Before Aurora could take a single step, the door swung open.Jake barged in, holding a tray of breakfast with a wide grin. The room was instantly filled with the warm, buttery scent of fresh croissants, sweet strawberries, and crisp, juicy apples.
Hmmm… Aurora's stomach twisted in betrayal. She loved the smell. It was exactly the kind of breakfast that would normally make her melt. But not today.Her pride was louder than her hunger.Her heart still ached, and her ego was front and center. She had promised herself she would be cold distant. Jake didn't deserve softness. Not yet.
"Good morning, babe," Jake said, flashing his charming smile as he walked closer. "Hey… at least don't look so angry. You're too pretty to be frowning like that. Do you want wrinkles?" He chuckled. "Come on, throw that frown off somewhere and respond to my greetings."
He knelt slightly and brought the tray closer. "Good morning, sweetheart."
Aurora refused to look at him. She turned her head sharply to the window, her expression icy and unreadable.Jake let out a deep sigh. "Fine… if you won't talk, at least eat something. Let's have breakfast together, hmm? Please put on a smile for me. Just a little one?"
He lifted a slice of apple to her lips.
She stared at it for a moment… and then opened her mouth.She took the apple in, but bit it violently, crunching it between her teeth with the kind of rage that wasn't meant for fruit.Jake winced and closed his eyes as if the apple itself had cried for help. He sipped in air dramatically and muttered, "Poor apple…"
Aurora narrowed her gaze and, despite herself, let out a small laugh. Just a little chuckle. But Jake caught it and his eyes lit up."Come on," he grinned. "Open up for more. "I don't want to," she said flatly, her voice curt.
"Please, just a little more—"
"I said I don't want to!" she snapped, swatting his hand away.Jake froze. He could feel the storm brewing.But Aurora wasn't done.
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Her voice thundered in the room, trembling the walls with emotion. In one furious swipe, she slapped the entire tray out of his hands. The bowl of fruit flew across the room and crashed onto the floor, splattering apple slices and juice everywhere.
Jake stood there, stunned. The rage in Aurora's eyes was scorching. It wasn't just anger it was pain. Betrayal. Heartbreak.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" she cried, her finger pointing furiously at the door. "GET OUT!" Jake hit his forehead with the palm of his hand and groaned. "Oh no… Really, babe? Just look at this mess you made. Was that necessary? I mean, your breakfast is ruined."
He looked down at the broken bowl. "These apples were imported from Egypt. Specially grown for their sweetness and crispness. I spent six million dollars on them. Six Million Dollars. And now hmm… never mind."
Aurora scoffed bitterly. "I'm not in the mood for your silly jokes. You know what? I'll pay you twelve million for your stupid apples. Happy now? Now get out and leave me alone."
Jake shook his head slowly. "Aurora… don't be like this. You specifically asked for Egyptian apples, remember? I went out of my way to get them for you… gladly. And now you're here throwing it all away." He sighed deeply. "But fine. Forget it. I don't need your twelve million, baby." Her lips trembled. She turned to face him fully, and her voice cracked with raw emotion.
"So that's it? You'll always find a way to make me feel useless, right? Like I'm beneath you? That you provide everything and I'm just some dependent little girl?"
Jake's brows furrowed. "That's not what I meant—"
"Do you even understand what I'm going through, Jake?" Aurora cut him off, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea how I feel? I gave everything to you. I made you who you are today. I stood beside you when you had nothing. And now you flaunt your riches in my face like I'm some nobody." Tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away angrily with the back of her hand.
"Just because you're the third richest man and I'm the fifteenth doesn't make you better than me! But you… you make me feel small."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I feel suffocated in here. Like I can't breathe anymore. I want to leave, Jake." Jake took a deep breath, holding her gaze."Fine," he said calmly. "I'll let you go… but you have to listen to me first. After that, if you still want to leave, I won't stop you. I won't even ask questions. You can walk out and never come back. But hear me out first."
Without waiting for her reply, he called out:
"Melissa!"
There was a knock. The door opened.
Melissa stepped in timidly. "Good morning, ma'am." Aurora glared at her with such venom that Melissa flinched. Jake glanced at Aurora. "Please… be polite." Aurora turned to him slowly, her voice low and steely. "I'm sorry, Jake. But you don't order me around here."