Chapter 75

Aurora was arguing with the nurse who wouldn't let her get out of bed.

"You can't keep me here!" she exclaimed.

"You've just had an accident; you need to rest," the nurse tried to explain.

"But I'm perfectly fine!" Aurora retorted. She had scraped both her arms and had a wound near her eyebrow, which was now covered by a band-aid. The accident hadn't caused any serious harm, but her concern was for Josh.

Adelaide intervened, sitting in the chair beside the bed. "Aurora, listen to the nurse."

Aurora persisted, "I just want to know if Josh is okay."

The nurse's response was uncertain, "I have no news about Mr. Black's condition."

Adelaide confirmed, "He was still being evaluated the last time I asked."

Loud commotion outside interrupted the conversation. Many voices were speaking at once, but Aurora managed to distinguish Griffin's voice among them.

"You can't go in there!" Griffin exclaimed.

The door was abruptly opened. Tristan entered without ceremony, accompanied by Griffin and a few confused security guards. Tristan looked disheveled, his hair tousled, and his clothes wrinkled from the previous night. He walked in with a serious expression, but when he saw Aurora with various bruises on her body, he couldn't maintain his composure. His expression became downcast, saddened to see her in that state.

"Only one person is allowed to visit the patient," the nurse warned. "I ask that you leave."

Tristan wasn't swayed by the situation. "No one is taking me away from here," he asserted.

Griffin intervened, "She already has a visitor, Tristan."

Despite everyone's resistance, Tristan stood his ground, determined to stay there even if Aurora didn't want him to.

Aurora asked her sister, "Please, can you go find out news about Josh?"

Adelaide questioned, "Are you sure?"

Aurora nodded, and Adelaide left. Griffin followed her, calming the security guards. Aurora looked at the nurse, indicating that she wanted privacy.

"One minute," the nurse allowed before leaving the room.

After seconds of tense silence, Aurora sighed and shifted as if to get up.

Tristan quickly stopped her, holding her shoulders. "What are you doing?" he asked.

She tried to explain, "I'm fine, Tristan..."

He admonished her, "This is not the time to be stubborn."

Not wanting to argue, she remained seated on the mattress. She felt relieved to see him in front of her without serious injuries, but she was also upset with him for their recent fight.

"Where were you?" Aurora finally asked.

"I slept in a hotel," he replied, taking a seat in the chair Adelaide had occupied earlier. "Aurora, I..."

She cut him off angrily, "You made me worried." She couldn't contain the feeling. "I called you at least fifty times! I know we're fighting, but you should've at least thought about calling me back, or sending a message, a smoke signal, anything!"

"I know I messed up. I'm sorry," Tristan began.

"Why didn't you believe me? Why didn't you believe me when I said that the kiss with Josh meant nothing? Do you doubt how I feel about you?" Aurora questioned.

"No... of course not. Aurora, I trust you."

"But it doesn't seem like it. Tristan Callahan, put it in your thick skull once and for all that no one can take me away from you. Not Josh, not Alex, nobody! Only you can push me away," she confessed. "What do I need to do for you to understand this?"

"You don't need to do anything. Let's just forget all of this..."

"I won't. If another guy comes along, hitting on me, things will repeat themselves. So tell me right now, because I don't want to go through all of this again. What do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?"

The repetition was exhausting. Every time they took a step forward, they took three steps back. She was tired of retreating with every argument, but she didn't want to move forward alone and leave him behind.

"I want you to promise me," Tristan said.

"What?" Aurora asked, looking into his pleading eyes.

"Promise me that you'll stay with me, that you won't leave me. That you'll be mine. Only mine."

It wasn't a command, it was a plea from a desperate man. His walls were broken down, his guard lowered.

"I promise."

"Do you understand, Aurora? You're promising not to leave my side, ever."

"I understand, you arrogant Mr.," she said, holding his hand.

He shook his head, denying it. "You're even crazier than I thought."

She smiled. Love makes people do crazy things.

"I have a condition. No, two!"

"Here we go."

"Relax, it's not a sacrifice. First, you won't disappear like this anymore."

"And what's the other condition?"

"Did you listen to my voicemails?"

"No," he frowned, unaware that she had sent any.

"Then don't listen to them, any of them. I cursed at you a lot, and it's not worth hearing... but you deserved it!"

"Do whatever you want, Aurora. Curse me with the worst names, provoke me, drive me crazy. I don't care. Just don't leave my life."

