chapter 2

The Larsons and Jansens had shared a close bond for generations, and Aurora and Zane had grown up together since childhood. The two had been betrothed from a young age and were once regarded as the perfect match among Riverwood's elite families.

They grew up side by side, never once putting their feelings into words, but whenever she needed someone, he was always there.

He protected her, supported her, and watched over her like a guardian angel.

Originally, they had only been waiting for her to reach legal age before moving forward with their marriage.

But everything changed when Aurora was 16. Her parents died in a car accident, and her shameless uncle and his wife took over the Larson family business. They brazenly moved into the Larson estate, treating her like a servant. Worse still, they tormented her and stripped her of everything.

In her darkest moments, it was Zane who shielded her, who took her in and cared for her, allowing her to finish school and become a doctor.

After graduating from university, Aurora had planned to follow through with their engagement and finally build a home of her own.

But after Zane took over the family business, he became increasingly busy.

"Just wait a little longer." That was what he had always told her.

And so she waited.

Year after year, she waited—for six long years.

Zane, once patient and gentle, started frowning whenever the engagement was brought up. Aurora assumed he was simply too exhausted, that she should be more understanding, that she shouldn't pressure him.

As long as he loved her, she didn't mind waiting.

Then Isabelle appeared, shattering every illusion Aurora had.

She realized that Zane could meticulously arrange every aspect of someone's life without ever finding it a burden.

She realized that Zane could check in on someone's daily routine perfectly, afraid that she might suffer even the slightest grievance.

He had never done any of that for Aurora.

The shrill ring of the phone jolted her back from her thoughts. The sharp ache in her chest tightened, but she forced herself to look up at the lights, blinking back the sting in her eyes.

"Dr. Larson, we just got an emergency case—ruptured hepatic hemangioma. All our experienced surgeons are in the OR. If you're available, can you take this one?" The call was from the operating room.

Aurora immediately stood up. "Prep the patient. I'm on my way."

By the time she arrived at the hospital, it was already 9 p.m. The patient's condition was critical, so she proceeded straight to perform a partial hepatectomy.

When she finally stepped out of the operating room, it was 2 a.m.

After performing surgeries for hours on end, Aurora was both exhausted and drowsy. The moment she stepped into her office, she collapsed onto the couch and fell asleep without even changing.

She had no idea how long she had been asleep when she felt something being draped over her. Opening her eyes, she saw the hospital director, Wendy Harper, standing in front of her.

"Aurora, did I wake you? I saw you curled up without even a blanket, so I figured I'd cover you up with something. I didn't mean to wake you, though ... " Wendy sighed, looking a little regretful.

Aurora didn't mind. "It's fine, Wendy. I've had enough sleep. I'll finish my rounds, then go home to catch up on rest."

Wendy wasn't just Aurora's boss; she was also a close friend of her mother's. Over the years, she had seen firsthand just how hard Aurora worked.

A mix of pride and heartache washed over Wendy's expression. "All right. Hurry up and do your rounds, then go home and rest."

With that, she turned and headed toward the door.

Aurora hesitated for a moment but eventually called out, "Wendy, I ... I want to tender my resignation."

Wendy immediately turned back, unable to hide her shock. "What? Why the sudden resignation?"

"I got married."

Hearing that, Wendy seemed to understand and broke into a knowing smile. "Oh, it's Zane, isn't it? Congratulations, Aurora.

"You two have been together since childhood. This is the perfect ending for you both."

Aurora knew that Wendy had misunderstood but didn't bother correcting her. She merely curled her lips into a faint smile.

Wendy didn't notice anything off and continued cheerfully, "Hasn't your grandma always wanted to see you get married? Now she can finally be at ease."

Aurora's gaze softened at the mention of her grandmother. This time, she smiled sincerely. "I hope this makes her happy, too."

If not for her grandmother's wish to see her settle down, she wouldn't have impulsively married Quentin, who had been dealing with his own family's pressure to wed.

When she visited her grandmother with the marriage certificate next time, her grandmother would surely be overjoyed.

After chatting with Wendy for a while, Aurora went to complete her resignation paperwork before finishing her rounds and heading home.

She had stayed up all night and barely gotten any rest, so on the taxi ride back, she felt lightheaded, eager to collapse into bed and sleep properly.

But the moment she stepped into the house and witnessed the scene in the primary bedroom, her face burned with sudden heat. Exhaustion and drowsiness vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of pure fury.