Chapter 143

The car pulled away from the curb.
Aurora watched Daniel in the rearview mirror, her gaze lingering as she saw Monica rush to his side.
She couldn’t hold back her tears.
He’d been so angry-yet even in that moment, he’d left her safely in the car and gotten out himself.
He used to hurt her, and now that she’d finally hardened her heart against him, it felt like some kind of twisted justice. Maybe they were finally even.
Aurora didn’t return to the villa. Instead, she asked the driver to take her back to the small apartment she’d stayed in before.
Standing in the living room, her sadness only deepened.
After all the drama, here she was-back where she started. Fınd the newest release on
But the wave of misery didn’t last long. Aurora pulled herself together quickly. She called Warner and asked for every detail about Payne’s condition. She learned that if they could find a bone marrow match, there was still hope for the boy.
Without wasting a minute, she packed up and hurried to the hospital to get tested as a potential donor.
Warner came along and got tested too.
Payne was an adorable child. They both wanted nothing more than for him to have a chance to grow up.
When Louis heard the news, he was deeply moved. The cold look he usually wore softened noticeably.
Especially toward Aurora-there was gratitude in his eyes as he approached her. “Ms. Quinn, could I have a word?”
Aurora followed him out into the hallway.
The first thing Louis did was apologize for what had happened before. Then, with
a serious look, he asked, “Are you Payne’s mother?”
Aurora met his gaze, her eyes steady. “You
“I lost my memory,” Louis interrupted, tapping his temple. “Three years ago, I was
in an accident. When I woke up, all I remembered was that Payne was my son. Everything else was gone.”
“Amnesia,” Aurora whispered, barely able to control the tremor in her voice. “You really forgot everything
Was this fate?
Louis waited quietly as Aurora took it in. Now that he thought about it, Payne really did look a little like her.
The idea that Aurora was Payne’s mother wasn’t hard to accept it made sense. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
“Ms. Quinn?” he prompted gently when she remained silent.
Aurora took a steadying breath and looked him squarely in the eye, her words slow and deliberate: “I am Payne’s mother.”
Louis’s expression relaxed, as if a weight had lifted. Of course, it all added up. He started to say, “Then, between us—”
But Aurora shook her head, cutting him off. “There’s nothing between us.”
“I was the one who insisted on having the baby. You weren’t involved. Later, when
I found out Payne was sick, I gave him to you.”
Louis was silent for a long moment.
He understood.
Being a single mother was hard enough-having a sick child made it almost unbearable.
Aurora’s voice softened. “You don’t owe me anything. I’m only here for Payne. I have no intention of complicating your life.”
Louis nodded. “I understand.”
Aurora let out a quiet sigh of relief. “May I see Payne now?”
“Of course,” Louis replied easily. “You’re welcome anytime.”
Aurora pressed her lips together, a genuine smile breaking through for the first time in days.
They turned together and walked back into the hospital room, their silhouettes strangely harmonious.
At the far end of the corridor, Daniel stood for a long time, watching them through the glass.
So it was true—she and Louis had shared a past, and together they’d had a child. His heart felt ripped open, raw and bleeding.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips. He turned and walked away, pulling out his phone as he went.
He dialed Mrs. Chambers. “I’ll go through with the engagement to Monica.”
Mrs. Chambers was elated. “Dan, I’m so glad you finally came around!”
But Daniel had already ended the call.
Mrs. Chambers, unable to contain her excitement, immediately began arranging for Monica to come over for dinner.