Contract Flames

Learning to Breathe

The first full day in the mansion felt like stepping into someone else’s dream.

Aurora woke up to silence so complete it was almost unnerving. No distant traffic, no neighbor’s argument through thin walls, no leaking faucet dripping all night. Just the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint scent of lavender from the expensive sheets.

She lay there for a long moment, staring at the high ceiling, trying to convince herself this was real.

Then she remembered Leo.

She got up quickly, threw on a robe, and walked barefoot down the long hallway to his room. The door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open gently.

Leo was sitting up in his new bed, propped against pillows, drawing in his sketchbook. His oxygen tube was still in place, but his face looked calmer than she had seen in months. No tight lines of pain around his eyes. No trembling hands.

“Rory!” he said brightly when he saw her. “Look! I drew the fish pond from yesterday. And I didn’t even feel pain while drawing!”

Aurora sat on the edge of the bed and pulled him into a tight hug, careful with the tube. His small body felt warm but not feverish. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t fighting just to exist.

“That’s amazing, baby,” she whispered, voice thick. “I’m so proud of you.”

Leo hugged her back fiercely. “The new medicine is really good. And the nurse said I might be able to play outside a little bit soon. Not running, but sitting in the garden.”

Aurora blinked back tears. This. This moment right here was why she had signed her life away. She would do it a thousand times if it meant Leo could have mornings like this.

She helped him get ready, made sure he took every pill on schedule, and stayed with him while the new private nurse checked his vitals. The nurse, a kind middle-aged woman named Maria, smiled warmly.

“His numbers look much better already,” she told Aurora. “Mr. Blackwood spared no expense on the treatment plan. This is one of the best protocols I’ve seen.”

Aurora could only nod, throat too tight to speak.

Breakfast was served in the sunlit dining area overlooking the garden. Adrien was already there, drinking black coffee and reading something on his tablet. He looked up when they entered.

“Good morning,” he said, nodding at both of them.

Leo waved shyly. “Good morning. Thank you for the big room. And the fish pond.”

Adrien’s lips twitched into the smallest smile. “You’re welcome. Did you sleep well?”

“Better than ever,” Leo answered honestly.

Aurora helped Leo settle at the table. The chef had prepared a special breakfast tailored to Leo’s dietary needs — soft foods, high protein, easy on his stomach. Leo’s eyes widened at the chocolate chip pancakes with fresh fruit.

“Can I really eat this?” he asked, looking at Aurora for permission.

She smiled. “Yes, baby. Eat as much as you want.”

While Leo ate happily, Aurora picked at her own food. She still felt out of place. The expensive cutlery felt too heavy in her hands. The silence between her and Adrien felt loaded.

After breakfast, Adrien stood up. “The medical team will be here at eleven. I’ve cleared my schedule so I can join the meeting if you want.”

Aurora nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”

The medical consultation was thorough and professional. Two top specialists and a full-time nurse reviewed Leo’s entire history. They adjusted his medication, scheduled new tests, and created a detailed care plan. Aurora listened carefully, asking questions whenever something wasn’t clear.

When the meeting ended, one of the doctors pulled her aside.

“Your brother is a fighter,” he said kindly. “With consistent treatment, we can significantly improve his quality of life. Mr. Blackwood has given us full authority to do whatever is necessary.”

Aurora thanked him, voice shaky.

Later, while Leo napped with his new nurse nearby, Aurora wandered through the mansion. She found herself in the beautiful sunlit study Adrien had shown her the day before. She ran her fingers along the wooden desk, then sat down in the big chair.

This could be hers.

The thought felt both wonderful and terrifying.

She was still sitting there when Adrien appeared in the doorway.

“You don’t have to hide in here,” he said quietly.

“I’m not hiding,” she replied. “I’m just… trying to understand all of this.”

Adrien walked in and leaned against the desk. “It’s a lot to adjust to. I know.”

Aurora looked up at him. “Why are you being kind to me? You don’t have to be. This is a contract.”

Adrien was quiet for a moment. “Because I don’t want this to destroy both of us. We’re going to be living together for a long time. Might as well make it tolerable.”

He paused, then added, “And because I see how much you love your brother. That kind of love… it’s rare.”

Aurora felt her eyes sting. She looked away.

“I still don’t trust you completely,” she admitted.

“I know,” he said. “You don’t have to. Not yet.”

The silence between them felt different now — less hostile, more charged.

That evening, after Leo had gone to bed happy and pain-free, Aurora found herself on the big balcony again, staring at the city lights.

Adrien joined her a few minutes later. He handed her a glass of water without a word and leaned on the railing beside her.

“The gala is in ten days,” he said after a while. “My mother will be there. She’s very eager to meet you.”

Aurora’s stomach tightened. “What if I mess up? What if she realizes this is all fake?”

“You won’t mess up,” he said confidently. “Just be yourself. That’s more than enough.”

She turned to look at him. “You keep saying things like that. It confuses me.”

Adrien met her eyes. The city lights reflected in his gaze.

“Maybe I’m a little confused too,” he said quietly.

The air between them thickened. For a moment, Aurora remembered that night in the club room — the heat, the desperation, the way his hands had felt on her skin. She quickly looked away.

“I should check on Leo,” she muttered, stepping back.

As she walked inside, she heard Adrien say softly behind her, “Goodnight, Aurora.”

She didn’t answer.

But her heart was beating faster than it should.

Later that night, long after the house had gone quiet, Aurora stood at Leo’s bedside again.

He was sleeping peacefully, a small smile on his face even in dreams. His drawings covered the nightstand — new ones of the mansion, the garden, and a tall figure that looked suspiciously like Adrien standing protectively beside her cartoon self.

Aurora brushed his hair back and whispered, “I hope I did the right thing, baby. I really hope so.”

She stayed there for a long time, watching him breathe easily.

This was worth it.

Even if it broke her in the end.

This was worth it.