Pushing open the VIP room door, the first thing Aurora saw was a man and a woman kissing. One was her boyfriend. The other, her best friend. Julian pulled Chloe fiercely into his arms, his mouth taking hers with a raw, wild hunger, their breaths tangling together. Seeing that, a chill ran through her, her fingertips digging into her palms so hard they drew blood, yet she felt nothing. The music around them was deafening. The crowd was going wild, cheering them on. “They’ve already kissed! Why not make it more intense? A French kiss!” “WOW! French kiss! French kiss! French kiss!” Amidst the cheers, Julian pried Chloe’s lips open, their tongues dancing and intertwining in a passionate embrace. A lightning bolt struck her heart, making her ears ring, her vision blur. She stood there, frozen, tears streaming down her face, her heart twisted in agony. After what felt like an eternity, Julian’s eyes met hers. They were clear, almost shockingly so. But his first reaction wasn’t panic; it was pure delight. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, her face barely holding its composure. She instinctively turned to leave. Julian ruthlessly shoved Chloe away, who was dazed from the kiss. He strode out of the room, catching up to Aurora, and pulled her tightly into his embrace. “Aurora, you came!” “I just messaged you saying I was going to kiss another woman, and you rushed right over. You love me, don’t you? That’s why seeing me with another girl makes you lose it.” “Since that’s the case, why don’t you stop seeing other men? That kiss was your punishment, for secretly talking to another man for half an hour behind my back. Do you feel my heartache now?” He took her hand and pressed it against his chest, letting her feel his pounding heart. Aurora gradually stopped crying, gazing into his unfathomable eyes. “I told you, that man only asked me for directions. I don’t even know him!” A sick, possessive madness flickered in Julian’s sharp eyes. He held her tighter. “No, it doesn’t matter who it is. If anyone gets close to you, I’ll go crazy with jealousy.” Hearing that, Aurora’s tears flowed even faster, a deep sense of helplessness spreading through her heart. The next second, Julian’s phone rang. “Julian, the party’s not over yet. You spend all your time with your girlfriend at home. We rarely get to hang out. You’re not allowed to leave this time.” He hung up, then looked at Aurora, coaxing her with a helpless smile. “Be a good girl, go home first, okay? I’ll stay and play with them a bit longer. Don’t worry, now that you’ve been punished, I won’t touch anyone else again.” The moment he turned to leave, the sky darkened, and rain began to fall. The cold rainwater drenched Aurora’s clothes, but she felt nothing, walking numbly towards home. Rain mixed with tears streamed down her face, blurring what was what. That blinding scene replayed in her mind. This wasn’t the first time Julian had done this. Years ago, in high school, she’d been captivated by the cold, aloof boy. To win him over, she made him breakfast every day, copied notes for him, and even shielded him from a car accident. That day, as he took her to the hospital, his eyes were wide with panic, constantly wiping the blood from her body. “Aurora, are you crazy? You’d risk your life for me? You like me that much?” “Yes, I really do like you.” She smiled foolishly, accidentally pulling at her wound, wincing in pain. He froze, then held her tightly in his arms. That day, they officially became a couple. He said: “Aurora, you’re my first girlfriend, and you’ll be my last. If you like me, you have to like me forever. Never stop.” After they started dating, Aurora realized that the aloof, untouchable man she’d idealized was actually a complete romantic, almost to the point of obsession. He not only gave 100% but also spoiled her rotten. Back then, she thought she was the happiest girl in the world. Until, slowly, she started to notice something was off. His possessiveness was too strong, almost bordering on obsession. At first, he deleted all male contacts from her phone. Later, if she so much as glanced at another guy, or had any friendly interaction with one, he’d spiral. Once, she merely complimented another guy, and he dragged her into their room. That night, the intensity of their passion shook the very foundations of their room, and she couldn’t leave her bed for days. Eventually, he escalated to punishing her by getting intimate with other women, only satisfied when he saw her jealous and heartbroken, desperately proving her love for him. She repeatedly convinced herself that his madness stemmed from his love for her, enduring