Aurora POV: It's been days since my search and rescue. I never imagined that freedom could feel so overwhelming. After enduring the horrors of being kidnapped and held captive, the sweet taste of liberation should have been pure bliss. Yet, as I cautiously navigate this newfound freedom, it feels as though the world around me is still holding its breath, afraid to disturb the fragile existence I've fought so hard to regain.The news of my rescue spread like wildfire, and people showered me with words of relief and gratitude. They embraced me with tender hugs, their eyes brimming with tears of joy. But beneath their smiles, I sensed a subtle unease, an unspoken fear of shattering my fragile state of recovery. It's as if they see me as a porcelain doll, easily broken with a single misplaced step.Every interaction now feels calculated, as if everyone around me is walking on tiptoes, afraid to say or do anything that might trigger painful memories or send me spiraling back into the dark
Michael POV: The town recieve the news about Calhoun with mixed feelings. The next few days was spent uprooting every corrupt official on Calhoun payroll and his drug warehouse was ruthlessly shut down. It was finally Mark's funeral, I had dreaded this day because of the effects I knew it would have on me.I stood there, my heart heavy with sorrow, as I gazed upon the somber scene before me. The room was filled with mournful whispers and tear-streaked faces, each one reflecting the immense loss we all felt. "Today, we gathered to bid farewell to a dear friend, a courageous soul who had given his life in the line of duty. He was a cop, a protector of the innocent, and his untimely death"The eulogies began, each one a testament to his character and the impact he had made on countless lives. His family, friends, and fellow officers all shared their stories, their voices trembling with a mix of grief and admiration. They spoke of his courage, his selflessness, and his unwavering deter
Michael POV:As I stood before the graves of my parents and Beatrice, a mix of emotions washed over me. It was the first time I had brought anyone to this sacred place. I watched as she knelt down, her face solemn and filled with respect, paying her respects to the departed souls who had unwilling been absent to shape my life."Who are they?" She askedI was yet to tell her whom they are and name on the graves gave no clues to whom they were. "The first two are my parents and the third is my elder sister" She looked taken aback"I thought you never knew them""I was lucky to find out, with some help of some friends. I wanted you to meet them too"She nodded, her eyes filled with awe. Aurora's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her words carrying a weight of sincerity and determination. "I promise you, dear parents and sister, that I will take care of Michael. I will be there for him, just as you were. I will cherish him, support him, and love him with all my heart. You have left
Epilogue Aurora POV:The warm sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow on the bedroom walls. I lay in bed, feeling the gentle rhythm of my husband's breathing beside me. It had been a long and arduous journey for us, but today was a day of happiness—a day to cherish the love and resilience that had brought us together.I watched him for a long time, I enjoyed watching him sleep. there was something particularly soothing about watching him sleep.As I stretched my arms above my head, my eyes fell upon the photograph on the nightstand. It captured a moment frozen in time, our wedding day. We got married on a beach in Oregon. It was the most beautiful day of my life. Michael's eyes were filled with unwavering devotion, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. The vows we exchanged that day held the promise of a lifetime of shared dreams and unbreakable bonds.We had toured the world like he had promised leaving with beautiful memories everywhere we we
Aurora POV:I sat at my desk and wondered why I’d ever taken this secretarial job in the first place. My boss, Jacobsville, Texas, attorney Michael Angelo, didn’t appreciate me at all. I'd only been trying to keep him from dying of a premature heart attack by changing his regular coffee to decaf. For my efforts, I had been on the receiving end of the worst insult I could ever imagine, and from the one man in the world that I loved above all others. I knew my co-workers were as upset as I was. But nothing made up for the fact that Michael Angelo hated me. I looked down at my voluptuous body in a purple dress with a high neckline, frilly bodice and straight skirt, vaguely aware that the style did nothing for me. I was wearing it today, of all days, when Michael gave me that disapproving scrutiny. My mother had tried to tell me, gently, that frills and big bosoms didn’t match, Worse, a tight-fitting skirt only emphasized those wide hips.I'd been trying so hard to lose weight. I’d given
Michael POV:I stared at the mirror in the rest room, my lazy blue eyes hid behind the glasses, my lean face still looked laced with anger, I was trying to keep it check before I stepped out again. My dark wavy hair slightly mussed in back from my restless stless fingers combing through it.Aurora shouldered into her long swey shirt jacket just as I walked into the hall. Like she promised earlier, she had waited till the end of the day. She was the only one left in the office, she was still clearing her desk and look about done.I stopped and glared at her. “I hope I’ve made my point about the coffee,” I said bluntly. “Have you reconsidered your impulsive resignation, by the way?”She stared at me with her sad eyes and gulped nervously. "No, I haven't. I will be leaving as soon as possible" "You aren't in control of your emotions Miss Hardy, I'm willing to give you till tommorrow morning to think it through overnight. You are behaving like a child throwing a tantrum" I replied “Yo
Aurora POV:Few kilometers away, I remembered I had forgotten the Cake. I’d promised to drop it by the Hart ranch for Tess, but it was still sitting in Michael's office. I no longer had a key, and I'd rather have died than phoned him to let ne in to get the cake. He’d think it was a ruse, so that I could see him again.I stopped by the bakery instead and to get another cake. I approached the lady behind the counter."Good evening Ma'am" I said"Evening""What may I get You" "A Cake?" I replied "Is it for an occasion? Most of the cakes available are blank" She said Luckily for me Tess didn’t want a message on it, just the cake. "That's fine" I said"I will have that one" I added whilst pointing to the pink one I stopped by the Hart ranch property at Tess and Cag’s enormous house and handed it off to their housekeeper, with a beaming smile that never reached my eyes. I finally headed home. I was on the verge of tears on my way home. I parked at one side of the road and calmed mys
Aurora POV:I woke up with a summat stuck to my gut. I remember sleeping with a rejuvenated hope, but the hope was no where to be found again. I was in touch with reality again. I had told myself I could secure a job easily,Actually, that wasn’t quite the case. Jacobsville was a small town. There weren’t that many office jobs available, because most people lucky enough to get them worked in the same place until they retired.There was one hope though. Leo Jordan, an extremely wealthy local rancher who had a real war going with Mr. Angelo. Rumors says he couldn’t keep a secretary neither, perhaps worse than Mr. Angelo. He was hard, cold, and demanding. At least one secretary leave his employment in tears every month. His wife had left him for an unknown reason, along with their young son, and filed for divorce. He consistently refused to sign the final papers, which had led to a furious confrontation between himself and Mr.Angelo. The fistfight escalated until Chief of Police Cash Gri