"But Aurora, you know you need to stay away until the time is right," he urges, his concern evident in his voice.
Aurora, clearly uninterested in his warnings, dismisses them with a playful tone. "I'm bored, Joseph. Let me have a little fun," she says with a smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Then, as if to push him further away, she adds, "Let's meet at our parents’ house tonight and talk about it... Agreed?"
Joseph, still hesitant, finally agrees, and she ushers him out of the house with a grin, as if she’s already plotting something.
By the time afternoon rolls around, Aurora stands outside the massive hotel where the TV show is being filmed. She gazes up at the towering structure with an expression that seems almost enchanted. Though she knows she’s being watched, she feigns complete amazement. With a gentle step, she walks toward the building, her classic shoes echoing in the quiet air. The sound is far louder than the high heels she usually wears on missions as if marking her arrival with purpose.
Carrying a sleek black bag over her left shoulder, her shoulder-length hair sways gently as she moves.
"Hello," she says, her voice soft yet confident, to the receptionist at the desk. "I’ve been invited to participate in a TV show here."
The receptionist responds carefully, a professional smile on her face. "Hello, Miss, may I have the notebook, please?"
Aurora nods and pulls the notebook from her bag, handing it to her. The receptionist then asks, “Would you prefer to participate under your name or a pseudonym?”
Aurora thinks for a moment, then answers, "Alright... a pseudonym then, Aurora."
"Very well, Aurora," the receptionist says, handing her a slip of paper with the number 7 and a small star on it. “Please head to the seventh floor and give them this paper.”
Aurora nods, and without hesitation, she makes her way toward the elevator.
When the elevator doors open on the seventh floor, Aurora steps out, only to be met by the towering figure of a man blocking her path. He scrutinizes her, his gaze piercing. Aurora tenses, the nerves flashing across her face before she regains her composure, the slightest hint of apprehension showing. If it weren’t for her self-control, she might have already snapped his neck in a heartbeat.
With practiced calm, she pulls out the paper she received at the front desk and hands it to him. He takes it without a word and gestures for her to follow.
"Please follow me," he says, his voice deep and commanding.
Aurora follows him down the hallway to a large door in front of them. The man opens it for her with a gesture, his voice ringing out, "The last guest has arrived."
Aurora steps into the room, and the door closes behind her with a soft click. The hall before her is large and grand, a room that feels like something out of Victorian times. Everything here—the furniture, the decor—speaks of an era long past.
Sitting in one of the chairs at the far side of the room is Hector, looking every bit as arrogant as she imagined. To her right, a couple lounges together on a red couch, their eyes not even bothering to look at her.
Aurora’s excitement gets the better of her, and she drops her bag on the floor, her heart soaring. She looks as though she’s floating, her eyes wide with delight, as if she were a child experiencing something magical for the first time. Her radiant smile captivates everyone in the room, drawing their attention to her in an instant. Her beauty is undeniable, and it’s clear that she’s already the center of attention, even before she says a word.
Aurora stood aloof, her blue eyes surveying the surroundings, while the others in the hall took notice. Some were taken aback by her beauty, others admired her slender figure, and some wondered at the contrast of her black hair with those striking blue eyes. Hector barely spared a glance before turning his face away, muttering under his breath, "Why does this commoner have all this beauty?"
The two individuals sitting together on the red couch glanced at her briefly before resuming their conversation. Aurora bent down to retrieve her dropped bag, offering an apologetic smile, "I caused a commotion... Sorry," before continuing with the poise of someone who owned the room—not out of arrogance, but with an air of nobility. Her gaze landed on Hector, whose indifference only spurred her forward.
She pulled up a chair next to him, leaning in with a casual tone. "Seems like you're the only one here I've met before," she said with a smile. Sitting down, she crossed her legs and addressed the couple across from her with ease, "I just want to get used to the place. Hope that’s not a bother." Hector shifted, his lips curling into a tight, fake smile. "Of course not," he replied, before she surprised him with a sweet, "Hello again."
She studied the room for a moment, her eyes scanning every corner as if gathering evidence for something she couldn’t yet place. Hector’s smirk deepened in response, though his annoyance was barely veiled.