He leaned in and captured her lips gently. It was a different kiss from the others. With Tristan, it was always fierce and passionate, but now it was calm and soft, yet still wonderful.

The world where only the two of them existed was interrupted when the nurse returned, accompanied by Griffin.

"Any news about Josh?" Aurora asked the nurse.

"Mr. Black hasn't woken up yet, but from all indications, he hasn't suffered any serious sequelae."

"So he's okay?"

"Yes..."

"Not for long," Tristan muttered. Aurora gave him a stern look.

"He wasn't to blame for anything," Aurora defended.

"Of course he was. He was driving," Tristan insisted.

"Yes, but the fault was with the spiteful person who kept swerving the car toward us. I think he was some drunk. Because of that, Josh lost his balance, and we fell," explained Aurora.

"They didn't find the guy?" Tristan asked.

"No. He didn't stop the car after causing the accident," Griffin explained. "Anyway, I have news."

"About what?" Tristan inquired.

"I've just received the compatibility test results. Unfortunately, none of us are a match for Kai," Griffin said, sounding sad.

"And now?" Aurora asked, lost.

"Now all we can do is wait..."

***

Weeks later.

Autumn days were the coolest. Even if the day was sunny, it wouldn't be hot due to the gentle breezes that only appeared during that time of the year.

At the orphanage, children played freely in the garden. A dark-haired, straight-haired little boy ran towards the woman who had just arrived. She crouched on the grass to hug the boy, who wrapped his little arms around her neck.

"How are you, Ken?" Luna asked the boy.

"I'm good..." his eyes shone when he saw the beautifully adorned box in Luna's arms. "What's that in your hand?"

"A gift for you."

"For me? But it's not my birthday today..."

"It doesn't have to be your birthday for me to give you a present," she said sweetly. "Here, open it."

Ken opened the box easily. He opened his mouth, shocked, when he saw it was a soccer ball.

"It's the best gift in the world!" he exclaimed. Again, he jumped onto the brunette's neck, who smiled broadly. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, dear."

"Uncle!" Alex called, until now just watching the scene with a smile. "Want to play with me?"

"Of course, little one."

"Yay!" he exclaimed excitedly. "You have to play too!"

Luna was going to decline, but the boy pulled her hand and led her to the middle of the field. It was impossible to resist Ken's cuteness. She had to take off her heels to kick the ball. She didn't have great aim, so she didn't score any goals, but what mattered was that she was having fun with the boys.

When Ken scored his first goal, Alex carried him and they celebrated together. Luna observed the scene, amazed.

Ken had already won her heart, and she suspected that Alex was finding a place in it too. One thing she was sure of: she would fight for Ken to become her son.

***

Aurora lightly knocked on the door before entering her boss's office.

"Excuse me."

Luna smiled brightly, "Come in."

Aurora entered, standing attentively.

"From your smile, I bet Ken loved the gift," the redhead said.

"He said it was the best gift in the world," Luna recalled, and they both laughed.

"I really hope to meet him someday," Aurora expressed.

"I hope so too," Luna replied absentmindedly, imagining what her life would be like if she could adopt Ken. "Anyway... Aurora, I called you here because I want to make a proposal."

Aurora stood, swaying her head to indicate she was paying attention.

"Since you've been here, you've progressed a lot, which doesn't surprise me. To be honest, I saw in you a different determination and a special talent on the day you took the test to enter the agency."

"Wow, Luna, I..." Aurora started, feeling a bit awkward with all the praise. "I don't even know what to say."

"As you may already know, some employees requested transfers to the new branch in London. I allowed a few to go, the ones I know have great potential and believe they can handle it. And I thought about putting you on that team."

"M-me? Why me?" Aurora asked, surprised.

"Because I have a lot of faith in your abilities."

"But I haven't even graduated yet."

"I took the liberty of talking to your college superiors. They have an agreement with a university in London, and they can transfer you there to finish your studies. Of course, only if you want to."

Aurora couldn't stop smiling. She had never imagined herself living in London or anywhere else in the world. New York was her home, where her little family was. Accepting a position on the team would mark the beginning of a new life, a new place, new friends, a new routine...

"I feel honored that you thought of me, but I can't accept. I have family here, and I don't want to be far from them."

Luna was sincere, "I understand. In any case, don't be discouraged. I'm sure many other opportunities will come your way."

"Thank you for everything, Luna," Aurora bowed and left the room, certain she was making the right choice.