Aurora Walton once made a bet with her mother—if Joseph Hunt ever fell in love with her, her mother would step aside and let them be together.

So, upon learning that Joseph preferred gentle and resilient girls, she disguised herself as a struggling college student to get close to him.

But in the end, Joseph crushed her illusions, holding his first love in his arms as he looked at Aurora with disdain.

"A gold-digging nobody like you? How could you ever compare to Judy?"

Humiliated and heartbroken, Aurora walked away, returning home to claim her rightful place as heiress to a billion-dollar empire.

Years later, she returned, draped in a custom-made designer gown worth million, exuding elegance and power.

Beside her stood a man whispered to be untouchable, feared, and revered.

As she crossed paths with Joseph once more, the tables had turned.

This time, it was Joseph who was left in regret.

He took to social media with a public confession:

"I used to think I loved strong, one-of-a-kind women. But Aurora, meeting you made me realize that love isn’t about rules. You are my exception."

That very night, the elusive Lucas Carter broke his silence, releasing a long-cherished photograph.

In it, a girl smiled brightly, untamed and full of life.

With absolute certainty, he took Aurora’s hand and made his declaration for the world to hear.

"Mrs. Carter, there are no exceptions. You've always been the one. And I've been waiting for this moment my whole life."

When Joseph Hunt brought his first love to the birthday banquet, Aurora Walton knew she had lost.

In the corner of the room, she glanced at the messages from her mother, Grace Williamson.

"Aurora, you lost.”

"Three years, and Joseph still doesn’t love you. As agreed, it’s time for you to come back and take responsibility."

Out of the corner of her eye, Aurora looked at the girl in Joseph’s arms.

This was the first time she had seen Joseph’s first love.

She was pure, with a soft and gentle demeanor, quiet and serene. Even in cheap clothing, she stood out effortlessly.

So, this was the type Joseph liked.

A faint bitterness spread across Aurora’s lips.

She suddenly remembered four years ago when a bold socialite flirted with Joseph and confessed her feelings.

He lazily flicked his cigarette, his eyes holding a trace of detached amusement as he smirked, "Sorry, lady, I like girls who are quiet and ordinary."

At the time, Aurora was secretly in love with Joseph for two years.

However, Grace strongly disapproved her of having a relationship with him.

Their families were business rivals, and Grace always dismissed romance as meaningless.

On top of that, Joseph was known for being a playboy—not someone she considered a suitable choice.

But when Aurora heard his preference, she made a bet with Grace.

If Joseph fell in love with her, she would be allowed to be with him.

Grace had agreed.

To make Joseph fall for her, Aurora transformed overnight—from the rarely seen heiress of the Walton family to a modest, obedient girl with nothing to her name.

From that moment on, she stayed by Joseph’s side.

One night, after he had too much to drink, his half-lidded eyes held a lazy amusement as he looked at her.

"You like me?”

“Want to give us a try?"

The three years she spent with Joseph had drained nearly all of her passion and courage.

She learned to cook for him, cared for him day and night when he was sick, and it was obvious to outsiders that she was hopelessly in love with Joseph.

And it had seemed, for a while, that he was ready to change for her.

He felt sorry for her and often smiled, telling her to be his wife and that he would take care of her.

Aurora turned him down.

She struggled with the decision for a long time, but she was finally ready to reveal everything on his birthday—the truth about the bet.

That was when Judy Moore appeared.

Noticing Aurora’s silence, someone teased with a knowing tone, "Judy, now that you're back, someone’s heart must be in pieces.

"Someone here had worked so hard to climb her way up, only for you to return and ruin her plans."

"Enough," Judy interrupted softly.

Her voice was light and delicate as she turned to Aurora, her gaze carrying a hint of guilt.

"I’m sorry, Miss Walton. Joseph and I were separated for a few years due to certain circumstances. I never thought he would act out and use you as a substitute.

“What happened between us shouldn’t have involved you. That was immature of him. But in the end, you didn’t really lose, did you?"

Her voice was gentle, her doe-like eyes filled with sincerity, as if to say that Aurora, a nobody, should feel lucky to have been involved with someone like Joseph in the first place.

