Inside a luxurious jewelry boxy a three-carat diamond ring, its brilliance radiating an almost blinding glow. It was impossible for something like this have been discarded casually at her doorstep. Julian nced toward the quiet vi next door, his expression darkening.


    "Seems like someone still hasn''t given up," he said, his toneced with jealousy. Aurora held the ring in her hand, lost in thought.


    She remembered how, before her eighteenth birthday, Hayden had promised her with absolute certainty:


    "Aurora, I have a surprise for you tomorrow."


    "What kind of surprise?" she had asked, anticipation lighting up her face. Back then, she had no idea what awaited her the next day.


    "You''ll find out soon enough."


    "You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you? Either tell me from the start or don''t say anything at all! Now that I know there''s a surprise, I won''t get any sleep tonight," she had teased, wondering if he had prepared a special gift for her.


    "Tomorrow wille soon enough," Hayden had reassured her.


    But no one could have foreseen what really awaited them the next day. It wasn''t a surprise-it was aplete copse.


    If Susan and Ivy hadn''t conspired together that night, Aurora would have gotten engaged to Hayden on her eighteenth birthday. Perhaps the story would have unfolded differently.


    Julian, heartbroken, might have left the ce entirely. That night, he had only attended as a bystander, intending to witness her happiness. If she had chosen Hayden, Julian wouldn''t have stood in their way, and the two of them would have missed their chancepletely.


    Aurora imagined what life might have been like. Even if she had stayed with Hayden, Susan wouldn''t have let it rest. She would have done everything in her power to destroy their rtionship. Ivy and Genevieve wouldn''t have tolerated Aurora''s presence in the Montgomery family. Even if she had gone to the Alvarez family, Joaquin might not have epted her.


    Her life wouldn''t have been happy. If it weren''t for that night, which forced her to wake up and grow stronger, she might have ended up even more miserable in the long run.


    It seemed everything had been predestined.


    Aurora slid the ring onto her finger, finding it a perfect fit. Of course, it had to be from Hayden. She raised her hand, her mind reying their past conversations like echoes from another time:


    "Aurora, let''s get engaged after we graduate. I can''t wait to spend my life with you."


    "Getting engaged right after graduation seems a little rushed, doesn''t it? I''m only eighteen."


    "Do you know that just a hundred or two hundred years ago, women at eighteen already had children in school? I''ve made up my mind-you''re the one for me, so whether it''s sooner orter, it''s going to happen."


    "True," she hadughed. "But I still feel like your parents don''t like me very much. Won''t they have objections to the engagement?"


    "You''re the one I want to spend my life with, not them. No one else gets to decide for me. I only want to marry you, Aurora."


    "Silly," she had said, though her lips had curled into a smile.


    "I just feel bad for you," Hayden had added. "I haven''t taken over the family business yet, so I can only afford a three-carat ring for now. You won''t mind, will you?"


    Engagement rings for ordinary people were usually measured in fractions of a carat. A full carat was considered extravagant. But in the world of the wealthy, a few carats were average. Still, Hayden had wanted to give Aurora the best he could. A three-carat diamond seemed small to him, though it would have left anyone else ecstatic. Such was the world they lived in.


    "Idiot," Aurora had replied. "I''m marrying you, not the ring. What would I need a big ring for? To crack walnuts?"


    "So, does that mean you agree to marry me?"


    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... I never said that."


    Theughter and joy of youth echoed in her mind, leaving a bittersweet ache in her heart. In her best years, she had given her all to Hayden.


    This ring must have been the one he nned to propose with on her birthday four years ago. Unfortunately, it was only now, in this way, that it hade to her.


    Julian took her hand and slipped the ring off her finger immediately. "You''re not allowed to wear someone else''s ring," he said, jealousy ring again.


    Auroraughed softly, amused by his reaction. "Rx, Julian. There''s only you in my heart. I just wanted to confirm if this was from him."


    "And now you know."


    "He''s given up on me," she said calmly.


    "How do you know? I think he''s still scheming, trying to ruin what we have," Julian snapped, ring at the ring as if it were an enemy.


    "I just know," Aurora said, shaking her head. "Besides, our rtionship is so strong. What could possibly break us apart?"


    "Fine, but it''s freezing out here. Let''s go inside," Julian said, his tone softening. Aurora didn''t take the ring back from him. After all, Hayden was in the past now. She had no reason to wear it. Throwing it away felt wasteful, but keeping it might leave Julian with a thorn in his side. It was better to leave it to him to handle.


    Hearing her mention the cold, Julian''s expression shifted. "Hurry inside and rest. I''ll bring everything else in."


    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! "Okay."


    Aurora smiled as she watched the man who had been so angry moments ago soften instantly at her words. He truly cared for her, shielding her from every storm. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.


    "Julian, you''re the one I''ve chosen for this lifetime. I love you."


    Before Julian could respond, she had already turned and gone inside. The thrill of teasing him and escaping was exhrating.


    Julian touched his cheek where her lips had brushed, a smile ying on his lips. "This little bunny," he murmured.


    He nced at the ring still in his hand. She hadn''t taken it back, and a warmth spread through his chest.


    Inside, Aurora changed into her loungewear. Maybe it was the approaching New Year, but the previously clear skies had given way to snow.


    Winter nights always came quickly. Aurora sat by the window, hugging her knees as she watched the snowkes dance under the streetlights. Was it just winter, or did the season always bring out a certain mncholy?


    Her thoughts drifted to Hayden, Susan, and their high school days. Once, she had believed she had both love and friendship. But in a single day, she lost them both. She had loved and hated, and in her darkest moments, she had even entertained thoughts of destruction. But time had passed, and everything had settled. They had all gone their separate ways, and none of them had ended up together. The recklessness of youth had been buried under the pain of growing up.


    "Stop thinking about it. You have me now," Julian''s voice broke through her thoughts. She hadn''t noticed hime into the room, but now he wrapped her in his arms.


    Aurora leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. "Yes, I have you."


    The promises of the past fluttered away like butterflies, circling in the air before vanishing entirely. In the end, it had never been meant to be.