Chapter <b>55 </b>


    With the truth exposed, Grace lost all interest in the celebration, and the banquet ended on a sour note.


    Lucas and Aurora drove home in silence.


    The moment they stepped through the front door, Lucas‘ gaze turned intense and possessive.


    His dark, brooding eyes locked onto Aurora, as if he wanted to consume her whole.


    “You looked beautiful tonight.”


    His voice was deep and maic, each word carrying an undeniable weight.


    Aurora felt a faint heat creeping up her cheeks under his unwavering stare.


    She pushed against his chest, attempting to put some distance between them. “Let me go. I’m exhausted and just want to sleep.” But Lucas had no intention of letting her off so easily.


    Without warning, he scooped her up in his arms and strode toward the bedroom with determined strides. <b>His </b><b>gaze </b>burned with unmistakable desire.


    “Toote for that.”


    Aurora let out a startled gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. “What are you doing? Put me down!”


    Lucas ced her onto the bed, his knee pressing between her legs as he pinned her hands above her head with one hand. His other hand lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.


    A slow smirk tugged at his lips. “Still tired?”


    Aurora’s drowsiness had long vanished, reced by a tension that coiled deep inside her. 1


    Her eyes flickered with hesitation before she gave his chest a small push. “Go take a shower first.”


    Lucas froze for a second, then exhaled through gritted teeth. “Fine”


    Without another word, he turned and walked into the bathroom.


    Momentster, the sound of running water echoed through the room.


    Aurora’s gaze wandered absentmindedly around the space beforending on the nightstand–where Lucas’s phone sat.


    She hesitated for a moment before ncing at the bathroom door


    Lucas‘ phone hadn’t locked. The screen was still on, disying the notes app.


    At the top of the screen was a title- “First Love”


    Aurora’s heart clenched.


    Her eyes flicked over the screen<b>, </b>catching glimpses of a few lines beneath the title.


    “She loves spicy food.”


    “She prefers mint–vored toothpaste.”


    A rush of emotions crashed over her, so overwhelming that her fingers trembled.


    So, Lucas cared this much about his first love?


    Enough to keep notes about her?


    Aurora’s entire body went cold.


    She had never seen him write reminders about her preferences.


    No… it wasn’t that they were hers.


    They belonged to someone else.


    She was just simr to her.


    No, she wasn’t just simr. She was a recement.


    “Lucas, is this why you treat me so well? Because I remind you of someone else?”


    At that moment, the bathroom door swung open.


    Lucas stepped out, steam curling around him, a towel slung loosely around his waist.


    His gaze flickered to the glowing phone screen.


    <b>For </b>the briefest second, a shadow passed through his eyes, but his expression remained unreadable as he walked over and casually pressed the power button<b>, </b>turning off the screen.


    “What’s wrong? You look pale,” he asked gently, his voice carrying the same warmth as always.


    Aurora didn’t respond immediately.


    Instead, her eyes locked onto his face, searching desperately for some kind of answer.


    Lucas’s gaze dipped to her lips, and he leaned in, fingers tilting her chin up. “Should we continue?”


    His touch was familiar, his tone as intimate as always.


    But the words ‘First Love‘ burned in her mind like a fresh wound, stabbing deep into her chest.


    She could hardly breathe past the pain.


    How could he be so affectionate with her when his heart belonged to someone else?


    Her voice came out hoarse, detached. “No. I’m not in the mood.”