Chapter 1

Love, Now Out of Reach

It all started with a single glass of water from Lillian Windsor, James's precious foster sister.

When I woke up, I found myself in a tattoo parlor, a sharp, stinging pain radiating from my collarbone.

Lillian stood over me, holding up a mirror with a gleeful grin. "Aurora, do you like your new tattoo? I think it suits you perfectly."

Right there, in the center of my collarbone, was a fresh tattoo I never asked for： Slave！

Rage surged through me. I slapped her across the face.

The next second, James burst through the door and seized my wrist.

"Aurora, enough!" His voice was ice-cold. "Haven't you caused enough drama?"

"Lillian is my sister. Are you seriously going to pick a fight with a kid?"

Lillian collapsed into his arms, sobbing theatrically. As she did, her hand subtly tugged at her neckline, revealing a trail of red marks scattered across her chest—clear evidence of last night's... activities.

My blood ran cold. James hadn't come home last night.

"Aurora, do you really have to be so petty with Lillian?" James continued, his tone dripping with condescension. "She's just a kid. She didn't mean anything by it."

Before I could respond, he shoved me backward. I slammed into the wall, my head ringing from the impact.

"I've told you before—Lillian is my bottom line," he said flatly. "What gives you the right to touch her?"

I stared at his cold, indifferent face.

Lillian was his bottom line?

I yanked down my collar, exposing the tattoo, and screamed at him. "This is what your precious sister did to me! Tell me I don't have the right to be angry!"

James glanced at the tattoo, his brow furrowing slightly. But instead of reprimanding Lillian, he gently tapped her nose, his voice softening into something sickeningly affectionate.

"Lillian, you went a little too far this time," he said lightly. "She has to accompany me to formal events. How is she supposed to do that now?"

Lillian turned away from him in a huff. "Why can't I go with you instead? Am I not good enough for you?"

"I was just joking around with her. Are you really going to get mad at me because of her?"

James immediately wrapped his arms around her, patting her back soothingly. "Alright, alright. I'll take you wherever you want to go from now on."

"Just apologize to Aurora, and I'll take you out for that Japanese food you love. Deal?"

Lillian's voice shot up an octave. She pressed her hands against his chest, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm not apologizing! She's the one who stole you from me!"

"James, don't you remember? You swore at Dad's grave that you'd take care of me forever. You can't break that promise."

At the mention of his late father, a flicker of pain crossed James's face. He looked at Lillian and softened completely.

"You're right, Lillian. I was wrong," he murmured. "I'll apologize to her on your behalf."

He walked over to me, his expression unreadable, and pulled my collar back up over the tattoo.

"Aurora," he said quietly, "I know Lillian crossed a line. But please don't hold it against her."

"You know how hard her life has been. I'm the only one she has left to protect her."

"I'll make it up to you when we get home. Okay?"

I looked into his eyes and felt like I was staring at a stranger.

Tears streamed down my face as I choked out, "James, you made a promise at my father's bedside too."

"You swore you'd protect me. Always."

His hand froze mid-air. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

But in the end, all he did was brush his fingers gently against my cheek.

"Aurora," he said softly, "you're my wife. Lillian is young. Just... be patient with her. Don't make this harder for me."

"You agreed to let her stay when she first came back, didn't you?"