Julian stood in front of Aurora, his joy as pure as a child''s. Unable to contain her emotions, Aurora hugged him back.


    "From now on, we''re family. I hope you''ll always be happy," she said softly.


    "Little Bunny," Julian murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "In half a year, you''ll graduate. It''s time to start nning the wedding. Where do you want to get married?"


    In the past, Julian had scoffed at the dramatic love stories portrayed in movies and TV shows. How could love stay so passionate forever?


    Sure, at the start of a rtionship, someone might seem perfect. But living together would inevitably reveal ws. So many marriages fell apart over trivial disputes, unraveling into heartbreak.


    But now, after living with Aurora, Julian understood. Those movies weren''t lying. If you truly loved someone, even their smallest gestures and quirks became endlessly endearing. Her face, her smile-he could never get enough. His feelings didn''t fade with time. They only grew stronger.


    Julian realized that when love wasn''t strong enough, it wasn''t "reality" that destroyed it. The real issue was ack of depth. In shallow love, the small irritations of everyday life could fester and grow, eventually tearing people apart. ming reality for a failed rtionship? That was the ultimate cop-out.


    For Julian, as long as love was strong, none of those little things mattered. All he could see was her smile. How could he ever grow tired of it?


    Hearing Julian mention marriage, Aurora was reminded that they''d been together for almost half a year.


    "As long as it''s with you, I don''t care when or where we get married," she said with a gentle smile. "You n it."


    "Alright," Julian said, determination glinting in his eyes. He resolved to give Aurora a wedding so special and romantic that they''d never forget it.


    "How''s work going?" Aurora asked.


    "The perfume is ready, and everything else is falling into ce. As long as nothing unexpected happens, we''ll be fine. You must''ve spent quite a bit promoting it across all those channels, right?"


    Though Aurora never worried about money in their rtionship, she was an independent woman. She didn''t like the idea of relying on a man financially.


    Most women mightin that their partner didn''t spend enough on them, but Aurora was different. She disliked the idea of spending a man''s money altogether. Knowing her personality, Julian yfully tapped her nose. "I didn''t spend much. Did you forget what I told youst time? Most of those mediapanies are mine. Do you think I''d charge myself for running ads?"


    Aurora chuckled. "Julian, I feel like I identallynded myself a billionaire."


    "Of course! And you''re just now realizing that? Do you know how many women dream of being with me? But I''m hopelessly devoted-a fool waiting for one little girl to grow


    up."


    Aurora thought back to sixteen years ago when she''d been just that: a clueless little girl. She''d said something offhandedly back then, never imagining Julian would take it seriously.


    "Seems like I had pretty good foresight back then," Aurora teased,ughing. "I snagged a billionaire without even trying. Asher used to say you were filthy rich, and I thought he was exaggerating. But now I see he was right-you''re absolutely loaded." Aurora''sughter carried her back to when she''d just returned to the city. Asher had given her a list of people to win over, with Julian sitting at the very top of that food chain.


    At the time, she hadn''t known Julian was the same man from three years ago. She''d dressed her best, re-entering the city as a new woman, only to cross paths with him. What followed was a game of cat and mouse. At first, she couldn''t stand him.


    Who would''ve thought that one day, she''d fall for him so deeply, sopletely, that even a single day apart from him would leave her restless?


    "What are you smiling about?" Julian asked, catching sight of her upturned lips.


    Aurora looked up, her eyes sparkling. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she said, "I was thinking about you. About everything that''s happened between us these past few months."


    Her words brought Julian back to a particr night. "You little troublemaker," he said with a chuckle. "That night, I''d been drugged and was in the bathroom trying to make myself vomit. Then I heard your voice outside the door. Do you have any idea how happy I was in that moment?"


    In those years, Aurora had picked up a smoking habit to numb herself. Living in New York had been tough, but when she learned Julian didn''t like smoking, she''d quit.


    "I was just borrowing a light," she said with augh. "How was I supposed to know I''d run into a weirdo?"


    Julianughed too. "Borrowing a light in the men''s room? Should I call you the weirdo? You''re lucky you didn''t run into a drunkard."


    "I wouldn''t have been scared. I''d have beaten him so badly his own mother wouldn''t recognize him." Aurora yfully waved her small fists.


    Julian smiled at the memory of that night. "Sure, you''re tough. But no more going into men''s rooms, alright?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "I''m not a weirdo," Aurora pouted.


    "By the way," Julian asked, his tone softening, "you hated me so much at the start. When did you start liking me?"


    Julian had loved Aurora for years, but he''d always been curious about when her feelings for him had changed.


    "I''m not sure," Aurora admitted. "Maybe it was the first time you made me that awful ginger tea. Or when you took me to the beach to drink. Or maybe it was sixteen years ago, on that deck, when a boy in white left a mark on my heart.


    "Julian, you might not believe this, but the reason I got together with Hayden back then was because he reminded me of you.


    "He liked wearing white shirts. His quiet, reserved nature melted into gentleness when


    he was with me. Even his face looked a little like yours. He stirred something in my subconscious, I suppose. Maybe I was using him as a stand-in for you.


    "But he wasn''t you. He was just a shadow of the person I''d carried in my heart. I''m d we finally found each other."


    "Me too," Julian said, holding her tightly. "Honestly, I should thank Susan. If she hadn''t meddled, I might never have had the chance to be with you."


    Embracing each other, they reflected on their journey, the trials and tribtions no one else could understand.


    "There was a time," Aurora said quietly, "when I thought life was so unfair. Why did others get to have happy families while I was left with nothing but hardship? My family was a mess, my love life a disaster.


    "But now I know-maybe it was those hardships that taught me to cherish what I have.


    They made me appreciate the time I have with my family and the man I love.


    "I am lucky."