After finishing a glass of wine, Lucas noticed the intense look in Aurora’s eyes, and somehow, he instantly understood what that look meant.

He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Their bodies pressed together, breaths mingling—each exhaling into the other’s space.

Aurora stared at his handsome face and instinctively swallowed.

The desire surged in her.

She must have been drunk.

That had to be the reason she was craving this man so strongly.

“Rora, you…”

Before he could finish, Aurora quickly turned her head away. “I’m fine. I’m just a little drunk. Everything’s a bit fuzzy right now.”

She hadn’t forgotten that they were still out in public.

Lucas could tell she was feeling shy.

That faint blush at the base of her ears wasn’t from drinking.

She might not even realize it, but whenever she got shy, her ears were always the first to turn red.

Lucas had noticed that habit not long after they started seeing each other.

“Why don’t we head back?” he suggested.

Aurora instinctively glanced over to where Grace was still exchanging pleasantries with the other guests.

Her gaze dropped, and she couldn’t quite put a name to the emotion stirring in her chest.

Her mother chose Tessa once again.

They were both her daughters. Was the difference between them really so vast?

She took a deep breath, then couldn’t help pouring herself another drink.

After downing it, she looked up at Lucas. “Let’s go back.”

There was no reason to stay here any longer.

She might as well go home.

After all, her mother’s so-called punishment of Tessa was just for show.

Lucas followed her gaze and saw Grace smiling and chatting with other business leaders.

Then he looked back at the girl in front of him who was trying so hard to appear strong.

A wave of heartache rolled through him.

Without another word, he scooped Aurora into his arms.

As they passed by Grace, he finally spoke. “Mother, Rora’s had a bit too much to drink. We’ll head home first.”

Grace looked at her daughter nestled in Lucas’ arms.

Something in her chest twisted.

She smacked her lips but eventually just said, “Be safe on the road.”

Those were her only words.

Nestled in Lucas’ arms, the disappointment in Aurora’s eyes was plain as day.

What was she still hoping for…

Grace stared at the backs of the two as they left, her gaze unsettled for a long time.

It wasn’t until someone called out to her that she finally came back to her senses.

Back at home.

Lucas gently laid Aurora down on the bed.

She had been unusually quiet the entire way back.

Whether it was the alcohol or something else, her delicate face had turned noticeably red, tinged in a soft pink hue that seemed to spread across her skin.

Even her complexion carried a tender flush.

Lucas’ gaze darkened as he looked at her.

“Rora, I’ll get you some water.”

Aurora only felt a wave of heat surging through her body.

She mumbled a vague response, but her hands were already fumbling restlessly with her clothes.

As her chest threatened to come into view, the desire in Lucas’ eyes was close to overflowing.

He quickly caught her hands, his voice low and rough, a far cry from his usual calm. “Rora, you know I… I have no resistance when it comes to you…”

The rest of his words came out barely above a whisper.

Aurora frowned in frustration.

She leaned in closer to his lips, grumbling, “What are you mumbling about? You’re whispering so softly.”

Lucas froze for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden closeness.

“Speak up. Why are you stalling…”

Still drunk, Aurora had a bit more of a temper than usual—something she normally never showed.