Chapter 139

“Louis.” Aurora’s voice trembled as she spoke, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Louis nodded politely, his tone distant. “Ms. Quinn.”
Aurora’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes shimmered with tears. “You’re calling me Ms. Quinn?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “How can you call me that?”
Louis glanced at his watch, clearly in a hurry. “I’ll reach out when I have time.”
Just as the elevator doors slid open, he stepped inside without another word.
Aurora instinctively moved to follow, but someone’s hand clamped tightly on her shoulder, holding her back.
Daniel’s jaw was clenched, veins standing out on his forehead as he turned Aurora around to face him.
His voice was low and rough. “Aurora… let’s go back.”
He wanted to ask what she and Louis were to each other, but he was terrified of what her answer might be.
He couldn’t bear the truth.
Aurora, lost in her own turmoil, let Daniel lead her back to the private lounge. Her thoughts were a whirlwind-Louis, gone for three years, had finally reappeared. Daniel’s face was drawn and pale, but in the dim light, no one seemed to notice. Someone laughed and teased, “Dan, you really love your wife, don’t you? Can’t let her out of your sight, even for a bathroom break.” The source of thɪs content is.net
Daniel’s response was cool. “Let’s drink.”
“To drinking!”
The room came alive again with chatter and laughter.
Aurora sat clutching her phone, her thumb hovering over Louis’s contact. She started to type a message more than once, but each time, she stopped herself.
Daniel saw everything. His hand shook around his glass.
She didn’t bother to hide her feelings for another man-not even in front of him.
A bitter ache filled Daniel’s chest as he tossed back his drink. The doctor had warned him not to drink, but tonight he ignored every warning, downing glass after glass, as if punishing himself.
He wanted to see how long it would take for her to notice him, to care about him. He didn’t refuse a single drink.
It was obvious to anyone paying attention that something was wrong.
Monica, unable to take it any longer, bit her lip and tried several times to speak up, but Daniel’s eyes never left Aurora, and she swallowed her words.
Eventually, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
She turned on Aurora, her voice sharp with accusation. “Aurora, can’t you see how much Dan’s drinking? You’re not even going to stop him?”
Aurora looked over at Monica, her eyes bloodshot but cold. “He wants to drink- what’s it got to do with me?”
The room fell silent.
Daniel’s knuckles whitened around his glass, his expression unreadable.
Monica’s frustration boiled over. She shot to her feet, voice shaking. “If you don’t care about him, then why are you holding on to the title of Mrs. Chambers?”
That was the role she’d always dreamed of.
But Aurora was squandering it.
Aurora’s lips curled into a cold smile. “If you’ve got the guts, ask him to divorce me and marry you. Why are you complaining to me?”
“Aurora.” Daniel’s voice was sharp, his anger finally surfacing.
He looked at her deeply.
Those eyes, usually calm and unreadable, now burned with a fury he’d never shown for another man.
He yanked her to her feet, but the alcohol hit him hard and the room spun; he nearly collapsed.
“Dan!” Monica cried out.
Eleanor hurried over to steady him, glancing at Aurora with thinly veiled reproach. “Whatever’s going on between you two, you’re still married, Aurora. You shouldn’t treat him like this.”
Before she could finish, Daniel pushed her away. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Aurora.
“Come here.”
Monica couldn’t take it; tears streaked down her face. “Dan, she doesn’t even love you! Why do you keep―”
She broke down, unable to finish, sobs wracking her shoulders.
Daniel shrugged off everyone who tried to help, single-mindedly reaching for Aurora.