Back home, Aurora collapsed on the couch, panting. The whole Charlotte and Hilton thing was weighing heavily on her shoulders. At times, she dreamed of giving it all up, going back to her mother and settling down, away from the chaos.
But a thought suddenly crossed her mind, making her bolt upright. **Her mother.**
She grabbed her phone from the desk and noticed three missed calls: two from Sandy and one from Tyler.
She decided to call her mother first.
"Hello, sweetie? Is everything okay?"
"No, not really. And that's exactly why we need to talk. When are you free for a video call? Because I know you'll be way too busy to come over."
"Well, I'm finishing early tonight, around six."
—Perfect, then we'll call each other at six o'clock. How are you?
—Apart from busy days, yes, I'm fine.
—Very well. I have to go. See you tonight, and take care. I love you.
—Me too, darling.
Aurora hung up, then called Sandy, who answered on the first ring.
—Sandy? Everything okay? Are you making progress with your novel? You've been—
Sandy's voice cut her off abruptly, trembling.
—Simon's back.
Aurora's speechless for a moment, her phone almost slipping from her hands.
—What did you just say?
—Simon's back.
—Simon Watts?! We're talking about the man who made you look like his mistress, who almost ruined your career while destroying you from the inside out before I intervened?! We're talking about the same man, right?
"Yes, Aurora. He came to see me a week ago."
"And you're only telling me now?! But why?"
"Because he contacted me again to ask me something you'll never believe."
Aurora felt her heart race.
"I'll be right there."
She grabbed her jacket hastily and stormed out the door, rushing to her car. In barely five minutes, she was at Sandy's house, hugging her before sitting her down.
"Tell me everything."
Sandy handed her her phone, showing their conversation and Simon's last message.
Aurora scanned the screen, her face hardening with each word.
"No, but things aren't going well in his head. That's clear. How can he ask you out or you'll die?"
Sandy looked away, visibly troubled.
"Did you read the last message after this one?"
Aurora scrolled to the bottom of the screen, and her face immediately turned cold.
"Or Charlotte will kill us both."
A heavy silence fell.
"I still haven't answered him."
Aurora stood up abruptly, her gaze determined.
"And you're not going to answer him."
She grabbed her purse and called Tyler.
"Yes, sorry to bother you. Are you free right now?"
—I just finished my morning. So yes. Besides, it's been a while since I've seen you work, even though you're a pediatrician.
—I took a sabbatical. Come stay with Sandy for a while. I'm going to see my cousin. I have a problem to resolve with her, and it's urgent.**
—What do you mean?
—Don't worry, I'll go.
—Aurora!
She hung up before he could reply and stormed off.
During the drive, Aurora was struggling to drive. At eleven months pregnant, every movement was a struggle, but she refused to let go.
Arriving at Charlotte's house, she burst into action. Charlotte, who was cooking, turned around abruptly.
Aurora pointed her gun at her without hesitation and shot her in the arm.
Charlotte screamed, falling to her knees, her arm bleeding. She looked up at Aurora with eyes filled with a mixture of fear and cruelty.
"Can I ask what's gotten into you?!"
Aurora stepped forward slowly, her gaze icy.
"I told you if you tried to touch the people I love, even with a single little finger, you'd have me on your tail. That you'd be dealing with the worst part of me. Well, you did. So here's a demonstration, dear sister."
Charlotte winced, clutching her injured arm.
"What are you talking about?!"
Aurora stepped closer, her gun still pointed.
"Threatening to kill my best friend if she didn't get back together with her ex-lover, that bastard. You wanted to force her to ruin her career again?" Did you think I wouldn't find out? I may not be as smart or mean as you, but I know how to defend myself and my family. So trust me, you'll have a hard time getting rid of me.
Charlotte tried to get up, but Aurora shoved her away.
"Don't bother threatening me like you're so good at. I don't care anymore. Last warning: touch someone else I care about again, and I swear you'll regret it."
Charlotte, despite the pain, gave a cruel smile.
"You'll see when I tell Jasper."
Aurora burst into a cold laugh.
"I don't give a damn about Jasper's opinion. He means nothing to me anymore."
An hour later, Aurora was lying on her couch, in intense pain. Tyler, worried, realized she had rushed the baby.
He loaded her into his car and headed to the hospital.
The labor lasted three hours. Sandy and Myriam waited anxiously in the hallway until Tyler appeared, removing his gloves.
"Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Myriam asked, panicking.
Tyler nodded with a reassuring smile.
"Everything's fine. It took us a while because she was so nervous, but everything's fine now. And it's a girl."
A woman ran up and hugged Myriam.
"How's my daughter?"
Aurora, exhausted, whispered from the bedroom, "I'm fine. But I thought we were calling each other."
Everyone turned around in shock, while Tyler looked furious.
"Well, I wasn't going to stay miles away after my daughter had just given birth," her mother replied.
Tyler stared at her, his tone becoming authoritarian.
"May I ask what you're doing out of bed?"
"You know giving birth isn't going to keep me bedridden. I have things to do."
Tyler shook his head in exasperation.
"But I can stop you, and those things can wait a day. You're coming with me. Please come by tomorrow. She needs to rest."
He pulled Aurora with him, holding her firmly, and led her to his room.