The festive atmosphere of the engagement party instantly dissolved as Nathaniel stood. A tense silence fell over the gathering.
Everyone present knew the history between Nathaniel and Aurora–how she had left him for his sworn rival Damian Wolfe. This was the first time all three had appeared together in public, and Nathaniel’s pretence at their engagement was shocking enough to create an electric tension in the air.
Several guests noticed that Nathaniel’s outfit eerily mirrored Damian’s–both men in nearly identical black tuxedos with white pocket squares.
Nathaniel opened the velvet ring box and dropped to one knee []
“Aurora,” he said, his voice carrying across the silent garden. “If I told you how deeply I regret everything, would you give me one more chance?
We grew up together. I can’t believe you’ve truly moved on from what we had come with me. Damian Wolfe is a notorious playboy–he doesn’t deserve you.”] Aurora’s heart contracted painfully at the sight of the emerald ring, but upon closer inspection, she realized it wasn’t her mother’s after all. It was similar. beautiful even, but not the original–just like her heart, once lost, could never truly be replaced]
Aurers looked at Nathaniel, her emotions a complicated tangle of past and present
once, she had sacrificed everything for this man’s love. Now, seeing him kneeling before her, she felt only exhaustion.
ars too late,” she said soddy but firmly. “Any possibility of us ended the night you handed me to another man. Damian is nothing like what you describe. given me everything you couldn’t
He’s
gave Damdan and me our beautiful
Our relationship is built on mutual choice and respect. In a strange way. I should thank you–that night you pushed me away gave D son. He’s the living embodiment of our love.
You’re welcome at our celebration if you can respect our choices. If you’re here to cause trouble… I’ll have to ask y
to ask you to leave. Nathaniel’s eyes reddened as he struggled to control his breathing, a physical pain in his chest so intense that he bent forward.]
He watched Aurora return to Damian’s side, her rejection as final and absolute as his own abandonment of her had been years before.
Only now did he truly understand the devastation of being discarded–the searing agony that threatened to drive him mad
Catching his chest, he lunged forward and grabbed Aurora’s wrist, gripping it with bruising force as if trying to physically bind her to him.] “Aurora. I won’t let you marry him! You’re leaving with me today, whether you want to or not!”
hurt in a physical confrontation, quickly
He began dragging her away, Ignoring her struggles. Dandan moved to intervene but hesitated, afraid of Aurora getting h arranging for someone to take their son to safety
Let GO of nie, Nathaniel! I’m not going anywhere with your Aurora shouted, fighting agaast his grip
th- midst of the struggle. Leo rushed over, his expression tense with urgency!
“Mr. Rhodes, you need to come pickly. Miss Rhodes is livestreaming from the roof of our corporate headquarters–she’s threatening to “Saying WHAT?” Nathaniel snapped impatiently. Nothing seeised more important than taking Aurora away ||
Jump. She’s saying–]
Len wiped sweat from his low and blurted out, “She’s saying if you don’t marry her, shell kill herself and ruin your reputation forevert“|| Nathaniel trure, his expression darkening to something dangerous. This was exactly the kind of manipulation reli
Felicia excelled an
He turned back to Aurora, wanting to explain, but found her looking at him with knowing cynicism, as if she had expected nothing less. The scorn in her eyes made him instinctively Inck away
Chapter 21
