Chapter 43- Feelings In Turmoil
Leonard’s hand moved in slow circles, warm against the ache twisting inside her.
The room was quiet except for their breathing, hers uneven, his steady like he was meant to be there.
Aurora swallowed, staring up at the ceiling.
“You shouldn’t be in my bed.”
He hummed, low. “You say that like you don’t curl closer every time I touch you.”
“I do not.”
Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her. He caught it immediately.
“That little sound you just made?” He said, brushing his thumb lower. “Yeah… you do.”
She turned her face away, cheeks heating, and another soft wave of pain hit her. Her body tensed, almost curling.
“Easy.” Leonard murmured. He shifted closer, chest brushing her shoulder, his hand pressing more firmly. “Let me take it.”
“You’re—" She breathed out shakily. “You’re too close.”
“And you’re too stubborn.” He whispered against her temple. “Bad combination.”
His voice dipped, darker now, velvet with an edge. “But you let me in anyway.”
Aurora’s fingers were tangled in the blanket, gripping hard. “You broke into my room, Leonard.”
“Mm.” His nose skimmed the side of her cheek, slow enough to make her shiver. “And you’re letting me stay. That says something.”
“It says you’re annoying.”
“It says you need me.” His hand slid a little lower, warmth spreading through her stomach until her breath hitched.
“That feels better, doesn’t it?” He whispered.
She hated how honest she was when in pain. “…Yes.”
He smiled. She felt it against her skin.
“Good.” Leonard’s voice dropped to a murmur that wrapped around her spine. “Then don’t fight me tonight.”
“I’m not—” A small gasp escaped her as the cramp faded under his hand.
“Oh.” His tone dipped darker. “There it is.”
“There what is?” She snapped weakly.
“The sound you make.” He said, eyes half-lidded as he watched her face. “That little breath you try to swallow when you’re too proud to admit I’m helping.”
Aurora felt her chest tighten. “Ren… stop talking.”
“Then look at me.” His fingers slowed but didn’t stop. “Let me see those eyes.”
She hesitated… and then turned her head.
Leonard’s expression softened for half a second, almost tender, before the smirk crept back.
“There you are.” He whispered. “Pretty even when you’re in pain.”
Aurora looked away again, face burning. “Get out.”
“No.” His hand slid higher, resting warm over the hem of her shirt, steady and protective. “I’m not leaving you like this.”
His voice gentled again, quiet enough to make her heart twist.
“You’re safe, Noelle. Even if you hate me for it.”
Aurora’s breaths started to steady, each one softer than the last. Leonard felt it, the way her body slowly loosened under his hand, the way her eyelashes fluttered less and less.
She tried to fight sleep at first, stubborn as always.
But pain, warmth, and exhaustion won.
Her fingers, which had been gripping the blanket like it was her lifeline, slipped open.
Her lips parted just a little.
Her breathing deepened.
Leonard watched her for a long second, still gently rubbing her stomach even after she’d drifted off.
“Tired girl.” He murmured under his breath, almost fond.
He didn’t move yet. Didn’t pull away.
He just stayed there, studying her face like she was something he wasn’t allowed to want but touched anyway.
And then, the smallest thing, she shifted in her sleep, leaning instinctively toward him, like her body trusted him more than her mind ever would.
That did something to him.
Leonard inhaled slowly, jaw tightening.
“Don’t do that.” He whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. “Don’t make me soft.”
He waited until he was sure she was fully asleep.
Then, with slow care that didn’t match his reputation at all, he lifted his hand from her stomach. Her body reacted instantly, a faint whimper, a tiny scrunch of her brows, and he froze.
“…Relax,” he whispered, settling the blanket back over her. “I’m not going far.”
He stood beside the bed, watching her as the moonlight touched her skin. Something dark flickered in his chest, the kind of feeling he would deny until the world ended.
He leaned down, close enough for his breath to stir her hair.
“Don’t tempt me like you did today.” He whispered. “You don’t get to do that.”
A thumb brushed her jawline once. Soft. Dangerous. His.
Then he straightened, headed for the balcony. His exit was silent, deliberate, practiced, like he’d done this too many times at night. 'Cuz he has.
He stepped outside, closed the balcony door quietly behind him, and disappeared into the dark.
Leaving Aurora asleep… and taking the warmth of his touch with him.
The room was still, nothing moved.
Then… Aurora shifted. A small searching movement, like her body was reaching for warmth that wasn’t there anymore.
She frowned in her sleep, fingers brushing the empty side of the bed he’d once occupied.
And then, barely above a whisper, her voice came, a sound slipped out of her lips.
“...Ren…”
Morning sunlight crept into Aurora’s room before she opened her eyes.
For a second, she just lay there, blinking at the ceiling… feeling weirdly warm.
And comfortable.
Then it hit her.
Last night.
Leonard.
His hands on her stomach. His voice in the dark. His scent on her pillow.
She sat up slowly, confused at how she’d fallen asleep so fast, she hadn’t slept that easily in days. She glanced around the room, half-expecting to see some sign he was still there.
Nothing.
The balcony door was locked. The air was still. The room was silent.
Her hand drifted to her stomach, where the pain was practically gone.
Great. So he even helped her sleep.
She can't stay home anymore, she needs to go to college today, at least. Even if she doesn't.
She sighed, rubbing her face. Friday. Thank God.
She stretched, winced a little, the cramps were still there, but softer, and began getting ready.
The mere thought of seeing Leonard today made her… uneasy?.... Is that the word?...
