Who will marry you?

Aurora Evans had secretly sent Adrian Thorne’s sugar baby out of the country. That very night, he retaliated by kidnapping her parents, demanding the sugar baby’s whereabouts in exchange for their lives. Adrian shoved his phone in front of her. On the screen, her parents were tied to chairs, a ticking time bomb strapped to their chests, the digital countdown relentlessly dwindling. 00:59:59 00:59:58 He sat across from her, impeccably dressed in a suit, his long fingers lightly tapping the table, as if waiting for a mundane contract to be signed. “Aurora, you have fifty-nine minutes.” His voice was calm, almost tender. “Tell me, where did you send Seraphina?” A cold dread seeped into Aurora, her throat constricting, unable to utter a single word. This was his third time asking. The first time, he asked where Seraphina Reed had gone. She remained silent. The second time, he gripped her chin, his thumb caressing her lips, his voice low and dangerous: “Aurora, stop being childish.” Now, the third time. He was using her parents’ lives to force her. “Adrian…” Her voice trembled. “Those are my parents. They’re the most important people to me…” He let out a soft laugh, but his eyes were terrifyingly cold. “Oh really? Then when you sent Seraphina away, why didn’t you consider how important she is to *me*?” Aurora stared at him, a sudden, bitter laugh catching in her throat. Important? He had told her those other women were just for fun, easy to discard once he tired of them. He had sworn she was the only one he truly loved. But now, for Seraphina Reed, he was willing to kill her parents. “Adrian,” her voice was hoarse, unrecognizable. “If I don’t tell you, will you really let them die?” He leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes reflecting her pale face. “You can try me.” Aurora trembled uncontrollably, tears splashing onto the table. She couldn’t fathom how things had spiraled to this point. Adrian Thorne, who had once loved her so genuinely. Years ago, she was just a girl from an ordinary family, while Adrian was the heir to one of the most powerful families in the city’s elite circles, privileged from birth, entitled and arrogant, never one to bow down to anyone. Yet, he fell in love with her at first sight. His pursuit of her became a grand campaign of declarations of love, each one a sensation that swept through the city. Giant rose displays lowered by helicopter, LED confessions plastered across the entire financial district, even a city-wide fireworks display just for her on her birthday. She was moved, but her parents vehemently opposed the match. They knew too well what elite circles were like—powerful men always had their wives at home, but plenty of flings on the side. The love of the privileged was never a fairytale. They wanted her to marry someone from a similar background, but Adrian knelt at her family’s doorstep for an entire day and night, shedding all his pride, just for a chance to marry her. Her parents eventually softened. After their marriage, he pampered her beyond measure, accommodating her every whim. When she had painful periods, he’d fly back overnight from abroad just to make her special comfort tea. She casually mentioned wanting that specific pastry from the old bakery on the other side of town, and he’d drive halfway across the city to get it for her. She thought she had married the right man. Until, she first heard the name “Seraphina Reed.” It was Adrian’s assistant who mentioned it in casual conversation, talking about a college student who had staged a fall during Adrian’s speech to get his attention, a trick as old as time. Aurora smiled, dismissing it. After all, countless women tried to snag him, but he had always been devoted to her. But the second time she heard it, it was in bed. He was above her, and in the throes of passion, he whispered, “Seraphina.” In that moment, she felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss. She confronted him, but he held her, explaining that he *had* considered taking Seraphina as a sugar baby, but it was just a casual fling to keep on the side. “Everyone in our circle does this, Aurora. You’re still the one I love most, that will never change.” But then, he became increasingly blatant. He bought Seraphina jewelry, gifted her luxury homes, and even took her to private parties. The rumors spiraled, becoming the talk of the town. She cried, she argued, but he no longer soothed her as he once did. He’d just coldly say, “Stop being unreasonable.” Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and sent Seraphina out of the country. But she never expected his reaction to be so extreme. He kidnapped her parents, strapped bombs to them, all to force her to reveal Seraphina’s whereabouts. “She’s in Switzerland.” Her voice trembled. “Zurich, in that villa under my name.” He stared at her for a few seconds, as if judging the truthfulness of her words, then pulled out his phone and made a call. Once confirmed, he grabbed his suit jacket, his steps urgent, ready to retrieve Seraphina. “What about my parents?” She lunged, grabbing his sleeve. “You promised you’d let them go if I told you!” He turned back to her, his gaze indifferent. “The abandoned factory in the South End. Go find them yourself.” Aurora stumbled out the door, driving frantically towards the South End. When she found them, there were only ten minutes left on the bomb’s timer. Her parents were tied to chairs, their mouths gagged. The moment they saw her, they shook their heads wildly, urging her to leave. She rushed over, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the ropes, but the bomb’s countdown ticked like a death knell. 00:03:2

