Chapter 581: Birthday
Spencer’s eyes lit up instantly, excitement flashing across his face. "Really?"
Aurora chuckled softly, then reached into her bag and took out a key.
She held it up in front of him. Spencer blinked, confused.
"A key?" he asked.
"Look at the keychain," Aurora said, her tone teasing.
Spencer leaned closer, focusing on it...and then his expression shifted.
It was a keychain identical to the one he used for his car keys.
A smile slowly spread across his face, warm and genuine.
"So you matched it with mine..." he murmured.
Aurora watched his reaction, a quiet amusement flickering in her eyes.
’That’s not even the real surprise...’
Once they got into the car, Aurora leaned back slightly, letting out a soft sigh.
"I’m tired," she said. "Let’s just go back to the apartment."
Spencer didn’t argue. The night had already been full of surprises, and he simply nodded.
Soon, they arrived.
Aurora used the same key she had shown him earlier to open the door. The soft click echoed faintly in the quiet apartment.
She stepped inside and headed straight toward the room.
Spencer assumed she wanted to change and rest, so he stayed back in the living room, loosening his tie slightly as he waited.
The silence stretched.
Then...soft footsteps. Spencer looked up, thinking she might be heading out again.
But when he saw her...he froze.
Aurora walked out wearing a black night dress, the soft fabric flowing lightly with her steps. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and under the dim lighting, she looked... breathtaking.
For a moment, Spencer couldn’t move. His throat went dry as he swallowed.
"What... are you doing?" he asked, his voice slightly unsteady.
Aurora chuckled softly, tilting her head. "What do you think?" she replied, stepping closer.
Her presence alone made his heart pound loudly in his chest.
He tried to control himself, but the closeness, the warmth, the faint scent of her shampoo... it all overwhelmed him.
When she stood right in front of him, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He leaned in.
Their lips met, soft at first, then deeper, filled with pent-up emotions and unspoken longing. His hands instinctively moved, holding her gently yet firmly, as if afraid she might slip away.
The moment stretched, breathless and intense... Until... Aurora suddenly stiffened.
She tapped lightly on his arm. "Stop..."
Spencer hesitated, reluctant. "Please..." he murmured softly.
But Aurora shook her head, her expression slightly uncomfortable. "Not today... it’s not possible."
The moment those words left her lips, everything shifted.
The warmth in Spencer’s eyes faded, replaced instantly with concern.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice serious now.
Aurora bit her lip slightly before answering. "My... periods started."
It took Spencer a second to process. Then realization hit. "Oh"
His face flushed faintly, and without wasting another second, he stood up quickly. "Wait here."
He hurried to the room, rummaging through drawers before returning with what she needed. He handed them to her carefully, avoiding eye contact for a moment.
Aurora took the tampon and went to the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Spencer walked into the kitchen, his movements slightly awkward as he prepared warm brown sugar water for her. Steam rose gently from the cup, carrying a sweet, comforting scent.
’What kind of timing is this...’
He sighed internally, running a hand through his hair. ’Seriously... right now?’
Yet despite that, a faint smile tugged at his lips. ’Still... she didn’t push me away.’
That thought alone made his chest feel lighter.
He even took out his phone and quietly noted down the date.
’Better to keep track... next time, I’ll be prepared.’
Lost in his thoughts, imagining a future where moments like this wouldn’t be interrupted, his lips curved slightly.
Then...his phone rang. He glanced at the screen. And the moment he read it...all the warmth on his face vanished.
His expression turned heavy. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly.
’Why... now again?’
It felt like every time things were about to move forward between him and Aurora...something pulled them apart.
When Aurora came out, her steps were slower, her expression slightly tired. She already knew she might feel a bit moody.
Spencer immediately handed her the warm drink. "Here."
Aurora took it and sipped slowly, the warmth spreading through her body. A small, satisfied smile appeared on her lips as she looked at him.
But then she noticed it. Even though he tried to hide it, the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable.
Her brows furrowed. "What happened?" she asked softly. "Why do you look so sad?"