it time and again. But now, she was truly tired, and she couldn’t take it anymore. An hour later, she arrived home. Just as she reached the door, a delivery person quickly ran up. “Excuse me, are you Ms. Aurora?” Aurora nodded. “I am.” The delivery person quickly pulled out a letter. “Ms. Aurora, this is from the National Classified Biological Research Institute. I was told to deliver it directly into your hands.” Aurora stiffened. After thanking him, she went inside and opened the letter. “Dear Aurora, congratulations on being accepted into the National Classified Biological Research Institute. Upon accepting this position, your identity will be strictly confidential. You will not be permitted to contact anyone outside the institute for five years. In ten days, a special vehicle will pick you up and take you to the base.” She reread the terms of the agreement. This had been her lifelong dream: to follow in her parents’ footsteps and complete the work they couldn’t finish. Before, she hesitated because Julian loved her and relied on her as his emotional anchor. If she was separated from him for even three days, he would go crazy. But now, She didn’t want to stay for him anymore. Her future had nothing to do with him. Thinking about everything that had happened today, Aurora finally made up her mind, picked up a pen, and solemnly signed her name! The next morning, Aurora came downstairs to find the dining table laden with a steaming hot breakfast. Julian walked out of the kitchen, a faint smile playing on his lips. Her jealousy yesterday had made him happy. After breakfast, seeing she was ignoring him, Julian quickly pulled out a sparkling gemstone necklace. He brushed her hair aside and fastened it around her neck. “Aurora, this is that necklace you loved so much. I bought it. Please don’t be mad anymore, okay? Even though I kissed Chloe, I was thinking of you the whole time.” “I just wanted to make you jealous. You know I only love you.” “Please don’t interact with other men, or even look at them, anymore, okay?” She remained silent. In the past, she would have believed he said it out of love and concern. But now, she couldn’t bear the weight of his suffocating love. Now, she just wanted to wait ten days, then quietly disappear from his world. The National Institute’s security was top-notch. Her records would be hidden. Even if he wielded immense power, he wouldn’t be able to find her. Seeing her persistent silence, Julian assumed he hadn’t appeased her enough. He called his assistant again. “Arrange a party for me. Everything should be set up according to Aurora’s preferences.” Aurora knew that if she didn’t go, it would likely cause another scene, so she didn’t object. The party was held at the most luxurious hotel. Luxurious, vibrant roses filled the air with their fragrance. Guests approached them, their eyes full of envy for their relationship. “Mr. Julian really spoils his girlfriend. Seven years, and he still wants to keep Ms. Aurora in his pocket, never letting her out of his sight.” “Right? Such a grand gesture just to make his girlfriend happy. When will I ever find a man who treats me so well?” Everyone was chattering excitedly. A guest who was close to Julian came over to toast him. “Julian, you and Aurora have been together so long, are you getting married soon?” Julian’s eyes softened with a smile as he looked lovingly at Aurora. “Yes, soon.” She glanced at his chiseled profile, forcing a small smile. Soon? No, they had no future left. Throughout the entire banquet, Julian clung to her. With just a glance from her, he’d immediately bring her a drink. If she so much as touched her arm, he’d instantly take off his jacket and drape it over her. His attentiveness was meticulous, yet she felt suffocated. “I want some cake. Can you get it for me?” Only after sending Julian away did Aurora finally breathe a sigh of relief. She wandered into the garden behind the banquet hall, seeking some fresh air. As she was lost in thought, gazing at the blooming flowers, a man in a sharp suit suddenly appeared. “Aurora?” The man sounded surprised and delighted. “It’s Daniel. I was your next-door neighbor when we were kids, do you remember me?” Aurora searched her memory, recalling a vague image, and nodded. “I remember.” Daniel’s eyes softened as he chuckled. “I can’t believe I’d see you again after so many years abroad. Do you have a boyfriend now? Remember how you used to say you’d marry me when we played house?” As he spoke, he leaned closer, gently removing a fallen leaf from her hair. A fresh, clean scent enveloped her, making Aurora slightly uncomfortable. She instinctively recoiled. The next second, a strong hand gripped her waist, pulling her into an embrace. Julian’s face was dark, his deep eyes filled with a dangerous glint. “What do you think you’re doing to my girlfriend?” He was like a dragon guarding its treasure, resisting anyone who dared approach Aurora. Daniel’s expression froze. “I’m sorry, I was just helping her with a leaf. