CHAPTER:5
694 Words
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Chapter 5
The study fell silent.
Aurora’s heartbeat echoed in her ears as Alfred straightened his jacket.
“The chairman is here,” he repeated quietly.
She swallowed hard.
The man her father trusted more than anyone.
Who was he?
And why had her father hidden an entire part of his life from her?
Before she could ask another question, the heavy oak doors opened.
Footsteps echoed across the polished floor.
Slow.
Steady.
Confident.
Aurora instinctively turned.
An elderly man entered the room, supported by a polished ebony cane. Though his hair had turned silver with age, his presence filled the room with quiet authority.
Every servant they passed lowered their heads respectfully.
Even Alfred bowed.
“Chairman.”
The old man gave a slight nod before his eyes settled on Aurora.
For a long moment…
He simply looked at her.
His expression softened.
Then, unexpectedly, his eyes became moist.
“You…”
His voice trembled.
“You have your mother’s eyes.”
Aurora’s breath caught.
“My… mother?”
The chairman smiled sadly.
“Exactly like hers.”
Without thinking, Aurora took a step forward.
“You knew my mother?”
“I did.”
“You knew my father?”
“I knew them both.”
Her questions came rushing out.
“Then tell me.”
“Who were they?”
“Why was my father hiding?”
“And why does everyone here seem to know me when I’ve never been here before?”
The chairman remained silent for several seconds.
Finally, he sighed.
“Because some truths cannot be told in a single day.”
Aurora frowned.
“I deserve the truth.”
“You do.”
“And you shall have it.”
He walked toward the window, gazing at the sprawling estate outside.
“Twenty-three years ago…”
“Your father saved my life.”
Aurora froze.
“What?”
“If he hadn’t made the choice he did…”
“I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
She stared at him, stunned.
“My father was just a teacher.”
The chairman smiled faintly.
“That is the man you knew.”
“But your father…”
“…was much more than that.”
Before Aurora could respond, a butler hurried into the room.
“Chairman.”
He bowed respectfully.
“The Blackwood family refuses to leave.”
“They’re demanding an audience with Miss Aurora.”
The chairman’s warm expression vanished.
His face became unreadable.
“They may wait.”
“But, sir…”
“The young master says he won’t leave without speaking to her.”
Aurora’s chest tightened.
Damian.
Why was he still here?
Hadn’t he already made his choice?
The chairman slowly turned toward her.
“Miss Aurora.”
“This decision belongs to you.”
“If you wish to see him…”
“I will arrange it.”
“If you don’t…”
“No one in this world will force you.”
Aurora looked toward the window.
Beyond the gates, she could just make out Damian standing beside his car.
Even from this distance…
He hadn’t moved.
Rain poured over him.
Yet he remained there.
Waiting.
For the first time since the wedding…
The man who had once made her wait…
Was the one being left outside.
Aurora closed her eyes.
Then she made her decision.
“Tell him…”
She opened them again, her voice calm but firm.
“…that Miss Aurora Williams is no longer available to him.”
The butler bowed.
“Yes, Miss.”
As he hurried from the room, the chairman smiled with quiet approval.
Outside the mansion gates…
Damian watched as the guard returned.
The guard stopped a few feet away.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood.”
He handed Damian a neatly folded note.
“It is her answer.”
Damian unfolded it with trembling fingers.
There was only one sentence.
“Some doors only close once. You closed ours.”
The color drained from his face.
For the first time in his life…
Damian Blackwood understood what it felt like…
To lose someone he could never replace.
End of Chapter 5.
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- Writer