00:03:20 She couldn’t untie them, tears streaming down her face in desperation. Her father suddenly shoved her with all his might. She staggered back. The next second, he forcefully launched his body into the bomb— “Dad—!!!” The explosion was deafening, the heatwave knocking her off her feet. She fell heavily to the ground, her vision blurring crimson. … When Aurora next awoke, she was in a hospital. Her parents had suffered severe injuries, but thankfully, they were alive. She knelt beside their beds, weeping as she apologized. “I’m so sorry… I chose the wrong man…” Mrs. Evans weakly raised a hand, stroking her daughter’s hair. “Foolish girl, you can always start over.” Aurora shook her head. “He won’t let me go.” After first learning about Seraphina, she couldn’t accept it and had considered divorce. But every time she drafted divorce papers, Adrian tore them up. He claimed Seraphina was just a fling, that he’d eventually cast her aside, that Aurora was his true love, and he’d never let her leave. Mr. Evans held her hand. “No, Aurora, there’s something you don’t know, and he’s probably forgotten too. The night we agreed to your marriage, your mother and I made him sign a divorce agreement.” She froze. “If he ever betrayed you,” Mr. Evans’ voice was soft, “the agreement would become effective, and you could divorce him immediately. Our family… would then disappear forever.” Aurora was stunned, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her parents had prepared a failsafe for her all along. … The next day, Aurora did two things. First, she, along with Mr. and Mrs. Evans, took the signed divorce agreement to a law firm. After reviewing it, the lawyer nodded. “The agreement is valid. The divorce is effective immediately.” Second, their family initiated the paperwork to completely erase their identities. Once the identity cancellation was complete, Aurora Evans would no longer exist in this world. And Adrian Thorne would never find her! Learning that the cancellation process would take half a month, Aurora discussed it with her parents and decided to return to Adrian’s mansion for the time being. For these two weeks, she had to stay by Adrian’s side, unable to let him detect anything unusual. Otherwise, with his ruthless methods, none of them would be able to escape. Upon returning to the villa, Aurora began to pack her things. The cherished photos, Adrian’s love letters to her, the souvenirs they’d bought during their travels together… she threw them all into the fireplace. Flames devoured the past, as if burning away a ridiculous dream. The next day, Aurora went to the backyard. There was an entire grove of sycamore trees, which Adrian had planted for her himself. He said sycamores symbolized fidelity, like his love for her, never fading. Aurora picked up an axe and chopped them down, one by one. The house staff stood at a distance, daring not to approach or stop her. The dull, grating sound of tree trunks breaking was like a stubborn obsession being violently severed. On the third day, Aurora went to the Lover’s Cliff on the mountain. A padlock, engraved with their names, hung there. Years ago, Adrian had held her, throwing the key off the cliff, saying they would be locked together forever. Now, Aurora used pliers to simply snip the chain. The lock fell to the ground with a sharp clink. She turned and left, never looking back. When she returned to the villa, there were two more people in the living room. Adrian sat on the sofa, and Seraphina leaned into his embrace, her face pale, looking as fragile as if a gust of wind could blow her over. Aurora walked past them expressionlessly, heading straight upstairs. “Stop.” Adrian’s voice came, cold and sharp. Aurora paused, not turning around. “Do you know why I brought her back?” he asked. “Don’t care.” “After you sent Seraphina out of the country, she struggled to adapt to the local environment and didn’t sleep well for days.” His tone was reproachful. “Aurora, apologize to her.” Aurora finally turned around to face them. The fragility on Seraphina’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a triumphant smirk in her eyes. “What if I don’t apologize?” Aurora asked calmly. “It’s fine, it