Chapter 127

Daniel walked over and took her right hand, bowing gallantly to press a kiss to the back of it.
“Aurora, you look stunning tonight.”
Aurora was in high spirits. She slipped her hand free, smiling. “Thank you.”
“My grandfather asked me to come pick you up.” Daniel offered his arm, his sharp features made even more striking by the black suit he’d changed into for the evening.
Aurora couldn’t tell whether it was her good mood or Daniel’s deliberate effort that made her heart flutter tonight.
Either way, before she knew it, her slender hand rested naturally on his arm.
She glanced sideways, observing his expression, only to find his face calm and unreadable.
Aurora figured Daniel must already know-and had agreed-to Mr. Hogan Chambers formally acknowledging her as family.
Now that she was to become Mr. Chambers’ goddaughter, she could never be Daniel’s wife.
That, she thought, was for the best.
Arm in arm, her white dress and his black suit intertwined, they looked for all the world like a bride and groom on their wedding day.
The stylist couldn’t help but take out his phone and snap a picture under his breath. “What a perfect match.”
By the time he looked up again, only the stern-faced young man remained.
Will held out his hand. “Phone.”
The stylist, understanding the unspoken rules, quickly tapped the photo to delete it.
But Will stopped him, instructed him to send the photo over first, then transferred
a generous sum before watching as the image was erased from the stylist’s device.
As for the photo now on Will’s own phone, it was promptly forwarded to his boss.
A few moments later, a hefty bonus arrived in Will’s account.
Daniel saved the photo, his fingers lingering over it, a trace of tenderness flickering at the corners of his lips.
He remembered their wedding three years ago-how, because neither family was satisfied with the match, there’d been no ceremony, just a quiet dinner with both families at the table.
Maybe, he thought, it was time to make up for that missed wedding.
Aurora gazed out the window, unaware of the gentle look Daniel cast her way. Her thoughts were elsewhere-after they signed the divorce papers tomorrow, should she take her grandmother back to Millbrook, or seize this new opportunity with Mr. Hogan Chambers to launch her career?
They sat in silence, each lost in their own world. Latest content publıshed on ͟.net
The car eventually rolled to a stop in the underground garage.
Daniel got out first and helped Aurora from the car with practiced chivalry, and together they entered the hotel elevator.
Originally, Mr. Hogan Chambers had planned to host a family dinner, but in the end decided that wasn’t grand enough, so he moved the event to the hotel instead.
Aurora noticed the elevator panel light up at 32.
She frowned. “Aren’t we supposed to be going to the third floor?”
Daniel’s hand clenched for a moment, but his expression remained warm and untroubled, giving nothing away.
“The reception doesn’t start for another hour. You should rest a bit first.”
Truthfully, Aurora didn’t want to show up too early either-it would just be awkward.
So she followed Daniel to the room.
Inside, Daniel helped her arrange her dress carefully on the sofa.
His movements were slow. Too slow.
Aurora felt a flicker of unease. She tried to stand, but Daniel pressed her gently back down.
Her face changed. “What are you doing?”
Daniel leaned down, brushing a kiss across the corner of her lips. When she tried to pull away, he caught her hands, fast and sure.
“Aurora, I told you-Mrs. Chambers will always be your place. You can only ever be my wife.”
A chill settled in Aurora’s chest.
It dawned on her that Daniel had never intended to take her to the family reception at all. His gentle act, his gallantry-everything had been a ruse to lower her guard and bring her here.
“Daniel, you have no right to decide my life,” she bit out, struggling against his hold.
All the anger Daniel had hidden away for so long finally erupted.