AURORA'S POV
"I understand the terms you are proposing, Mr Flynn, I said, my voice measured. However, I have some concerns, what exactly do you mean by 'marry you'? What kind of marriage are we talking about?".
He leaned forward, his eyes never leaving mine, "A contract marriage, Miss Willows . One that would last for a specified period, after which we would part ways."
I nodded, my thoughts whirling," I see, However, I have some conditions that need to be met."
His eyebrows arched slightly,looking fascinated. "Please, go on." He replied.
" I want a contract duration of one year," I said, my voice firm. "During that time, I will expect financial security, including funding my company and personal expenses."
He nodded thoughtfully," that's acceptable, what else?".
" I want control over my own life and decisions, I won't be bound by any restrictive clauses." I said
He narrowed his gaze slightly, but he nodded, "I can agree to that."
"Lastly, I want protection from any potential fallout," I said, my eyes locked onto his.
The silence that followed was thick, as he crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair.
After a moment, he spoke "I accept your condition, Mr Flynn, But I have one condition of my own: our arrangement remains strictly professional with no emotions attached." He said firmly.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I held his gaze, was I ready to accept this terms and risk everything?
I smiled half heartedly and said "Deal!"
But then went ahead to ask him a question.
LIAM'S POV
I studies Aurora's determined expression as she listed her terms,my respect for her growing.
She was strategic,calculating and fiercely protective of her interest.
As she finished speaking, I leaned back in my chair, weighing her conditions. One year was a reasonable duration, and I could see the sense in providing financial security.
Her desire for protection from fallout was also understandable.
"I accept your conditions, Miss Willows," I said, my voice firm. "But I have one condition of my own:our arrangements remain strictly professional with no emotions attached."
My eyes locked onto hers, searching for any signs of hesitation. I wanted her to understand the boundaries I was setting.
"Deal!" She said with much enthusiasm.
I felt a sense of relief wash over me as. But her next question caught me off guard.
"Why did you propose this contract marriage,Mr Flynn, what do you stand to gain from it." She asked, her eyes sparkled with curiousity.
I leaned back in my chair, choosing my words carefully. "Let's just say it's a strategic move, Miss Willows ," I replied, my voice measured." One that benefits both our companies and secures our respective interests."
Her gaze lingered on mine,as If searching for more. I held her stare, wondering how much I should reveal about my true intentions.
Just then my phone rang;"Excuse me, Miss Willows ," I said, glancing at my phone. "I have an urgent call I need to take."
"Of course, Mr. Flynn," Aurora replied, standing up. "I think we've covered everything. I'll have my lawyer review the contract."
"Excellent," I said, rising from my chair. "I'll have mine send over the final draft once it's ready. Let's finalize the details soon."
Aurora nodded, and we parted ways, the contract marriage proposal hanging in the air between us.
I answered the call, my voice low. "Ethan, what's the verdict on the background check?". "Liam, I've found something," Ethan said, his tone hesitant. "Something that might change everything. Aurora...she's the girl from that summer, isn't she?" My mind froze. "What are you talking about, Ethan?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but a sense of unease crept in.
"The girl from the summer camp, Liam," Ethan pressed on. "The one you...the one who got away. It's her." A shiver ran down my spine as memories flooded back. I hadn't thought about that summer in years, but the images came rushing back – the endless summer nights,golden days of freedom,lights around the campfire, the laughter, the stolen moments. And her. The girl with the piercing green eyes and the smile that had captivated me. "How is that possible?" I asked, trying to process the revelation.
"I dug deeper, Liam," Ethan explained. "You two met under different circumstances back then. Different names, different lives. But the photos match. It's definitely her." The revelation hung in the air, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Aurora, the woman I was about to enter into a contract marriage with, was the girl from my past. The one I thought I'd never see again. I paced around the room, my mind racing with questions. What were the chances? How had she ended up here, in my world? And what did she want from me now?"Ethan, are you sure?" I asked, needing confirmation."Positive, Liam. I've seen the photos. It's her. You need to be careful. This changes everything."
I nodded, even though Ethan couldn't see me. I knew he was right. This changed everything and my mind went right back to the text message i received earlier. Who sent that text message and what did they want from me?, And what did they know about Aurora's true identity?.
"Ethan, I need you to dig into something else for me," I said, still processing the news about Aurora."What's that?" Ethan asked.
"I received an anonymous text earlier and I want you to find out who sent me that anonymous text message. I want to know if they're connected to Aurora or if they know about our...history." "Got it," Ethan replied. "But, Liam, are you sure you want to stir up more trouble? You've got enough on your plate with Aurora." "I need to know, Ethan," I said firmly. "Just get me the information."
"Alright, I'll look into it," Ethan said before hanging up. I was left with more questions than answers, wondering who could have sent the message and what they wanted from me.
AURORA'S POV
Lumin city hospital,3:20 pm.
I walked out of Liam's office, my mind still reeling from our meeting. The contract marriage proposal hung over me like a sword, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was making a deal with the devil. I decided to visit my mom at the hospital, needing some clarity and comfort.
I walked into the hospital room, my mom's frail figure lying in the bed, her eyes closed. I sat down beside her, taking her hand in mine. "It's going to be okay, Mom," I whispered, trying to reassure her. "I'm here for you, and I'll take care of everything. Just rest and get better."
As I stroked her light brown hair, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. But it was short-lived. My phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. I hesitated, wondering if I should answer it. But something compelled me to pick up. "Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice low. There was silence on the other end, followed by a low whisper. "You shouldn't be doing this, Aurora. You don't know what you're getting yourself into." My heart skipped a beat. Who was this person, and how did they know about my deal with Liam? "Who is this?" I demanded, but the line went dead.
I felt a chill run down my spine. What did this person want from me? And how did they know about my arrangement with Liam?
As I sat beside Mom's hospital bed, my phone had just dropped the call from the unknown number. The ominous warning still lingered in my mind. Before I could process what had just happened, a nurse walked in with a package. "This was delivered for you,"she said, handing me a plain brown envelope with no return address.A shiver ran down my spine as I took the package. "Thank you,"I said, my voice barely above a whisper. As the nurse left, I unwrapped the package, and a newspaper clipping fell out. My eyes widened as I recognized the headline: 'Mysterious Fire Claims Life of A Teenager'The article was old, and the memories came flooding back.
A small note was attached to the clipping, with a message that seemed to leap off the page: 'You can't escape your past forever.' My mind reeled as I stared at the words, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. Suddenly, a darker memory flashed in my mind - the secret I'd kept hidden for so long, the one that could ruin everything: my fake identity and the real reason I'd been trying to save my company. Who could have sent this? And how did they know about my darkest secret - that I'm not who I claim to be?