After all, a struggling college girl managing to stay by Joseph’s side—even as a mere stand-in—was already a stroke of luck.

How could she possibly call that a loss?

Joseph’s gaze landed on Aurora.

Tonight, she looked different in a simple red dress.

The usual quiet elegance she wore like armor had faded, replaced by something untamed like a rose in full bloom, bold and dazzling.

She sat there, lazy and indifferent, yet effortlessly captivating.

She was nothing like the quiet, obedient girl she used to be.

Joseph never liked this kind of woman.

He believed women should be delicate, obedient, and in need of protection.

His brows furrowed.

Aurora would forever be a substitute.

She would never be Judy.

His tone was indifferent. "Judy's back. Let's end this. Here’s two hundred thousand dollars. Consider it compensation."

With a casual swipe of money, he erased the three years they had spent together.

Thinking about those years, Aurora found it laughable.

"Keep your money. You were a disappointment in bed, and honestly, I got bored."

With that, she picked up a glass of red wine and, without hesitation, threw it straight into Joseph’s face.

For three years, he had never touched her—choosing to stay faithful to his precious first love.

And she had been foolish enough to wait, thinking he was just taking the whole "pure love" thing seriously.

The room fell into stunned silence.

However, Aurora remained unfazed.

She casually picked up a napkin, wiped her hands, and tilted her red lips into a smirk.

Then, with a soft scoff, she raised her glass.

"This one’s to three years of being blind."

She didn’t spare Joseph another glance before turning and walking out of the private lounge.

Behind her, the crowd collectively sucked in a breath, exchanging wide-eyed looks as they took in the sight of Joseph.

Aurora had always spoken softly, her voice gentle and subdued.

She was never anything but obedient around Joseph. But today…

"Has she lost her mind? Two hundred thousand dollars is more than she could ever make in her lifetime! What is she trying to prove?"

"Let her go."

Joseph gritted his teeth, his tone laced with mockery.

"As long as she doesn’t come crying back or try to get between me and Judy, I couldn’t care less. A woman like her? There’s no chance we’ll ever cross paths again."

He thought he knew Aurora all too well.

She had no family support, no connections—just a struggling college student barely getting by.

Where could she possibly go without him?

Besides, after three years of being kept by him, this so-called pride of hers was nothing but an act.

Sooner or later, she’d come crawling back.

His words carried through the air, reaching Aurora’s ears.

She didn’t even flinch.

Without a glance back, she walked away.

In the past, they had argued before.

And every time, she was the one who backed down.

But this time, she would disappoint him because she was truly leaving.

She was going home to inherit her family's billion-dollar empire.

Aurora didn’t linger in Westbridge for long.

She only stayed in the city for Joseph, but now that she had graduated and he had someone else, there was no reason for her to remain.

That night, she booked a flight home to Ravenshore.

When she stepped off the plane, Megan Quinn was already waiting for her.

"This time, are you staying for good?"

"I am."

For years, Aurora spent most of her time chasing after Joseph, rarely returning to Ravenshore.

Her time with Megan had been scarce.

But now that the bet was lost, she had no reason to leave again.

Megan heard about what happened with Joseph and couldn’t help but sigh.

Still, she only smiled and looped her arm through Aurora’s.

"Forget the bad luck. Tonight, we celebrate."

Aurora returned her smile and didn’t refuse.

Megan took her to the most exclusive club in Ravenshore, ordered the finest drinks, and threw her a single-life party.

One drink in, and the frustration Aurora had been carrying for years finally started to fade.

"Honestly, breaking up with Joseph was the best thing that could’ve happened," Megan teased.

"Back then, you turned yourself into this sweet, quiet little thing just to please him. No drinking, no racing—you practically lived in the library. I was in shock."

Aurora was nothing like the kind of girl Joseph preferred.

The Waltons were one of the most powerful families in Ravenshore, and the Aurora of the past loved fast cars, wild nights, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and skydiving.

She was bold, vibrant, and fearless.

Love was never something she took too seriously.

Yet for Joseph, she gave it all up.

She reinvented herself, playing the part of the soft and obedient girl he wanted.