really is…” Seraphina said, her voice soft and weak. “It’s okay if I suffer a little. After all… you’re the wife.” Adrian immediately pulled her closer. “Didn’t I tell you not to be so understanding?” He kissed the top of her head. “From now on, I’ll pamper you. You can do anything you want.” Aurora forced a twisted smile, finding it utterly sarcastic. A maid brought in a bowl of calming soup, specially prepared for Seraphina. Just then, Adrian’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and said softly to Seraphina, “You always get a headache when I talk business. I’ll take this outside. You drink your soup.” With that, he rose and left. Aurora stood rooted, her heart feeling as if it had been struck by an axe. He never used to discuss business out in the open, because of confidential information. But now, for Seraphina, he would even change that habit. Only Aurora and Seraphina remained in the living room. The feigned fragility on Seraphina’s face instantly vanished, replaced by the arrogance of a victor. “See?” she sneered. “Even if you are Mrs. Thorne, and you used your position to send me away, Adrian’s body and soul are both with me.” Aurora looked at her blandly. “You want him? He’s yours.” Seraphina paused, then flared with anger. “I don’t need you to *give* him to me! He’ll be mine alone eventually, and your position will be mine too!” Seeing Aurora unmoved, she became even more furious. Just then, Adrian’s footsteps were heard from outside. A hint of viciousness flashed in Seraphina’s eyes. She suddenly picked up the bowl of steaming hot calming soup and deliberately splashed it all over herself! “Ah!” she shrieked, tears instantly welling up. When Adrian rushed in, this was the scene he witnessed. Seraphina was drenched and disheveled, the soup dripping from her clothes, and she was crying as if her heart would break. “Aurora Evans!” His brows furrowed with barely concealed rage. “Not only will you not apologize, but you dare to do this to her?!” “I didn’t do it.” Aurora said calmly. “You can check the surveillance cameras.” “Fine, check them!” he sneered. Seraphina immediately grabbed his arm, sobbing. “Adrian, it’s not Aurora’s fault… I shouldn’t dream of staying by your side. I’ll leave right now…” As she took a step, Adrian yanked her back. “I finally got you back, and now you want to leave my sight again? Are you trying to kill me?” He held her tightly, as if clutching a lost and precious treasure. Then, he looked at Aurora, his eyes terrifyingly cold. “I will get justice for this.” Aurora was locked in the cold storage. As the bodyguards dragged her inside, she struggled desperately. “Adrian Thorne! Check the cameras! I didn’t do it!” He didn’t even spare her a glance, just coldly stated, “No need to check. I only trust her.” The cold room door slammed shut. Darkness and frigid air instantly engulfed Aurora. She curled up in a corner, shivering, but her heart felt even colder than the room. Was this what he meant by saying she was the one he loved most? Aurora’s tears fell uncontrollably. She was always sensitive to cold. After they married, Adrian spent a fortune installing a constant temperature system in their home, even the outdoor courtyard was perpetually spring-like. In winter, he would warm her icy hands and feet in his embrace, laughing, “I’ll keep you warm like this for the rest of our lives.” Thinking back now… Vows were probably only true the moment they were spoken. The next day, as Aurora was almost losing consciousness from the cold, the cold room door finally opened. A bodyguard stood expressionless at the doorway. “Mr. Thorne said that if there’s a next time, the punishment won’t be this lenient.” She leaned against the wall, staggering out, trembling all over, her teeth chattering. There wouldn’t be a next time. Soon, she would make him disappear from her world completely. That evening, Adrian’s assistant delivered a gown and jewelry, saying she needed to attend a charity auction gala. Aurora went. Then, at the entrance to the ballroom, she saw Seraphina Reed. Seraphina was wearing a haute couture gown, and around her neck was a diamond necklace that Adrian had bought at an auction last month for a seven-figure sum. Aurora stopped and looked at Adrian. “She’s here too. Why do you still want me to come?” His expression was bland. “I hadn’t intended to bring her, but she’d never seen this kind of event and wanted to come, so I brought her.” He paused, his tone casual. “Aurora, don’t be so petty.” Aurora’s body trembled slightly. She wasn’t being petty. He simply hadn’t considered how much she would be talked about and mocked, having the legitimate wife and the sugar baby appear together. Adrian walked straight in with Seraphina, who intimately linked her arm through his, a sweet smile on her face. People around them whispered. “Mr. Thorne and his wife have such a great relationship, they’re so well-matched.” “You’ve got it wrong. *That* one is