She possessed a beauty so breathtaking it seemed almost otherworldly.


    Truly, she was fate''s favorite, the darling of destiny.


    Whenever Jasper''s parents spoke of Aurora, the awe in their eyes was unmistakable, as if she belonged to a league far beyond their reach.


    "Whoever marries Miss Aurora from the Williams family must have saved a kingdom in a past life," Jasper''s mother would sigh.


    "Aurora is just so outstanding-families like ours could never hope to dream of such a match," his father agreed.


    "I heard even kings from other countries have proposed, wanting to make her their queen," someone would always add, "but her father turned them all down. Makes you wonder what kind of son-inw the Williams family could possibly be waiting for."


    "Skyler would never allow his daughter to marry a king and be just one of many women. With Aurora''s family background, beauty, and talent, finding a man who''s exceptional and devoted to her alone should be a walk in the park."


    Jasper''s parents talked about Aurora as if she were some ethereal goddess.


    Naturally, Jasper''s curiosity was piqued. He tried to find her photo online, only toe up empty. The Williams family had shielded her well-there wasn''t a single picture of her in the public eye.


    It seemed they were determined to protect her, not even allowing so much as a breath of rumor to touch her.


    Jasper, ever the skeptic, couldn''t help butpare Aurora to Ste, just to see how much Aurora''s looks would outshine hers.


    But to his surprise, from the way Haynes spoke, it sounded like the two were evenly matched?


    How was that possible?!


    A woman like Aurora, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, had a grace and refinement that would leave Ste in the dust.


    Jasper looked incredulous. "Haynie, are you putting Ste on too high a pedestal? There''s no way Ste couldpare to a beauty like Aurora."


    Haynes met his gaze. "Is Ste socking in your eyes?"


    Jasper opened his mouth, ready to bring up Ste''s unimpressive education and reputation.


    But one look at the shadow in Haynes''s dark eyes, and the words died on his lips.


    After all, Ste was Haynes''s ex-wife-the mother of Keen.


    Saying anything bad about Ste would be an insult to both father and son.


    Besides...


    On looks alone, Ste was more than enough to make heads turn.


    When Haynes first introduced her to them, Jasper had honestly thought Haynes had married some heiress.


    Quickly, Jasper changed the subject. "Haynie, what do you n to do about these three women?"


    Haynes flipped through the papers on the table. "I''ll call the heads of the first two families myself. As for this Lauretta... I''ll take Rachel and meet her in person. If she isn''t willing, so beit. We don''t need her."


    A thought struck Jasper. "Haynie, doesn''t Jonathan owe you a favor? Even if he and Ms. Chapman aren''t connected by marriage, he could put he? I


    in a good word for us, could


    mean, the Chapman and Williams families have been close for generations, and with Jonathan''s status, the Chapmans would surely do him this small favor..."


    Jasper''s voice trailed off as he realized what he was suggesting-using up the debt Jonathan owed Haynes for something so trivial was probably unwise.


    The next day, Lauretta was touring Ste''s studio when her phone rang-it was her older brother.


    "Lauretta, are you at Neo-Vespera now?"


    "Yeah, what''s up?”


    "A friend reached out to me, hoping to invite you as a special guest at a concert... but it''s hard to exin over the phone. Why don''t you go meet with them? If you''re not


    down. No pressure."


    interested, just turn them tent


    Lauretta was no stranger to such invitations and didn''t find it odd.


    "Alright, I''ll go hear them out."


    Moments after she hung up, her brother sent her the address.


    Lauretta had a notoriously bad sense of direction. Even with a map, she struggled to make sense of it.


    Ste noticed and smiled. "I know where this is. I''ve got some free time-why don''t I go with you?"


    Lauretta nodded in agreement.


    The two women left the studio together and headed to the appointed ce.


    At the private suite, they knocked on the door, then stepped inside.