Chapter 83
Checking the document laid out in front of me, I let out a sigh and rubbed my temple. A yawn slipped out as I blinked, trying to clear my vision. My hand pressed against my shoulder; I tilted my head to stretch my neck.
My body still ached.
I could still feel Aurora—her touch, her weight, the way her lips had lingered on mine.
A groan escaped me as I covered my face, frustrated by how easily she could drive me insane.
Last night had stretched until past midnight, and now my body was paying for it.
"Good God," I hissed, slamming my forehead lightly against the table and hiding under my arms.
"What the hell is going on with you, sis?" Soeren's voice made me lift my chin, resting it against the tabletop. "You didn't come home last night, and today you show up covered in hickeys and... whatever that is."
I grabbed a napkin from the table and tossed it straight at his face.
"Shut up," I muttered, rolling my eyes. I tugged on the oversized hoodie I'd stolen from Aurora's wardrobe before sneaking out of the mansion.
"And for the record, there's nothing wrong with hickeys when your wife is the one who left them. "
Soeren chuckled, tilting his head. "So... you two actually talked?"
A hum escaped me as I shook my head. "No."
He blinked, then laughed. "What now? You just hooked up without even talking? Wow, that's impressive."
I rolled my eyes again and sat up straighter. "You're so nosy, you know that?" I clicked my tongue. "Anyway, how's Millie's pregnancy going?"
"She's doing fine. Craving weird food combos, but otherwise great," Soeren said proudly, leaning forward. "Say, are you and Aurora planning to give Dione a sibling?"
I paused mid?read, then let out a soft, bitter chuckle. "Right now? I don't know. Sure, we touched each other—but aside from that, nothing's really fixed. We still haven't cleared the mess between us. But..." I exhaled slowly. "I was hoping we could conceive again."
My brow furrowed as I placed the document down and pointed at a line. "What does this mean? How can someone remotely control a car when it's overseas?"
Soeren sighed. "Your car was compromised, sis. Before you went to Oxford, someone installed a program in it. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but it disables the idle start?stop function—and even damages the brake system."
"Wait, I gave you a copy of the dashboard recordings, right?" I said, glancing up. "Did you find anything weird? I couldn't review it myself."
He looked at me, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "Sis, I think you should..." He paused, rubbing his temple. Then he shifted and reached for his phone, unlocking it.
I looked at him, confused by his actions. He pushed his phone toward me, then picked it up himself. On the screen was a paused video. I tapped the play button, frowning as I watched.
The interior of my car filled the screen—thanks to the camera I had installed. On the passenger side was Margot. She glanced around nervously before bending over toward the driver's side, placing something under the dashboard.
"It was premeditated, sis. I think Ms. Verne had something to do with it," Soeren said, and my attention sharpened.
"Did you find out what she put under the dashboard?" I asked, raising a brow. "Maybe she was just leaving something... or I don't know." I shrugged, running my fingers through my hair. Can Margot really do this? But why? What's her intention?
My free hand drummed against the table as I let out a long sigh. "If she did this... why? We've been friends. I don't think she could—" I stopped, blinking at Soeren. "Do you think this has something to do with me rejecting her?"
He shrugged. "That... I'm not sure. We couldn't interfere directly. If we forced anything, it could trigger serious consequences."
I hummed in agreement. "Okay," I said, standing. "Don't make any moves. I'll handle Margot."
"But—"
My brow rose as Soeren tried to oppose me. I tilted my head, waiting.
"Sis," he said, licking his lips nervously.
"You should clarify your relationship with Ms. Verne publicly.
Between the hotel incident, the bar... don't let Aurora think the rumors are true.
You and her have been fighting enough. Wouldn't it be better to clear things out? "
I bit the inside of my cheek, letting out a sigh. "I know. I'll handle it—but not now."
Soeren frowned. "What do you mean?"
I smiled faintly.
"If Margot wants to play dirty, I'll play dirty too.
Let the news swirl, let her think I don't care because, clearly, she's my friend.
