Once that realization sank in, the assistant went right back to his work.
Lucas, noticing his tact, felt a flicker <b>of </b>satisfaction.
At least the man knew when to mind his own business..
Inside the office, Aurora assumed it was her assistant or another employee, so she didn’t think much of it and said casually,
<b>“</b>Come in.”
Hearing her voice, Lucas didn’t hesitate:
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At their desks outside, the assistant and Lucy exchanged curious nces.
It had been quite <b>a </b>while since Lucas hadste looking for Aurora.
His sudden appearance now was definitely something unusual.
Inside, Lucas saw Aurora hunched over her desk, scribbling rapidly, clearly immersed in her work.
Even as he entered, she didn’t look up.
<b>“</b><b>If </b>there’s something you need, just say it,” she said, her tone calm, distracted.
She had heard the footsteps and assumed whoever it was had already stepped inside, hence the casual instruction.
Lucas stayed silent on purpose, waiting to see how long it would take her to realize it was him.
After a <b>few </b>moments with no reply, Aurora frowned slightly.
Why was the person just standing there, saying nothing?
<b>Puzzled</b>, she finally looked up, only to meet a familiar, striking face.
<b>Her </b>brows knit <b>together</b>. <b>“</b>What are you doing here?”
Lucas <b>raised </b>a brow.
<b>He’d </b>imagined a dozen ways she might react<b>–</b>but this?
This<b>, </b><b>he </b><b>hadn’t </b>seening.
“Why<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>he </b><b>said</b><b>, </b><b>stepping </b><b>closer</b><b>, </b>leaning forward as he nted his hands on either side of her chair, effectively caging her in.
From behind, <b>it </b>looked <b>as </b>though he was shielding her in a quiet embrace.
<b>“</b><b>You </b>didn’t expect me <b>to </be find you?”
Chopte: 231
Aurora leaned back instinctively, putting some pace between them.
“No,” Aurora said calmly, her tone deliberately distant.
“I just think it’s a little strange, you suddenly showing up like this.”
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She leaned back slightly, maintaining the space between them. “Besides, don’t you have your own work to deal with? What brings
you all the way to Walton Corporation?”
Unbidden, her thoughts drifted back to that day at Vanguard.
The cold way he treated her in front of so many people still lingered in her mind.
The indifference and theplete disregard were burned into her memory.
<b>No </b>matter what, he hadn’t spared her even a shred of dignity.
The more she thought about it, the more bitter it all seemed.
So, this was the truth of it—no matter what she’d thought they had, the childhood sweetheart was still the one who truly held his
heart.
A quiet ache crept into her chest.
So<b>, </b>in the end, it had all just been her wishful thinking.
M
But Lucas looked at her and, with apletely straight face, said, “I just wanted to see you. It’s been a while. I’ve missed you.”
Aurora gave a halfugh, tinged with sarcasm. “I stille home at night, don’t I?
<b>“</b><b>Don’t </b>exaggerate, we see each other almost every day.”
<b>Lucas</b><b>, </b>pretending not to hear the edge in her voice, stepped around the desk and moved closer.
<b>“</b><b>But </b>you’re gone early, backte. You barely even look at me,” he said, voice low and full of mock hurt.
The unexpected softness in his tone startled her. Was Lucas whining?
Aurora blinked, caught <b>off </b>guard.
<b>“</b><b>Use </b><b>your </b>normal <b>voice</b><b>,</b>” she muttered, eyes flicking away. “<b>If </b>you’ve got nothing else, go back. I’ve still got work to do.”