Chapter 18
Six months later, at a bakery by the southern Italian coast
After closing time, Aurora removed her work apron, methodically organizing the remaining baking ingredients before locking up and walking home alone along the shoreline.
Unlike rainy Manhattan, this place enjoyed abundant sunshine, with lemon trees flourishing everywhere. Even the seawater seemed warmer here.]
Aurora had been here for half a year, adapting to the climate and lifestyle. Her eyesight had fully recovered, and she had found work as a pastry chef
About a month ago, the owner had wanted to sell the bakery. She and a colleague partnered to buy it, making her a partial owner.]]
Life proceeded smoothly and methodically.
But tonight walking home, she unexpectedly received a text message from Julian Vaughn in America: “Aurora, you should prepare yourself. Grayson Hart has spent enormous resources hiring international detectives. He may very well obtain your whereabouts”
This day would inevitably come sooner or later.
After that glimpse at the seaside six months ago, Grayson had become convinced she was alive, spending every day exhaustively tracking her down.
Lost in thought, Aurora failed to notice the traffic signal ahead. A convertible sped straight toward her
But just before impact, a powerful force lunged forward, grabbing her protectively.
“Rory, watch out!]]
That familiar male voice froze Aurora in place. The flying tackle wrapped her in an embrace as they both tumbled to the ground
The offending vehicle didn’t even slow down, accelerating away quickly.
Protected by the human cushion, Aurora wasn’t injured, though her temple bare a few drops of someone else’s blood
But before she could react, she was held in a death grip, the embrace nearly suffocating her.
“Rory, it really is you! Thank God, thank God you’re alive!“]
The choked male voice suppressed endless suffering yet seemed released at last. Cold tearsbrushed against the skin of her neck
It was Grayson…
Just as Julian had warned, he had found her.
Aurora froze for two seconds, her heart seemingly ready to leap from her chest. |
She took a slow breath, struggling to suppress the agitation of her shattered peace
Then she raised her hand and firmly pushed away from his embrace.
Her rejection was ice cold. Grayson instantly stiffened, unprepared to be shoved onto the ground. His forehead, injured while protecting her, bled along his face to his chin, looking rather horrific
“Hary, it’s me, 1“]
His urgent words suddenly caught in his throat as Aurora didn’t spare him a glance. After that harsh rejection, she rose expressionlessly and walked
away
Behind her, the persistent shadow followed again, embracing her waist from behind []
“Don’t treat me like this, Rory. Since you disappeared, my life has been unbearable torture. I was wrong–catastrophically wrong. I couldn’t distinguish good from evil, I was blind and ungrateful. Please forgive me.”
“Just look at me, even once…“[
His pleading words were filled with humility, but Aurora had completely calmed herself in that moment.]]
If he was determined to find her, this day was inevitable.]
And avoiding the issue wouldn’t solve anything fundamental. She needed to make things clear.[]
“Mr. Hart, as a legal professional, you should understand the lave better than I do. If you don’t want me to report you for harassment right now, let me
- go.
Her words were excessively cold. When the arms around her waist finally released, she turned to face him
But the calm in her eyes suggested she was looking at an irrelevant stranger: “I don’t think we have anything to discuss, Grayson. We’re divorced–there’s no relationship between us anymore.”
Grayson’s eyes instantly filled with pain: “That’s not true, Rory. We’ve reached this point because of misunderstandings. I didn’t know Evelyn really did those things. I didn’t know you genuinely wanted a divorce, or I would have died before signing that agreement…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s past is past Aurora coldly interrupted him: “Don’t look for me again. Don’t appear before me again. Grayson, we are completely finished.“]
Her departing figure was filled with finality, leaving Grayson standing in despair
That night, when she returned to her apartment, her colleague Mia was peering out the window like a gossip
A former international student who had met Aurora while working part–time at the bakery, Mia had decided to remain in the city after graduation. Coming from the same country and becoming business partners, they had grown into close friends.
“Aurora, I just saw that man harassing you on the street. Do you know him?”
Mas quickly pulled her to look downstairs
“Look, he followed you to our building and is still standing there, refusing to leave. Oh my God, he just knelt down–he’s kneeling down there right now.”
But Aurora frowned, palling the curtains shut.]
“I don’t want to see it. He looks like an idiot. It’s sickening…
101