But when the time is right, I'll pull the plug on the partnership between her company and ours.
And then I'll announce the truth to the public.
Right now? Let her enjoy the illusion—after all, I'll have the last laugh. "
"But what about your wife? Dione? Don't you think this will affect your family more than anyone else?"
I froze, fists clenching.
"I'm doing this for them. To silence the rumor too early would let her control the narrative.
I want to be the one who tells Margot she's crossed the line—and that I can cut her off if she tries anything else.
Let her have her fun for now. The last laugh is mine. "
I nodded subtly, then walked back into the house, heading to Dione's old room. I locked the door behind me and lay still on the mattress, staring at the ceiling.
"You dared to cross the line, Margot. Fine," I whispered. "Let's see who ends up crying. It won't be me."
I shifted and caught sight of the calendar on the bedside table. A faint smile tugged at my lips. "Aurora's birthday is coming soon. I hope we can talk... and sort everything out before it's too late."
?·???°???°???·?
I stared at my phone's screen and let out a weary sigh. Today was Aurora's birthday, yet my message remained unseen. It was just a simple greeting, but still—I'd hoped she would reply.
My body tensed when a notification appeared. A message from her. But my shoulders sank the moment I read it.
"Are you going to attend the board meeting today?"
Biting my lip, I exhaled softly before typing back.
"No, I have a parallel meeting today. Just fill me in later. Happy birthday again."
I waited for a response, but none came. She left me on seen. Clicking my tongue, I set my phone aside and rubbed my temples. I'd been feeling drained for days, my energy slipping away for reasons I couldn't explain.
"Come to think of it..." My eyes landed on the desk calendar. "I should've gotten my period last week."
The realization hit me like a jolt. I gasped, bolting upright, and hurried out of my office.
"Millie!" I called, rushing toward her desk. She blinked up at me, startled, halfway rising from her chair.
I opened my mouth to speak—but the scent of freshly brewed coffee hit me. My stomach twisted violently. I clamped a hand over my mouth and turned away, sprinting toward the washroom.
I shoved the door open and lunged for the sink, gagging, my body shaking with each dry heave. "Goddamn it," I hissed, my voice rough from coughing. Turning on the faucet, I rinsed my mouth and the sink, then patted my face dry, trying to steady my breathing.
The door creaked open behind me. In the mirror, Millie's reflection appeared beside mine. She sighed softly and handed me a small box.
A pregnancy test.
I blinked, taken aback.
"Figured you might need it," she said with a small shrug. "Something happened between you and your wife, so... maybe check?"
My hand trembled as I accepted it. "Thanks, Millie."
She nodded with a faint smile and slipped out, leaving me alone.
I exhaled shakily, stepped into a cubicle, and locked the door. Unwrapping the kit, I followed the instructions carefully. Then I waited—pacing, my heel tapping against the tile as my heart hammered in my chest.
When the result finally appeared, I froze. I leaned closer, blinking to be sure I wasn't imagining it.
Two lines.
"It's positive," I whispered.
My mind went blank. Then a soft, nervous laugh escaped me. I smacked my forehead lightly, closing my eyes. "What the hell..." I muttered. After all the months Aurora and I tried—after everything that fell apart between us—now this happens?
Swallowing hard, I wrapped the test in tissue and stepped out of the cubicle. But as I opened the door, I collided with someone.
The test slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor.
"Oh—sorry, I—" My voice faltered. "Margot?"
My eyes widened as we both looked down at the fallen test.
I crouched, but she was faster. She picked it up, her gaze flicking from the object to my face.
Her expression froze. "Y-you're pregnant?"
I snatched the test from her hand, hiding it behind my back, as if that could undo what she'd already seen.
Looking away from her gaze, I stepped to the side. "The meeting starts in five minutes. Let's discuss everything about the contract and the partnership then," I said, nodding subtly before hurrying back to my office.
My hands clutched the pregnancy kit. "I'm pregnant. Aurora and I are expecting," I whispered, sinking into my chair.
