savor once and never again. I'm perfectly content with the one I have now." Aurora raised her

ened around his tumbler before he tossed back the liquor in one harsh swallow. That distant, formal "Mr. Rockefeller" cut deepe

ttled over the table

noticed both Grayson and Lel

d Aurora toward the seat beside Grayson. "It's just a simple dinner, a friendly chat. If your fiancé won't even allow

oured her a brimming g

ted the glass, her movement stiff. "Mr. R

ok the glass from her hand and

t a fleeting touch, yet it tugged at a buried chord. Old memories slip

in the hospital with stomach pain. Grayson had taken it upon himself to oversee her meals ever since-making sure she ate on time, kept a balanced diet, and

ted to Grayson in

is face remained calm and austere, there was a dangerous allure beneath that

red herself a glass of red wine. "Mr. Rockefeller, I

, she tipped the glass back and

ed to stop her, froz

cepting his concern would only feel like another debt she'd never repay. Whatever warmth she once held for him ha

never touch. She was just a girl from a modest family, and she wouldn't repeat the naïve mi

nto an easy rhythm, kissing and caressing each

n solitude. Staying any longer would make her look li

urora seized the chance to slip out quietly.

ed, that was what mattered. He didn't care w

settling before her phone buzzed. A single message flashed across the scree

rogance she could've brushed off as a wrong number. But

, wrapping the air in warmth that bro

wept across the street. Raindrops splashed against her high heels, streaking down her

ealing a face cut sharp as marble-handsome, composed, and watching her with u

't changed him-still the same man who

the driver appeared, unfolding a black umbrella. Without a word, he strode tow

glistening faintly from the rain, her heels damp and her sheer stockings clinging to her skin with a shimmer of pale warmth.

th his touch. Reclaiming the towel, she murmured a courteous "t

n any accusation-proof that the closen

ring the glass, his fingers absently tightening into slow, rhythmic twists. When he finally spoke, his v

faint shake of her head, signalin

The driver eased the car forward, wipers sweeping rhyt

patter of raindrops. After a long pause, Grayson's l

sion briefly faltering bef

s steady, but his gaze

treats me like I'm the most precious thing in his world,"

oed like a quiet reproach aimed straight at him. His hand, once idly

spoke af

he space between them until, a

ntion rather than prying into Grayson's life. Five years had gone by, and he still occupied that lofty, untouc

urora had bought with painstaking savings. She didn't bother asking how he'd found her a

iet. "Why didn't you continue in IT? What made you switch to broadcasting?"

r. Rockefeller, I'm not the kind of person who clings to the past. Once I

quiet sting that

ep out, Grayson called her

he dark glass, voice cool as frost. "You once told me

oor with finality and walked off, heels click

on draining from his clenched fist until it dropped uselessly to his sid