Chapter 4 Moving In

Aurora crossed her arms, glaring at Damien like he had just suggested she sell her soul.

"Move in with you?" she repeated, voice laced with disbelief. "That's not happening."

Damien exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching as if he had expected her reaction. "Aurora, be reasonable. You're pregnant. You need a stable, stress-free environment."

Aurora let out a bitter laugh. "And living with you is supposed to be stress-free?"

He didn't even blink. "Yes."

She threw her hands up. "You're impossible."

Damien took a step closer, his tall, powerful frame nearly caging her in. "I'm protective," he corrected. "And I take responsibility for what's mine."

Aurora's chest tightened. There it was again. That infuriating way he spoke, as if claiming her.

She wasn't his.

This pregnancy didn't change that.

She squared her shoulders. "I can take care of myself."

Damien arched an eyebrow. "You can barely afford this apartment."

Heat flushed her skin. "That's none of your business."

"It became my business the second you got pregnant with my child," he shot back. "I have the means to give you a better life, Aurora. A safer one."

Aurora scoffed. "You mean a controlled one. You just want to keep an eye on me."

Damien's expression darkened, but before he could reply, Aurora took a deep breath and softened her tone. "Look, I get it. You're freaking out. I am too. But I don't need you to rescue me. I'm not some helpless damsel, Damien."

Something flickered in his eyes. Respect? Frustration? Maybe both.

"You're not helpless," he admitted. "But this isn't just about you anymore."

Aurora swallowed hard, her stomach twisting.

He was right.

She hated that he was right.

This wasn't just about her.

It was about the baby.

Her child deserved stability. Security.

And no matter how much she wanted to hate Damien, she knew he could offer that.

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I just... I need time, Damien. To figure things out."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine." He pulled a sleek black card from his wallet and placed it on the counter. "But until then, use this."

Aurora stared at the platinum credit card like it was a ticking time bomb.

"I'm not taking your money," she said flatly.

Damien didn't waver. "It's for the baby. Doctor's appointments, vitamins, anything you need. I don't care what you think about me, Aurora. But I won't have my child going without."

Her throat tightened.

Damn him.

Damn him for making it sound so reasonable.

"I'll think about it," she muttered.

Damien gave her a long, unreadable look before stepping back. "I'll check in tomorrow."

Aurora's head snapped up. "Tomorrow?"

"I told you, Aurora." His voice was calm, deadly serious. "I'm not going anywhere."

And with that, he walked out the door, leaving her world completely upside down.

The Next Morning – Aurora's Apartment

Aurora had barely gotten out of bed when another knock rattled her door.

She groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

Dragging herself to the door, she yanked it open-only to freeze.

Damien wasn't alone.

Standing beside him was a beautiful blonde woman, dressed in a sleek gray business suit, holding an iPad against her chest.

Aurora's stomach dropped.

"Good morning, Ms. Sinclair." The woman gave a professional smile. "I'm Evelyn, Mr. Lexington's personal assistant. I'm here to help with your transition."

Aurora blinked. "My... what?"

Damien stepped inside, his gray eyes locking onto hers with a silent challenge.

"You're moving in with me," he said simply. "I've already arranged everything."

Aurora's jaw dropped.

He had some nerve.

"You did what?" she snapped.

Damien didn't even flinch. "I gave you time to think. Now I'm making the decision for you."

Aurora's hands curled into fists. "That's not how this works, Damien. You can't just control my life like you do your business."

His eyes darkened. "This is bigger than business, Aurora. It's about our child."

Her chest tightened.

He kept saying that. Our child.

Like he actually meant it.

Like he actually cared.

Evelyn cleared her throat, clearly sensing the tension. "I've already arranged for movers to transport your things to Mr. Lexington's penthouse. You won't have to lift a finger."

Aurora turned to Damien, her blood boiling. "You can't just bulldoze over my life like this!"

"I can," Damien said smoothly. "And I just did."

Aurora wanted to scream.

He was infuriating. Arrogant. Controlling.

And yet...

He was also the father of her child.

And deep down, a tiny, terrifying part of her wondered if maybe-just maybe-he was right.