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.” For some reason, that statement ignited Julian’s fury. He smirked provocatively, pulling the girl in his arms closer, then lowered his head and kissed her. He bit her lips, aggressively invading, conquering. “Now, do you know?” Aurora hadn’t expected Julian to do that in front of someone else. Her breath caught, and she frantically pounded on his chest, gasping out fragmented syllables between breaths: “Stop… Julian…” Sensing her resistance, Julian’s face darkened even further. He looked at her, panting, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Why won’t you let me kiss you? Because of him? You don’t want him to see?” Before she could answer, Julian turned to the black-suited bodyguards behind him, his voice venomous. “Take this man away. Break the hand he used to touch Aurora!” Aurora’s face instantly paled. “Julian! This is between us, it has nothing to do with him!” Seeing her defend another man, Julian’s lips thinned into a rigid line, his eyes filled with icy rage that he could barely suppress. “What are you waiting for? Do it!” Following the command, the bodyguards disregarded Daniel’s struggles, quickly pinning him to the ground. One pulled out a baseball bat and raised it high. Seeing Daniel suffer for her sake, Aurora immediately threw herself over him, shielding him with her body. “Julian! If you dare touch him, you’ll have to step over my dead body!” Julian gripped the baseball bat, almost laughing in disbelief, forcing out the words from deep in his throat: “Aurora, you truly are something!” He strode forward, his large hand clamping onto her wrist. Ignoring her struggles and protests, he dragged her to the car. Back at home, Julian radiated an icy chill. His eyes bloodshot, he maniacally scooped Aurora into his arms, threw her onto the bed, and leaned over her. Seeing his handsome face drawing closer, she instinctively recoiled from his burning kiss. He, however, bit directly into her collarbone, kissing her wildly, tearing at her clothes, as if he wanted to press her into his very bones. “Don’t touch me!” Julian stared at her obsessively, coaxing in a low voice: “Aurora, wife, baby, tell me you’re mine, that you’re only mine!” He murmured it over and over, but only met with Aurora’s rejection. “No, let me go, you’re hurting me!” She pounded his chest repeatedly, resisting his kisses and every move. However, this only provoked Julian into a more furious assault. Her clothes were torn to shreds. She closed her eyes in despair, tears slowly trickling from their corners. Seeing her tears, Julian instantly froze. She was crying. She was actually crying! Just because she didn’t want him to touch her? After his chest heaved for a long time, Julian suddenly released her, then slammed the door shut and left, his face grim. It was a long time before Aurora realized he was gone. She lay on the bed, calming herself for a while, before getting up, wiping her tears, and changing her clothes. Then, she quietly packed her luggage. She packed until late into the night. Julian returned. But this time, he brought Chloe with him. He glanced at Aurora, then pressed Chloe against the wall and kissed her as if no one else was there. Chloe, half-pushing him away, half-invitingly, hooked her arms around his neck, returning his kiss. After a long kiss, he whispered, “Chloe needs to stay here tonight. Her apartment complex isn’t very safe lately.” If it were any other day, Aurora would have been heartbroken by this sight, knowing he was carrying out another one of his ‘punishments’. But now, she was calm, her face numb as she nodded. “Whatever you want.” Seeing her so indifferent, Julian’s face turned iron-gray. Just as he was about to speak, Chloe smiled and said, “Julian, which room am I sleeping in tonight?” He suppressed his emotions and deliberately said, “Sleep with me. Aren’t you scared?” After saying that, he looked at Aurora again, quietly waiting for her tears and outrage. Instead, he saw her calmly giving up the master bedroom and walking towards the guest room. His face darkened once more. That night, just as Aurora was about to fall asleep, she received photos from Chloe. Her pale collarbones were covered in dense hickeys, and there were even a few finger marks and bite marks. “Aurora, Julian really went overboard tonight, it was too intense, I could barely handle it.” Looking at Chloe’s taunting message, Aurora felt no anger, only a profound numbness. She casually turned off her phone and slept soundly through the night. In the morning, Aurora descended the stairs unhurriedly, only to meet a pair of eyes simmering with suppressed anger. