pulled Aurora possively back to his side, brushing his lips against her temple in silent comfort
“Having second thoughts?” he murmured. his casual tone belied by the tension in his shoulders. “Tou late for that, princess. After today. official Mrs. Wolfe.
you’re
mine–the
Aurora couldn’t help smiling at Damian’s poorly disguised jealousy, her eyes softening as she looked at the man who had never once made her question her worth
If 1 were having doubts,” she said, cupping his face, I would’ve been long gone already. What exactly are you worried about, Mr. Big Bad Wolfe?–
Relan – she continued, pressing a deliberate kiss to his lips in full view of their guests. “My heart belongs exclusively to you and our son now. I promise not to even look in another man’s direction
Though she privately reserved the right to appreciate an occasional Chris Hemsworth look–alike–a thought she wisely kept to herself]
Nathaniel’s dramatic interruption served only to provide fresh gossip for Manhattan elite. The engagement ceremony continued without missing a beat once he
By the time Nathaniel reached the Sinclair corporate building, Aurora and Damian had already exchanged rings, sealing with platinum and diamonds what they had already built with trust and respect ||
And Aurora had returned Nathaniel’s emerald ring completely untouched, as if it carried a curse she refused to accept
As me
passed on the rooftop, Felicia grew increasingly desperate. She had no genuine intention of dying–she merely wanted to manipulate Nathaniel with the them of suicide, a tactic that had worked flawlessly for years.
When Nathaniel finally appeared, disheveled and bleeding, her eyes lit up with vid
vidous triumph
Felicia had deliberately staged this during Aurora’s engagement, wanting to prove once and for all who Nathaniel would ultimately choose
Her reputation might be in tatters, but what did that matter? As long as she had Nathaniel, she could continue living in luxury and power.
g him arrive, without needing a single word of persuasion. Felicia flew into his arms like a rescued damsel.]]
“Nate, thank God!” she sobbed against his chest. “I was so terrified: I thought you wouldn’t come, and I would have had to-
Felicia whimpered about her fear with practiced vulnerability, using the same manipulative tactics that had helped her steal Nathaniel from Aurora countless times before
But this time. Nathaniel firmly pushed Felicia away, maintaining a cold distance between them.
And just a few feet away, the man who had drugged her drink at the bar–the orchestrator of her public humiliation–was being escorted onto the roof by security personnel
