Chapter 36
Chapter 36:
Sterling Thorne walked in. He was wearing sunglasses indoors, a pretense that made Aurora roll her eyes. He was on his phone, barking at someone.
He scanned the room for a table. His gaze landed on her.
He froze. He lowered his phone.
He marched over, his expensive Italian shoes clicking on the hardwood.
“Stalking me, Aurora?” Sterling sneered, looming over her table.
Aurora didn’t look up from her screen. Her fingers kept typing. “I live in this neighborhood, Sterling. This is my local coffee shop p>
“Liar,” Sterling spat. “You can’t afford this zip code. You can’t even afford this coffee p>
He reached out and slammed her laptop shut.
Aurora looked up. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were flint.
“Open it back up,” she said softly.
“Or what?” Sterling laughed. “You’ll cry? You’ll beg p>
He grabbed her wrist. He squeezed. It was a power move. A reminder of the old days when he controlled everything.
“Stop playing hard to get,” he hissed. “Admit it. You’re following me because you want money p>
“Let go,” Aurora warned. Her voice dropped.
“Make me,” Sterling challenged, tightening his grip. “You’re nothing without me. You’re just damaged goods p>
Aurora’s eyes flashed. The switch flipped. Combat mode engaged.
She stood up. She moved fluidly, using the momentum of his own grip against him. She stepped in, pivoting her hips.
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It was classic Aikido. Kote-gaeshi. The wrist reversal.
She twisted his hand outward.
Sterling’s eyes widened in shock. His balance broke. He stumbled forward.
Before he could recover, Aurora grabbed his index finger—the one he used to point and command.
Time seemed to slow down. Aurora looked at the finger that had poked her chest so many times in their marriage. The finger that had pointed her to the door. She felt the joint under her thumb.
She applied pressure. Just enough physics. Just enough leverage. She bent it back.
SNAP.
The sound was dry and loud, like a dead branch breaking in a winter forest.
Sterling screamed. It was a high-pitched, undignified shriek. He dropped to his knees, clutching his hand to his chest.
The coffee shop went silent. Every head turned. Tens of smartphones were instantly raised, recording.
“You broke my finger!” Sterling wailed, tears springing to his eyes. “You crazy bitch! You broke my finger p>
Aurora leaned down. She wasn’t out of breath. She looked composed.
“Self-defense,” she stated clearly for the cameras. “You touched me first. You assaulted me p>