Chapter 184
Chapter 184:
Back in the room, Aurora finished. She wiped her hands. She leaned down and whispered in Julian’s ear, too low for the nurse to hear.
“Wake up, Julian. The gala is tomorrow. I need an ally p>
She left the room, exhausted but triumphant.
In the hallway, Vivian was waiting. As Aurora passed, Vivian stuck her foot out.
It was a childish, petty move.
Aurora didn’t stumble. Her reflexes, honed by years of looking over her shoulder, kicked in. She sensed the motion before it registered. She hopped over Vivian’s foot with the grace of a cat, spun around, and caught Vivian’s wrist.
“Careful,” Aurora said, her voice dropping to a growl. “You might trip and break something. Like your nose p>
Vivian yanked her hand back, terrified by the sudden violence in Aurora’s eyes. She scrambled backward.
Aurora straightened her shirt and walked away.
The gravel of the driveway crunched under the tires of a fleet of luxury sedans. Not just one car, but three.
The butler opened the front door. “Mr. Thorne. Of Thorne Industries p>
In the drawing room, Eleanor flushed pink. “Sterling?” she asked, patting her hair. “Is he here for Vivian? I knew he would come around p>
Vivian jumped up, frantically checking her reflection in the mirror. “Oh my god. Does my hair look okay p>
“It’s not Sterling,” the butler corrected. “It’s Mr. Elias Thorne p>
The air left the room. Elias Thorne. The head of the main branch. The man who made Sterling look like a junior associate. He was a myth in their circles—ruthless, reclusive, and infinitely more powerful.
A𝑔𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝑅𝑒𝓐𝓓:
He walked in. He wore a charcoal suit that fit him like armor. His presence was so overwhelming that the room seemed to shrink. He didn’t look at the furniture. He didn’t look at the art.
“Mrs. Kensington,” Elias nodded to Eleanor, his voice deep and cold. “Miss Kensington p>
“Mr… Mr. Thorne,” Eleanor stammered, completely thrown off balance. She had never expected the Titan himself to step foot in her home. “To what do we owe the honor p>
“I’m your new neighbor,” Elias lied smoothly. “I purchased the Van Der Hoven estate. I thought it proper to introduce myself to the… matriarch of the house p>
Grandpa Vance, sitting in his chair, raised an eyebrow. He knew Elias owned everything worth owning already. But he played along. “Ah. Yes. Neighborly duties p>
Vivian stepped forward, batting her eyelashes. She didn’t know the history. She only saw power. “Can I get you some coffee, Elias? Or perhaps a tour of the gardens? I know every rosebush p>
Elias looked at her. His gaze was dismissive, like he was looking at a piece of uninteresting upholstery.
“Where is Miss Vance?” he asked.
Eleanor stiffened. “Aurora? Oh, she’s… unwell. Resting. She’s not used to this climate. Or this company p>
“I’m right here,” Aurora’s voice cut through the lie.
She walked in from the hallway. She was wearing jeans and a loose white shirt, her hair damp from a shower. She looked fresh, real, and stunningly out of place in the stuffy room.