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” She met Julian’s gaze, calmly retorting, “What do you want me to say?” He felt like he was punching a cotton ball, a deep sense of powerlessness washing over him. Finally, he stopped looking at her. He took Chloe’s hand directly, his expression gentle. “Today I’ll take you shopping. Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you.” Hearing that, Chloe smiled and leaned into his embrace, casting a triumphant glance at Aurora. After they left, the house fell silent again. Soon after, notification sounds kept pinging, all from Chloe. One after another, photos of incredibly expensive jewelry, accessories, and bags came through. [Julian is so good to me. Whatever I want, he buys without batting an eye.] [As best friends, if you like anything, I’ll get it for you. I’m currently at the artificial lake in the villa district, enjoying the view. Come over and choose.] Aurora didn’t want to engage, so she simply ignored them. But Chloe’s messages kept coming. Finally, she sent a photo of a small, intricately carved jade charm, a family heirloom. [Aurora, my patience isn’t very good. If you make me wait any longer, I’ll just smash this, okay?] That jade charm was one of the few mementos her parents had left her. In the past, Aurora and Chloe had been best friends. Knowing Aurora was often sickly and accident-prone, Chloe had given her the charm, hoping it would protect her and keep her safe for life. She never expected Aurora’s kindness to become Chloe’s tool of blackmail now. Anger surged in her heart. She immediately left for the artificial lake. “Give me the charm.” Chloe chuckled, casually tossing the jade charm to her. “Aurora, you’ve seen how good Julian has been to me these past few days, right? I’m even living in your house now. Aren’t you going to give up and let go?” As she spoke, she casually flipped her hair, revealing a delicate diamond necklace, her eyes full of triumph. Aurora took a deep breath. “I’ve told you many times, he doesn’t love you, he’s just using you!” Chloe’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by her usual impatience. “What a joke. Do you think I wouldn’t know if he loved me or not?” Aurora didn’t explain further. This wasn’t the first time she’d tried to explain to Chloe. Julian was handsome and came from an excellent family. If he wanted to, he could easily make any woman fall for him. To make Aurora jealous, he had specifically chosen her best friend, Chloe. Just a few words had made Chloe fall for him, leading her to hold hands, hug, and kiss him, despite having no official status. Aurora had told her the truth many times: that Julian was using her. But Chloe simply refused to believe it, even going so far as to break off their friendship. “You can’t hold a man’s heart, but I’m different. Julian truly loves me. If you don’t believe me, shall we test it?” With that, before Aurora could react, she suddenly shoved her into the lake from behind. Then, she jumped in herself. Aurora thrashed desperately in the water, her mind blank. She had almost drowned once before, so she couldn’t swim and was terrified of water! The cold lake water instantly engulfed her, leaving only a sliver of light above. In utter despair, she saw Julian running towards the shore. Splash! He ripped off his jacket and jumped into the water, but he swam right past her, rescuing Chloe instead. Overwhelming darkness consumed her vision. She only saw their receding figures and Chloe’s triumphant look as she glanced back. Chloe mouthed three words: “You. Lost. Now.” Aurora felt her limbs go weak and numb. Yes. She had lost. Completely. When she opened her eyes again, Julian’s dark hair filled her vision. His eyes were bloodshot. Seeing her awake, he dropped the cold facade he’d been maintaining. “Aurora, you’re finally awake. Are you cold? Hungry? Is anything else bothering you?” Seeing his anxious expression, Aurora found it incredibly ironic. “Does it matter to you, Mr. Julian, whether I live or die?” Julian stiffened, his eyes bruised with fatigue, looking utterly exhausted. “Aurora, are you angry with me? You know perfectly well I didn’t save you just to punish you.” “To punish you for talking to other men, to punish you for being so calm when I got close to