Then, thinking of earlier, she chuckled lightly.
"You don’t have to worry about... that," she added. "It’s not like my period would stay for 2 weeks."
Spencer fell silent. He knew he couldn’t lie to her. Aurora hated it when he hid things.
Slowly, he knelt down in front of her, his expression serious. "I might have to leave for my city... soon."
Aurora froze. The warmth from the drink suddenly felt distant.
"Why?" she asked, her voice slightly tense.
Spencer exhaled slowly.
"The other side has started taking action," he said. "If I stay here any longer... it might raise suspicion."
Aurora pressed her lips together, her fingers tightening slightly around the cup.
Reluctance flickered in her eyes. ’So soon...?’
Then, without saying anything further, Aurora stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Her embrace was tight, almost as if she was afraid he might disappear the moment she let go.
"I won’t miss you," she murmured, her voice low, almost stubborn.
Spencer let out a quiet chuckle and hugged her back just as tightly, his hand resting gently on her head.
"Same here," he replied, his tone light, though his grip betrayed him.
’If I stay any longer... I really won’t be able to leave.’
When they finally pulled apart, their gazes lingered on each other longer than necessary. Neither of them spoke, yet the reluctance in their eyes said everything.
Soon, they returned to Aurora’s room.
That night felt unusually quiet.
They lay together, close, wrapped in each other’s warmth. No words were needed; the silence itself felt heavy.
’Just a little longer...’
But morning came anyway.
Spencer checked the time, his expression turning serious again as reality settled in. He got ready quickly, his movements efficient yet slightly stiff.
Aurora followed him downstairs, her steps slower. At the entrance of the apartment, she stopped.
Her lips pressed together slightly before she spoke. "Visit me again."
Her voice was soft, but there was a quiet expectation in it. Spencer smiled, his eyes softening.
"I will," he said. "Very soon."
Without giving himself time to hesitate, he got into the car. The engine started with a low hum.
’Don’t look back... just go.’
If he stayed even a minute longer, he knew he would walk back to her. The car drove off.
Aurora stood there, watching as it disappeared into the distance. She didn’t stop him.
Because she knew... If he had stayed, she might have held onto him and refused to let go.
’This is better...’
Slowly, she turned and walked back inside.
A month passed in what felt like a blur.
Aurora immersed herself in work. Company matters, Lily’s situation, Shay’s issues, one thing after another demanded her attention. In between, she occasionally explored underground networks, her hacking skills improving steadily.
Now that Spencer trusted her more, he allowed her to go deeper. And during all of this...she realized something.
Her eighteenth birthday was approaching. That thought stirred something deep within her.
’So... It’s finally starting.’
When the day finally arrived... it was grand.
The venue was filled with warm lights, soft music, and the gentle hum of conversations.
Her friends were there. Mia. Selena. And others from her high school.
Her family too... Alex, Adeline, Adriana, Peter, Lucas, Jules, Theodore, Jacqueline, Mary, Adam, Olivia, Louis... and many more.
As Aurora looked around, her chest tightened slightly. Then she smiled.
’These are the people... I met along the way.’
From being trapped as a villain... From becoming a side character...to finally breaking free.
One by one, they handed her gifts. And as she opened them...she was stunned.
Adam and Mary had gifted her a villa under her name.
Olivia and Theodore gave her a card containing one hundred thousand dollars, money they had earned and saved over time.
Lucas and Adriana handed her a car key. Aurora’s eyes turned moist.
’It’s not about the price... it’s about them.’
Alex and Adeline gave her something entirely unexpected: a high-end, advanced laptop.
Aurora blinked, then laughed softly. "They really know how to gift people according to their interests."
Then came Jules, Louis, and Peter, who had teamed up to gift her a designer bag.
Aurora hadn’t expected much...but when she realized it was from a cruelty-free brand, her eyes lit up.
"I love it," she said sincerely.
Nearby, Theodore and Olivia exchanged a glance. They knew.
About the shares Aurora had secretly transferred on their birthday. About the art studio.