Aurora's question hung in the air-sharp and subtle at the same time.
Dante was the first to react. He let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're being strange, Aurora," he said lightly. "Of course we're not hiding anything."
Aurora didn't respond right away.
She simply looked at him.
Deeply.
As if trying to pierce through every layer of carefully constructed lies.
Then slowly... Aurora smiled.
"Good. I've always trusted both of you," she said softly.
Her gaze shifted to Lily.
"Because I don't like secrets either."
The sentence was simple.
Yet somehow... it made Lily's heart beat faster.
Aurora turned away, walking off as if nothing had happened.
But there was certainty in her steps. There was a plan.
And there was something they would no longer be able to avoid.
The night grew deeper.
But Aurora's game had only just begun.
In her room, she sat in front of her laptop. The screen displayed the financial reports of Blackwood Group over the past two years.
Number after number.
Transaction after transaction.
Aurora examined everything carefully.
And the longer she looked...
The clearer the pattern became.
Embezzlement.
Shadow accounts.
Fictitious investments.
Everything pointed to one name.
Dante.
Aurora leaned back in her chair.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So this is your game..." she murmured.
They hadn't just betrayed her.
They had also planned to take everything from her.
Her company. Her wealth. Her life.
Aurora slowly closed her laptop.
"In that case..." Her eyes hardened. "I'll take everything back."
Two in the morning.
The house was silent.
Then suddenly-
A voice shattered the stillness.
"Dante...!"
A panicked cry.
Aurora opened her eyes.
She didn't move immediately.
She simply listened.
Hurried footsteps.
A door opening.
"Lily? What's wrong?" Dante's voice sounded anxious.
Aurora rose slowly.
Carefully lifting her baby into her arms.
Then she walked out of the room.
In the hallway, she saw Dante rushing toward the guest room.
Aurora followed.
Unhurried.
Unpanicked.
When she reached the doorway, the scene inside became clear.
Lily sat on the bed.
Her face was pale.
Sweat dampened her forehead.
Her hands clutched her stomach.
"My stomach... it hurts..." she whispered.
Aurora stood at the threshold.
Silent.
Observing.
Dante looked panicked.
"We need to go to the hospital!"
Lily shook her head weakly.
"It hurts too much... I can't stand..."
Aurora stepped inside.
Her movements were calm.
In stark contrast to the situation before her.
"It seems... the time has come," Aurora said softly.
Dante turned to her.
"Aurora, this is serious!"
Aurora looked at him.
"You're panicking so much, Dante... anyone would think you're the one giving birth to Lily's baby."
Her tone... was too calm.
"This isn't the time. I'm taking Lily to the hospital."
But Dante had no time to think about it.
His focus was entirely on Lily.
A few hours later.
The hospital was filled with tension.
Lily was taken into the delivery room.
Dante waited outside, pacing anxiously.
Aurora did not follow.
She refused to let her baby witness the falsehood inside that place.
Instead, she chose to sit quietly.
Very quietly.
Her baby slept peacefully in her arms.
Inside the hospital... time moved slowly.
A cry echoed from the room.
But it wasn't a baby's cry.
It was-
Panic.
"There are complications!"
"Hurry!"
Dante froze.
"What's happening?" he shouted.
No one answered.
A few minutes later, a doctor stepped out.
His expression was serious.
"Who is the patient's family?"
"I am!" Dante stepped forward immediately.
The doctor looked at him.
He studied Dante for a few seconds, as if choosing his words carefully.
"The patient is safe," the doctor finally said.
Dante let out a breath of relief.
But it didn't last long.
"But... the baby was born with a certain condition."
Dante frowned.
"A condition?"
The doctor nodded slowly.
"There appears to be a physical abnormality. We still need further examination, but... the baby will require special care from an early stage."
Silence.
Dante didn't respond immediately.
As if his mind refused to process the information.
"What do you mean...?" he asked quietly.
The doctor took a breath.
"It's a girl. However, she has a congenital condition that is quite serious. We recommend referring her to a specialist as soon as possible."
The words fell flat.
Yet they were enough to shatter the hope that had just formed.
Inside the recovery room, Lily was already awake.
But her face... was empty.
A nurse placed the newborn into her arms.
"This is your baby..."
But the moment Lily saw the child, her body stiffened.
Her eyes widened.
"No..."
The word came out faintly.
Almost like a whisper.
"No! This isn't my baby!"
Lily pushed the baby away in panic.
Her hands trembled violently.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I don't want... I don't want to see that baby!"
The nurse was startled.
"Ma'am, please calm down-"
"I said I don't want to!" Lily screamed hysterically.
Her sobs broke out uncontrollably.
As if her world had truly collapsed before her.
The door opened.
Dante entered with a tense expression.
"Lily!"
He rushed to her side, gripping her shoulders.
"What are you doing? That's our child!"
Lily shook her head frantically.
"No! Not mine!"
Her eyes were filled with fear.
"I can't... I can't live like this..."
Dante fell silent.
For a moment.
Then his expression changed.
No longer panic.
But... calculation.
He turned to the nurse.
"Leave us alone."
The nurse hesitated.
But eventually complied.
The door closed.
Now only the two of them remained inside.
Lily was still sobbing.
Dante stepped closer, holding her face.
"Listen to me."
His voice was low. Calm. But dangerous.
Lily looked at him, her eyes full of tears.
"I can't..."
"You can," Dante cut in softly.
He leaned closer.
Whispering right into her ear.
"I have a plan."
Lily froze.
Her sobbing stopped.
"What do you mean...?"
Dante smiled faintly.
A cold smile.
"We'll switch the babies."
Lily's heart pounded.
"With...?"
Dante looked straight at her.
"Aurora's baby."
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then slowly...
The meaning of his words sank in.
"We switch our baby... with Aurora's?"
Dante nodded.
"Aurora's baby is healthy. Perfect."
His voice was full of certainty.
"She will never know."
Lily swallowed hard.
Her thoughts raced.
"Then... our baby?"
Dante smirked slightly.
"Aurora will raise her."
Lily fell silent.
"She has money. She has power."
Dante's voice grew lower.
"She'll do anything for 'her' child."
Lily's breathing became uneven.
"And I..." Dante continued, "will make sure we stay close to the baby."
His gaze hardened.
"We'll still be able to watch over our child."
Slowly... something in Lily's expression changed.
The fear faded.
Replaced by something else.
Something dark. Something cruel.
"And... Aurora's baby?"
Dante looked at her.
"She'll be yours."
Silence.
Then...
A smile slowly formed on Lily's lips.
At first hesitant.
But gradually...
It became clearer.
Wider.
"So... I get to raise that bastard child?"
Dante nodded.
"However you want."
Those words were like a trigger.
Lily's smile shifted.
No longer a happy one.
But something far colder.
Far more dangerous.
"Alright..." she whispered.
Her eyes gleamed.
"Let's do it."
But they didn't know-
The door was not fully closed.
There was a small gap.
And behind it...
Someone was standing.
Silent.
Listening.
Not a single word missed.
