Chapter 4
After being discharged from the hospital, Aurora went straight home and gathered every single thing that had anything to do with Sterling.
Diaries and love letters written in her teenage years.
Photographs of him she’d secretly saved.
Gifts she’d carefully chosen, surprises she had prepared for his birthdays, his anniversaries.
All of it.
Once,
she had imagined telling him her story–how she had loved him all these years in silence. She had planned to show him, one day, piece by piece, just how deep her feelings had run.
But now she knew: there would never be a “one day.” There was no future for them. Not even the smallest possibility.
So she threw it all away.
As she turned to leave the trash bin behind, she came face to face with Sterling–who had just
returned from dropping Scarlet off.
He glanced at the pile of discards, then looked at Aurora.
His expression remained cold and indifferent.
Scarlet followed his gaze, saw the garbage, and immediately clung to his arm with a playful smile.
“Sterling, looks like Aurora finally learned her lesson. I doubt she’ll bother you again. She’s still my sister, after all–don’t be too hard on her, hmm?”
Sterling gave Aurora a look devoid of warmth. “I’ve always been this way toward people I don’t care for. I can’t be bothered to pretend otherwise.”
Aurora said nothing.
She just took a slow breath, swallowed the rising sting in her throat, and turned away.
The next day was Scarlet’s birthday banquet,
The grand hall was packed with high society guests, everyone dressed to the nines and whispering
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excitedly in every corner.
“This party is unreal. Sterling Blackwood really pulled out all the stops–heard those flowers were flown in from Europe this morning. And they’re setting off fireworks for three days straight!”
“Did you see that jewelry set Scarlet’s wearing? It’s worth hundreds of millions, and Sterling personally won it at a Sotheby’s auction. The man is head over heels.”
“Scarlet hit the jackpot marrying him. The Wyndham family’s about to ascend to another level
entirely. Only shame is that younger sister of hers–Aurora, right? She’s like a time bomb. Always
eyeing her sister’s fiancé. So shameless.”
“Right? Same blood, but Aurora’s no match for her sister. Looks, manners–none of it compares. Clinging to Mr. Blackwood like that? If she were my daughter, I’d have kicked her out ages ago. The Wyndhams are just too soft..”
The gossip buzzed like flies, but Aurora sat quietly in a far corner like a ghost, unnoticed and
ignored.
She didn’t try to defend herself. Didn’t even flinch.
Across the room, her parents and Sterling stood beside Scarlet, beaming and doting on her like she
was a queen. They adjusted her gown, shielded her from toasts, lit the candles, and sang her
birthday song with joy.
Watching them laugh and smile so easily, Aurora’s thoughts drifted to her own birthdays in the
past–Scarlet would always find some excuse to drag their parents away, leaving her alone to blow
out her candles in silence.
For a few short years, when she was with Sterling, he’d join her. They would share a cake, exchange
gifts. Back then, she’d thought she would never be alone again.
But even those brief moments of affection and warmth had now been stripped from her.
And this time… she wouldn’t long for them anymore.
The party roared with celebration. Scarlet made her wish with closed eyes, then began opening her
gifts one by one. Designer bags, dazzling jewelry, luxury accessories–she was radiant with
happiness.
The final two gifts caused a stir.
The first came from her parents.
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“We’ve thought long and hard,” Mr. Wyndham announced, proudly. “And decided to name Scarlet
as the successor to Wyndham Group. She’ll inherit the family’s entire estate.”
Applause erupted across the hall.
The second gift came from Sterling himself.
“I’m giving Scarlet fifty percent of the Blackwood Group,” he said, taking her hand.
“And this ring–an heirloom passed down through generations of my family. My grandmother once told me, whoever wears these rings will grow old together in love and harmony. Scarlet… you are the only woman I have ever wanted to marry. Thank you for choosing me.”
As the room exploded in cheers and thunderous applause, Sterling slipped the ring onto her finger
and pulled her into a kiss.
Aurora sat motionless in the corner, her chest tight and hollow.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
She just wanted to leave.
But Scarlet stopped her.
“Aurora,” she called sweetly. “Where’s your gift? When are you going to give it to me?”
The whole room turned to look at her.
Aurora froze. Slowly, she reached into her bag and pulled out the present she had prepared long ago, walking over to hand it to Scarlet.
Scarlet opened it with a smug smile, clearly preparing to toss out some sarcastic remark
But Sterling’s expression suddenly changed.
He stared at Aurora’s wrist, frozen in place.
“That bracelet…” His voice came out low, sharp.
“Why do you have that bracelet?”
Aurora looked up,
confused. She glanced down at her wrist–she had forgotten she was wearing it.
Back when Sterling was blind, he couldn’t see her, but she still dressed up for him every time she
visited.
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She often wore that bracelet. He used to run his fingers over it when he held her hand, asking her what kind of gemstones were embedded in it.
Now, she said nothing.
But Sterling stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, his grip tight.
“Answer me!” he demanded. “Why do you have this? Who are you really?”
Chapter 4
