Chapter 75
Cupping Aurora's face, I tilted her head slightly as I cleaned her wound. I dabbed an antiseptic over the cut and pressed a small gauze bandage against it. A quiet sigh slipped out of me before my thumbs brushed across her cheeks. Leaning in, I placed a soft peck on her lips.
"It's all good now," I murmured.
I gathered the used cotton balls from the nightstand, tossed them into the bin, then picked up the first aid kit and returned it to the console drawer. At the vanity, I removed my earrings and placed them carefully into the jewelry box.
I paused when I felt her behind me. Aurora wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing a gentle kiss on my shoulder.
"You should've told me," she mumbled, pulling me closer. "I should've stayed."
A chuckle escaped me as I turned to face her. She loosened her hold, and I leaned back against the vanity, smiling faintly.
"Aren't you the one who decided to leave?" I asked, my voice soft but edged with exhaustion. "I tried to tell you—so many times, Ro. I came to you more times than I can count, but you kept running. What else was I supposed to do?"
Her face fell, regret flickering in her eyes. "I didn't know we could conceive back then," she whispered. "When did you find out? How long did you know you were pregnant?"
"The same day you broke up with me," I sighed, pushing off the vanity to walk past her. "I even tried to reach out to your mother—to tell her I was carrying the heir to your family—but I never heard back."
"You did what?" Her voice rose slightly, startled.
I turned to face her, my brow furrowed.
"Auntie would've told you if I had. So, I figured she was the one I should go to.
Isn't that what you—" I caught myself, deciding not to push it.
Another argument was the last thing I wanted.
I let out a breathless laugh. "God, the stress I went through after that. "
"Sol," Aurora said softly as she stepped closer, taking my hand and reaching up to touch my face with the other. "When did you try to reach out to my mother?"
Tilting my head, I clicked my tongue thoughtfully. "Near the end of my first trimester." I met her gaze. "I'm sure she told you. You even had someone following me back then. I figured you really wanted me gone if you went that far."
Her throat bobbed; eyes wide. "I didn't," she whispered, shaking her head. "Sol, I never ordered anyone—"
A knock on the door cut her off.
I exhaled, heading toward it. When I opened it, Dione stood outside, clutching her life-sized teddy bear.
"Dione? Why aren't you asleep yet?" I asked, opening the door wider for her.
She looked up at me, then at Aurora. "Mommy, can I sleep here with you and Pops?" she asked, hope gleaming in her eyes.
I glanced over my shoulder at Aurora, then back at Dione. "Sweetie, don't you have your own room?"
"She can sleep here, Sol," Aurora chimed in.
I raised a brow at her.
I'd planned to talk about the embezzlement tonight, but.
.. maybe it could wait. A sigh escaped me as I rubbed my temple.
"You two just met, and you're already spoiling her," I said, shaking my head but smiling anyway.
I patted Dione's head. "Fine. You heard your Pops. "
Dione beamed and ran to Aurora, throwing her arms around her before jumping onto the bed and sitting at the edge.
A smile tugged at my lips as I nudged Aurora toward the mattress. "Bedtime," I said.
Aurora chuckled, walking to the left side while I went to the right. "Scoot over a little, sweetie," I told Dione, pointing to the center of the bed.
Sliding beneath the blanket, I watched Aurora adjust her pillow against the headboard and lean back. Dione sat up and wrapped her arms around me, kissing my cheek.
"Good night, Mommy," she whispered.
"Good night, sweetie," I said, poking her nose and tucking the blanket around her.
She looked livelier tonight than she had in years. Sure, she was always bubbly, but this felt different—like she truly loved the idea that Aurora knew she existed. Watching her smile filled something deep in my chest.
"Pops, good night!" Dione chirped, leaning toward Aurora and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Aurora giggled, pulling her into a hug.
"Good night, kiddo," she murmured, rubbing Dione's back.
When they pulled apart, Dione looked between the two of us, mischief twinkling in her eyes.
"Pops, you should give Mommy a good night kiss, too."
Blinking at her words, I looked at Aurora—only to find her already looking at me. My face flushed, warmth rising to my cheeks.
"Right," Aurora said, clearing her throat as she leaned over to kiss my forehead. "Good night, Sloey."
Dione squealed, hugging her teddy bear as she swayed side to side. I reached for a pillow and playfully smacked her with it. "Sleep now, you little devil," I said, clearing my throat and trying to calm myself from the fluster that lingered after Aurora's kiss.
She giggled and plopped down on the mattress. "I'm so happy," she said, glancing between me and Aurora. Shifting to get comfortable, she looked at me again, her eyes glowing. "I have a complete family now. Thank you, Mommy, for letting me meet Pops Aurie."
