Chapter 23
Aurora lay bound and helpless, unable to move. She closed her eyes in despair.
At that moment, Grayson crawled over to her. He had somehow found an abandoned gas mask in the warehouse and, with his last strength, placed it over Aurora’s face
“Grayson, you’ll die this way…”
Aurora’s resistant gestures trembled slightly, and perhaps without realizing it, she began to cry []
Her tears were wiped away by his fingertips as she heard his soft laugh: “But you’ll live.“]]
Often, humans are creatures of profoundly complex entations
Love and hate can coexist; disgust and longing need not contradict each other.
Just as even after many years, Aurora never fully understood why she shed that tear.
The noxious gas spredd freely through the air. Grayson had already collapsed silently. Aurora’s consciousness began to fade as well. She tried to shake him awake, urging him to hold on.
Until clear police sirens sounded outside the warehouse…]
Aurora didn’t know how long she had slept. When she opened her eyes, she was in a hospital
Her fingers twitched slightly as she looked toward Julian at her bedside, suddenly sitting up
“Don’t be afraid, Aurora. Everything’s alright now.” He reassuringly took her hand. “He didn’t die either, but he inhaled too much toxic gas, causing substantial organ damage. There will be some irreversible aftereffects.
In this moment, Aurora finally grasped the reality of their survival]
She murmured: “That day.“]
Julian sighed: “I called the police. When I couldn’t reach you or get through on your phone, I contacted local connections. We quickly traced your whereabouts”
Aurora stayed in the hospital for a week. By the time she was discharged, Grayson had regijed consciousness in intensive care.
She went to see him once.[]
A bouquet of bellflowers sat beside his bed. Aurora looked at him calmly: “Your body still needs time to recover. When you’re ready. Mr. Vaughn’s people will arrange your return to America.”
Fury, will we ever see each other again?” His voice was raspy, as if it took all his strength to ask this one question.]]
Aurora data’t answer directly. “The living abroad permanently. Barring extraordinary circumstances, I won’t return to America“]
Having said this, she turned away silently:[]
Grayson lay motionless in the hospital bed, his empty gaze following her departing figure, grief reddening his eyes]
Two years later, Evelyn Reed’s case went to trial in Manhattan:||
The proceedings had dragged on due to the Reed family’s involvement.]
By then, the oare illustrious Reed empire had rapidly collapsed. Beyond the murder charges, investigations incovered numerous illegal operations, ultimately resulting is complete bankruptcy
Evelyn Reed was sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple counts including intentional injury and abuse, condemned to atone for her crimes behind
those high walls forever.
That day, Aurora returned to America to personally hear the verdict against Evelyn.]
When the trial concluded and justice was finally served, she answered a phone call as she walked out of the courthouse.
Julian’s car waited at the bottom of the courthouse steps.
“Over here,” he said, quickly coming to meet her as she emerged
He naturally took her hand: “Stood in line for three hours and finally got them–those French creme pulls you’ve been dying to recreate.”
Aurora nudged him toward the car: “Come on, we’ll miss our flight.”
The two descended the steps, their close silhouettes forming a pleasing picture in the evening light.
“I told you to dress warmer. It’s cold here. Give me your hand.”
Even for those few steps. Julian held her hand and tucked it into his coat pocket.]
Yes, they had been together for six months now.
Though Aurora hadn’t explicitly committed to spending her life with him, she had decided to follow her heart and see where a relationship with someone she cared for might lead
That day, their car slowly drove away.
Aurora didn’t see the man in the wheelchair, staring at her without moving
Grayson Hart withdrew his gaze with self–mockery. His injuries from the incident had been too severe–his failing organs had left numerous chronic conditions requiring year–round care at a rehabilitation center.
This would likely be the last time he would see Aurora.
Seeing his former love so vibrantly alive, existing in this world and enjoying the beautiful present–it was truly good…]
Grayson turned his wheelchair away. At this point in his life, he could ask for nothing more…
HO
