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?"

How did he know about her and Joseph?

The thought flashed through Aurora's mind, but she simply smiled and said, "No, Lukey. It's just that you've had your fun too, so let's just leave it at that."

She blinked, though a hint of guilt still lingered inside her.

Lucas was different.

Brilliant, accomplished, and famously unattainable, he was like the cold moon hanging high in the sky.

She had committed a sin.

Aurora cursed silently in her heart.

Lucas flicked the ash off his cigarette.

He didn't confirm or deny it—his gaze simply darkened.

"Whatever," he said coolly.

Aurora let out a quiet breath of relief.

After getting dressed, she left the hotel and took a cab back to the Walton estate.

Just as she got into the car, a short distance away, Judy caught a glimpse of her and froze for a moment.

Then, biting her lip, she tugged at Joseph.

"Joseph, I think I just saw Miss Walton."

"Aurora? What would she be doing here?" Joseph frowned slightly.

This was a five-star hotel, and given Aurora's background as a struggling student, there was no way she could afford to stay here.

"Maybe she still can't get over you. I think she heard you came to meet Mr. Carter, so she might have been waiting around on purpose..."

"Ignore her," Joseph said, his expression darkening.

He had no patience for women who didn't know their place.

Causing a scene at his birthday party was bad enough, and now she was playing this desperate clingy act?

Besides, he had treated her well enough.

Otherwise, a woman like Aurora would never have the chance to be in a relationship with someone like him.

Thinking about what his grandfather had instructed him, Joseph furrowed his brow.

"I should go meet the CEO from Vanguard Group. Grandpa said that no matter what, we must secure this project with the Carters."

The Hunt family had been on a downward slope for the past two years.

If they could establish a connection with Vanguard Group, there might still be a chance for them to turn things around.

However, Joseph ended up making a trip for nothing.

By the time he arrived, Lucas had already left—not only that, but he didn’t even get the chance to see Lucas’ assistant.

"Joseph, it's okay."

Judy consoled him gently. "There's another business gala in a while. When the time comes, you'll still have a chance to make a connection there."

"Yeah."

Joseph nodded, his gaze dark. "No matter what, I have to get this project with Vanguard Group."

Meanwhile, Aurora had no idea that Joseph and Judy were making such a scene.

After leaving the hotel, she returned home, where her sister, Tessa, and their mother were both present.

Seeing her, Grace looked at her with a cold expression.

"I warned you before that Joseph is no good, and the Hunt family has never been on good terms with us.

“According to the bet, you lost. Starting tomorrow, you’ll report to Walton Corporation.

“Once you're married and have familiarized yourself with the business, I'll transfer you to work directly under me.

“Your sister isn’t in good health. You need to take on more responsibilities for Walton Corporation."

Aurora knew her mother never changed her mind.

The fact that she had compromised even this much, allowing her to bet on this, was already rare.

Aurora didn’t say anything.

Beside her, Tessa suddenly let out a chuckle and said with an ambiguous tone, "Mom, Aurora just came back, and now Julian has become her future brother-in-law… Who exactly are you planning for her to marry?"

Julian Hayes was the man Grace had once planned for Aurora to marry.

However, he fell for Tessa at first sight and called off the engagement years ago.

Aurora and Tessa had never gotten along.

Tessa was an adopted daughter, but she had always been frail.

Since they were young, Grace had been cold and indifferent toward Aurora, while showing endless care and patience for Tessa.

Now that Tessa brought this up, it was clearly to humiliate Aurora.

Grace glanced at Aurora and spoke in a detached tone. "I'll have someone arrange a few marriage prospects for you in the next couple of days."

Tessa’s lips curled slightly.

Grace was always rational and pragmatic.

The husband she would choose for Aurora would undoubtedly be based on benefits, not Aurora’s wishes.

Aurora’s expression remained calm.

"Mom, you once said that when it comes to marriage, I should be the one to choose."

Grace frowned.