I reached out and ruffled her hair playfully, unable to find words. A quiet smile curved my lips as I lay down beside her.
Dione snuggled closer, one hand tugging on Aurora's. "Pops, come here. We should sleep really close together since you haven't been with us for so long," she said, pulling Aurora toward us.
Giving in, Aurora moved closer. Dione guided her hand to rest on her tummy, then reached for mine, placing it gently on top of Aurora's.
"Thank you, Mommy, Pops, for making my birthday wish come true. I'm really happy," she giggled, holding both our hands.
"No, thank you," Aurora whispered, her gaze flicking to me. "Both of you—for making my life complete."
Our eyes locked, and I couldn't help but smile faintly. We stayed like that for a while, just looking at each other, until my eyes grew heavy. As I shifted on the mattress, darkness filled the room.
Something warm wrapped around my waist, and I stirred, turning onto my back. "Ro?" I whispered, brushing my hand over the arm that held me.
Aurora hummed softly and moved closer. "Sorry... I missed hugging you," she mumbled, her breath warm against my skin as she snuggled closer.
"Move here a little," I murmured, shifting toward Dione's side to make space and pulling Aurora closer to me.
She moved willingly, pressing light kisses along my neck. I lightly smacked her arm. "Ro, Dione's sleeping beside us," I whispered, my tone gentle but warning.
Aurora only pulled me tighter, stealing a brief kiss on my lips before tugging my head to rest against her chest. I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing her back softly. A quiet hum escaped me as the rhythm of her heartbeat lulled us both to sleep.
When morning came, the three of us sat together at the dining table, the soft morning breeze drifting through the open windows. Dione sat beside Aurora while I sat across from them.
I couldn't help but watch the two of them—Aurora smiling, Dione talking animatedly between bites of breakfast. The sight was enough to warm every part of me. Taking a sip of the coffee Aurora had made, I studied them quietly.
It felt so refreshing, so surreal, seeing them connect as if they'd known each other forever.
"Pops," Dione said suddenly, turning to Aurora. I glanced up, curious as she chewed and swallowed her food before shifting in her chair. "Can I come with you to your office today?"
My brow arched at my daughter's request. I set my cup down as Aurora looked at me, then turned her gaze to Dione. Placing her cutlery aside, she adjusted her chair before facing her.
"And why exactly did you want to come with me to the office?" she asked, picking up her glass and taking a sip of juice.
I shifted my focus back to the table, though my ears stayed tuned to their conversation.
"I just wanted to see your workstation, Pops," Dione said softly.
Glancing up, I watched Aurora pat Dione's head. "That's not a bad idea," she said, "but I think we need to get Mommy's approval first." She looked at me, waiting, making me lift my eyes from my tablet.
Dione turned to me with a hopeful look. "Mommy? Can I go with Pops to her office?"
Setting aside my tablet, I clasped my hands together and exhaled. My gaze locked on Aurora. "Ro, the thing is—no one knows we even have a child together. Much less..." I pointed toward Dione. "A tween daughter."
Aurora's eyes moved from me to Dione. "That's exactly why she should come," she said calmly. "It's time they knew."
I swallowed hard, piercing a sausage with my fork and cutting it into small bites.
"Ro, Dione's been using my surname. If you suddenly claim her.
.." I hesitated. "I mean... are you considered her father?
It's your semen, but..." I bit the inside of my cheek, unsure how things would unfold.
"Sloey," Aurora said with a reassuring smile. "We can work it out. Let's fix Dione's papers and let her carry my name. I'm just as responsible for her as you are. And besides, she's going to inherit both of our legacies one day."
"Sweetheart," I said, turning to Dione. "Do you really want to go with Pops to her office?" I wanted to be sure she truly meant it.
Dione grinned. "Please, Mommy? I want to see her workstation—and her designs." She clasped her hands together, pleading.
I sighed and nodded. "Alright," I said, taking a bite of sausage. "Just make sure you don't wander off alone, okay? I don't want you causing trouble at Pops' office."
Dione's grin widened as she gave me a playful salute. "Yes, ma'am!"
I couldn't help but laugh softly. It wasn't like I could stop Dione from wanting to know more about Aurora—and I didn't plan to stop them from getting closer either.
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Standing beside Aurora, I glanced down the hallway to make sure Dione was already back in her room. I heaved a sigh and pulled Aurora closer to me. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I looked at her.
"Let's talk."
I steadied my breathing, trying to calm myself.
"Ro," I began, my voice low and measured—though it trembled beneath the surface.
