Chapter Two:One Night. One Mistake
818 Words
Aurora barely made it to her tiny room before the tears she had been holding back finally escaped.
She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, pressing a trembling hand against her mouth to silence her sobs.
Six years.
She had spent six years loving a man who barely knew she existed.
No.
He knew she existed.
He simply never looked at her.
She slid to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest.
Tomorrow, she would submit her resignation.
She had already packed most of her belongings into two old suitcases. There wasn't much to take anyway. A few clothes, a worn Bible her late grandmother had left her, and a notebook filled with dreams she had long stopped believing in.
Maybe leaving the Romano Estate would finally allow her heart to heal.
...
Upstairs, Damian stood alone on the balcony outside his bedroom.
The engagement party had been a success.
Every influential family had attended.
Every business alliance had been strengthened.
Everything had gone exactly as planned.
So why did he feel nothing?
He loosened his tie and poured himself another glass of whiskey.
His phone buzzed.
Isabella.
"I miss you already. See you tomorrow, my love."
He stared at the message for a long moment before replying with a simple,
"Goodnight."
There was no excitement.
No anticipation.
Marriage had always been another responsibility to him.
Necessary.
Strategic.
Nothing more.
He emptied the whiskey in one gulp.
Another buzz.
This time it was his cousin.
"Boss, the shipment from the east docks has a problem."
Damian sighed.
Business never slept.
Neither did enemies.
...
The following morning, Aurora woke before sunrise.
Old habits died hard.
Even on the day she intended to resign, she prepared breakfast for the Romano family.
The kitchen bustled with chefs and maids.
No one noticed how pale she looked.
She moved automatically, arranging Damian's breakfast exactly the way she always did.
Black coffee.
One ice cube.
Fresh fruit.
Toast.
The head chef smiled.
"You know him better than anyone."
Aurora forced a laugh.
"I've worked here a long time."
"If you ever leave, Mr. Damian will complain every morning."
She looked away.
"He won't even notice."
...
At exactly seven o'clock, Damian entered the dining room.
Every conversation stopped.
Power seemed to follow him wherever he went.
He took his seat without a word.
Aurora quietly placed his breakfast before him.
As she turned to leave—
"The coffee."
She froze.
"Yes, sir?"
"It's different."
Her heart skipped.
"I... I'll make another one."
She reached for the cup.
Damian stopped her.
"No."
He took another sip.
"It's fine."
Aurora blinked.
That was the longest conversation they'd ever had.
She nodded politely before walking away.
Neither of them noticed Mrs. Romano watching from across the room.
Sophia's sharp eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
...
Later that afternoon, Aurora carried an envelope in her hands.
Her resignation letter.
She walked slowly toward the estate office.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Once she handed it in...
There would be no coming back.
Just as she reached for the office door—
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed through the estate.
Windows rattled violently.
People screamed.
Aurora instinctively ducked.
Another explosion followed.
Gunshots.
The peaceful mansion descended into chaos.
"Attack!"
"They're here!"
"Protect Mr. Romano!"
Armed guards flooded the courtyard.
Guests who had stayed overnight ran in every direction.
Aurora's heart pounded.
The Romano family had enemies.
Many enemies.
But she'd never witnessed an attack before.
She hurried toward the servants' corridor.
Then she heard someone cry out.
"Mr. Damian!"
Without thinking, she turned.
Across the courtyard, Damian stood surrounded by armed men firing from behind luxury cars.
Bullets shattered marble pillars.
One of the guards fell.
Another shouted,
"Sniper!"
Damian reached for his pistol.
Everything happened in seconds.
Aurora's eyes caught a flash of sunlight reflecting off a distant rooftop.
Someone was aiming directly at Damian.
"No!"
She ran.
Before her mind could stop her.
Before fear could.
She threw herself toward him.
A deafening gunshot rang through the air.
Pain exploded through her shoulder.
She collapsed.
Damian caught her before she hit the ground.
His usually emotionless face changed instantly.
"Aurora!"
Blood soaked through her uniform.
She struggled to breathe.
"I... you're... safe..."
Her voice was barely audible.
Damian pressed his hand against the wound to stop the bleeding.
"Call the doctor!"
His roar echoed through the estate.
The attackers quickly retreated as Romano reinforcements arrived.
Sirens filled the air.
Chaos slowly settled.
But Damian never took his eyes off the unconscious woman in his arms.
For the first time...
He realized just how light she was.
How fragile.
Why had she risked her life for him?
No servant would do that.
No ordinary employee would throw herself in front of a bullet.
His jaw tightened.
"You're not dying."
It sounded less like an order...
And more like a plea.
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