Chapter 1
One simple brush against the heiress’s couture gown, and Aurora Quinn’s mother had her limbs broken before being thrown i
The day Aurora took the arrogant socialite to court, the defendant walked free
Only because the lawyer defending her was Grayson Hart–Aurora’s husband and founder of Manhattan’s most prestigious law firm that no one cmild rival.
When the trial ended, the handsome, aristocratic man left the defendant’s side and placed an “APOLOGY LETTER” in front of Aurora
“Rory, just sign it. You don’t want to be prosecuted for defamation, do you?” His tone was persuasively gentle, but the gaze behind his gold–rimmed glasses cut like ice.
Aurora stared at him with defiant, tear filled eyes, her voice trembling: “Why, Grayson? Why?”
She couldn’t understand.
She was his wife–the woman he had loved so desperately that he’d sacrificed his inheritance and endured house arrest by his family hist to marry her, a mere caretaker.]
After her mother’s death, she had begged him countless times. Even this morning, for the ninety ninth time, she had knelt at his feet, threatening divorce if he didn’t drop the case]]
But what had he said?
“Rory, don’t push me!”
Grayson loosened his tie with irritation. “Evelyn is different. She’s pursued me for ten years and once saved my life.“]
“I must protect her, even if my enemy is the wife I love more than anything”
As he spoke, he opened a tablet and showed Aurora a livestream.
“You have two minutes to decide, Rory. If not for yourself, think about your mother. Sign it, and I’ll return her ashes to you ”
The screen showed several bodyguards on a boat, holding an ornate wooden urn. One slight movement and…
Aurora’s tears fell instantly “What are you doing?”]
But he didn’t even finch. “Be good. Don’t waste time. Do you want your mother to spend eternity at the bottom of the ocean?
“Grayson!” Aurora stared at the man before her, nearly drawing blood from her lip. “I want a divorce…“]
But in this cruel standoff, he remained utterly calm, giving not an inch.]
“Rory, you have thirty seconds left.“[]
In that moment, Aurora felt as if needles were piercing her heart.
How ironic that this man had once loved her so deeply.[
Eight years ago, he had fallen for her ar first sight at the Hart family estate[]
She was his gr
grandfather’s caretaker, their status as different as heaven and earth, yet he had pursued her with a hundred declarations of love.]
He would replace all the roses in the garden with bellflowers overnight just because she’d glanced at them admiringly.
He would reserve an entire hospital floor when she merely twisted her ankle.]
It was then she learned about his pursuer–his childhood friend, a wealthy heiress who had chased after him for years, loving him with desperate,
obsessive intensity
But he had eyes only for her-
“Rory, I only love you. What does it matter if Evelyn Reed comes from my world? I find her repulsive!“]
When his family tried to force him to let go, they not only took back his shares but sent him to a remote island abroad ||
For twenty long days, Grayson went on a hunger strike until the outside world yielded, completely winning Aurora’s heart.]
Then they married, and true to his promise, he loved her with his whole being
The change came six months ago when Evelyn Reed, who had been away for years, suddenly returned. This time, his attitude toward his childhood friend inexplicably shifted.]
He canceled international meetings to personally pick her up at the airport, and didn’t come home for three days while organizing her welcome–back party.
Under Aurora’s hurt gaze, he finally explained: “A year ago in London, I was in a car accident. Evelyn saved me and fell into a coma for an entire year.”
“Rory, I only love you, but she just woke up. I need to repay this debt. Give me one year, please.”
At first, Aurora believed him.]
Until the night of the welcome party, when she unexpectedly suffered a relapse of an old illness and was rushed to the hospital While Grayson’s phone
remained stubbornly out of reach.
In desperation, her mother went to the luxury yacht where the party was being held. But she never returned.]
Everyone insisted it was an accident–that her mother had committed suicide.
Even Grayson, who coincidentally wasn’t at the scene, believed this explanation
But that night, after being wheeled out of emergency surgery, Aurora had received a phone call. Through the chaos on the line, she heard Evelyn’s scornful voice and her mother’s agonized screams
Her mother had been forced to jump–she was murdered!]
For the past six months, Aurora had been consumed by grief and guilt, drowning in tears in her desperation, she finally extracted a small piece of evidence from a server at the party.
She had begged Grayson countless times to help her.[]
But in this criminal trial, he stood unwaveringly against her, protecting her mother’s killer.
To force her to apologize to Evelyn, he even used her mother’s ashes as leverage..
Now, looking at Grayson, Aurora felt as if he were a stranger from hell]
She had given up. Resigned, she signed the apology letter with trembling fingers
“Satisfied? Now tell them to come back from the sea…”
But before she could finish, a cry erupted from behind her.]
Evelyn suddenly clutched her head and collapsed at the defense table. “Grayson! Help me, my head is killing me again!“||
In that instant, Grayson dropped the tablet and rushed to her side.[]
11..0
On the livestream, the c countdown had ended. Without Grayson’s order to stop, the bodyguards opened the urn..
“NO! I’ve signed it! Grayson, tell them to stop Aurora screamed, but the bodyguards wouldn’t listen to her.
She tried to Junge for Grayson, but he was completely focused on Evelyn. As he carried her out, his elbow even struck Aurora hard
Aurora crashed to the floor, her forehead hitting the table corner, tears falling onto the tablet.
It was too late…]
The ashes were being poured from the boat, disappearing into the waves with the cold sea breeze.]
Heart–wrenching guilt tore through her
Her mother had always hated the cold. She despised the sea. Yet now she had not only died there but would be trapped in those waters forever.
“Mom, I’m so sorry…” Her voice broke in anguish.|||
Suddenly, she regretted loving Grayson, regretted marrying him.]
As endless remorse crashed over her like a funeral bell, Aurora’s vision began to blur.
In the fading frames of consciousness, she heard Grayson’s urgent voice outside the courtroom:||
“Evelyn, hang on. Just stay with me, and I’ll give you anything you want!”