Trying to steady myself, I reached for the gift bag I'd prepared for Aurora. I slipped the pregnancy test inside along with her present, setting it carefully aside.
"Fine," I muttered, exhaling sharply. "Since you still have your pride up, I'll lower mine just so we can make peace, Ro. Just you wait—I'll explain everything. I don't care what it takes, but you'll listen to me."
I stood, straightened my skirt, and left my office, heading to the private conference room. Knocking once, I twisted the knob and stepped inside. Millie was there with Margot.
Millie gave me a subtle nod as I took the seat across from Margot. She approached the table and placed a portfolio in front of me.
"Thanks, Millie," I said, flipping it open. "You can leave us now. I'll call if I need anything."
She nodded and excused herself, leaving the two of us alone. Once the door closed, I met Margot's eyes. "Guess we're meeting again after the bar incident, huh?" I clicked my tongue lightly.
Margot hummed, her gaze fixed on mine. "Sloane, about the pregnancy—"
I raised a hand to stop her, forcing a faint smile. "Can we discuss the contract and the partnership first?"
"Right. Yes, sure," she said, sitting up straighter, waiting for me to continue.
Licking my lower lip, I slid the portfolio toward her.
"We've been business partners since my company started, Margot.
I've always valued integrity and trust." I watched her as she looked over the document.
"We've known each other for years, and I've treated you like family—even though we're not related.
I cared for you like a younger sister because, well, you are younger than me. "
I swallowed hard, remembering my brother's words. "But..." I let out a soft, humorless laugh, the irony biting because the person I trusted most ended up betraying me, "this is where I need to end our partnership."
Margot's brows furrowed as she looked from me to the papers.
"Sign it," I said quietly. "It's the termination of our contract—and our partnership. I don't intend to renew anything, not even the existing terms."
"You're kidding, right?" Margot scoffed, looking at me as if I'd lost my mind. "How are you going to manage your company without our partnership? Investors came in because our firms were allies. Why would you end it now?"
My fists clenched beneath the table.
"Look, Sloane, if this is about your wife, don't you think you're taking things too far? You're letting your personal life interfere with—"
"This isn't about my wife, Margot," I cut in, my tone sharp. "This is about setting boundaries."
Her expression faltered. "What boundaries?"
I gestured between the two of us. "These boundaries. I know how you feel about me, Margot. You've been vocal about it, and I can't keep working with you if you continue crossing that line. I'm uncomfortable—and it's better this way."
My heartbeat thundered in my ears. Despite everything—despite her betrayal—I still wanted her to walk away with dignity. Leaving was the least she could do to make up for it.
She let out a disbelieving laugh. "You're terminating a multimillion-dollar partnership because I have feelings for you?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "Are you serious right now, Sloane?"
I tilted my head slightly, giving her a measured smile.
"Don't you think it's inappropriate, Margot?
Your business partner—" I pointed to myself "—is married.
Yet here you are, admitting your feelings.
That's a conflict of interest. I want to be clear about where we stand.
I thought I already was, but I guess I was wrong. "
I pushed my chair back and stood. Giving her a subtle nod, I said, "If you need time, take it—but my decision is final. All termination fees will be covered by me. All you have to do is sign the document."
Margot shot up, slamming the portfolio shut. "What about the child inside you?"
My brow arched. "What about my pregnancy? What does it have to do with you?"
She stepped closer, eyes burning. "Are you seriously still denying it, Sloane? We both know what happened back in the hotel suite."
I blinked, then laughed softly.
"Nothing happened between us in that hotel suite, Margot.
And you know what? I wish I'd never met with you that night.
Because doing so only destroyed my marriage.
" My voice trembled slightly, but I forced it steady.
"Do you have any idea what you caused by trying to interfere like that?
This pregnancy—this child—isn't yours. It will never be yours.
Stop deluding yourself that something happened between us, because it didn't. I'm not interested in you in any way beyond friendship. Am I clear?"
I straightened, my tone cold. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
Without waiting for her reply, I turned and walked out, leaving her alone in the room.
