Chapter 205

When Aurora saw Megan standing there in a sexy outfit, she walked straight up and threw her arms around her.

“My baby girl!” Megan hugged her tight, all smiles.

“What’s going on? Did someone mess with you? You’re unusually dingy today.” Her smile practically melted into her face. She’d always had a soft spot for Aurora, but something was clearly off tonight. Aurora wasn’t the type to lose her footing easily, unless something had really crossed a line.

“You already know. It’s my mom again.”

Aurora leaned into the crook of Megan’s neck before pulling her sweet-smelling best friend down to sit with her for drinks.

“What did Madam Grace do this time? Still playing favorites with Tessa?” A bitter smile tugged at Aurora’s lips as she told Megan everything, start to finish. At this point, there was no one else she could talk to, no one who would really listen.

“Same old story. She didn’t even try to hide it–in front of Tessa, no less.” Megan’s heart ached just watching her. “If I’d been there, I swear I wouldn’t have let you take that crap!”

“And that project? You landed it. What does she even want from you? She seriously crossed a line this time.”

Aurora shook her head. “I don’t know… but that’s not even the point. She knows how much I poured into this, every bit of it.” She looked down, voice quieting. “She knows. That’s what makes it worse. She’s doing it on purpose.”

Then, without another word, she downed a strong shot. Megan winced just watching her. That girl had no chill when she drank.

“Aurora, you’re starting to look like your old self again!”

Aurora leaned in close, frowning. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” Megan said with a soft smile, watching Aurora with a mix of heartache and pride. “My sweet Rora, don’t let Madam Grace get to you.” She wrapped an arm around Aurora’s shoulder, gently pulling her in.

But Aurora said nothing. She just kept sipping her drink, strong and steady.

Megan sighed. “Alright, I’ll drink with you. What’s the point of drinking alone, anyway?” And with that, she knocked back a shot to match Aurora.

One round led to another, and soon enough, both of them were tipsy, their minds delightfully unhinged.

“You… you can tell me anything,” Megan slurred, thumping her chest with exaggerated pride. “Swear on my life–my lips are sealed! I won’t tell a soul.”

“You sure?” Aurora narrowed her eyes, gaze soft and hazy.

“Of course!”

Without warning, Megan jumped up and ran straight onto the dance floor, throwing her arms in the air as she lost herself to the heat. “Aaah, this is amazing! Aurora, come on! Come feel the joy with me!”

Watching her bounce and twirl so freely, Aurora couldn’t help but smile. Something in her loosened. She joined Megan on the floor, letting her body fall into rhythm, her whole being unwinding with each step. In that moment, she understood what it meant to let go.

They danced wildly, laughing and spinning under the lights, releasing every ounce of pent-up frustration. The crowd began to part, forming a circle around them. No one said a word–every eye was drawn to them.

Magnetic. Unrestrained. Alive.

And that was the scene Lucas walked in on. Of course, what caught his attention first wasn’t just Aurora. It was the way every man in that bar was staring at her and Megan–each one wearing the exact same look.

Chapter 206