Chapter 88

“Aurora.”
“Tomorrow morning, go to the courthouse.”
She turned to leave, only to find Mr. Hogan Chambers standing in the hallway.
Feeling awkward, Aurora lowered her eyes and stood quietly, unsure where to look.
Daniel hurried forward, stepping protectively in front of her, his expression guarded. “Grandfather.”
A minute later, in the director’s office.
Daniel was stopped outside by his grandfather’s men.
Mr. Chambers set a check in front of Aurora.
“You’ve been married to Dan for three years, and you’ve contributed a great deal to the Chambers family. And after what you went through with the miscarriage Consider this check our compensation.”
Aurora’s fingers trembled. She knew exactly what Mr. Chambers was saying.
“After your divorce from Dan, I want you to leave Fairvale,” Mr. Chambers continued, blunt as ever. “For the next three years, don’t come back.”
Aurora closed her eyes. Three years…
“All right,” she agreed.
Mr. Chambers seemed pleased with her pragmatism. His tone softened, almost gracious. “Do you have any other requests?”
A thousand thoughts raced through Aurora’s mind before she settled on just one.
“I want to know the truth behind the leak of the perfume formula.”
She hadn’t been able to find out. Daniel hadn’t either. If anyone could, it would be him.
In all of Fairvale, there wasn’t much Mr. Chambers couldn’t uncover.
Before she left, she needed the truth. This update ıs available on (.)net
Mr. Chambers nodded. In his clouded eyes was a knowing wisdom-and a cold indifference.
“I can tell you right now. Someone installed a tiny camera inside the lab’s smoke
detector. Every move you made was under surveillance.”
That’s how they’d managed to replicate the formula so exactly.
Aurora lowered her eyes. So that was the truth.
“You knew all along,” she said, certain.
He nodded. “Tomorrow, their perfume goes into production. The day after, evidence will be sent to the authorities.”
If their competitor started mass production, they’d have already bought up huge quantities of ingredients. Once the evidence reached the authorities, they’d be shut down, and the financial fallout would be catastrophic.
In this corporate war, the Chambers Group had won.
Aurora understood, clear as day.
She and her perfume had been sacrifices from the very start.
“I have one last question.” Aurora’s voice was hoarse.
Mr. Chambers knew what she wanted to ask and didn’t hesitate. “This was his plan.”
Aurora swayed, gripping the table to steady herself, her face drained of color. No wonder he’d gone to such lengths to protect Eleanor.
Because the real villain was him.
A bitter taste rose in her throat, but she forced it down, picked up the check, and left.
She had given everything to this relationship, and all she had to show for it were
scars.
She opened the door and looked at Daniel, still held back by the bodyguards. Daniel immediately sensed something was wrong. Panic flashed across his face. “Aurora-”
She looked away, her expression cold, and walked off in the opposite direction without a backward glance.
Daniel tried to follow, but was ushered into the office by his grandfather’s men. “What did you say to her?”
Mr. Chambers leaned on his cane and got to his feet. “I told her you knew how they got the formula, but you did nothing to clear her name.”
Daniel’s face went pale. The realization hit him all at once.
It was over between him and Aurora.
He tried to bolt from the office, but was forcibly held back.
His eyes reddened with fury and he shouted, “Why did you tell her?!”
Mr. Chambers looked at him coolly. “Because the Chambers family has no use for dead weight.”
With that, he walked out, cane tapping against the floor.
Aurora returned to North Manor to pack her things.
This time, she only took her ID and the essentials.
Her tears had all dried up. Even her heart didn’t seem to hurt as much anymore.
She left without looking back.