#Chapter 18: The Past Unraveling

Aurora POV Back home, everything feels unnervingly normal. Beatrice busies herself with social events, pretending like I don’t exist unless it benefits her while Camilla flits around like a spoiled princess, still acting as if my engagement to Leonardo is some personal slight against her because she hasn’t been able to snag Dominic’s attention. And my father? Distant. Cold. Indifferent, as always. The only one who doesn’t look at me like I’m expendable is Stefano. While he isn’t my father, in some ways, he feels more like one than my own blood ever has. He treats me with a patience that none of them do, and as much as I want to ignore it, a small part of me craves that warmth. Which is why I seek him out the second I arrive home from Dominic’s penthouse, catching him in the study where he sits sipping a late afternoon espresso. As much as I’m relieved to see him, questions start budding in my mind the second I slip the door closed behind me. “Aurora,” he smiles, setting