Aurora took a deep breath and finally made a decision. If something couldn’t be figured out, maybe it was better not to overthink it. Digging too deep would only burden her further. It was more important to focus on the things in front of her and handle them well.

With that shift in mindset, she felt an unexpected wave of relief wash over her. Once the mind opens up, even the way one sees the world changes. At that moment, Aurora could feel that her entire body and perspective felt lighter than before.

She exhaled slowly, then returned her attention to the document in front of her. Her presence seemed to glow with a quiet charisma, and her expression now held a fresh sense of focus and resolve.

By the time Ian returned, the version of Aurora he saw was a far cry from the distracted woman he’d left behind earlier. Though slightly puzzled, he was more relieved than anything. This was the Aurora he knew–the one who couldn’t be shaken by outside noise, the one who inspired confidence in the company’s future, just by being herself.

“Miss Walton, I’ve finished looking into what you asked.”

Aurora looked up, her gaze sharp and curious. “And? What did you find?”

“You really were right on the mark. If you hadn’t asked me to check, I never would’ve guessed his office had fallen into that state.”

“So, something did happen to John’s office?”

Ian nodded seriously. “Yes. No one’s seen him there in two or three days. His staff are already thinking about jumping ship to other companies.”

“And John himself?” Aurora couldn’t hold back the question.

Ian gave a sheepish shake of the head. “I couldn’t get a clear answer on that. But the owner of the neighboring shop said he hasn’t seen Mr. York at all lately. From the looks of it, the studio’s on the verge of shutting down.”

“That’s strange…” Aurora murmured, brows knitting. “John’s not the type to just walk away from his office.” Her voice was low, concern written plainly across her face.

Ian nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly what I found strange too,” Ian replied. “But the people around there were pretty clear–no one’s seen Mr. York for days.”

“Alright, I understand. Keep this on your radar and continue following up,” Aurora instructed, her tone calm but firm.

With that, Ian gave a quick nod and returned to his desk.

Once he was gone, Aurora picked up her phone, opened the browser, but after a pause, decided on something else entirely. Maybe she should cook something for Lucas tonight. She wasn’t a great cook by any means, but she was willing to learn. Even if it wasn’t perfect, it would be a gesture–something to ease her guilt and show him, in her own way, how much she cared.

As she pulled up a recipe tutorial, her mind kept drifting to Lucas’ strikingly handsome face. But then, another thought surfaced–one that tightened her chest: His true love.

The term still made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like the idea that someone else had once lived in Lucas’ heart like that, and more than that, she didn’t believe for a second that she was the one, no matter what he’d said.

Aurora dismissed the idea the moment it crept in. She and Lucas hadn’t known each other that long. Before their current relationship, their paths had barely crossed except through her best friend. There had been no shared past, no missed timing, and no romantic history waiting to be rekindled.