Chapter 149 Chapter 149: Buzz. His phone, tucked into the inner pocket of his tuxedo jacket, vibrated against his heart. It was a short, sharp jolt. He ignored it. He took another step. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. It was insistent. Violent. A demand for attention that refused to be sidelined. Atticus

Chapter 148 Chapter 148: Two stories up, on a private balcony reserved for the highest tier of donors, Atticus Kensington—cousin to the comatose heir Julian—leaned against the railing. He was bored. It was a bone-deep, genetic boredom that came from twenty-seven years of managing a dynasty that wasn’t technically his

Chapter 147 Chapter 147: Aurora felt it too. A strange sense of familiarity. A resonance. “I don’t think so,” she said politely. “I’m Aurora p> “Aurora.” Sebastian whispered the name. “You look… you have the p> He clutched his chest, his face paling. He couldn’t say it. The eyes. They

Chapter 146 Chapter 146: She rubbed her temples. The pain faded as quickly as it had come, leaving a dull throb. She unconsciously touched the birthmark on her arm—the crescent moon shape hidden under her sleeve. It felt warm. It felt like a signal. “Weird,” she whispered. “Maybe it’s the

Chapter 145 Chapter 145: Elias: Unlikely. Eleanor Kensington hung up the phone and turned to her daughter, Vivian. “Can you believe the audacity?” Eleanor sneered. “Calloway tried to send that Vance girl to treat the Matriarch p> Vivian Kensington was examining her manicure on the velvet sofa. She laughed, a

Chapter 144 Chapter 144: Aurora didn’t confirm or deny. “Rumors are often exaggerated p> “Indeed. But my friend, Matriarch Kensington, has a condition. Chronic migraines. Debilitating. Western medicine has failed her. She is… traditional. She believes in the old ways. She is looking for a healer she calls The Phoenix

Chapter 143 Chapter 143: Elias was standing by the stove. He was wearing the black apron. He was wearing one latex glove. He was holding a spatula like a weapon. Leo lowered his sunglasses. “Uncle Elias p> Elias turned slowly. His face was streaked with soot. “You’re home early,” Elias

Chapter 142 Chapter 142: Finally, it was done. He ladled a small amount into a spoon. He blew on it. He tasted it. It was… edible. Bland. Watery. But edible. He leaned against the counter, exhausted. He had negotiated billion-dollar deals without breaking a sweat. Cooking soup had nearly defeated

Chapter 141 Chapter 141: “Sir?” Xavier whispered, horrified. “You can’t leave. The ceremonial signing is in an hour p> “I have a prior engagement,” Elias said. “With who? The President p> “With an onion,” Elias muttered. He walked out, leaving a room full of stunned executives. In the car, he

Chapter 140 Chapter 140: Quentin looked at the top of the page. He stared at the grade. He traced the red ink with his finger. “You didn’t show your work on question five,” he accused. “I did it in my head p> “That’s impossible. It requires a third-order differential equation

Chapter 139 Chapter 139: She paused. The silence was absolute. “I am here to learn,” Aurora said. “I suggest you all do the same. Starting with basic digital literacy p> She nodded to the Dean. “Thank you for the welcome p> She walked off the stage. Her posture was perfect.

Chapter 138 Chapter 138: The bell for the Guest Lecture Series rang. The students filed into the main auditorium, a cavernous space with velvet seats and a stage that looked fit for Shakespeare. Aurora sat near the back, isolated. No one dared sit next to her after the algorithm incident.

Chapter 137 Chapter 137: He looked over his glasses. “It is notoriously difficult. It requires a mastery of chaos theory that most of you simply do not possess. Quentin? Would you like to try p> Quentin Sharp sat in the front row. He adjusted his glasses and squinted at the

Chapter 136 Chapter 136: Aurora stood on the pavement, adjusting the strap of her bag. She felt the weight of the gazes of the students around her. She checked her phone. Harper: Good luck, genius. Don’t intimidate them too much. Or do. Actually, definitely do. Aurora smirked. She pocketed her

Chapter 135 Chapter 135: “You were in the neighborhood?” she asked, buckling her seat belt. “Elias, your neighborhood is a fortress twenty blocks away p> Elias didn’t answer. He put the car in drive. He handed her the thermos. “Here p> Aurora took it. It was warm. “What is this

Chapter 134 Chapter 134: Anticipating needs. He looked at the clock. It was 11:00 PM. Aurora had a seminar at Columbia University tomorrow. She was finalizing her research proposal. The forecast called for rain and a drop in temperature. She usually skipped breakfast due to nerves. He reached for his

Chapter 133 Chapter 133: “Is everything alright?” he heard Aurora ask. Her voice drifted over the low hum of conversation. “Fine,” Elias replied. His tone was clipped, suspicious. “Just a reflection p> Xander didn’t wait to hear more. He scurried toward the lobby, staying low, dodging a confused busboy. He

Chapter 132 Chapter 132: Xander’s jaw literally dropped. He felt a phantom ache in his own hinges. Elias didn’t use a fork. He used his fingers. With methodical, surgical precision, he began to peel the shell. The juice from the shrimp dripped onto his thumb. Xander felt like he was

Chapter 131 Chapter 131: Let them talk. Let the photo go viral. He didn’t care. “Race you to the bridge,” he challenged. “You’re on!” Aurora yelled, speeding off. Elias chased after her, chasing the only thing that mattered. Three days had passed since the infamous Citi Bike Incident, but for

Chapter 130 Chapter 130: Elias watched her. She was messy. She was real. She was magnificent. He took a tiny bite. The spice hit him instantly. His eyes watered. He coughed. “It’s… acceptable,” he choked out, reaching for his water. Aurora laughed, handing him a napkin. “You’re doing great p>