other women!” Aurora pursed her lips. Punishment. What a punishment. Julian seemed to realize he had erred, and softened his tone, apologizing. All day long, he asked after her, prepared chicken soup with his own hands, and carefully fed it to her spoon by spoon. She, however, didn’t even lift her head. The nurse, seeing her so indifferent, couldn’t help but speak up for him. “Ms. Aurora, Mr. Julian was practically frantic when he brought you to the hospital. He stayed by your side for three days and three nights without sleep. If anything had happened to you, I think he would have torn this hospital apart. He’s so good to you, can’t you two talk things over?” Aurora didn’t want to listen. She simply closed her eyes in protest. While Julian was speaking with the doctor about her condition, she got out of bed to clear her head. After sitting outside for a while, breathing in the fresh air, she returned to her room. As she pushed open the door, her eyes met his grim gaze. Julian held her phone, his aura intensely suppressive. There was a missed call on the screen. “Who is this?” Seeing the number, Aurora’s heart tightened instantly. It was the institute’s number! Aurora quickly stepped forward and snatched her phone. “No one I know. Spam message.” Julian’s face was dark, his brows furrowed. “Really?” Aurora looked at him indifferently. “What else would it be? Who did you think it was?” He didn’t know who it was, but this was the first time he’d seen her so nervous. And the person she was nervous about wasn’t him. A fierce fire instantly ignited in his chest. After burning for a while, he said nothing, just gave her a deep look, then turned and left. Soon after, all the doctors and nurses in her ward were reassigned. A nurse whispered, “Who exactly is that Ms. Chloe? Mr. Julian dotes on her so much, he’s transferred all available medical resources just to take care of her. He’s also staying by her side constantly.” Hearing this, Aurora knew that although Julian hadn’t said anything, he was angry again. But she wouldn’t try to appease him like before. Nor would she care about his feelings anymore. After being discharged, Aurora returned home to continue packing. Just as she stepped through the door, with a bang, the villa door suddenly locked. Then, a line of bodyguards stood guard at every corner of the villa. “Ms. Aurora, Mr. Julian has given orders. From today onwards, you are not allowed to leave. If you have any requests, just tell us.” Aurora was slow to react. What did that mean? Was she being imprisoned? She suppressed her anger, trembling as she dialed Julian’s number. “Julian, let me out.” His deep voice came through the phone. “Aurora, you know why I’m doing this. When you cut off contact with other men, and only have me in your eyes and heart, then I’ll let you go.” Before she could say another word, the call was disconnected. She tried calling again, but it wouldn’t connect. Other men? Did he think the institute’s number belonged to another man? Aurora felt utterly helpless to explain. She couldn’t tell him the truth, so she could only try to find a way out. But every door in the villa was guarded by burly bodyguards, leaving her no chance to escape. Helpless, she could only temporarily give up. Fortunately, she still had a few days before she had to leave for the institute, so she could still figure something out. In the middle of the night, she slept restlessly, as if she had a premonition. The phone on her bedside table rang like a death knell. Aurora had just answered when the frantic voice of a nursing home aide came through. “Ms. Aurora, your grandma is experiencing concurrent high blood pressure and cerebral thrombosis tonight. She’s fading fast!” The phone clattered to the floor. Aurora froze, as if struck by lightning. Her parents had died young, and her grandma had raised her since childhood. In recent years, her grandma, suffering from Alzheimer’s, had been sent to a nursing home. A few days ago, she had even visited her, planning to transfer her to the city where her research institute was located. How could she be failing now? How could this be happening? There was chaos on the other end of the line. Grandma Margaret lay in her hospital bed, vaguely calling her name: “Aurora… why hasn’t Aurora come to see me? Grandma misses you. When will you and Julian… come?” “Grandma, Aurora’s here, Aurora’s coming right now.” Aurora cried out to her, rushing out without even changing her clothes. But she was immediately stopped by the bodyguards. “Ms. Aurora, we cannot let you out without Mr. Julian’s orders.” Aurora was burning with anxiety. She could only pull out her phone and