Chapter 52
Chapter 52:
“We are officially setting a wedding date,” Sterling announced to the cameras. “This is about love. Not business p>
The media took the bait. The headlines shifted from “Thorne Stock Drops” to “Royal Wedding of the Year p>
Aurora saw the news on her monitor while coding. She felt… relief. A weight she didn’t know she was carrying lifted off her chest.
“Good,” she thought, taking a bite of her apple. “He’s someone else’s problem now p>
Sterling was high on the engagement metrics—the likes, the shares, the comments.
“See?” he told Lance, scrolling through Instagram. “The world loves us. We are the narrative p>
He looked at Lance. “Aurora must be devastated. Have we heard from her? Is she crying p>
Lance looked exhausted. He couldn’t keep lying. He was tired of being the buffer for a madman.
“Sir,” Lance said quietly. “She isn’t devastated p>
Sterling frowned. “What do you mean p>
Lance pulled out his phone. “I recorded the call from the other day. When she blocked you p>
Sterling froze. “Play it p>
Lance pressed play. Aurora’s voice filled the room. It was clear, sharp, and utterly devoid of affection.
“He is garbage. A footnote. Tell him to go to hell p>
The tone wasn’t sad. It was disgusted. It was the voice of someone who had stepped in something wet and unpleasant on the sidewalk.
Sterling listened. His face drained of color. The recording ended. Sterling sat slowly. The reality pierced his delusion for the first time. It was a physical pain, sharp and cold in his chest.
Lɒtєѕτ чhɒρτєrѕ ιn gɑl𝑛οvєlѕ.сo𝓂
“She called me… garbage p>
Anger replaced shock instantly.
“After everything I gave her? I made her!” He stood up and began to pace. He rewrote history in his head immediately. His ego stitched the wound shut with lies.
“She beat me on the contract,” Sterling muttered, his eyes darting around the room. “She humiliated me in front of the board. And now she insults me p>
He laughed. It was a hollow, manic sound.
“Don’t you see, Lance? It’s all a performance. She destroyed my business deal to get my attention. She’s acting out because she feels ignored. She wants to prove she’s worthy of me by beating me at my own game p>
The delusion rebuilt itself, stronger and more twisted than before. He turned to Lance.
“She thinks if she hurts me enough, I’ll respect her. She’s screaming for me to look at her. Fine p>
“I’ll invite her to the engagement party. Personally. If she sees us happy, she’ll break. She’ll beg to come back p>
Lance looked at Sterling like he was insane.
“Sir… inviting your ex-wife to your engagement party p>
“Do it,” Sterling commanded. “Handwritten invitation. Courier p>
Aurora was at a boxing gym in Hell’s Kitchen. It smelled of sweat and old leather. She was punching the heavy bag.