This was the first time Nathandel had ever put such genuine thought into a gesture for Aurora. He removed an engagement ring from his pocket, his hands trembling slightly as he gazed at the emerald with desperate hope
At a Christie’s auction in Paris last month, he’d spotted the ring and known instandy that Aurora would love it. She had once owned a similar emerald heirloom–the last gift from her mother before the accident–that Felicia had “accidentally lost years ago.
Aurora had been devastated then, crying for days. Despite Nadantel hiring Investigators, the ring had never been recovered. Back then, he’d simply told her to “buy another one and disundssed her grief as excessive.||
The memory of his callousness now suffocated him with remorse.[]
ad once discarded
But this replacement was virtually identical–surely presenting it would prove how much he’d changed how deeply he now valued what he had once
Standing outside Aurora’s dressing room. Nathaniel experienced something entirely allen to his nature paralyzing anxiety. Despite knowing Aurora for most of his life, this was the first time he’d ever felt genuinely vulnerable with her.
Though he rarely smoked, he nervously lit a cigarette with unsteady fingers. The smoke clouded his vision until the burning tip scorched his skin, making him wince back to reality |
Looking down at the celebration preparations below–the white roses Aurora had always loved, the string quartet playing her favorite Debussy piece–Nathaniel felt something shift inside him.
For perhaps the first time, he actually considered what Aurora might want rather than what he needed from her. Would his dramatic interruption make her happy, or would it simply be another selfish act? Was he once again patting his desires above her well–being?
her life without him. What right did he have to shatter that peace
The weight of three years‘ worth of regret pressed down on him. Aurora had dearly rebuilt h
with a heaviness in his chest, Nathaniel returned to his seat in the garden, though his eyes remained fixed on the upper floors of the hotel, still unable to fully let go.]
This engagement celebration was hosted at Damian’s exclusive boutique hotel, with a Michelin–starred chef preparing the cuisine. The garden setting with fairy lights strang through flowering cherry trees was exactly the type of outdour ceremony Aurora had once described to Nathaniel as her dream wedding–a detail. bed completely forgotten until seeing it realized for another man
Aurora wore a blush–pink mermaid gown of her own design, the strapless bodice accentuating her elegant figure. Damian had been particularly irritated by the dramatic open–back design that exposed the entire curve of her spine.]
Unable to forbid her from wearing it outright, he had pulled her into the changing room just before the ceremony. The distinct dick of the lock was followed by Auroras playful scolding:
“Damian Wolfe, what are you doing? You’re actually leaving marks! People will seel.
with dyire as his lips traced her exposed back. “Stand si
still… unless you
Im not marking you–you’re the one pressing against me,” he murmured, his voice th want me to take you right here. We both know once I start, we won’t be leaving this room for hours.”
Aurora immediately quieted, surrendering to his touch with a soft sigh that drove Nathaniel’s imagination to sous places]
In the garden, Nethandri sat rigidly in the front row, continuously turning the velvet ring box over in his hands, his eyes constantly darting toward the entrance
The ceremony had already been delayed by a full hour, just as Nathaniel was losing patience. Damian finally appeared, looking thoroughly satisfied as he escorted a flushed Aurora into the garden. She now wore his suit jacket draped over her shoulders, her neck carefully concealed beneath the collar
The knowing smiles and teasing comments from guests made it painfully y dear what had caused the delay. Nathannel’s knuckles whitened around the ring box as jeslany duratened to consume him ||
He rose from his seal, prepared to create a serne.
- ur. When a small child darted past halm and launched into Aurora’s ar
“Moning! Daddy! I missed you soonu mauchi ||
Aurora effortlessly lifted the todilles, a little boy of about two with Damian’s mischievous eyes but Auroras delicate features Damian ruffled the child’s hour with genuine affection, exeating a picture of fandly harmony that felt like a knife twisting in Nathaniel’s crest||
Natisanori stood frozen, the blood draining from his face. The timing left no doula–this child must be the result of that fateful night when he had literally handel Aurora over to Damiati da it sacrifice ||
The most regrettable action of his life had created an unherakahle bond between them–a living reminder of his greatest betrayal
The ring box suddenly felt impossibly heavy in his hand. There was no going back. No grand gesture could erase what he had done. He had not just lost
ad actively given her away, and in doing so, had unknowingly helped create a family that now stood complete without him.||
Aurora–he had actively;
With painful clarity, Nathaniel understood that the best thing he could do for Aurora now was to finally, truly let her go.[]
Chapter 20
