#Chapter 116: The First Steps Forward

Aurora POV I can’t stop smiling. I throw my arms around Dominic’s neck. My heart is pounding, but it’s not from fear this time—it’s from this ridiculous, effervescent joy bubbling up inside me. He’s smiling too, really smiling, Not that sly, knowing smirk he uses when he’s trying to keep the upper hand. His hands grip my waist, warm and sure, and then in one smooth motion he sweeps me right off my feet. I yelp, half laughing, half overwhelmed, clutching at his shoulders as he carries me toward the bedroom. “Thank you,” I murmur, my cheeks aching from grinning so hard. “No need to thank me,” he counters. “All I want is for you to be happy.” Over the next few nights, I throw myself into research. I’ve never spent this many hours in front of a laptop voluntarily, but at this point, I’m obsessed. I comb through websites, course catalogs and student testimonials until my eyes blur. I spread papers all over the coffee table with more pamphlets I’ve printed out, lists of