The Billionaire's Reborn Bride

(Aurora's pov) I never thought my heart could break this badly. It was past midnight when I climbed the stairs quietly, holding my phone in one hand. Vivienne had sent me a message: “Come to my room. I want to show you something.” Strange. She never called me like that. My twin sister rarely spoke to me unless it was to mock me or compare me to her. She had beauty everyone praised, a body made for modeling, and the love of our parents. I was the extra, the quiet one in the corner who no one noticed unless I made a mistake. So when I saw her message, my heart stupidly hoped. Maybe, just maybe, Vivienne was finally trying to bridge the gap between us. Maybe she wanted to talk like real sisters. Maybe she wanted me to feel included for once. I shouldn’t have hoped. I should’ve known better. But I still walked down the hallway. My bare feet were silent against the wooden floor as I approached her room. The house was quiet, our parents asleep, the only sound the faint ticking of the wall clock. Then I froze. A sound reached me from behind Vivienne’s door. Low groans. Heavy breathing. A woman’s moans. I blinked rapidly, confused. My first instinct was to back away embarrassed, horrified. But then my name cut through the air like a knife. “Ahhh… Vivienne, you’re so much better than Aurora.” My body went rigid. My blood turned to ice. And then came her laugh. High-pitched, mocking, cruel. “Of course I am. She’s useless. Cold. Boring. That’s why you can’t get enough of me.” My heart dropped into my stomach. My throat closed. No… no, it couldn’t be. Not him. Not her. But the voices were too clear. Too familiar. My hands trembled as I clutched the door handle, my knuckles white. Tears blurred my vision, but I pushed the door open anyway, praying I was wrong. I wasn’t. The sight hit me like a bullet. Vivienne was on top of him, completely naked, her body moving in rhythm as he held her tightly, his hands digging into her waist as if she were his last breath. My man. The one I thought loved me. The one I gave my heart to. “Ride harder, Vivienne,” he groaned, his face buried in her neck. “You’re driving me crazy.” She laughed breathlessly, tossing her hair back like she was some goddess. “Say it again. Say who you want.” “You,” he panted, clutching her tighter. “You’re the one I want! Not Aurora. Never Aurora.” The sound that left me was between a gasp and a sob. My knees almost gave way. They both froze. Vivienne turned her head slowly, her lips curling into a wicked smile the moment she saw me. “Well, well,” she purred, sliding off him without shame and wrapping a silk sheet lazily around her body. “Looks like the mouse found the cheese.” He swore under his breath, scrambling for the blanket to cover himself. “Auroraa...i” “Don’t!” I screamed, my voice cracking. My chest ached like it would split open. “Don’t you dare say my name!” Tears streamed down my face as I pointed at them with trembling fingers. “How… how could you? Both of you?!” Vivienne rolled her eyes like I was a nuisance. “Oh please. Don’t act surprised. Did you really think he loved you? Did you really think anyone could love a dull shadow like you?” Her words cut deeper than knives. The man I loved, the one I dreamed of building a future with, the one I thought cared for me… sat there in silence. His eyes flickered with something like guilt, but he said nothing. Nothing! His silence screamed louder than any confession. Vivienne stood gracefully, the sheet slipping a little, revealing more skin as if she wanted to make sure I saw every detail. She walked toward me slowly, her smirk dripping poison. “I wanted you to see this, Aurora,” she whispered, leaning close enough for me to smell her perfume mixed with sweat. “I wanted you to know what it feels like to lose. To know that I win. Always.” “You’re… you’re my sister,” I choked out, clutching my chest as if that word could still mean something. “Exactly,” she said with a sharp laugh, her breath brushing my ear. “Which makes this even sweeter.” The room spun. My body shook violently, rage and heartbreak colliding until I thought I’d explode. “I hate you. I hate both of you!” I shouted, my voice breaking. Vivienne tilted her head mockingly, her smile widening. “Run, Aurora. That’s all you’re good at.” Her laugh followed me as I stumbled backward, then bolted out of the room. --- The night air was cold when I burst out of the house, my bare feet slapping against the pavement. My legs moved on their own, my vision clouded with tears. I couldn’t stop running, even as the world blurred around me. Their words replayed over and over in my head. She’s useless. Cold. Boring. Never Aurora. Run, Aurora. That’s all you’re good at. “No… no, no, no…” I whispered, clutching my chest. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart with every breath. I barely noticed the empty road ahead. I didn’t see the headlights until it was too late. A horn blared. Tires screeched. The impact threw me into the air. Pain exploded through every bone in my body before I slammed onto the cold asphalt. Blood filled my mouth. My body refused to move. I lay there, hurt and barely holding on. I was struggling to stay conscious, my eyes became weak and blurry, the sky above me spinning as I fought to stay awake. Breathing became a difficult task, each breath was weaker than the last. Sirens wailed in the distance, or maybe it was just my mind ringing. Everything felt far away… until I heard it. A voice. Deep, rough, trembling. “Aurora!” My eyes fluttered, trying to focus. A tall figure dropped to his knees beside me, his arms sliding under my broken body as if I weighed nothing. His scent was sharp, clean, achingly familiar. Alexander Gray. His cold mask was gone. His face was pale, his jaw tight, his eyes burning with a fear I had never seen before. “Stay with me,” he rasped, his voice breaking. “Please, Aurora. Don’t you dare leave me.” I wanted to speak, to tell him everything, but my lips only trembled. Tears slipped down the sides of my face, mixing with the blood. His grip tightened around me, as if he could keep me tethered to life with sheer strength. “You can’t die. Not like this. Not when I...” His words choked off, swallowed by the sound of his ragged breathing. I coughed, blood spilling, my vision fading fast. His face swam before me, the last thing my eyes clung to. Alexander’s cold, ruthless facade was gone. All I saw was a man breaking apart, calling my name like it meant everything. “Alex… Alexander…” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. “No, don’t talk,” he begged, his forehead pressing against mine. “Save your strength. I’ll fix this. I’ll fix everything, just don’t leave me.” But it was too late. Darkness closed in, stealing him from me. My final thought echoed like a prayer, tangled with the sound of his voice. “Please… give me a second chance.” And then his pale, heartbroken face was the last thing I saw.