KELLAN WARD
Ward Private Hospital
"Head trauma. Bruising on his rib cage. Slash on his forearm."
"This guy looks like he was put into a blender."
"Yeah? Think of how much worse it would be if his wife hadn't protected him. It's too bad she---"
"Shit. I found another wound on his thigh. It's deep."
"He's bleeding badly. Get him to surgery. Now!"
***|***|***
In the dream...
Kellan arrived at the warehouse too late.
She lay, shattered and maimed, on the concrete. The fire had gotten close enough to burn her clothing. She was marred by torture marks and blood stains.
And she was still.
So utterly still.
Kellan scooped up Aurora's wounded body and rushed through the flames. Once outside, he fell to his knees on the pavement.
The fire raged behind him, the warehouse turning to cinder and ash.
He pressed his face against her neck and wept. He sobbed so hard, he could barely take a breath. His tears soaked her tender, bruised flesh. He clutched her tightly, knowing she was gone. Gone forever.
"You finally escaped," he whispered. Grief weighed him down. It felt like he'd swallowed stones that filled his belly. "I won't live without you, little butterfly."
He didn't know how long he stayed there, holding her, crying. Maybe a minute. Maybe forever.
Eventually he heard the soft, respectful voice of Jingyu. "Sir. It's time to let her go."
"No." He struggled to his feet. "You can't take her."
"Sir."
"No." Kellan strode toward the Maybach. "We're going home."
He slid into the back seat holding his most precious treasure.
"I'm sorry, sir," said Jingyu. "But you must let her go." In a well-practiced move, he sliced his hand into the side of Kellan's neck. The brachial stun was enough to disorient Kellan.
Jingyu gestured to two bodyguards behind him, who gently took Aurora out of the car.
"Bastard," said Kellan, his vision blurred, his body numb.
"Yes, sir."
Kellan felt a pinch on his neck and saw Jingyu with an empty syringe in his hand.
"Wh-what did you do?"
"Rest, sir. I'll track down Miss Moon's killers and arrange her funeral service."
"No," slurred Kellan. "Don't..."
He passed out.
Thirty-six hours passed before Kellan woke up from his forced rest. By that time, the ever efficient Jingyu had gathered those who'd contributed to Aurora Moon's death. He'd coordinated Miss Moon's funeral and burial. He'd also arranged for Aurora's grave site to be large enough for a memorial garden. That, he left to Kellan to plan personally.
However, none of these things gave Kellan the slightest bit of comfort.
Aurora Rose Moon was gone.
So was his purpose in life.
When he awoke, Jingyu was at his side. Kellan staggered out of bed, enraged, but his assistant knew his boss better than his own mother.
Kellan punched Jingyu in the mouth so hard, the man fell to the ground. He got on his knees and kow-towed to Kellan, apologizing. With every bow, his forehead struck the tiled floor.
"Enough!" Kellan sat heavily on the bed. Jingyu's unceasingly loyalty and sincere repentance calmed Kellan's rage.
But not his grief.
His bloodied, shredded heart would require deep, dark revenge to feel even a smidgen of satisfaction.
When his assistant rose to his feet, a bloodied knot had formed on his forehead.
"Explain. Then go get your wound tended."
"Yes, Master Ward." Jingyu told Kellan everything that had happened and that he had accomplished during Kellan's 36-hour "nap."
"So you found out that Aiden Cross and Ivy Crane tortured and killed her."
"Yes, sir. They didn't even wait for a day after Aiden married Miss Moon to steal her inheritance and arrange her murder."
Kellan felt another cold wave of overwhelming guilt followed by a hot punch of rage. They would pay dearly for harming his little butterfly.
"And her so-called parents?" asked Kellan.
"Miss Moon's father, Harold, and her step-mother, Sheila, were responsible for the death of Natalia Moon, Aurora's mother. They often beat and scolded Miss Moon, especially on behalf of Ivy. If you hadn't returned from abroad to pursue Miss Moon, she probably would've perished much earlier."
"I kept tabs on her," Kellan said, anguished. "Why didn't I know about her home life?"
"Apologies, sir. Aurora never spoke about her troubles. And she didn't give any outside indication that she was unhappy at home."
"That's not an excuse. I failed her."
"You returned as soon as you could given your own circumstances," said Jingyu. "You only recently gained control of the family and the company."
"Finally I was strong enough to protect her, but I made her hate me. She never saw my love as anything but a prison."
"She would've accepted you eventually, sir."
Kellan looked at his assistant. "You're an optimist, Jingyu."
"Yes, sir. I am."
"Where are the plans for Aurora's memorial garden? I need to finish it before I permanently deal with her enemies."
"I'll fetch your tablet, sir. Do you want tea?"
"No." Kellan rubbed his chin and felt the stubble. He hadn't shaved or showered. What was the point? Aurora wasn't here.
And she never would be.
***|***|***
KELLAN WARD
Kellan awoke to the sound of beeping machines. On the bedside table a small lamp dimly lit the room. As he came to full awareness, he recognized that he was in a VIP hospital room.
His entire body ached. His forearm and thigh hurt the most, though.
The dream plagued his thoughts. Had his brain taken Aurora's story of being murdered and left in a burning warehouse and created a trauma response?
Why did it feel so much like a memory? The loss of his beloved sat on his chest like a hot stone. He couldn't bear the thought of Aurora gone from this world. His heart ached at the mere idea of living without her.
"Sir?"
Jingyu entered the room carrying a freshly filled water pitcher. He placed it on the side table and reached down to help Kellan sit up.
"What happened? Why am I here?"
"We were in a car accident, sir. You had surgery to stitch up the wounds on your forearm and thigh."
"Where's Aurora?" He put a hand to his bandaged head. Pain throbbed behind his eyes. He could barely think.
"I'm already investigating the incident, sir. This wasn't an accident. The truck hit us intentionally."
"Track down the perpetrators."
"We're already in the process of doing so, sir." Jingyu paused. "Shall I call the doctor, Master Ward? You look like you're in pain."
"No." Kellan's dark eyes pierced his assistant. "You didn't answer me about Aurora. Where is she?"
Jingyu swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, sir. Miss Moon is ... gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Cold horror struck his heart like a poisoned arrow. "Do you mean she's ... she's dead?"