<h4>Chapter 569: The Scorching Gaze(Extra Story)</h4>


    Everett narrowed his eyes and turned to his assistant, Tobias. "Go find out for me... just what kind of man Aurora’s boyfriend is."


    "Yes, Young Master."


    Everett had never believed that Aurora had a boyfriend, assuming she was merely ying hard to get. But to his surprise, she had been telling the truth!


    A surge of mixed emotions hit Everett—bitterness, sweetness, frustration, and even a touch of excitement. This was the first time he had ever experienced such feelings.


    Could this... be what they call love?


    A sarcastic smirk yed at Everett’s lips as he gracefully stood up, his long fingers adjusting his cor lightly before striding out.


    Inside the private room, the group had been drinking until their faces turned red, their ears burning.


    As they reminisced about their high school days, many sighed nostalgically, reflecting on how, despite the academic pressure, those years had been the purest and most cherished.


    Listening to their stories, Aurora found her eyes slightly misty. There was a mix of regret and nostalgia in her heart.


    She missed those carefree days but also regretted her insistence onpeting in the LXL tournament. If she hadn’t pursued a career as a celebrity, she wouldn’t have flown overseas to film an MV, nor would she have met Everett.


    Would that mean she could have lived a quiet and simple life with Alexander instead?


    But life offers no return ticket, no remedy for regrets. Aurora forced herself to rx.


    Everett... What kind of man was he? She had spoken to him so harshly thest time—they were practically at each other’s throats. Surely, he wouldn’t bother her anymore.


    Aurora’s expressions and reactions, however, didn’t escape Brooke’s keen eyes. She didn’t believe for a second that there was nothing going on between Aurora and Everett. Noticing Aurora spacing out, Brooke curled her lips into a cold smirk.


    "Acting all innocent... Who does she think she’s fooling? These days, which celebrity isn’t covered in scandals?" she sneered internally, her heart filled with jealousy as she downed a ss of ’82 Lafite in one go.


    Aurora was too naive. When she and Alexander finally left the private room and headed down to the underground parking lot, she immediately spotted a certain car that made her heart skip a beat.


    A Maybach—Everett’s car—was parked right next to theirs.


    A man dressed in a ck tailored suit leaned casually against the car, a cigarette between his fingers. His slightly arched brow added an edge of sharpness to his noble demeanor, a cold andmanding presence radiating off him.


    His aura was so overpowering that even Alexander couldn’t help but nce at him a few times.


    Why did he look... familiar?


    Oh, right. He was Everett. Alexander had seen his face in the newspapers before. The man was strikingly handsome but always carried a distant, icy expression. His sharp, chiseled features were impossible to forget.


    Aurora’s face turned a little pale, but she still forced a smile as she looked at Everett. "Everett... What a coincidence."


    Everett raised an indifferent eyebrow. Alexander quickly followed with a polite smile. "Thank you for the wine earlier, Everett. I was wondering if we could invite you to dinner sometime, as a token of our appreciation for helping Aurorast time."


    Aurora lowered her head slightly, trying to mask the uneasiness and anxiety in her eyes.


    What kind of reaction would Everett have?


    Her biggest fear was that he would expose their past rtionship on the spot.


    "Miss Wilson doesn’t seem too pleased with my presence. How could I possibly impose on you for a meal?" Everett said coolly, his piercing gaze locked onto Aurora’s face.


    Alexander was taken aback. As a man, he could sense something hidden within Everett’s stare.


    Instinctively, he tightened his grip on Aurora’s hand. "Not at all. Aurora is just a little shy..."


    "Mr. Adams, I would love the chance to treat you to dinner sometime. This is my boyfriend, Alexander," Aurora quickly added.


    Aurora slowly lifted her head, having regained herposure. If she lost her cool now, it would only make Alexander suspicious of their rtionship.


    "No need!"


    Everett suddenly snapped, his eyes shing with barely concealed rage. He yanked open the car door and mmed it shut with force.


    Aurora, however, secretly let out a breath of relief.


    She had previously asked Eric and E to speak on her behalf, though she had always felt guilty about what happened with Elias.


    To make up for it, she often sent special gifts to Elias and Dorian online, hoping to ease some of the guilt she carried.


    Watching Everett’s car speed off into the distance, Alexander finally noticed the slight pallor on Aurora’s face. He reached out to touch her cheek. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    "It’s just... Everett’s presence is overwhelming. He scares me a little," Aurora admitted truthfully. To her, that man was like a devil. Just hearing his name was enough to send a shiver down her spine.


    "It’s okay, he’s gone now. I’ll take you home."


    "Alright!"


    Aurora was worried that Everett might be waiting for her near her apartmentplex, so she agreed without hesitation.


    Just then, Dominic stepped out of the elevator. He had joined the gathering with their former ssmates but had left early.


    "Dominic, I’m taking Aurora home. Want toe along?" Alexander asked.


    Dominic shook his head. "No need. Aurora, you’re going back to thepany tomorrow, right? See you then!"


    With that, Dominic took a cab home while Alexander drove Aurora back to her apartment.


    For some reason, as he drove, Alexander couldn’t shake the image of Everett’s piercing, hawk-like eyes and theplex emotions in his strikingly handsome face.


    Aurora’s pale face also unsettled him.


    Somewhere deep inside, Alexander felt that Aurora and Everett’s rtionship might not be as simple as it seemed.


    When they arrived at her apartmentplex, Alexander suggested going up to her ce for a bit. Aurora could sense the subtle heaviness in his expression and didn’t refuse.


    Had Alexander noticed something?


    A wave of unease washed over Aurora. Thinking back to Everett’s gaze earlier, it was indeed filled with something indescribable. Given how perceptive Alexander was, there was no way he wouldn’t read into it.


    Once inside her rental apartment, Alexander took a nce at the spacious, well-lit living room. His gaze drifted toward the entryway—no men’s shoes.


    Aurora went to the kitchen and made a cup of sobering tea. They had both drunk quite a bit, and their faces and ears were still burning hot.


    "Here, have some tea," Aurora said as she sat beside Alexander, feeling the weight of his intense gaze on her. Her flushed cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Alexander wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.


    They had been together for seven years, yet he had never crossed that final boundary, knowing Aurora wasn’t ready.


    But now... was it because she didn’t love him enough?


    His lips brushed against her heated cheek. "Did you have a good time tonight?"


    Aurora hesitated for a moment. She rarely lied to Alexander.


    "Not really... I worked too hard to get where I am," she admitted.


    Alexander chuckled softly, twirling a strand of her silky hair around his finger. "Don’t let what they said get to you. I believe in you... but Everett seems to treat you differently. He was pretty harsh. Did you offend him before?"


    Had she? Not really. If anything, it was Everett who had always mistaken her for the kind of woman who wanted to climb into his bed.


    "No, I think it’s just a misunderstanding. But I’m sure we’ll clear it up soon," Aurora said seriously.


    Alexander let out a quiet sigh of relief, but as he looked at her delicate, alluring face, his heart wavered.


    He held his breath, gently lifted her chin, and kissed her.


    Aurora’s heart instantly leaped into her throat!