After a long while, the sounds gradually faded.


    The woman sat up in bed.


    An exotic tattoo snaked from her back down to her waist-sensual, alluring, and strangely tempting.


    The woman turned her head to look at the man in the bed, her longshes lowered.


    "McCoy, you''ll help me, won''t you?"


    McCoy Chapman gazed at Aurora''s beautiful figure, and his clear eyes clouded over with desire once more.


    His breathing grew ragged. He sat up, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and leaned in to kiss her.


    "Aurora, don''t worry. I''ll help you."


    Aurora gently pulled away, her eyes downcast, a hint of sorrow in her expression.


    "You''re not disgusted with me, are you, McCoy?"


    "How could I be?" McCoy''s eyes filled with pity. "You''re the victim in all this. I''ve already ordered the news to be suppressed. No one will know about this except for those of us who are already aware."


    Aurora finally revealed a smile, one that was both cool and seductive.


    Remembering what had happened just a short while ago, McCoy''s breath hitched.


    He suddenly flipped over, pinning her beneath him, and they began another round of passion.


    When Simone Lerman heard that Aurora was back, she hurried to find Leonard to share the news.


    "Leonard, Aurora''s back!"


    At that moment, Leonard was clipping his tabby cat''s nails.


    He didn''t even look up at Simone''s words, his movements never faltering, as if he hadn''t heard her at all.


    Simone then remembered that Leonard had long since lost interest in Aurora.


    Still, she couldn''t resist sharing the gossip.


    "Leonard, I heard from Queenie Burton that Aurora went through a lot over there.


    "But she refuses to say what exactly happened.


    "I bet she was assaulted by those men."


    Leonard remainedpletely uninterested, offering no response.


    Simone felt a bit deted.


    Her eyes darted around, and she


    Bu


    suddenly said, "Leonard, did you get


    Ste that pair of earrings you designed a while ago?" >


    At the mention of Ste''s name, Leonard finally reacted.


    He gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.


    Simone asked curiously, "Then why did you make two pairs?"


    Leonard replied, "So she''d have one to throw away."


    Simone was speechless.


    He was a lovesick fool, no doubt about it.


    Simone asked, "Leonard, have you seen Ste recently?"


    At that, Leonard''s expression darkened.


    He hadn''t seen Ste in three months, not since hisst scheme.


    It seemed Ste was being extremely cautious to avoid being manipted by him


    again.


    Three whole months, and Leonard hadn''t found a single opportunity.


    "No," he said tly.


    Although he watched her every day, it wasn''t the same as seeing her in person.


    And now that he couldn''t chat with her online, Leonard''s mood had


    be increasingly foul and


    erratic.


    Just as Simone was about to say more, Leonard''s phone rang.


    His assistant reported, "Mr. Lerman, we''ve acquired all the properties you specified."


    Since he could no longer get to


    Ste through the people


    her, he would target the


    went.


    Leonard had ordered his people to buy up every location Ste frequented.


    Watching him, Simone thought that Leonard had truly lost his mind.


    He was using every trick in the book just to see Ste.


    If Joshua found out, her brother would probably get hurt again.


    When he was in love with Aurora, she used him.


    Now that he was in love with Ste, he got hurt every time he tried to see her.


    It was just so tragic.