Chapter 69 Chapter 69: “Professor?” Ursula’s voice was faint. “This… this is the healer? The ‘Phoenix’ you have been looking for since the accident p> “She is the reason I am standing here, Ursula,” Yinn said, walking over to the table. She didn’t sit. Instead, she bowed. It was a
Chapter 68 Chapter 68: Ursula frowned. “What does that mean? Is it a riddle p> “She’ll know,” Aurora said. She turned and walked away. Ursula watched her go, intrigued despite herself. As Aurora walked back toward the Pulse van, a sleek black town car pulled up to the curb. The
Chapter 67 Chapter 67: “I’m the one who signs your checks, Mike,” Aurora said softly. “And I say we wait for Yinn p> Mike sank into his seat. He was pale. He looked like he might vomit. “Why didn’t you say so?” Mike whispered. “Because competence should speak louder than
Chapter 66 Chapter 66: Sterling walked out, confused but thinking he had succeeded. As he exited the elevator in the lobby, he crossed paths with Aurora and Victor entering. Sterling laughed. “You’re too late, Aurora. We just had a great meeting. She loves us p> He looked at Aurora, his
Chapter 65 Chapter 65: “Just say you were in the area,” Sterling instructed. “You saw her fall. You used needles. Keep it vague p> “But what if she asks medical questions?” Lisa asked. “You’re a doctor, aren’t you? Fake it.” Sterling handed her a check for fifty thousand dollars. “This
Chapter 64 Chapter 64: “Our Rory, a genius!” Mrs. Gable beamed, pinching Aurora’s cheek. “Top of the class! And living in a palace p> Aurora smiled, pouring tea. She played the role perfectly—the dutiful, humble granddaughter. But under the table, her phone vibrated with a text from Victor. Victor: Failed.
Chapter 63 Chapter 63: The marketing team was suggesting pop stars and influencers. “No,” a voice came from the speakerphone. The screen displayed a generic avatar. It was Aurora, calling in remotely to protect her identity from the lower-level staff. “Pop stars fade,” Aurora’s voice was distorted but firm. “We
Chapter 62 Chapter 62: “Do you want her to die?” Aurora hissed. “She has thirty seconds. Move p> The sheer authority in her voice created a vacuum. The assistant pulled back. Aurora moved with blur-like speed. She didn’t hesitate. She inserted three needles into specific acupoints on Yinn’s chest and
Chapter 61 Chapter 61: Tyler shrank back, terrified of expulsion. Arthur stepped forward, placing a hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “A gentleman honors his bets, son. But I don’t want you to choke. Just say ‘I was wrong’ and we’ll call it even p> Tyler looked at his shoes. He looked
Chapter 60 Chapter 60: Monday morning at the university administration building was chaotic. The air buzzed with nervous energy. A massive digital board in the main lobby was scrolling through student ID numbers and scores for the Advanced Economic Theory placement test. This wasn’t just a grade. This was the
Chapter 59 Chapter 59: “It’s an investment,” she said. “Well, well. If it isn’t the charity case p> The voice was loud, braying, and familiar. Aurora turned to see Tyler, a classmate from the advanced economics program she had just enrolled in at the university. He was standing with an
Chapter 58 Chapter 58: She stepped around him. The heavy door opened, and a blast of cold air hit them. Outside, waiting on the gravel drive, was not a taxi, but a sleek, matte-black armored SUV. A uniformed driver stood by the open rear door. Sterling stared at the car.
Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Aurora was seated directly opposite Elias. Dinner was served—a roasted lamb with mint reduction. The only sounds were the clinking of silverware against china. Aurora ate with mechanical precision. Her back was straight, her elbows tucked in. She cut a small piece of meat, lifted it
Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Snap. A jolt of static electricity, violent and audible, cracked between them. It wasn’t a small spark. It was a sharp, stinging bite that traveled up Aurora’s arm, zipping straight to her heart. She gasped softly, her fingers twitching. Elias froze. His pupils dilated, swallowing the
Chapter 55 Chapter 55: Beatrice Thorne descended the grand staircase. She moved slowly, but with the terrifying gravity of a collapsing star. She wore a high-collared silk blouse and enough diamonds to purchase a small island nation. Ashley immediately jumped up, her face transforming into a mask of syrupy sweetness.
Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Beatrice watched her go. She smiled. “That,” Beatrice whispered, “is a Queen p> The heavy oak doors of the Thorne estate loomed like the gates of a fortress that had never truly welcomed her. Aurora stood at the threshold, the gravel of the driveway steady beneath
Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Thud. Thud. Thud. Right hook. Jab. Cross. She was physically exorcising the last of her past. With every punch, she felt lighter. She was not fighting Sterling anymore. She was fighting for herself. Saturday afternoon. Fifth Avenue, NYC. The sun was shining, but the air was
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
Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Sterling thought he was the predator. He had no idea he was walking into a bear trap. A courier arrived at the Obsidian Tower concierge. He held a small, wrapped package. “For Ms. Vance,” the courier said. Aurora opened it upstairs. Inside was not flowers, but
Chapter 50 Chapter 50: “Pass the garlic sauce,” Aurora said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. She didn’t check her phone. She didn’t think about Per Se. She was full, she was warm, and for the first time in years, she was just Aurora. Sterling returned to his penthouse,