Write Chapter 2
1186 Words
Aurora did not cry until the gates of Blackwood Manor vanished from view.
The second the black sedan hit the main road, the tears appeared, one after another.
Then came the quiet flow, as if a dam had broken.
Aurora stared at the window, watching the city rush to meet them.
Three years.
Three years of love.
Three years of hope.
Three years of waiting for a miracle that never came.
Her phone rang.
Aurora glanced at the screen.
Serena Vale Calling
Her best friend.
The only one who knew what Aurora had gone through.
Aurora hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Aurora!" Serena's voice was cheerful. "Happy anniversary! Did the ice king finally become human?"
Aurora closed her eyes.
She said nothing.
The cheerfulness in Serena's voice died a horrible death.
"...Aurora?"
"We got divorced."
The line went silent.
For a few seconds, Aurora heard only her own breathing.
Then came the sound of Serena gasping in shock.
"What?"
The actress's scream was so loud that the driver jumped.
Aurora chuckled.
"I signed the papers this morning."
"He divorced you?"
"Yes."
"That idiot."
"Serena-"No. Don't 'Serena' me."
Her friend was already seething.
"I am getting on a plane right now."
Aurora laughed.
"You don't need to."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
There was a pause.
It was gentle this time.
"So, are you okay?"
Aurora looked out the window.
The truth was... no, she wasn't.
Not exactly.
But she wasn't as broken as everyone seemed to think.
In fact, she was feeling rather... free.
"It's over," Aurora said softly.
"Yes."
"I kept hoping he would love me."
Serena sighed.
"I know."
"And now I don't have to."
There was a pause.
Then Serena asked the question that made Aurora's heart pound in her chest.
"So what now?"
Aurora's eyes narrowed.
What now?
That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it?
For three years, her life had revolved around being Mrs. Blackwood, around Damian, around being the perfect daughter-in-law.
But before all of that... before she became the obedient and obedient wife, there had been another woman.
A stronger woman.
A woman who had almost been buried under the pressure of society's expectations.
A slow smile appeared on Aurora's lips.
"I think it's time to go home."
Serena immediately understood.
"Oh."
There was a pause.
Then another.
"Oh."
Aurora laughed.
"Exactly."
"Does your family know?"
"Not yet."
The actress whistled.
"The Sinclair family is going to have a heart attack."
Aurora couldn't disagree.
Her family had been absolutely against the marriage.
Especially her grandfather.
Victor Sinclair had nearly attacked Blackwood Manor when he found out Aurora had eloped with Damian.
The old man had believed she deserved better, someone who would cherish her and love her, not some business transaction.
It seemed he was right.
Aurora sighed.
"I should call him."
"You definitely should," Serena said.
And then, lowering her voice, "and Aurora?"
"Yes?"Don't go back."
Aurora looked at the divorce papers on the seat next to her.
For the first time that morning, she felt certain of something.
"I won't."
---Two Hours Later---
The Sinclair Estate.
The wrought-iron gates opened to reveal sprawling gardens.
Fountains dotted the landscape, adding to the beauty of the place.
Mansion wings rose on either side, making the place look like a luxury resort.
It was all very beautiful, but Aurora knew that, to her, this was home.
She hadn't been here in a few months, and already the place felt familiar.
As the car pulled up, a familiar figure rushed to the front door.
"MISS AURORA!"
A gray-haired butler practically flew down the stairs.
Aurora barely had time to step out of the car before he engulfed her in a crushing hug.
"Welcome home!"
She laughed.
"Hello, Mr. Bennett."
The old butler wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
"You've lost weight."I've been gone for three months."
"Exactly."
Aurora shook her head.
Some things never changed.
The front doors opened again, this time revealing several people.
Her younger sister, Sophia.
Her older brother, Adrian.
Her grandmother, Evelyn.
And finally, Victor Sinclair.
The head of the Sinclair family.
The man who made enemies with business magnates all over the world.
He looked just as imposing as ever, but the moment he spotted Aurora, his stern features softened.
"My little star."
Aurora's eyes stung.
No matter how old she got, he would always see her as his little star.
She hurried to him, and he opened his arms, hugging her tightly.
For a moment, no one said anything.
Then, Victor asked quietly, "Did he hurt you?"
Aurora stiffened.
The old man always knew.
Always.
She gave a small nod.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop by ten degrees.
Adrian's face was thunderous, while Sophia looked like she was about to storm Blackwood Manor.
Even Evelyn's eyes were narrowed.
But it was Victor's expression that frightened her the most.
"Did Damian Blackwood divorce you?"
Aurora blinked.
"How did you know?"
The old billionaire let out a gruff chuckle.
"I've had people watching him since the wedding."
"Grandfather!"
"What?" he grumbled. "I never trusted him."
Aurora laughed.
The tension in the room lightened.
Victor studied her carefully.
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me honestly."
Aurora knew what he meant.
Was she devastated?
Was she broken?
Did she still love him?
The answer surprised her.
"I'm sad."
Victor nodded.
"Good."
Aurora blinked.
"Good?"
"You should be sad," the old man said. "It means your love was real."
There was a pause.
Then Victor gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"But don't confuse sadness with defeat."
Something in Aurora's chest unclenched.
A wall she didn't even know was there.
Victor continued, "You gave him your heart."You gave him your loyalty."You gave him three years."
The old billionaire's eyes were hard.
"If he couldn't recognize your worth, that is his loss, not yours."
Aurora swallowed.
Her heart ached, but not in the way it had when she first signed those papers.
It was strange, really.
Victor smiled, a dangerous smile that made several people in the room stiffen.
"Now."
He straightened his suit.
"Let's discuss your return."
Aurora frowned.
"My return?"
"To Sinclair Group."
Everyone seemed to perk up.
Sophia practically squealed.
Adrian smirked.
Even the butler looked pleased.
Aurora turned to her grandfather, her eyes wide.
"Grandfather, we didn't even know you wanted me to come back."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"Did you think we'd let the world's most talented designer waste away as a housewife forever?"
Aurora opened her mouth.
Then she closed it.
Then she opened it again.
Nobody had said anything about her secret work in years.
Not since she'd gotten married.
Not since she'd stopped designing.
Victor gestured towards the mansion.
"Tomorrow."
"The board meeting."
Aurora's eyes widened.
"Grandfather-"
"No arguments," he said, smiling. "Tomorrow, the city will finally know who Aurora Sinclair really is."
Far away, in the main building of Blackwood International, Damian Blackwood stared at the divorce papers on his desk.
A strange feeling of unease twisted in his gut.
As if he'd made a horrible mistake.
Unfortunately for him, it was far too late to take it back.
- Writer
