Chapter 5 New Beginnings or New Chains

Aurora barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Damien's face, his words, his unwavering determination to make her life fit neatly into his plans.

It felt like a dream she couldn't escape, but this nightmare wasn't a figment of her imagination. It was her reality now.

The sound of her phone ringing startled her awake the next morning, its shrill tone cutting through the haze of exhaustion. She groaned, reaching blindly for it, and squinted at the screen.

Unknown Number.

For a moment, she considered ignoring it. Let it go to voicemail. But a gnawing sense of responsibility-the feeling that she couldn't hide from this-pulled her into action.

She pressed the green button.

"Hello?" she muttered, her voice raspy from lack of sleep.

"Aurora," came the cold, authoritative voice on the other end. It wasn't a question. It was a command.

Damien.

"What is it?" she snapped, irritation seeping into her words despite herself.

"I'm picking you up at noon," he said, his voice the epitome of control. "Get ready."

"Damien, I don't need you to-"

He cut her off. "It's not a request. I've already arranged everything. I'll be there in an hour."

Her pulse quickened, a familiar wave of frustration and helplessness crashing over her. He was always like this-always taking charge, like the world could bend to his will.

And right now, it felt like there was no way out.

"Fine," she bit out, her teeth gritted. "I'll be ready."

The line went silent for a moment before Damien spoke again, his tone softer, more measured this time.

"We're doing this for the baby, Aurora. I won't back down."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her head spun with anger, but something else, something she wasn't ready to confront, tightened in her chest.

"You don't know what's best for me," she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

"I'm not trying to control you. I'm trying to protect what's mine."

And with that, he hung up.

Aurora was left standing there, phone in hand, her heart racing.

She had no choice. The apartment she had worked so hard to create was no longer hers. Damien had made sure of that.

And now, it was time to face the consequences of her reckless decision.

Noon - Damien's Penthouse

Aurora stepped out of the cab, taking in the sight of the towering glass building that stretched high into the New York skyline. She had been to places like this before, but never as someone who was supposed to belong there.

Damien's penthouse loomed above her, an imposing structure of glass and steel that screamed luxury and untouchable wealth.

She felt small.

It was strange, being on this side of the divide. She was no stranger to high-end hotels, but this-this was something else entirely.

As she made her way into the building, the doorman greeted her with a polite smile.

"Miss Sinclair, Mr. Lexington is expecting you."

Aurora nodded stiffly, feeling the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy coat.

As the elevator doors closed, she couldn't help but feel a tightening in her chest.

This wasn't just about her anymore. It was about her baby.

She had to remind herself of that.

She was doing this for the baby.

When the elevator chimed, the doors opened to an opulent hallway, leading to a set of double doors at the end. She stepped out, her steps echoing in the empty space as she approached the door.

She was about to knock when the door swung open, and there he was.

Damien, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his dark hair a little mussed, his eyes locking onto hers with the same intensity that made her heart race and her skin flush.

"You're here," he said, his voice low and steady, almost as if he had been expecting her for much longer than just an hour.

Aurora didn't respond right away. She simply stood there, letting the space between them feel vast-and yet, she couldn't bring herself to turn away.

"Come in," he said, his tone softening slightly as he stepped aside.

Aurora hesitated for just a moment before stepping past him. She couldn't deny the attraction that still lingered between them, a connection that felt undeniable despite everything.

Damien led her into the expansive living room, a space so immaculate it looked like it belonged in a magazine. White marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, and sleek modern furniture was arranged perfectly around the room. The view of the city stretched out beyond the windows, a breathtaking sight that made her stomach twist with a strange mixture of awe and discomfort.

"You look..." Damien trailed off as he looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her. "Tired."

Aurora stiffened, taking a seat on one of the couches. "I didn't get much sleep."

He nodded, his eyes following her every movement with that all-knowing look she had come to expect from him.

"You should rest."

Aurora shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm not here for a nap."

Damien smiled, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "I'm not asking you to sleep, Aurora. But I am asking you to make this easier on yourself."

"Easier on myself?" She stood up quickly, her temper flaring. "You think this is easy for me? That I can just forget everything I've worked for, everything I've built-just to please you?"

Damien's expression darkened, but his voice remained calm. "This isn't about pleasing me. This is about what's best for you-and the baby."

Aurora felt her anger rise again, but this time, she couldn't control it.

"You don't get to make all the decisions for me, Damien. I'm not some helpless woman you can control."

His jaw tightened. "I'm not trying to control you."

But there it was again, that familiar tone in his voice-the one that made her feel like there was no escape. He was so sure of himself, so confident, that it was impossible not to feel like she was just a passenger in her own life.

"And yet," she said quietly, her eyes narrowing, "you're trying to tell me how to live it."

He stared at her, his gaze unwavering. "I'm doing this for the baby. You can fight me all you want, but in the end, I'm right."

Aurora felt a cold knot form in her stomach. Why did he have to make so much sense?

A moment of silence passed between them, thick with tension. She could feel the weight of his words pressing on her chest, suffocating her.

"You may be right," she said softly, almost to herself. "But I won't just sit back and let you take control of everything."

Damien stepped closer, his voice quieter now. "Then what do you want, Aurora?"

Aurora opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the sound of her phone buzzing on the table interrupted her.

It was a text.

She glanced down, her heart leaping into her throat when she saw who it was from.

Lena: Is everything okay?

Aurora stared at the text, her mind racing. She wanted to tell Lena the truth. She wanted to confide in her friend. But what could she say?

She looked up at Damien, his face a study of intensity, his eyes sharp and unreadable.

And for the first time, she realized just how much she didn't know about the man standing before her.

Could she trust him? Could she really rely on him?

Or was she walking into a trap she couldn't escape?