But the whole time, one question kept circling in her head:
When exactly did he leave?
ALL ELITES COLLEGE
Aurora’s car pulled into the parking lot, a little later than usual. She would’ve left on time, but her mom kept hovering this morning, checking on her, asking if she was sure she could go.
Gemma’s worry was gentle, but it slowed everything down. Aurora didn’t want to sit in it longer than necessary.
She stepped out of the car, adjusted her bag, and sighed.
Great. She was already cutting it close.
And to make it worse… her first class of the morning was Mr. Thorne’s.
Perfect way to ruin her mood.
As she walked toward the building, a small, unwanted thought hit her: Leonard might be somewhere around. Maybe in the hallway. Maybe passing by.
The idea alone made her chest tighten, not fear, just that uncomfortable awareness she hated feeling.
She ignored it.
Her cramps hit again, pausing her stride, it's starting. Day two always wants to be the main character badly.
It's gonna be a rough day.
Tiffany and Amelia turned a corner at the same time Kimberly stepped out of a classroom.
The moment their eyes met, everything went tight, three girls slowing, shoulders squaring, not one of them willing to step aside first.
Kimberly’s gaze swept them once, bored.
“Look who crawled in.”
Tiffany gave a thin smile. “Relax. Nobody’s thinking about you.”
Amelia added softly, “We’re just passing through. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Kimberly’s jaw ticked, barely. She stepped closer, her perfume sharp and cold as her eyes. “Then pass faster,” She murmured. “Your faces are ruining my morning.”
Tiffany almost laughed. “Still obsessed, I see.”
Kimberly tilted her head, lips curling. “Obsessed? Sweetheart, the only thing I want from either of you…” She took a tiny step back, voice dropping to a whisper meant to cut — “Is for you to go. To. Hell.”
She didn’t wait for a response. She brushed past them, shoulder grazing Tiffany’s intentionally, heels clicking like punctuation marks.
Tiffany scoffed under her breath.
Amelia muttered, “She’s insufferable.”
Lust didn’t bother looking up when Zane walked in. He just flicked ash from his cigar and muttered,
“You still haven’t given up on that girl?”
Zane stayed silent.
Lust sighed like he’d said this a hundred times. “Zane… there are plenty of girls here. Loyal ones. Beautiful ones. Ones who would stay with you forever if you wanted. Why keep chasing the one who almost ruined everything?”
Zane’s jaw tightened. “She didn’t ruin anything.”
“Oh, please,” Lust scoffed. “She cried, you ran, authorities sniffed around, and we had to pull you out of the damn country. If that’s not trouble, I don’t know what is.”
Zane kept his gaze fixed on a spot on the wall. “She’s different.”
Lust gave a dry laugh. “That’s what every fool says before they lose themselves.”
“I’m not losing myself,” Zane said quietly.
“Then what are you doing?”
Zane’s answer came soft, almost calm.
“I’m finishing what I started.”
Lust finally looked at him, long, hard, unimpressed. “Over one girl?”
Zane didn’t blink. “She’s not just ‘one girl.’ She’s the only one who ever mattered.”
Lust shook his head. “You’re obsessed.”
Zane didn’t deny it.
Instead, he stepped back toward the door.
“You should forget her,” Lust warned. “Before she becomes your downfall.”
Zane opened the door, voice steady, eyes cold.
“She won’t be my downfall,” He said. “She’s my purpose.”
And he walked out.
Lust sighed. “Didn't even listen to what I called him for.”
USA— ALL ELITES COLLEGE
By midday, Aurora felt like her body was staging a quiet rebellion.
The cramps were worse now, sharp, deep, dragging down her entire mood. As soon as class was dismissed, she dropped her pen and pressed a hand to her stomach, breathing slow.
She regretted coming. God, she regretted coming.
Everyone filed out, chatting, laughing, bumping into each other. She stayed seated, head bowed over the desk, waiting for the pain to pass long enough for her to stand.
It didn’t.
A shadow fell across her desk.
She didn’t have to look up. That scent, she knew it now, and she hated that she did.
Dior. And trouble.
Gawd.
“Why did you come to school looking like that?” Leonard asked quietly, like the question was only for her ears.
Aurora swallowed. “I’m fine.”
“You’re lying,” He said instantly.
She didn’t have the energy to argue. She barely had the energy to breathe.
He watched her for two seconds, two painfully heavy seconds, before he exhaled through his nose.
“Get up,” he murmured.
“I can walk myself,” she muttered.
He didn’t even respond to that. He just slipped an arm under hers and pulled her up gently, like lifting something breakable. She didn’t protest. She couldn’t.
The hallway outside was noisy, but the second they stepped out, the noise softened, like the universe was giving them space. He kept his hand at her lower back, guiding her like he owned the right.
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do.”
His tone wasn’t harsh. Just final.
She let him.
They reached the parking lot, and he opened the passenger door to his car.
“Get in,” he said.
She stood there for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek, pride fighting the pain.
He leaned closer. “Stop being stubborn. You can barely stand.”
She looked away, but finally slid into the seat.
He shut the door. Ignoring the looks and phones up.
By the time he got in on his side, she was slumped against the window, eyes half-closed.
“You’re taking me home?” She whispered.
He started the engine. “Where else?”
Her breath trembled, not from pain this time.
How is the so-called playboy doing this for her?
Is he waiting for something in return as always?
She glanced at him as he started driving.
What is going on inside your head, Ren?
TBC …