Chapter 39
Chapter 39:
Aurora stared at Elias. Her mouth was slightly open.
“Dinner?” she squeaked.
Elias kept his eyes on the road, but the smirk remained. “She jumps to conclusions. Ignore her. She is desperate p>
“You didn’t deny it,” Aurora accused.
“I never lie to my mother,” Elias said simply. “I am with the doctor p>
Graves pulled up to the curb in front of the Obsidian Tower. He put the car in park.
Elias turned to her. The playfulness vanished, replaced by seriousness.
“Change your locks,” Elias said quietly. “Sterling is petty. And his finger hurts. He will try to retaliate p>
“I know,” Aurora said. “I’m ready for him p>
“I know you are p>
He waited. He didn’t drive away. He watched her get out of the car, run through the rain, and enter the lobby. He waited until he saw the concierge greet her.
Only then did Elias Thorne signal Graves to drive away into the night.
The moving trucks were discreet. No logos. Just large, black vans unloading crates into the service elevator of the Obsidian Tower.
Aurora stood in the center of the penthouse living room. It was massive. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offered a panoramic view of Manhattan. The decor was modern—too much chrome, too much black leather. It was cold.
“We’ll change the furniture,” she noted. “More wood. More plants p>
The elevator doors opened. Arthur walked in. He stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw dropped.
He walked to the window, leaning on his cane. He looked down at the city that had chewed him up and spit him out for seventy years.
𝕍𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕕 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕖: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧿ⅽ𝗈𝗺
“This view…” Arthur whispered. “Aurora, this is the top of the world p>
He looked around, overwhelmed. He touched a leather chair as if he were afraid he would stain it.
“This is too much, Aurora,” Arthur said, his voice trembling. “We don’t belong here. We are simple people p>
Aurora walked over and put an arm around his shoulders. “We define where we belong, Grandpa. Not the other way around. You worked your hands to the bone for fifty years. You deserve to rest above the clouds p>
“I failed to protect you before,” Arthur said, his voice thick with emotion. “I let you marry that man because I thought he could give you this. I thought he could give you safety p>
“I didn’t need him to give it to me,” Aurora said firmly. “I took it myself p>
She led him down the hall. “Come. I have a surprise p>
She opened a set of double doors.
It was a Zen Garden room. Indoor bamboo, a small water feature, soft lighting, and a comfortable reading chair. It was peaceful. It was a sanctuary.
Arthur teared up. He touched the leaves of the bamboo. “You remembered p>
“I remember everything,” Aurora promised.
Scene Shift: Thorne Industries.