The Unfinished Business

The night air was sharp with the scent of roses, the trimmed hedges standing like silent sentinels in the vast garden behind the Laurent estate.  Selene stood by the balcony, gripping the cool iron railing, staring at the glittering cityscape beyond. Paris at night was breathtaking, but her mind was far from admiring the view. Her heart was still unsteady, her breathing controlled but shallow. Aurora. Aurora was back  and worse of it she was standing beside Damian Rothschild as if she belonged there. Selene closed her eyes, the ache in her chest an felt like unwelcome guest like she should not care, like she did not care. Her phone buzzed against the glass table beside her but she ignored it. Camille had left the gala earlier, having sensed Selene's darkening mood, but no doubt she would call in the morning, ready with sharp words of warning. The night should have ended there. Selene should have walked inside, poured herself a drink, and let the past remain exactly where it belonged. But then there was footsteps, slow but deliberate. Selene turned and there she was. Aurora Sinclair stood at the entrance of the balcony, her crimson gown shimmering in the moonlight. For a long, suffocating moment, neither of them spoke. Then Aurora tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into that same infuriating smile. "You always did prefer the quiet." Selene's fingers flexed against the railing. "And you always did prefer the attention. Why are you here, Aurora?" Aurora took a step closer, her golden eyes was unreadable. "I wanted to see you." A soft, humorless laugh escaped Selene's lips. "I'm sure your fiance would love to hear that." Aurora's smile faltered, just slightly, before she composed herself. "So you noticed." Selene's gaze sharpened. "It was hard not to." Aurora let out a sharp breath, her expression shifting, something softer beneath the confidence. "I didn't come to argue with you." Selene lifted an eyebrow. "No? Then tell me, what exactly did you come for?" Aurora hesitated and that hesitation was the crack in the armor that Selene noticed. Aurora Sinclair never hesitated. Selene stepped forward, her voice was steady. "What is this, Aurora? Is this a game? Did you come here tonight just to remind me of what I lost?" Aurora's gaze locked onto hers. "You think I wanted to lose you?" Selene's chest tightened, the weight of old wounds pressing against her ribs. "You left. You walked away. You didn't just lose me, Aurora. You threw me away." Aurora's breath hitched. "Selene-" Selene held up a hand. "Don't. Don't stand here, five years later, and pretend like it didn't mean anything, like it didn't destroy me." Silence stretched between them, thick with things unsaid. Aurora's hands clenched at her sides. "You don't understand." Selene laughed coldly. "Then enlighten me." Aurora opened her mouth-then stopped. A flicker of something that looked like fear passed through her eyes. Selene caught it. Her own voice got softened, just slightly. "Tell me the truth." Aurora swallowed, stepping closer. "I never wanted to leave you." Selene's pulse stuttered but before she could respond, before she could demand an explanation-the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the moment. Selene turned sharply and there, standing just beyond the shadows of the garden, was Damian Rothschild. His eyes gleamed in the dim light, his smirk lazy but sharp. "Ladies," he drawled. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Selene's spine stiffened, her gaze cutting toward Aurora, who had suddenly gone pale. Damian took another step closer, his eyes flashing between them, amusement curling at the edges of his mouth. "Well, well. I must say, I did wonder if old flames still burned." Selene's jaw got tightened. "What do you want, Damian?" Damian chuckled, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Oh, nothing much. Just thought I should remind my fiancee where she belongs." Selene's blood turned to ice. Fiancee? Aurora flinched. Selene stepped forward, placing herself slightly between them. Protectively. "If you think for one second that you can control her, you're mistaken." Damian's smile widened. "Oh, Selene. You still think this is about control?" Selene's fists clenched. "Isn't it?" Damian tilted his head slightly, his gaze looking toward Aurora. "You haven't told her, have you?" Aurora remained silent, her hands tightening at her sides. Selene's chest tightened. "Told me what?" Damian exhaled, feigning disappointment. "Ah. I see. Still keeping secrets, my love?" He glanced back at Selene, and there was something dark in his eyes. A look that appears dangerous. Selene had spent years playing ruthless games in business. She knew a power move when she saw one and Damian had just played one. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough for Selene to hear. "You might want to ask her why she left you, Selene. It's quite the story." Selene's breath hitched. Damian straightened, glancing toward Aurora one last time before turning away. "I'll see you at home, darling." Then, he walked away, disappearing into the shadows. Aurora stood frozen, her entire body tense, her lips parted as if to speak but she didn't. Selene turned toward her, her voice like steel. "What the hell is he talking about?" Aurora looked at her then, and for the first time that night, Selene saw true fear in her eyes. The past wasn't finished with them. It was just getting started.