Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty
Conan’s POV

I was supposed to be working.

Finalizing projections, reviewing contracts, anything productive, but instead I found myself staring at the glowing headlines plastered across the screen.

“Future Mrs. Grey caught in an affair with her lover.”

“Who is the mysterious doctor stealing Conan Grey’s fiancée?”

The pictures were worse than the words. Aurora at a café, laughing, leaning closer to another man, napkin in hand. Another, her stepping into his car as the rain fell. 

On any other day I would have scoffed at the tabloids and moved on, but today I froze. This is a picture of Aurora smiling up at a man in such a way that has never been directed at me.

And I couldn’t quite decide whether I should be furious at her for being careless or furious at the world for spinning lies around her. Or was it a lie? Honestly, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

The buzz of my phone broke through the silence. A text flashed across the screen.

Little Demon😈:

I’m downstairs.

I didn’t know whether to be happy or worried. Janice is very protective of me, and I wouldn't want her to be rude to Aurora.

Nevertheless, I got up from my chair and headed downstairs.

I came down to see her with Aurora downstairs. Oh oh.

If it was still the same sister, I knew she was probably saying something out of line already. 

“Janice!” I called out, drawing her attention away from Aurora, who looked like a scared puppy in the presence of a Cat.

She dropped her suitcase and rushed into my arms, hugging me tightly. I hugged her back. I may not like my sister, but I've missed her.

She turned to face Aurora again. “I know you might not be used to all this but try to keep your private affairs… private.”

“What? I don’t understand–” Aurora stammered out, acting like she didn’t understand what was going on.

Janice cut her off before she could finish talking. “I don’t need an explanation. Just… don’t embarrass my brother any more than you already have.”

I clenched my jaw as I held back my words. No matter what my wife has done, I will not tolerate anyone talking to her like that, not even my sister.

Aurora looked up at me as if waiting for me to say something, but I just looked away and steered Janice up to my office. I caught the look of hurt on her face from the corner of my eyes as we walked out of the room. 

As soon as we closed the door of my office I spoke up.

“Don’t do that again.”

She blinked, feigning innocence. “Do what?”

“Be rude to Aurora.” My tone was flat, controlled. “She is my wife. Whether you like her or not, you will show her respect.”

Janice scoffed lightly, flopping into the chair opposite my desk. “Come on, Conan. You’ve seen the headlines. The entire internet is buzzing about her little lunch date.”

I fixed her with a hard stare. “You should know better than to believe everything the media writes. Aurora isn’t like that.”

For a moment, she looked unsettled, but then she sighed, twirling a strand of her hair. “Fine. Maybe I was harsh. I’ll… apologize to her later.”

“Not maybe. You will.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further. Then as though we never talked about anything she leaned forward, her tone shifting.

“I ran into someone in Paris a few months ago.” she paused as though waiting for me to automatically finish her sentence. She sighed before continuing. “Vanessa. Ring a bell?”

The mention of that name made my chest tighten. My expression didn’t change, but I could feel the weight in my throat.

Janice smirked at the silence. “She told me you two might… get back together. That there were still things unresolved between you two.”

I looked down at my computer acting like whatever she was saying didn’t bother me. “And why would she say that?”

“You tell me.” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “Honestly, Conan, I can’t say I'm against it. Vanessa is a much better choice for you. I have no idea why you two broke up in the first place.”

“Enough. Don’t make me send you to a hotel.” I snapped, glaring at her.

“You know I'm telling the truth, but the truth is bitter, brother,” she said in a sing-song voice.

I didn’t bother replying. Most times, ignoring Janice was the best way to shut her up.

“Whatever. Mum says she’s coming over for dinner tomorrow, are you working late?”

“I’ll be here. Now can you please leave my office.”

She stuck her tongue out at me before finally leaving. I wondered when she was going to grow up.

The door shut behind her and I was left with my thoughts. Maybe I should talk to Aurora, but how do I talk to her without showing that I care. We agreed to stay out of each other's business and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The next morning, the office buzzed with the usual rhythm of controlled chaos. But my attention was far from ordinary.

Alexandro sat across from me, his expression tense. The report in his hands was damning.

“They secured the entire deal,” he said grimly. “Every last detail we pitched—they mirrored it. Almost word for word.”

I leaned back, my jaw flexing. “So, we have a leak.”

“It looks that way.”

“This isn’t the first time,” I said, voice cold. “And I’m done playing games. Find out who it is, Alexandro. I don’t care what you have to do. Just bring me the name of the leech bleeding this company from the inside.”

His eyes narrowed with determination. “Consider it done.”

As he left, a quiet rage simmered in my chest. Betrayal from competitors I could handle. Betrayal from inside my own walls? Unforgivable.

The door opened again, this time softer. My assistant stepped in, a small brown parcel in her hands.

“This just arrived for you, sir,” she said, dropping it on the table before leaving.

I frowned, taking it. No sender listed.

I unwrapped the package, the paper crinkling beneath my hands. Inside was a single photograph.

Aurora.

But not the Aurora I knew.

She was in a dimly lit bar, balancing a tray of drinks and barely clad in skimpy shorts and what looked like a bra. This was not the aurora I know, this is an entirely different person, and I was not sure what I thought I knew about her anymore.

A folded note was attached.

“Your wife is not as holy as you think she is.”

More than being angry at the picture, I am furious at the fact that someone was interested in my wife to a point that they are digging up her past.

When I find the person behind this, they are going to wish they never watched her.