The soft closing of the bedroom door behind them was like sealing the outside world away. No press, no boardrooms, no contracts. Just them.
Kai pulled her gently into his arms, his forehead resting on hers, lips brushing lightly. "You were incredible today."
Aurora reached up to cup his cheek. "So were you… But I was scared."
"Of what?"
"That you'd see me differently. That knowing I was behind Aether would change how you felt."
His eyes darkened, filled with something deeper than lust reverence. "It only made me fall harder."
He didn't wait. His mouth captured hers in a kiss that wasn't rushed, but deeply hungry. Like he'd been waiting for days. Like the public success had only ignited a private storm in him.
They undressed between soft kisses and heated stares, not in a rush, but in reverence.
When his fingers brushed the back of her knees and lifted her onto the bed, her breath hitched. Kai's touch was a slow burn mapping her body like a territory he'd vowed to never forget. His lips trailed down her neck, to her collarbone, then lower, lingering on every gasp she gave.
He didn't speak. He didn't need to.
He worshiped her that night with every kiss, every press of his hips, every grip of her thighs around him slow, intense, primal. And when Aurora arched under him, whispering his name like a plea and a prayer, Kai gave her everything he was body, heart, soul.
They didn't just make love.
They chose each other again.
The Next Morning – Storm Beneath the Calm
The sun poured softly through the large windows as Aurora woke, still nestled in Kai's arms. He was already awake, watching her like he couldn't quite believe she was real.
"Good morning, Mrs. Valen"
She smiled lazily. "I like how that sounds."
After a lingering kiss, they dressed and had breakfast with Wendie and their grandfather. It was full of laughter, toast clinks, and subtle looks between Kai and Aurora that hinted at the heat of the night before.
But as soon as they stepped into the elevator at Valen TechHQ, the mood shifted.
Kai's assistant, Elias, greeted them at the top floor with a sharp expression. "Sir. You're going to want to see this."
He handed Kai a tablet.
On it: a headline from a popular business magazine.
> "Aurora's Rise: Family Behind Aether Integrated Breaks Silence 'We Always Knew She Was Special.'"
Aurora's heart sank. Her family who had ignored her struggles, dismissed her dreams, and cut her off were now basking in the glow of her success. Posing as if they had supported her all along.
Photos of her father and her step sister, standing proudly in front of their estate, filled the screen. Quotes like:
> "We supported her ambitions from the start. Aether was always her baby, and we're so proud to have guided her through it."
Kai's jaw clenched. "They didn't help you build any of it?"
"Not a single bit," Aurora said coldly. "They only saw me as useless"
Kai glanced at Elias. "Get our PR team. We're issuing a counter-statement. And keep digging we'll make sure the truth shines through."
Aurora stood frozen for a moment, her eyes clouded with a mix of pain and anger.
Kai turned to her, cupping her cheek. "You don't owe them a single piece of your success. You built your empire, not them."
Her voice was firm, but low. "Then let's remind the world exactly who I am."
The tension was already thick when Kai and Aurora stepped into the executive boardroom later that morning. Elias had sent word that a "situation" was unfolding in reception, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight waiting at the door.
Joseph Carter.
Camin Carter.
Lexi Carter.
Her estranged family dressed in their polished best, eyes glinting with ambition and opportunism standing like they belonged.
Aurora froze mid-step.
Kai felt her body stiffen beside him before he saw them. His instinct was immediate protective and cold. He placed himself slightly in front of her, shielding her with a calm but dominant presence.
Joseph's voice sliced through the air. "Aurora. We've been trying to reach you."
Aurora's mouth twitched. "No. You've been trying to reach my company, which you never believed on me. There's a difference."
Lexi took a step forward, face painted in faux innocence. "Come on, Rory. We're family. We were just proud of you. We wanted to celebrate… together."
Kai's jaw tightened as he narrowed his gaze at her. "This is private property. And my wife doesn't owe you a minute of her time."
Camin huffed, ever the elegant manipulator. "We just wanted a chance to talk. Surely you're not going to deny your own father a seat at the table now that you've made it big?"
Aurora's laugh was sharp and bitter. "You mean the same father who threw me out for refusing to marry the man he picked? The one who told me I'd never succeed without the Carter name?"
Joseph's expression darkened, but Kai stepped in smoothly. "Gentle reminder this table isn't for showboaters or parasites. You come into my building, trying to ride on the name of the woman you abandoned? Not on my watch."
"Watch your tone, boy," Joseph snapped.
Kai said " I hope you remember clearly that one word from me, you leave you with your pathetic company with nothing, so you better not cross my limits"
Elias, standing nearby, cleared his throat. "Security has been notified. Unless there's a legal matter, you'll need to leave."
Lexi's voice rose, panicked. "So that's it? You're going to choose them over your blood?"
Aurora walked forward, slow and measured. Her voice was calm, but every word cut clean.
"I didn't choose them over blood. I chose me. I chose to stop begging for crumbs from a table I was never invited to. And I built my own table from the ground up."
"You'll regret this," Joseph snarled. "No matter how big you think you are, you're still a Carter."
Aurora smiled, the steel in her eyes unmistakable. "No. I'm Aurora Valen now. And you're trespassing."
Security arrived at that moment, professionally but firmly escorting the Carters toward the elevator. Joseph tried to make one last argument, but Camin held his arm and pulled him back, knowing defeat when she saw it. Lexi's glare was the last thing Aurora saw before the doors closed.
The silence afterward felt heavy… but clean. Like something had finally been cut loose.
Kai turned to her gently. "You okay?"
Aurora exhaled slowly. "I've been waiting for that moment my whole life."
He tucked her into his side, whispering near her ear. "And you handled it like a queen."