Chapter 48 — The Last Excuse
The days following the gala settled into an uneasy rhythm. Aurora returned to work with every intention of restoring the boundaries that had once made life uncomplicated. It seemed like the sensible thing to do. Their conversations had become increasingly personal, their silences increasingly comfortable, and every encounter left her wondering whether they were moving toward something neither of them seemed prepared to name. She told herself distance would help. Instead, it made every meeting feel significant. Even the smallest interaction lingered longer than it should have. ⸻ Three days later, both of them attended a strategy meeting hosted by one of the Vale Group’s international partners. The discussion lasted almost four hours. Aurora contributed whenever necessary, answered e
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