Chapter 8

Aurelia had just picked up a piece of rib when she heard Lucas's voice. Her hand froze, and - plop - the rib slipped from her fork.

She stared at it lying pitifully on the table and mumbled, "What a waste..." before putting down her fork and quietly sipping her fruit juice.

Zara glanced over at her with a hint of curiosity, then casually wrapped the rib in a napkin and tossed it into the nearby trash bin.

Nobody else noticed the little mishap - everyone's attention was on Finnian. Well, everyone but Serena, who caught the whole thing.

Aurelia acted calm, sure, but that dropped piece of rib? Yeah, that gave her away.

She still had feelings for Finnian. No doubt about it.

Serena's heart sank, and her stare at Aurelia turned icy and full of resentment.

"Mr. Dawson?" Edward had already gotten up. He strode over, smiling and extending a hand. "Wow, this is a surprise! Lucas told me this morning you had a trip abroad today. I honestly didn't expect you to show."

"Plans changed last minute," Finnian replied in that calm, familiar tone - but his eyes were locked on Aurelia.

Even though her back was to him, he recognized her instantly.

The coral-pink hair she'd dyed before leaving two months ago was still there, soft waves now brushing her waist - maybe even longer than before.

Finnian couldn't tear his gaze away. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

It was her. Aurelia, right there in front of him.

Just before boarding his flight, Daniel Fraser had called - said he'd found Aurelia's entry records. She'd come back today. Two in the afternoon.

Finnian didn't think twice. He scrapped a billion-dollar overseas collaboration, canceled the flight, and came back to the office.

If Aurelia was in Northvale, it was only a matter of time before he found her.

And he did. It hadn't even been an hour, and he already had everything - her hotel, her schedule for the night, why she was at this dinner.

What shocked him most? After being married to her for two years, he never knew she was the legendary sci-fi author, Starborne!

Not once in their three years together had she mentioned her work. And after the divorce, she left behind a terminal cancer diagnosis and disappeared.

For two months, that report haunted him. He couldn't eat, couldn't sleep.

And her? She ghosted him, vanished off the face of the earth like she never existed. He searched high and low, hit dead ends everywhere - and just when he was about to lose it completely, she reappeared like nothing ever happened.

Only now, she had a whole new identity. And he didn't know a thing about it.

When he learned about the cancer, he'd imagined a thousand different reunions. But never this.

She looked perfectly fine. Healthy. Radiant. Not at all like someone at death's door.

So now he didn't know - was the illness real? Or just another lie?

Either way, Finnian's head was spinning. Part of him prayed it was fake, and she really was okay. But if she lied... again?

That kind of manipulation made his blood boil. It would only push him further away.

Still, one thing was crystal clear now - Aurelia was hiding way more than she ever let on.

He watched her like a hawk, taking in the way she whispered to Zara, looking completely unfazed by his presence - as if he weren't even there.

His chest tightened with anger, icy fury settling in his eyes.

Aurelia sure knew how to put on a show. Fooled him again.