Chapter 12
Elias was in unusually gomil spirits as he considered recent events. “Maverick has proven himself quite a catch he mused aloud, leaning back in his chair. “He’s maintained an impeccable reputation all these years, and now, despite our family’s recent troubles, he’s stepping up to marry Aurora, That shows real character”
Evelyn carefully masked her displeasure. While Maverick would undoubtedly make an excellent son–in–law, the thought of Aurora securing such a prestigious match made her blood boil. Elias’s apparent approval of the match only brightened her anxiety.
I’m concerned about Aurora, Naomi ventured, keeping her voice gentle. “She’s never shown any interest in Maverick before–her heart has always belonged to Scott. Perhaps Maverick is pressuringher somehow”
The mention of Scout transformed Elias’s expression from contentment to thunderous rage. “Soome savior Scott turned out to be, he spat slannning his hand on the desk.
“Aurora herself denied his involvement. What kind of bodyguard lets his charge get kidnapped, then tries to take credit for her rescue! The man’s nothing but an opportunist! He then pulled out his phone to terminate Scott’s employment
“Uncle, please.” Naomi interjected, trying to salvage the situation. “Scott may have failed at his job, but surely-
“Enough” Elias cut her off sharply. “Whether it was incompetence or something more sinister, Scott has no place in this family anymore.”
He let out a sigh as he regarded his niece, remembering her recent embarrassment at the reception. “You’re not a child anymore, Naomi. It’s you learned to carry yourself with more dignity.”
at time he’d ever spoken to her so sternly. Naomi’s face darkened with suppressed rage, but before she could explode, her mother
It was the first
intervened.
“That’s quite enough, darling Evelyn warned, shooting her daughter a meaningful look. “Your uncle means well. Take his advice to heart
Naomi forced herself to bow her head and murmur agreement, but the moment she reached her room, her composure shattered. She tore at her bedding in a violent fury, trampling it beneath her feet before matching up her phone to call Scott
Scott answered immediately, his voice tense. “Miss Price! I was about to call you. Mr. Sage is firing me–we need a plan.”
Naomi’s laugh held no humor. “A plan! You have the audacity to ask me for help after your spectacular failure” Her voice dripped with venom despite its surface calm.
Scon seized on her controlled tone as a hopeful sign. “I can’t leave the Sage family, he insisted.
Aurora had always been sweet to hum before—she was just confused from the trauma. If he stayed close, he could still turn this around, still claim everything they planned.
“Miss Price, please,” he added in an urgent whisper, “you know we’re in this together.”
His attempt at subtle threatening sparked Naomi’s rage. “You incompetent fool, she hissed. “You couldn’t handle one simple task, and now you dare try to threaten met Know your place! If you had just managed to keep Aurora under contol, I wouldn’t have become everyone’s laughingstock!”
The
memory of being mocked earlier only stoked the flames of Naomi’s fury.
Evelyn entered during her daughter’s trade, quietly closing and locking the door behind her. “That’s enough, darling” she said, settling beside Naomi Berating lum won’t change anything now”
Naomu ended the call and collapsed into her mother’s embrace. “Mom, I’m furious,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “If Scott hadn’t failed so miserably, Aurora’s reputation would be in tatters by now. The Parkers would have rejected her, and Uncle would have given up on her entirely.”
She had orchestrated everything so carefully, but it had all spun wildly out of her control. What happens if she actually marries Maverick? The thought made her sick. Everything Aurora possessed should have been hers by right
Evelyn stroked her daughter’s hair, a cold smile playing across her lips. “My dear,” she murmured, “she has to make it to the altar first. After all, you never know what will happen until the very end”
Meanwhile, Scott stood at his hospital window, nearly crushing his phone in frustration. His future was slipping through his fingers–he couldn’t let that happen
The sound of footsteps interrupted his brooding as fosir men in black suits entered his room. Despite his fighting skills, Scott was at a disadvantage with the IV in his arm. He managed one clumsy dodge, stumbling backward. “What do you want?”
“Too Late, he realized he’d been maneuvered into another attacker’s range. Before darkness claimed him, he heard a respectful murmur. “Our apologies, Mr. Warson.”
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Chapter 12
Aurora pilteil awake, sweat beading on her forehead Or
danes surrounded her, consuming the curtains white rotting beams crashed down in
Through the infern, she felt strong arms around her and heard a familiar wire muuring, “Det be afraid, Aurora Em here
Her throat constricted as she whispered, “Maverick
Her mund raced in confusion. Haven’t been back to age twenty? Is thats just another niglamare dhe wondered
The weight of iron chains around her ankles felt all too real. As another licant cracked overhead, pure instinct drove her to grab Maverick and roll them both to safety.
“Maverick, wake up,” she pleaded, shaking him. When he remained unresponsive, raw panic clawed at her chest.
“You have to get us out of here! Her voice grew more desperate with each passing second. “Maverick, please
da
His continued silence unleashed a wave of grief she’d never experienced before. The pain of potentially losing him felt like inhaling shards of glass, every breath bringing fresh agony.
“Maverick!” she screamed, only to snap awake for real this time, gasping as she took in her familiar surroundings.
Relief flooded through her–itdud just been a dream. But immediately, fresh anxiety gripped her. Where was Maverick!
She rushed downstairs on unsteady legs, nearly collapsing on the steps when she spotted his familiar silhouette on the couch “Thank God, she thought, sagging against the railing did travel back in time after all
The TV caught her attention. It was showing footage from outside the hospital’s obstetrics department, where she’d confronted Scott earlier. The camera captured her in a soft green dress, chin raised in defiance, her swan–like neck and proud bearing enunating an unmistakable air of nobility.
Maverick sat watching the footage, absently stroking his chin as he issued commands in a tone that brooked no argument. “Shut down all media coverage of this incident,” he ondered.
Behind him, Howard shifted uncomfortably before managing a quiet, “Yes, Mr. Parker”
“And begin preparations for a world–class wedding ceremony, Maverick continued, his focus never leaving the screen.
Howard’s expression grew complicated. After a moment’s hesitation, he cleared his throat. “Mr. Parker, your parents are concerned about your health. They’ve requested to visit you on the island.“–
“Denied, Maverick replied flatly.
Howard added carefully. “They’ve also expressed strong reservations about this marriage
