Aurora's POV
My carefully chosen words were meant to sting, to remind him of the secret life he had forced upon me, of how he had kept me hidden away for years.
I knew Conrad. His ego was massive. Being forgotten—or worse, reduced to a mere acquaintance—would eat him alive.
My mind instantly flashed back to the five years I had dedicated to him, years spent chasing his fleeting affections, convinced that one day he would notice me and truly fall in love with me.
Love at first sight, a grueling pursuit, and countless late-night calls and secret dates later, we had finally established a relationship.
For five years, we did everything lovers do, to the absolute fullest.
I always believed that, one day, we would step out into the light.
I was ready to take the next step, ready for us to go public.
But Conrad’s reaction caught me entirely off guard.
He said, "Aurora, if there's been some misunderstanding, I'm sorry. You're just my plaything. Someone convenient for me to pass the time with, someone who won't complicate my life."
There was a cruelty in his casual words, piercing me like a jagged blade.
He even apologized for my "misunderstanding," as if my five years of devotion, my dreams, my very existence, meant absolutely nothing.
"Aurora, I'm sorry if you misunderstood our arrangement. I thought we were clear."
Then came the final blow.
He unapologetically announced that he was preparing to get engaged to someone his parents approved of. Someone from a prestigious family who could elevate his public image.
"You were never the type I'd consider for a serious relationship. You were just... a distraction."
Fury, cold and razor-sharp, blazed in my chest.
Five years. Five years of my life, my love, my unwavering loyalty.
Was I really going to be tossed aside this easily?
Was I really that cheap?
If he never intended to marry me, why did he accept my confession in the first place?
That day, I chose to break up. I ended the relationship right then and there. "Conrad, we're done."
I packed my bags with trembling hands. I got into my car, the light and shadows of the Pacific Coast Highway blurring together. Tears spilled over, clouding my vision.
The next moment, I heard the screech of tires, the crunch of tearing metal, and then—darkness.
Back in the hotel ballroom, Conrad stared at me, his expression unreadable.
The weight of his gaze was immense, practically suffocating me. My hands, hidden behind Elliot, trembled slightly, but I forced myself to remain composed.
Finally, he gave a stiff, barely perceptible nod.
He forced a tight, artificial smile onto his lips. "My apologies, Aurora. I must have been mistaken. We were... just acquaintances. Old friends, perhaps."
I feigned a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness! I was worried for a second there that you were going to tell me we had some sort of scandalous, secret affair!"
I leaned into Elliot, wrapping my arm around his waist and lacing my fingers with his.
I looked up at Elliot, flashing a playful smile, and winked. "Darling, tell him he's not my type."
Elliot looked at Conrad. "Aurora is far too kind and genuine to engage in anything less than a pure relationship."
Conrad’s gaze, which had been fixated on the hand Elliot had resting on my waist, suddenly turned razor-sharp.
His eyes snapped to my left hand, specifically to the sparkling engagement ring on my finger. The diamond caught the light, dazzling and bright.
"When..." he asked quietly, his tone clipped and laced with disbelief, "are you two planning to get married?"
Elliot smiled faintly. "Yes, we're engaged. Aurora and I are tying the knot next month. It will be a small ceremony, just close family and friends. Though, if you'd like to witness true happiness, you're welcome to come."
Conrad’s eyes remained locked on me, a storm seeming to brew in their depths.
I knew him too well. Right now, he was on the verge of losing control.
I figured it was just male possessiveness acting up.
After all, in his eyes, I was just a "convenient hookup." A cheap, on-call bedmate.
He would get over it soon enough.
I turned to Conrad, my tone light and innocent. "Well, that settles it! Whatever you thought we were, it doesn't matter now—acquaintances or old friends. I mean, I can't even remember it anyway. So, it's all in the past!"
I paused, then added, "It's a shame, really. I always thought I had good taste in friends."
Conrad clenched his jaw, the faint grinding of his teeth audible even over the din of the banquet.
It was all in the past.
This was the exact outcome I wanted.
For a fleeting moment, bitterness washed over me like a tidal wave.
Five years. Five years of my life, my love, my vulnerability, all down the drain.
But I realized that true revenge wasn't about inflicting pain; it was about finding inner peace, about reclaiming myself.
Faking this amnesia was my path to healing.
Elliot nodded, his eyes lingering on Conrad for a second before turning to me. "Of course, darling."
I started to turn away, my hand still tightly holding Elliot's, ready to leave. I felt a rush of triumph, a bittersweet victory.
"Aurora." Conrad's voice.
I turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?"
His eyes were a turbulent storm of conflicting emotions: anger, confusion, and a hint of desperation.
"What if," he said in a low voice, "what if I told you that everything you think you've forgotten... isn't actually what it seems?"