"Aren't we going too fast with this? Yes, Dione is yours too, but making it public right now?
She's twelve. I don't think we should expose her to this world yet—especially the business side of it. "
Aurora looked at me, nodding as her hands slid down to my arms, her palms warm against my skin.
"Sol, I understand. I won't expose our daughter to anything dangerous.
I'll just show her my workstation, nothing more.
Maybe we'll get some time to bond while I'm not swamped with work. "
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I exhaled deeply. "Just... don't let her out of your sight. If you must, check on her every single minute." My throat tightened. "I know it sounds unreasonable, but I need to be sure my daughter—no, our daughter—is safe."
She cupped my cheeks and smiled gently. "Of course. Come on, Sloey, don't overthink this too much."
My hands reached for the hem of her shirt as I met her gaze. "Ro, I mean it. Dione has never been out in public as my daughter. That's why I need you to be extra careful. Don't let her wander off alone, not even for a moment."
Her brows furrowed. "Wait... not even your company knows you have a daughter?"
I drew in a shaky breath and nodded.
"It's not that I don't want people to know she's mine—and yours too.
But if the wrong people found out? Those who want me out would use her against me.
I can't afford that. I couldn't survive if something happened to her.
Not even my closest business partners know she exists. "
Aurora pulled me into her arms, her thumb brushing along my cheek. "I understand," she murmured before kissing me softly. "Don't worry, Sloey. I'll take care of our daughter."
I caught her wrist, holding it gently. "I'll try to stop by your office once I'm done with the investor meetings. If not, I'll call. I'm not sure if I can skip the party later."
She nodded, pressing a kiss onto my forehead. "Got it. I love you, Sol. Don't worry—I'll handle Dione. I'll make sure she's safe. Just focus on closing the deal with your investors."
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I nodded. "Thank you." Wrapping my arms around her, I hugged her tightly before stepping back. "Now, go get ready. I'll check on Dione."
Just as I turned to leave, Aurora pulled me back and kissed me again. Our lips lingered, soft and slow, before she finally let go—only to brush one last kiss against my lips. "Thank you, Sol, for giving me this time with her. I swear I'll take care of Dione."
I jabbed a finger lightly against her chest, meeting her gaze with a stern look. "You'd better. Because if anything happens, I swear I'll keep Dione away from you—and you won't see her again. Got it?"
Groaning, she let out a sigh. "Sol, that's harsh. She's my daughter, too. I have rights to her, same as you."
I hummed, tilting my head. "Uh-huh. You do—once you're acknowledged on her papers as her father... or mother." My tone sharpened. "Until then, while she bears my surname, I'm the only one legally responsible for her. That means every decision falls to me."
She sighed, chuckling softly. "Fine, Sloey."
I smiled, patting her cheek. "Good. It's better that we're clear about everything." I pressed a kiss to both her cheeks before leaving her to check on Dione.
A while later, both Aurora and I left together—she took Dione to her building, while I headed straight to the police station.
Reaching the station, I gripped the steering wheel tightly. I took ten deep breaths before turning off the ignition and stepping out of the car. The chill in the air bit through my coat as I walked toward the entrance, forcing myself to stay composed.
Inside, I approached the nearest officer. "Hi, I'm here to visit Marcello Bianchi," I said, my tone clipped and calm despite the storm inside me.
The officer looked up, recognition flickering in his eyes. "Ms. Duvall," he greeted, his voice respectful yet cautious. "Visiting Monsieur Bianchi, you say?"
He typed something on his computer, then slid a biometric pad toward me. "Please sign here, madame."
I pressed my thumb on the scanner, and after a moment, he nodded and gestured for two other officers to escort me.
We walked down the narrow hallway, the air thick with the smell of metal and disinfectant. One officer guided me to the visitation room while the other disappeared through another door to bring him out.
Tapping my fingers against the metal table, I sat upright, my pulse hammering in my ears. Rage simmered beneath my skin. If I could, I would have punched him the moment I saw his face.
The door opened.
Marcello Bianchi walked in, handcuffed, his once arrogant demeanor now stripped down to something hollow.
He looked older—gaunt, worn down by years of confinement.
As he sat across from me, the officer stepped back, far enough not to overhear but close enough to intervene if things went wrong.
"Long time no see, Monsieur," I said coolly, crossing one leg over the other as I studied him. "How's prison life treating you?" My tone was casual, but my jaw was tight.
He stared at me with tired eyes. "What do you want?" he asked flatly.
I almost laughed at the question. What do I want?
He had no idea.
"Back then," I said, leaning forward, "when you and your men attacked me—who ordered you to do it?"
