Chapter Five:The Promise He Never Made
720 Words
Aurora couldn't concentrate.
Not after what Adrian had said.
"I think my cousin is worried about you."
The words had replayed in her mind all afternoon.
She shook her head as she folded freshly ironed shirts inside the estate's laundry room.
"No," she whispered to herself.
"He's only being kind because I saved his life."
That was all.
It had to be.
Damian Romano was engaged to Isabella De Luca.
In less than three months, they would be husband and wife.
Aurora refused to let herself believe otherwise.
Hope had a cruel way of breaking people.
She had learned that long ago.
Across the estate, Damian sat in his office with several files spread across his desk.
He wasn't reading a single one.
Instead, his thoughts drifted back to Aurora.
The way she'd smiled at Adrian.
The way she'd insisted on resigning.
The way she'd looked at him when she'd asked,
"Then what is it?"
He still didn't have an answer.
His phone buzzed.
"Come in."
His assistant stepped inside.
"Mr. Romano, we've completed the investigation into yesterday's attack."
Damian's expression darkened.
"Report."
"The sniper escaped."
"I expected that."
"But..."
The assistant hesitated.
"There was something unusual."
Damian looked up.
"The bullet that struck Miss Aurora..."
"It wasn't aimed at her."
"I know."
"It also wasn't aimed at you."
Damian frowned.
"What?"
The assistant placed a photograph on the desk.
"The trajectory doesn't match your position."
Damian studied the image.
"If the report is correct..."
The assistant swallowed.
"...someone wanted the maid dead."
Silence filled the office.
Damian slowly looked up.
"That's impossible."
"No servant has enemies powerful enough to hire a professional assassin."
Damian stared at the photograph again.
Unless...
Aurora wasn't just a servant.
That evening...
Aurora carefully packed the last of her belongings.
She had made her decision.
If Damian refused to accept her resignation...
She would leave anyway.
Quietly.
Without saying goodbye.
She zipped her old suitcase shut and looked around the tiny room that had been her home for six years.
It wasn't much.
But it had been hers.
She picked up the framed photograph of herself with the elderly groundskeeper who had passed away two years earlier.
He had been the closest thing to family she'd ever known.
"You always said this place would break my heart."
She smiled sadly.
"You were right."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
She wiped it away quickly.
No more crying.
Tomorrow morning...
She would disappear.
Meanwhile...
Sophia Romano sat inside the family library.
Across from her sat Isabella.
"The rumors haven't stopped."
Isabella placed her phone on the table.
Every gossip page carried the same headline.
Mystery Woman Leaves Hospital With Damian Romano.
Comments flooded in.
"She looks prettier than the fiancée."
"Maybe she's the real girlfriend."
"Who's the maid?"
Isabella clenched her jaw.
"I won't let a servant embarrass me."
Sophia closed the tablet.
"You won't have to."
"What are you going to do?"
Sophia's eyes remained calm.
"I'm going to remind her where she belongs."
The next morning...
Aurora quietly wheeled her suitcase through the servants' corridor.
The estate was unusually silent.
Perfect.
If she left now...
No one would stop her.
She reached the back gate and placed her hand on the handle.
Freedom.
She smiled for what felt like the first time in weeks.
Then—
"Going somewhere?"
Her smile disappeared.
Aurora slowly turned around.
Damian stood a few feet away.
Still dressed in black.
Still unreadable.
His eyes dropped to the suitcase beside her.
"So..."
he said quietly.
"You were planning to leave without telling me."
Aurora tightened her grip on the suitcase handle.
"I thought it would be easier."
"For who?"
She looked away.
"For both of us."
Damian took a slow step forward.
"You almost died protecting me."
"I don't regret it."
"And now you're running away."
"I'm trying to move on."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Damian's brows drew together.
"Move on from what?"
Aurora froze.
She had said too much.
Far too much.
She forced a smile.
"I mean..."
Before she could finish—
A black SUV sped through the estate gates at full speed.
The vehicle didn't slow down.
It came straight toward them.
"Aurora!"
Damian shouted.
He lunged toward her—
SCREECH!
The SUV swerved violently.
Gunshots exploded through the morning air.
- Writer