call Julian. One, two, three… She didn’t know how many calls she made. Just as she was about to give up hope, the phone finally connected. “Julian, let me out! My grandma is dying! Let me out to see her! To see her one last time!” Hearing her tearful voice on the other end, Julian suddenly stood up, grabbed his car keys, and was about to leave. But then, as if remembering something, he instantly suppressed that moment of softness. His tone hardened. “Aurora, you’d make up a lie about your grandma being critically ill just to go see that man? To trick me into letting you out? Is he really that important to you?” A wave of overwhelming despair swept over her. “Julian, I didn’t, I didn’t…” Lie to you! Her words were cut short by Chloe’s voice. Then, the sounds of tangled kissing, followed by a beep. The call was disconnected. When Aurora dialed again, the phone was off. She was utterly desperate. She rushed towards the door recklessly, but was inevitably stopped again. She was completely hopeless. Raising a fruit knife, her eyes red, she held it to her throat. “Let me out! Or I’ll kill myself!” The bodyguards, professionally trained, swiftly snatched the knife from her hand. “Go back inside, Ms. Aurora. We’re just following orders.” A feeling of helplessness consumed her. Grandma, Grandma was still waiting for her. Aurora had no other option. She bypassed all the bodyguards, ran straight to the third floor, and jumped. With a thud, she landed on the grass, feeling searing pain in every limb. No one had expected her to jump, So no one immediately chased after her. She didn’t care if her leg was broken, or if the blood wouldn’t stop flowing. She forced herself up, gritted her teeth, and hailed a taxi to the hospital. “Driver, hurry! Please go faster!” Aurora fought back tears, urging the driver several times. The driver looked back, saw the blood and scrapes on her, and didn’t dare ask questions, stepping hard on the accelerator. Upon arriving at the nursing home, she ran towards Grandma Margaret’s room. However, she was still too late. She dashed to the doorway, only to see a nurse covering her grandma with a white sheet. The old woman’s eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, clearly having passed away with regret, unable to wait for the person she yearned for. A crushing grief instantly surged from her heart, engulfing her entire being. Aurora collapsed to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down. “Grandma!!!” She clutched her grandma’s frail hand, placing it on her own face, begging incessantly: “Grandma, wake up, Aurora’s here to see you, Aurora’s here, please open your eyes and look at me, okay?” But the person before her could no longer open her eyes. She had no family left. Grandma was the last one. But she hadn’t even seen her one last time. That night, the entire hospital room echoed with the girl’s cries. Afterwards, Aurora moved like a zombie, mechanically going through the motions of arranging the funeral. On the day of the funeral, she knelt before Grandma Margaret’s memorial tablet, observing a moment of silence. Suddenly, a gentle, trembling hand reached from behind her and pulled her into an embrace. Julian, dressed in solemn black, his eyes filled with regret and heartache. “Aurora, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Grandma was really in trouble. I thought…” “I know you’re angry with me. Hit me, curse me, do whatever you want, just don’t ignore me, please?” As he spoke, he took her hand and hit himself on the face and body repeatedly. His handsome face was red and bruised, yet Aurora stared blankly at the memorial tablet, unmoved. The funeral ended. She drifted out with the crowd, like a lost soul. Sitting alone in the car, Aurora silently watched the retreating scenery outside the window. After a long while, she finally realized something was wrong. This wasn’t the way back home. Just as she was about to look up, the driver in the front seat suddenly pulled out a spray bottle and sprayed her. A sweet, cloying scent filled her nostrils. Her vision blurred, then she plunged into darkness, completely losing consciousness. When she woke up, Aurora found herself tied up in a dilapidated warehouse. On a leather chair in front of her, a man with a sinister, evil smile sat watching her. Victor Thorne. She recognized him. Julian’s archenemy. The Thorne family had just been ruined by Julian a while ago. Victor grabbed her chin, a contemptuous smile on his face. “Don’t worry, I don’t hurt women. I brought you here because I want Julian’s life!” Just then, anxious footsteps sounded outside the door. Victor smirked coldly, patting her