His silence stretched. My throat tightened, remembering Aurora's face the day she found out about the embezzlement, and my pregnancy—her confusion, her denial. I needed the truth.
"Was it Aurora?" I asked, voice trembling with both fury and desperation.
He finally looked up at me, then looked away, his gaze fixed on the wall. The silence dragged long enough to make my pulse ache.
"It wasn't her," he said at last, his tone subdued. "It wasn't Ms. Aurora."
A knot formed in my throat. "Then who? If it wasn't Aurora, then who? Who told you to hurt me?" My voice cracked. "Didn't you know what I lost because of you?"
He hesitated, his jaw clenching. "It was Lady Eléonore who gave the order."
"What?" I froze, disbelief coursing through me. "Are you fucking serious, Monsieur? Auntie would never—"
He shook his head quickly, running a hand through his graying hair.
"It's not what you think. Lady Eléonore didn't order us to hurt you.
She just wanted us to talk to you—to scare you enough to keep you away.
She even gave us a duffel bag with a million euros to hand over, so you'd stay far from Ms. Aurora. "
My vision blurred as tears welled in my eyes.
"Then why?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Why did you do it? Why did you hurt me?
Don't you know what I lost because of you?
" I slammed my palm on the table, my anger breaking free.
"Aurora and I should've had twins, Marcello. Twins. You ruined that."
He flinched, guilt twisting his features.
"Did you even tell your boss what you did?" I demanded. "Or did you just bury it and move on? Because I never received your so-called money—only your men's fists."
"I'm sorry," he muttered, eyes darting to the floor. "It got out of hand. If you hadn't bitten one of my men that night, they wouldn't have—"
"Hah!" I barked out a bitter laugh, slamming my hands on the table again. "So now it's my fault for trying to defend myself? Are you actually blaming me?"
He sighed, shaking his head.
"We never told Lady Eléonore what happened.
We just said we scared you off and gave you the money.
As for the call you overheard—the one with Ms. Aurora—she only called to ask whether her mother had actually given you the money.
" He swallowed hard, his voice lowering.
"Ms. Aurora made a deal with her mother—that if she agreed to leave you, Lady Eléonore would make sure you had a better life. "
I froze, staring at him, my breath caught in my throat. "What...?" I whispered, disbelief lacing every word. "No. No, you must be lying."
"I wasn't," he cut me off, giving me a faint smile.
"Ms. Aurora," he continued, looking away from me, "was so nice, you know?
I heard her pleading with her mother not to force her to break up with you.
She said she wanted to marry you right after graduation.
Said that she couldn't live without you. "
I didn't respond. I didn't even know how to.
"There must have been something that happened between Lady Eléonore and Ms. Aurora that made Lady Eléonore so determined to end your relationship.
Left with no other choice, Ms. Aurora gave up and agreed.
In return, Lady Eléonore promised to give you a lump sum of money over time.
I bet you didn't even know that Ms. Aurora had been backing you up since the day you started your company. "
My lips parted in disbelief. What did he just say?
He tilted his head, studying me. "Haven't you processed everything yet, Ms. Duvall?" he said with a faint smile. "It's been years since you moved to Monaco, but not once have you two crossed paths, right?"
I swallowed hard. I wanted to fire back, but I couldn't—I couldn't find the right words.
"It's because Lady Eléonore was strict with Ms. Aurora.
No matter what happened—even if she was dead—Ms. Aurora wasn't allowed to cross paths with you again.
In return, you'd continue receiving the funds for your business.
You think you're the only one supporting DeLacroix's legacy?
" He scoffed lightly. "Check your investors.
Most of them are connected to either Veraux Holdings or DeLacroix.
And guess what—Ms. Aurora had access to both.
She's been sharing the haute couture legacy with Selene Vasquez.
They've been partners ever since Veraux Holdings started. "
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Swallowing hard, I cleared my throat and looked at him. "Why are you telling me this? Why now?"
"Because I decided you deserve to know," he said softly. "And I needed to clear Ms. Aurora's name." He gave a faint smile. "I'm guessing you came here because she found out about the embezzlement, right?"
"Are you the one who gave her the clue about me manipulating the embezzlement?"
He shook his head.
"No. I'm not backing down on my words. I realized it was my fault for agreeing—and my sin to live with for what I did.
" Tilting his head, he added, "I've been in the business for far too long, Ms. Duvall.
And here's a piece of advice: don't trust the people you think can be trusted.
People are like snakes—they look harmless, but when the time is right, they'll wrap around you until you can't escape. "
Before I could say anything, he stood up and signaled for the officer. My fingers ran through my hair as frustration and disbelief bubbled inside me.