Aurora murmured in her sleep, her red lips moving faintly as her brows stayed tightly knitted.

One glance was all it took for Lucas to see that her sleep was anything but peaceful. Whatever she was dreaming about was unsettling her deeply. Feeling a pang of heartache, he sat on the edge of the bed and spoke in a gentle voice, “It’s okay, I’m here now. Rora, don’t believe any of that. None of it’s real. Rora, I’ll always be with you. I’m right here…”

He sat there quietly, patiently soothing her again and again, never once growing tired. Only when her breathing gradually steadied and her expression softened did Lucas gently lay her back down on the bed, his movements careful and quiet. She didn’t stir.

His sharp eyes remained fixed on her sleeping face, troubled by the question echoing in his heart—what exactly had happened to make Aurora look so frightened, even in her dreams?

His gaze swept over her delicate features, and alongside the ache in his chest, a deeper tenderness welled up inside him. He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss on her smooth forehead. There was no desire in that kiss—only pure affection and care.

“Rora, I’ll always protect you. Don’t be afraid. Whatever it is, I hope you’ll tell me…” As he spoke, Lucas took her hands into his own, holding them tightly, and pressed his forehead gently against them.

He knew she couldn’t hear him right now, but he still wanted to say it. Whether she heard it or not, this was his promise to her. It always had been. Lucas stayed by her side a while longer. Once he saw she was completely at ease, he finally relaxed as well.

Now that she was okay, he could take a shower in peace. But his eyes darkened. He stepped out onto the balcony and called Desmond.

“Look into whether Walton Corporation has made any recent moves, especially anything related to the project. I don’t want a single detail slipping through the cracks.”

“Yes, I’ll look into it right away.”

Though Desmond was puzzled, he didn’t ask any questions. He knew that if the president had spoken with such seriousness, it had to be something important—and most likely related to Aurora. There was no point in probing further. It would be better to just get the job done.

After ending the call, Lucas' dark eyes remained fixed on the slight rise under the blankets. He slowly tightened his grip on the phone.

“Rora, don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

He let out a quiet breath. It was just a company, after all. If Aurora needed one, he could invest in a new company right now and hand it over to her.

But he also knew that Aurora wasn’t some porcelain doll kept safe on a shelf. She was never the type who needed to be wrapped in bubble wrap her whole life. She had her own mind and convictions. And in matters like this, no one could rein her in. Sometimes, not even she could rein herself in.

That had always been the case—those on the outside saw things more clearly than those caught in the middle. Lucas had seen it all with perfect clarity. Ever since Aurora stepped into Walton Corporation, the pressure she put on herself had been immense. Most of the time, she didn’t even realize it. But he did.