Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three
Conan’s POV

The past few days with Aurora had been better than anything I could’ve imagined. 

For the first time in years, I wasn’t just existing—I was living. 

She had this way of brightening up the day for me without even trying. I kept thinking, maybe this marriage won’t just be an obligation; maybe it’ll be the best damn thing I’ve ever done.

That thought carried me until the phone call came.

“Mr. Grey,” Rachel’s voice was sharp, urgent, “Lawson International just released a press statement accusing Grey Airlines of stealing their presentation. The news is spreading fast and the investors are already calling.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Damn it.”

Of course, it had to be Lawson. Caesar Lawson never missed an opportunity to paint me as the villain.

Aurora noticed my expression. She was curled up on the bed, hair falling into her face, looking so beautiful that almost contemplated losing my company’s reputation over spending a few hours away from her. “What’s wrong?”

I didn’t want to ruin our morning, but I couldn’t lie to her. “Something came up at the company. I need to be at the office.”

Her brows pinched together. “Now? Conan, this is our honeymoon.”

“I know. It's not the most ideal situation. But there’s an issue with one of our partners here, and I need to take care of it before it gets messy. A couple of hours, that’s all.”

I said softly, crossing the room and cupping her cheek. “If it were anything else, I’d ignore it. But this can’t wait. Give me a few hours.”

She studied me, then sighed. “I’ll be fine. Just… don’t let them keep you away from me for too long.”

I kissed her, slow and deep, tempted to throw the phone across the room and stay right there. “One last kiss,” I murmured against her lips, “and I’ll come back faster than you think.”

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

By the time I reached the office in Miami, Rachel had already flown in and was waiting for me with a tablet in hand.

“Anything we can do for damage control?” I asked.

She nodded. “Social media’s on fire. They’re saying we plagiarized Lawson’s proposal. If we don’t shut it down fast, the investors will panic. I’ve outlined three possible responses.”

We went through each option, and I assigned her tasks. Rachel was efficient and she knew how I liked to get things done, which is why she has stayed with me for so long.

Once she left, I finally had a moment to breathe. I sat back in my chair, scrolling through documents, when the door opened.

“Rachel, did you—” I stopped.

It wasn’t Rachel. It was her.

Vanessa.

My jaw clenched. She stood in the doorway in a fitted red dress, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Conan,” she said smoothly, like we were old friends instead of… whatever mess this was.

I straightened. “Vanessa. What are you doing here?”

“I heard you were in Miami.” She strolled inside like she owned the place. “We were supposed to have a meeting here in Miami before you canceled, remember? Since you’re already here, I thought we could… talk.”

“The meeting has been rescheduled,” I said firmly. “And we’ll stick to the schedule.”

She tilted her head, eyes glinting. “Don’t be so cold, Conan. Is that really all we are now? Business partners?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “That’s exactly all we are.”

But she was relentless. Before I could react, she crossed the room and slid herself onto my lap.

“Vanessa, stop—”

Her lips crashed against mine. For a split second, I froze in shock, then pushed at her shoulders. “Get off me!”

That’s when I heard it.

The sound of something dropping.

I looked up, and my heart dropped with it.

Aurora stood at the door, eyes wide, hand covering her mouth. In her other hand, a paper bag had slipped to the floor, coffee spilling across the carpet.

“No,” I breathed, shoving Vanessa off me. “Aurora, it’s not what it looks like—”

But she was already backing away, tears brimming in her eyes.

I lunged forward. “Aurora, wait—”

She turned and bolted.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

I caught up with her just as the elevator doors were about to close. I shoved my arm in, forcing them open.

“Listen to me!” I begged, stepping inside. “She kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back. I swear to you, Aurora.”

She stared straight ahead, voice trembling. “I don’t need your explanations.”

“Yes, you do,” I snapped, more desperate than angry. “Because if you walk away believing that, it’ll destroy us. You mean too much to me—”

She finally looked at me, and the devastation in her eyes gutted me. “Do I? Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like it.”

The elevator dinged. She rushed out, and I followed, calling her name, but she wasn’t listening. She had her phone to her ear, probably calling a cab.

“Aurora, stop!”

She kept moving, weaving through the lobby, refusing to look back. I grabbed her wrist gently, trying to make her face me.

“Please, just let me explain—”

“Conan!” Her voice broke, and she yanked her hand away. “I’m tired of this. I can’t keep second-guessing whether I’m your wife or just another name on a list.”

My chest tightened. “You’re not just anyone. You’re everything to me. You have to believe that.”

She shook her head, backing toward the glass entrance. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

That’s when the black car pulled up. The door opened, and a man stepped out.

Caesar Lawson.

Of course it was him.

He just had to be here, now of all times.

Before I could ask security to get him off my property, she walked straight toward him.

Aurora was walking straight towards Ceasar Lawson’s car. Everything happened in slow motion. This felt like two years ago and everything was happening all over again.

“Aurora,” I pleaded after her. Begging every God in the universe to stop her from getting into the car.

She hesitated only for a second before sliding inside.

“Damn it!” I pounded the hood of the car, but Caesar was already smirking at me from the driver’s side.

As the car pulled away, my stomach twisted with a mix of rage and panic.

I will make sure to end Ceaser Lawson and I will make sure it hurts.