cheek. “I didn’t realize you were so important to him. I just made the call, and in less than twenty minutes, he’s already speeding over.” The words had barely left his lips when the main door was violently kicked open, and Julian’s furious voice cut through the air. “Victor Thorne, if you touch her, I’ll end you!” Aurora looked up, her eyes meeting Julian’s as he rushed in. Seeing her state, Julian’s eyes immediately reddened with pain. He whispered, “Aurora, don’t be scared.” “Mr. Julian, I think you’ve misunderstood the situation.” Victor pressed his knife against Aurora’s neck. “I hear this is the woman you love most. Now I am the butcher, and you are the fish. I can do whatever I want. What makes you think you can stop me from touching her?” “Victor, don’t hurt her! Whatever you want, I’ll do it, just don’t hurt her!” Victor Thorne and Julian had been rivals since childhood. This was the first time he had seen Julian’s weakness so clearly exposed. He gave a cold, sinister smile. “Anything? Does that include kneeling and begging for my forgiveness, my arrogant Mr. Julian?” Bang! Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, Julian dropped to his knees with a thud. The dust that rose stained his pant legs, the once aloof man now touched by grime. Aurora knew Julian loved her, but she never imagined someone so proud would kneel for her. Yet, the pain he inflicted upon her was also very real. Her heart was a maelstrom of emotions, love and hate intertwining. Tears streamed down her face. Seeing this, Victor smirked, a look of utter humiliation on his face as he kicked Julian to the ground. “What are you waiting for? You all, give Mr. Julian a warm welcome.” He waved his hand, and several henchmen with iron rods surrounded Julian. The burly men, with all their might, repeatedly struck Julian with their rods. For Aurora, Julian did not resist, gritting his teeth and enduring it silently. Blood, however, flowed onto the ground. Perhaps because he didn’t react with much pain, Victor found it somewhat boring. He called a halt, then tossed an iron rod in front of Julian. “Mr. Julian, you ruined the Thorne family. If I cripple one of your hands, it’s not too much, is it?” Julian looked at Aurora, spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes red. “If I cripple one hand, will you let Aurora go?” Victor’s lips curled into a smile. “If you do, I’ll consider it. But if you don’t, she dies.” With that, he deliberately moved the knife blade higher. “Don’t touch her!” He picked up the iron rod almost without hesitation. “I’ll do it!” “Julian!” Aurora looked at him in disbelief, shouting his name. Julian merely managed a faint smile, silently mouthing three words to her. I, love, you. Just as the iron rod was about to shatter his hand, the abandoned warehouse door was violently kicked open. A swarm of police officers rushed in, immediately apprehending Victor Thorne. Julian dropped the iron rod, then stumbled over, pulling Aurora tightly into his embrace, as if holding a lost treasure he’d found again. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he finally lose his strength and completely pass out. A day later, Julian woke up. The first thing he said was, “Aurora, are you hurt?!” At that moment, Aurora felt utterly exhausted. She didn’t understand why. The man before her clearly loved her, Yet he was also the one who hurt her the most. She regretted it, deeply regretted why she had ever fallen for Julian, why she had pursued him, why she had ever provoked him. Seeing her silence, Julian hugged her even tighter. “Aurora, I was wrong before. I’ll never lock you up again, and I won’t get jealous anymore. Will you forgive me?” Aurora closed her eyes, saying nothing, feeling a profound weariness in her heart. For the next few days, Aurora stayed to take care of him, but remained silent. Seeing his state, Julian felt an inexplicable panic. Assuming she was still angry about Grandma Margaret, on the day of his discharge, he arranged a proposal for her. Countless fireworks bloomed in the sky, and romantic flowers and candles were arranged in a heart shape. Julian slowly knelt on one knee before Aurora. “Aurora, marry me.” She gazed at the massive diamond ring, but her eyes were lowered. She remained silent. As time slowly passed, the smile on his face gradually faded. Finally, with an unyielding demeanor, he slipped the ring onto her ring finger. “Aurora, I will always love you.” Perhaps fearing a change of heart, the wedding preparations proceeded incredibly fast. Julian even hosted a banquet, announcing their happy news to everyone.
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