Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Aurora’s POV
After parting ways with Conan’s mum, I felt like I was floating.
Jennifer was practically buzzing beside me, gushing about the whole encounter. Nora excused herself to head home since she said her stomach was still acting up, and I didn’t press her. Instead, Jennifer and I decided to visit Nico at the hospital.
On the way, Jennifer stopped in front of a cozy little coffee house. “We need caffeine before we go play nurse,” she insisted.
I smiled despite my heavy thoughts. “Fine, you know I can never say no to coffee, but only because you’re paying.”
We settled into a corner booth. Jennifer chose the seat against the wall, half hidden from the window, while I slid in across from her. Just as the waitress dropped off our drinks, a familiar voice made me freeze.
“Well, well. Looks like I picked the right place for lunch.”
Dr. Freeman stood there, his smile easy and warm. My heart sank a little. “Dr. Freeman…”
“Call me David, please. Don’t look so guilty,” he said with a chuckle, pulling a chair toward our table. “It’s not awkward anymore. There are three of us, so you can’t escape my lunch invitation.”
Jennifer shot me a look over her coffee cup, before leaning to whisper in my ear. “I like this guy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do.”
He leaned in, resting his elbows on the table. “So, what are you ladies up to? Besides ignoring your doctors’ advice about rest?”
He had told me to take some time to rest after Nico’s surgery, but I have a fake wedding to plan.
“I’m not ignoring anyone,” I said defensively. “We’re on our way to the hospital to see Nico.”
“That’s acceptable,” he said with mock seriousness. “As long as you bring me some of those cinnamon rolls next time you bake,” he said dreamily like he was imagining the taste of the rolls.
Jennifer smirked. “I see that I'm not the only one who loves her baked goods and you are welcome to join the fan club.”
Before I could answer, the man sitting behind me shifted his chair back too far. It bumped into mine, jolting me just as I lifted my coffee. The cup tipped, spilling across the table.
“Oh no—”
I reached for the napkins, but Dr. Freeman reached for it at the same time. Our hands brushed.
We both froze, then laughed at the awkwardness. “Sorry,” I said quickly, snatching the napkin.
“All good,” he said, his smile lingering.
Jennifer cleared her throat loudly, before whispering in my ear once again. “I know that look, Aurora.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I forced a smile. “Shut up, Jen.”
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When we finished, Jennifer realized she’d left her scarf inside. “You two wait out here,” she said, darting back into the café.
The sky had darkened, and the first drops of rain began to fall. I fumbled for my keys, but Jennifer’s car was locked, and she was nowhere in sight.
“It’s starting to drizzle,” Dr. Freeman said, gesturing toward his car parked at the curb. “Come sit inside while you wait.”
I hesitated. “It’s fine, really—”
“You’ll get soaked,” he cut in gently. “Aurora, it’s just my car.”
I gave in and followed him. The drizzle had already dampened my hair by the time we climbed in.
A few moments later, Jennifer emerged from the café, shaking her head in the rain. “This weather hates me.”
We all piled into our cars and headed toward the hospital.
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The next morning, I woke to the sound of unfamiliar laughter downstairs. I slipped on a robe and followed the noise.
At the foot of the stairs, a young woman stood with a suitcase by her side. Her sleek brown hair with blond highlights framed a face I recognized instantly from magazine spreads. Janice Grey. Conan’s younger sister. A fashion designer whose collections I used to dream of wearing.
I smiled. “Hi, Janice. Welcome.”
Her eyes flicked over me, sharp and cold. “And you are?” she said in a tone that made it clear that she knew exactly who I was but she wanted me to know that she didn’t care.
I blinked at her tone. “Uhm, I…I’m Aurora, Mr… Conan’s fiancee. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She didn’t answer, just adjusted her suitcase handle and glanced toward the stairs.
Conan’s footsteps echoed as he came down, his expression lighting up at the sight of her. “Janice. You didn't tell me you were coming.”
She dropped her suitcase and rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back with genuine warmth I hadn’t seen from him in weeks.
Something in my chest twisted.
She turned to face me again. “I know you might not be used to all this but try to keep your private affairs… private.”
I blinked rapidly in confusion. “What? I don’t understand–”
Her expression hardened. “I don’t need an explanation. Just… don’t embarrass my brother any more than you already have.”
I stared at Conan waiting for him to say something. Anything. He just stood there with a cold look on his face.
Before I could speak, she turned and walked toward the kitchen with Conan, leaving me standing in the hall, speechless.
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Back in my room, my phone buzzed nonstop. I picked it up—over fifty notifications.
Jennifer had sent a text.
Asian queen❤️:
Don’t check social media. I’m serious. Avoid it.
But it was too late. My finger was already unlocking the screen.
Headlines screamed back at me, plastered over every news site and gossip blog:
“Future Mrs. Grey caught in an affair with her lover.”
“Who is the mysterious doctor stealing Conan Grey’s fiancée?”
And the photos. Every moment twisted into something it wasn’t—the spilled coffee, the laugh, me climbing into Dr. Freeman’s car while it drizzled.
My chest tightened until it hurt. My face was on every page, every search engine.
I dropped the phone onto the bed and pressed my hands to my face, but the headlines burned into my mind.
Fear crippled me.
If they could find Dr. Freeman’s occupation in a matter of a day, how fast will it take them to find out about Nico.