Chapter 39

“Aurora.”
Daniel’s voice was rough and low as he gripped his wife’s shoulders, turning her gently toward him. He plucked the wine glass from her hand, setting it aside.
His kiss was urgent, hungry, landing on her lips with a longing that bordered on desperation.
Aurora didn’t turn away. She accepted it.
In this marriage, she still fulfilled her duties as a wife.
But that was all it was-duty. The intimacy between them was simply physical, a man and a woman meeting each other’s needs.
Love, however, was gone.
Warner invited Aurora to meet him at his office.
She agreed.
That morning, Aurora braided her hair and tied it with a dainty butterfly bow. She wore a white dress scattered with tiny flowers.
Her look caught Warner off guard he couldn’t hide his appreciation.
“Ms. Quinn, you look wonderful today. And if you don’t mind me saying, you seem much happier than last time.”
The last time they’d met, she’d been perfectly dressed, but the shadows between her brows had been impossible to miss.
Today, though, she looked almost at ease.
Aurora thanked him for the compliment.
Warner led her through the company, paying special attention to the research and development department, and then took her out for dinner.
Aurora was impressed. The company wasn’t large, but it was well-organized, and she even spotted several rare spices she’d been searching for.
Dinner was delightful. Warner’s knowledge of perfume ran deeper than she had expected his understanding of “Velvet Silence” was especially nuanced, and it surprised her.
Conversation flowed easily between them.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Daniel sat in his black car, watching his wife through the window. The bright smile on her face twisted something inside him. He hadn’t seen her smile like that in nearly three months.
And now, she was showing it to another man.
Tonight, her outfit was simple, but she looked beautiful—and he could tell she’d put real thought into her appearance.
As dinner wound down, Aurora sent a message to Una, sharing her good impression of Warner.
Before she could put her phone away, someone snatched it from her hand.
She frowned and looked up, startled to see her husband.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel didn’t answer. He scrolled through her messages, his expression growing darker with every word he read.
Aurora crossed her arms and let him finish.
Finally, he handed the phone back.
Warner recognized Daniel from photos, but this was their first time meeting in person. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ
“Mr. Chambers.” Warner stood and extended his hand in greeting.
Daniel just stared, expression unreadable, his gaze raking over Warner from head
to toe. Young, handsome, with a gentle, refined air.
On any other day, Daniel might have admired someone like him.
But not as his wife’s dinner companion.
Aurora felt the tension and quickly picked up her purse, giving Warner a polite smile. “Thank you for dinner.”
Warner’s reply was polite, almost playful. “Dining with you was my pleasure, Ms. Quinn.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. Ms. Quinn, not Mrs. Chambers…
He grabbed Aurora’s purse, then took her hand, signaling for the restaurant
manager. “Put dinner on my tab.”
The manager nodded respectfully.
Warner recognized the subtle contest, but handled it with good humor. “Then I
suppose I should thank you for the meal, Mr. Chambers?”
His lighthearted remark made Aurora laugh.
Warner took the hint and made his exit. “Goodnight, Ms. Quinn. Until next time.”
Aurora nodded. “Goodnight.”
Daniel tightened his grip on her hand. “Let’s go.”
Aurora followed him out to the car without protest, saying nothing.
Daniel broke the silence first. “Is he a friend of yours? Funny, I don’t remember
you ever mentioning him before.”
Aurora turned, a half-smile playing on her lips. He’d just read her entire conversation with Una-he knew exactly who Warner was.