The space buzzed with activity, the crew moving in and out, cameras whirring and flashing. The hall itself was expansive, with a labyrinth of rooms surrounding it, yet no visible exits. If anyone wanted to leave undetected, it would be impossible. This was more than just a TV show; it was the arena of the Salvador family, and Hector's presence made security tighter than ever. Despite Aurora’s attempts to enjoy the atmosphere, she never forgot where she was—inside enemy territory. The challenge of finding an escape route stirred something within her, a smile playing on her lips as if she were savoring the difficulty.
Lynn, sitting on the red couch beside Sid, couldn't help but watch Aurora, their eyes locking for a brief, unsettling moment. Aurora’s smile was light, but the tension that passed between them was palpable. Lynn, gripped with sudden unease, quickly looked away.
After a moment, Lynn turned to Sid, asking, "So, why are we here, Sid?"
Sid, his features sharp and his expression amused, smiled. "Consider it... a little leisure trip."
Lynn's frustration was evident, her lips pursed as she blew a breath out through her nose. She shot him a frustrated look. "Leisure... among monsters, huh?"
Sid chuckled, his eyes flicking over to Hector. "I know that guy is a bit intimidating, but the girl over there doesn’t seem so bad. Besides, I’m here with you."
Lynn rolled her eyes, murmuring, "She's scarier than that arrogant one."
Just as Lynn was about to speak again, Aurora, sensing the attention, approached them with an air of confidence. "Hello," she said, her voice warm. "I feel... out of place here. Do you two feel the same?"
Lynn blinked, surprised, her gaze fixed on Aurora for a long moment. She smiled awkwardly and said, "Sorry, I just... couldn't help but notice. You're stunning."
Aurora laughed softly, accepting the compliment graciously. "Thank you. You’re beautiful too. But, tell me, why are your eyes black and your hair blonde?"
Without missing a beat, Lynn laughed. "Isn't your hair black and your eyes blue? That’s strange too, don’t you think?"
Aurora laughed again, "Oh, it’s dyed hair."
Lynn nodded. "Same here."
They shared another laugh, while Sid watched in stunned silence. Finally, he muttered, "Women... are strange."
Aurora, never one to shy away from a conversation, extended her hand to introduce herself. "I’m Aurora," she said.
Sid, now smiling, responded, "I’m Sid, and this is Lynn. Nice to meet you."
Then Lynn asked, "Is that your real name or a pseudonym?"
Aurora’s gaze shifted, catching Hector in her periphery. He had overheard their conversation and, with a quick movement, was suddenly beside them. "I’d like to hear the answer too," he said, his tone dismissive.
Aurora smiled coolly. "Oh, I didn’t think of anything else... Just Aurora."
Hector sighed and turned away, though Sid raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"So, is that your real name or a pseudonym?" he asked again, more seriously this time.
Aurora tilted her head, feigning innocence. "It’s a pseudonym."
Lynn, raising an eyebrow, shot Sid an amused look. "Isn’t it obvious? Are you dumb?"
Sid shrugged, uninterested in the answer, and redirected the conversation. "So, Aurora... did you get the memo?"
Aurora, clearly amused, replied casually, "Yes, you're the writer, right?"
Sid’s expression softened, a touch of pride in his eyes. "That’s right."
Aurora continued, her voice playful. "I almost believed you... but then I saw who you were writing for." She cast a knowing glance at Lynn, who seemed entirely indifferent.
Aurora chuckled softly, but her voice held a slight edge. "So, are you two a couple?"
Sid and Lynn exchanged a glance before replying almost in unison, "You really don’t know?"
Aurora, caught off guard for a moment, glanced around. "I just found the memo... that’s all I know."
Lynn's curiosity piqued, she asked, "So, how many pages did you read?"
Aurora answered without hesitation, "All of it... in about an hour. Maybe an hour and a half... I don’t remember."
Lynn burst into laughter. The rest of the room reacted in surprise. Hector, overhearing this, muttered to himself, "What drives her to read something so trivial... and in just one hour?"
Aurora, unfazed, smiled and turned back to Lynn. "I was just curious. What does 'to love' really mean?"
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