"I must’ve lost my mind," Aurora said lazily, swirling her drink as she looked back on it all with detached amusement.

She had always been stunning.

Back then, she had tried to play the part, but it never quite fit—her beauty always felt out of place.

Now, though, she wore it effortlessly.

Even the man pouring drinks beside them turned red just watching her.

Megan chuckled. "Aurora, now that you and Joseph are over, are you really going back to the Waltons to take over the family business?"

"A bet’s a bet."

Aurora took a slow sip of her drink, her tone indifferent.

Grace was a formidable woman.

After her father’s passing, internal struggles within the Walton Corporation were ruthless, and Grace held everything together on her own.

Her older sister, Tessa Walton, had always been frail.

On the other hand, Aurora craved freedom.

Grace never forced Aurora into anything and even gave her the choice—leading to that bet in the first place.

She lost, and she wasn’t the type to go back on a bet.

However, Megan remained unconvinced.

"You know the Walton family rules. Before taking over, you have to get married first. Has your mom picked someone for you?"

"No."

Aurora understood her mother well.

She was strong-willed but never overbearing when it came to her daughter’s choice of a partner.

The reason she opposed Joseph back then had more to do with the rivalry between their families than anything else.

"Aurora, even if you lost the bet, your mom wouldn’t force you into anything.

“Besides, there are plenty of men out there. If you’re really stuck, I can introduce you to my cousin."

Megan’s cousin, Lucas Carter, was infamous for being cold and untouchable—a man of few words, with a face that could turn heads wherever he went.

When Aurora was younger, she thought he was the most breathtaking man she had ever seen.

At that naive age, she once harbored a quiet, fleeting crush—something brief and unspoken, soon fading into nothing.

Over the years, they became little more than distant memories, passing strangers in separate worlds.

Aurora brushed off Megan’s words as a joke.

The chill of the liquor lingered on her tongue, and only now did she realize the faint bitterness beneath the burn.

By the time the night wound down, both of them were unsteady on their feet.

Megan’s expression turned strange. "My cousin just texted—he’s coming to pick us up."

Even as she said it, confusion flickered in her eyes.

She was never particularly close with her cousin.

If anything, she found him intimidating.

They weren’t the type to check in on each other, yet tonight, out of nowhere, he messaged her.

Not only asking if she was with Aurora but also offering to pick them up.

She chalked it up to a rare moment of concern and didn’t overthink it.

A few minutes later, a sleek, understated Maybach pulled up to the entrance.

The window rolled down, revealing a face so striking it seemed almost unreal.

His features were sharp, flawlessly refined, his skin like porcelain—cool and elegant.

Beneath the silver glow of the moon, he looked almost otherworldly.

The kind of beauty that could make someone forget to breathe.

He was absolutely and dangerously stunning.

"Get in."

His voice was deep, smooth—an intoxicating sound on its own.

Lucas’ gaze swept over Megan briefly before settling on Aurora.

The moment their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat.

Megan had always found her cousin a little intimidating.

The moment she got into the car, she stayed quiet, not daring to say a word.

Inside the vehicle, the silence felt oddly heavy.

Aurora’s gaze drifted to the leather-wrapped rosary bracelet around Lucas’ wrist.

There was something familiar about it, but with the alcohol clouding her mind, she couldn’t quite place it.

Still, a hazy memory surfaced as she recalled the first time she had ever met him.

Years had passed, yet he remained just as striking, his presence just as commanding.

Megan’s house was close by.

After dropping her off, Lucas continued driving, now heading to Aurora’s hotel.

With just the two of them left in the car, his voice suddenly broke the silence, casual yet unreadable.

"Planning to stay in Ravenshore?"

"Yeah."

Aurora hesitated for a moment before nodding.

They weren’t particularly close, so after that brief exchange, the silence quickly returned.

The air conditioning was on full blast, and before she knew it, sleep crept up on her.

She had no idea how much time had passed when a deep voice pulled her back to consciousness.

"Aurora, wake up."

She opened her eyes and found herself staring directly into his dark, penetrating gaze.

For a brief moment, she felt disoriented.