Mrs. Thorne. The one next to him… is just a sugar baby.” The person awkwardly glanced at Aurora, then mumbled, “But Mr. Thorne is so good to her. He dressed her in authentic designer, while the wife got a ‘gift with purchase’… no wonder I got them confused.” Aurora clenched her hands, her nails digging deeply into her palms. Once the auction began, Aurora casually bid on a few items. But no matter what she bid on, Seraphina would add just one dollar to her price. Low laughter rippled through the room. “The legitimate wife being bullied by the sugar baby—that’s a first…” Aurora’s face remained impassive. She simply made a “no limit” bid gesture. A “no limit” bid meant that no matter how high the price went, she would take the item, no cap. Seraphina’s face paled. She clutched Adrian’s sleeve, feigning distress. “Adrian, I really love this one…” Adrian frowned, looking at Aurora. “Aurora, let her have it.” “No.” “She can’t make a ‘no limit’ bid, but I can, because I’m your wife, and we have joint marital assets.” She looked at Seraphina, her voice laced with sarcasm. “No matter how much he gives you, you’ll never compare to me.” Seraphina’s eyes immediately reddened. She stood up abruptly. “You…” The next second, she suddenly covered her face, crying, “Yes, you’re his wife… I’m just a hidden sugar baby, I shouldn’t have such foolish hopes… Adrian… let’s just end this!” With that, she turned and ran. Adrian’s face changed drastically. He grabbed Aurora’s wrist, his grip so powerful it felt like her bones would shatter. “I told you I’d get tired of her eventually! Did you have to force her away?!” Aurora looked at him calmly. “What she does, or doesn’t do, is none of my concern.” His eyes darkened. He flung her hand away and strode out, chasing after Seraphina. Aurora stood still, the gazes around her either mocking or pitying. But she didn’t care. Anyway, she would be leaving soon. But the next morning, Aurora was jolted awake by a news alert on her phone. 【BREAKING! CEO Adrian Thorne’s Wife’s 999 Intimate Photos To Be Auctioned Publicly At Sotheby’s!】 Her blood instantly froze. Those photos… only Adrian had them. Aurora shakily dialed his number, her voice hoarse. “The photos… you put them out?” On the other end of the line, Adrian sneered. “Don’t you love making ‘no limit’ bids?” “If you don’t want others to see those photos…” his voice was cruel, “then get over there, and make ‘no limit’ bids on every single one!” In the background, Seraphina’s sweet voice cooed, “Adrian… is that Aurora? I… I should still leave, I shouldn’t stay by your side…” “Don’t be silly.” His voice instantly softened. Then, intimate kissing sounds came through the phone. “I already stood up for you. Try leaving again, I dare you.” The call ended at some point. Aurora felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice cave. She rushed to the auction site. The moment she pushed open the doors, she was trembling. The room was filled with men, and on the large screen, her intimate photos scrolled. There was her sleeping profile, which he once said was adorable and saved specially; There was her back while showering, which he coaxed her to take, saying he could look at it when he missed her; And there were naked bed photos of her covered in hickey marks, when he said it was proof of his love for her. At the auction, the men’s covetous gazes glued themselves to Aurora, their whispered comments slicing into her ears like knives. “That figure… tsk tsk, Mr. Thorne is truly blessed.” “I heard Mr. Thorne used to be deeply in love with Mrs. Thorne. Why would he sell her intimate photos now?” “Got bored, I guess. These elite wives, glorious on the surface, but behind the scenes…” Every word was like a knife plunging into Aurora’s heart. She suddenly remembered how possessive Adrian used to be. That year they vacationed on a tropical island, she wore a backless dress. When a man glanced at her twice, Adrian immediately dragged her back to the hotel, pinning her against the floor-to-ceiling window, possessing her while coaxing her to shout, “Aurora Evans belongs to Adrian Thorne.” And now, to stand up for another woman, he personally sold her intimate photos for these men to gawk at! She bid on them one by one. Each time she pressed the bid button, her heart grew colder. By the time she won the last photo, her love for him was completely exhausted. As she walked out of the auction house, her phone rang. “Did you enjoy your ‘no limit’ bidding spree?” Adrian’s voice was mocking. Aurora clutched her phone, her nails almost digging into her palm. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll divorce you by doing this?” His tone was remarkably flat, as if speaking to a difficult child. “You can’t. Aurora, if I don’t sign, the divorce won’t happen.” She remained silent. He had clearly forgotten that she held a signed divorce agreement he had already approved.

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