hoes of the chaotic engagement party-the whispers, the gasps, the scandalous murmurs-still vibrated through the floorboards. Auro
depths of the cavernous walk-in closet. The wheels hissed acro
n toward the simple things: worn denim, plain cotton t-shirts, and a gray cashmere sweater that had seen better days. Finally, she reached into the nightstand and pulled out a single silver frame. Inside,
n, hitting the wall wit
face a thundercloud of suppressed rage and impatience. His eyes swep
ests are confused, the press is circling like vultures, and you're in here playing house? Come downsta
d folded it into the case with terrifying calmness. The silence she offered him was sha
tightening until her skin paled. "Aurora, I said stop being childish! This isn't just about you. The alliance betwee
gone, replaced by an icy, echoing void. She didn't struggle; she simply pulled her arm fr
at's all I am? A signature on a contract? You just need a woman with the last
I'm asking you to see the bigger picture. Ivy is your sister. She had already become sensitive because yo
s flat and cold as a winter morning. "My mother only had
l, a mechanical guillotine. She stood up, her spine
t now. Announce to everyone that what you did was a mistake
ker of emotion. "Or, you stay with her, and
ulity. "Are you insane? You'd throw away everything we'v
and the screen lit up with the name 'Ivy' accompanied by a h
h the air. "Collin... the brothers are all yelling... they're say
ted softness. "Don't be scared, honey," he cooed into the phone, his voice dripping with a tenderne
n look her in the eye. He adjusted his cufflinks, h
door. "Think about what you've done. Come find me when
of a second before clenching into fists. His hurried footsteps echoed down the grand
er of hope inside Auro
p the empty velvet box that had once held her engagement ring. It felt light, meaningless. Her eyes in the
ut her phone
he first ring. "I need you to do something for
ce was frantic. "The livestream cut out, but the
ed, her voice eerily calm. "Bet
atulations to Mr. Collin Foley and Miss Ivy Beaumont on their engagement. Wish
? Aurora, this will start a firest
e. Post
he call withou
s of her past were still celebrating her humiliation, she slipped down a narrow ser
g box slipped from her hand. It fell silently into
es, her phone buzzed with a news alert. Her tweet had alread
s seat, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, where t
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