"Lucas?"

Her voice was slow, still laced with sleep.

The car door was open now, and he had leaned in, his tall frame filling the space between them.

His face, impossibly striking, was suddenly too close.

He lowered his gaze, his features sharp and cold, yet effortlessly elegant.

The crisp scent of cedar clung to him, fresh and cool, wrapping around her senses.

For a second, the image of him overlapped with the memory of the boy who once left her breathless—the one she had never quite been able to forget.

Aurora’s red lips curved into a lazy smile. "You’re ridiculously good-looking."

The alcohol swirled through her veins as she blinked up at him, her eyes hazy.

Then, without warning, she reached out, looping her arms around his neck.

"Want to sleep with me?"

Her voice dragged at the end, slow and languid, dripping with temptation.

Lucas froze for a moment.

Then, with a composed expression, he reached up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"You’re drunk," he said evenly.

She felt the soft graze of his fingers and let out a quiet hum, but she wasn’t about to let him off so easily.

"No, I’m not."

She was more than tipsy, her mind swirling with flashes of Joseph, the past few years, and the weight of her family’s expectations.

She was always rebellious and defiant.

Yet for Joseph, she pretended to be someone she wasn’t.

For a bet, she had willingly let herself be caged.

Tonight, maybe for the last time, she just wanted to let go.

"Lucas," she murmured, leaning in, her midnight-dark hair brushing against his cheek. "Do you want me or not?"

That fleeting touch, soft as a whisper, sent a slow, creeping sensation through him like a quiet, spreading fire.

The next second, his lips crashed onto hers, cool and unyielding.

His hand found her waist, fingers pressing in, possessive and sure.

His breath mixed with hers as he whispered against her lips, "Aurora, don’t regret this."

Then he caught her lower lip between his teeth, teasing and commanding, leaving no room for retreat.

Their breaths ran hot, mingling in the charged space between them.

Aurora’s lashes trembled as she caught her own reflection in Lucas’ dark eyes along with the undeniable pull of desire buried beneath his usual composure.

That cool, distant air of his was now wrapped in something deeper and turbulent.

A strange thirst settled in her throat, and without thinking, she pressed in closer, deepening the kiss, surrendering to the heat.

Inside the car, the atmosphere burned, thick with tension.

The quiet sounds of water and movement filled the air.

Some things between a man and a woman had a way of becoming dangerously addictive.

From the car to the bed, they tumbled into something neither of them stopped to name.

By the time it was over, Aurora felt as if waves of sensation had washed through her, leaving her limbs weak, her senses dulled.

When she woke, a deep soreness settled into her body.

Her eyes fluttered open, memories from the night before slowly piecing themselves back together.

Then, her body stiffened.

She had slept with Lucas.

Her mind spun as she processed it.

Even a fox knew better than to raid its own den, yet here she was, crossing an unspoken line.

Tessa’s face flashed through her thoughts, making the whole situation feel even more absurd.

Before she could think too much, the sound of running water cut off abruptly.

"You’re awake."

Aurora lifted her gaze just as the bathroom door swung open.

Lucas stood there in a robe, his lean, sculpted frame still damp.

Water droplets slid down his firm abdomen, disappearing beneath the fabric at his waist.

A flush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it.

"Sorry," she blurted out, instinctively searching for an excuse. "I was drunk last night."

Lucas paused, his expression unreadable.

His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, assessing her.

For some reason, his tone turned a few degrees colder. "So?"

Aurora picked up her clothes from the floor.

Faint marks dotted her skin, but she made no effort to cover them.

Instead, she met Lucas’ gaze directly, the corners of her red lips curving into a small, lazy smile.

"Megan and I are still friends," she said lightly. "So about last night… Lukey, you don’t mind, do you?"

That casual "Lukey" rolled off her tongue with a teasing lilt, slow and unhurried.

But maybe she was imagining it because the moment she said it, she swore his expression turned even colder.

He lit a cigarette, the faint glow casting shadows over his sharp features.

His dark eyes lingered on her before he drawled, his tone just as indifferent, "Do you give all your male friends nicknames? Like, say… Joseph Hunt?"