Aurora’s pov
Liam’s smile made my skin crawl. It wasn’t a warm expression; it was a slow, oily curl of his lips that signaled trouble. My stomach twisted into a tight knot as I stared at him, silently screaming at the universe: Why is he here? Why won’t he just stay buried in my past?
Beside me, Damon must have felt the tension radiating off my body. His fingers slid into mine, warm and grounding. He squeezed gently, a silent promise of solidarity, before looking up at his mother.
"You don't need to worry about us, Mom," Damon said, his voice smooth and steady. He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. "We completely understand each other. Our relationship isn't exactly brand new, you know?" He offered a charming, easygoing smile. "But of course, we can always slow down the wedding