As I approached my office, I spotted Millie pacing anxiously outside the door.
"Millie," I called, stopping a few steps away.
She froze, then rushed toward me. "Did you know about it?" she asked, lowering her voice.
My brows furrowed. "Know about what?"
"Your wife," she whispered, fumbling with her phone before showing me a video.
On the screen, Aurora stood in front of flashing cameras. Her nose was bleeding. She wiped it with her fingers before speaking. "For the record, this isn't fake," she said. "I'm actually dying."
My jaw dropped. "What...?" I whispered, eyes fixed on the screen as she continued.
"I have leukemia. I've been fighting it for over a decade. It's terminal. So no, this isn't a stunt. If you want proof, I'll give you my physician's number."
My world crashed. The phone in my hand trembled, and my grip nearly slipped. Leukemia? No. No, Ro must be joking. She has to be joking.
"Millie," I said weakly, staring at the screen as headlines flooded in. "Tell me I misheard her. Tell me," I turned to her, desperate, "tell me I didn't just hear that."
Millie didn't answer. Her silence was enough.
A strangled laugh escaped my throat, almost choking me. "No. Why—why didn't I notice anything?" My vision blurred as I clutched my chest. "No. This isn't true. It can't be."
"Sloane," Millie murmured, reaching toward me.
I raised my hand and stepped back. "I... I need to be alone. Don't let anyone enter my office."
I hurried inside, shutting the door behind me, and rushed to my desk. My hands shook as I unlocked my phone and searched the news, hoping it was fake—some twisted rumor.
But every headline repeated the same line:
Aurora DeLacroix, owner of DeLacroix Couture and Luxury House, announces terminal illness.
Leaning back in my chair, I let out a broken laugh. "No. Ro doesn't have it. No... there must be something wrong."
I dropped my phone onto the desk and buried my face in my hands, tugging at my hair. "Why—why didn't she tell me? Why didn't I notice?" I gasped, hitting my head with my palm. "You're an idiot, Sloane."
It's her birthday, yet she told the public about her condition? Why? Ro, what the hell are you thinking? I thought, sitting up straighter, trying to compose myself as I picked up my phone.
I dialed her number, pressing the phone to my ear, when a knock at the door caught my attention. My hand faltered as I saw her standing there, the door half-open.
I ended the call, my fingers trembling as I put the phone down and stood. I looked at her—at the way she'd lost weight, the pale flush of her skin, the subtle tremor in her hands... were those all the signs I'd missed? Ro, what have you done?
"Ro," I called, my voice cracking. I took a tentative step toward her. "What are you doing here?"
She looked at me, and the sight of her made my chest tighten. I wanted to cry, to throw myself at her. What kind of wife am I if I didn't notice she was this sick? What kind of wife?
Aurora smiled faintly and pulled a portfolio from her bag. "For my birthday," she began. "I want you to sign—"
Her words were cut off by the sudden burst of the door opening, revealing Margot.
What the hell is she doing here?
Aurora laughed softly, eyes flicking between me and Margot. "Well," she said, "good thing you're here." She turned her gaze to Margot. "You can help me."
My brow furrowed as Aurora raised the portfolio, waving it lightly. "Inside is a divorce agreement. Why don't you urge Sloane to sign it? That way, you won't have to play the sidepiece anymore. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
A knot tightened in my throat. Divorce? Did she just say divorce?
"Ro..."
She turned to me, shoving the portfolio into my chest. I staggered slightly from the force.
"Don't," she said, voice steady but sharp.
"Don't say a word. For my birthday today, I want one thing.
" Her gaze locked on mine, cold and unwavering—the same look she'd given me thirteen years ago. "Sign the divorce agreement."
I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight, to beg, to throw myself on the floor in frustration. But her eyes... they were resolute, indifferent, unyielding. I couldn't move, couldn't speak.
No. I thought, gripping the edges of the portfolio so hard my knuckles whitened. Ro, please don't do this.
But no words came. I was too stunned—stunned to realize that my own wife was sick, and stunned to hear that she wanted a divorce.