Kim had always been the intuitive one in the family, and lately, her instincts had been screaming. Aurora was slipping deeper into herself, shutting everyone out especially after the truth about Jake's death unraveled and left her shattered. Her glow had dimmed, her laughter vanished, and the bright spark she once carried had withered into silence.
So she made a decision.
"Zayn," she called from the kitchen as she arranged the fresh fruits into a bowl. "Yes, mom," he replied, walking in with his usual boyish grin.
"I want you to spend some time with Aurora today. Take her out, distract her a little. She needs light right now, and you have enough of it to share." Zayn's brows rose. "She doesn't even like me much. "She doesn't know you yet," Kim corrected. "You're warm, kind, funny… and she needs a friend. Not a lecture. Just be yourself."
Zayn nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll give it a shot." Aurora didn't know what annoyed her more that Zayn had barged into her room with no knock or that he was bouncing a basketball on her polished floor like he lived there.
"What in the world are you doing?" she groaned, glaring at him from her bed.
Zayn grinned. "Getting you out of this room. You've been sulking for days. Grab your bag, we're going out."
"I'm not in the mood," she mumbled, burying her face in her pillow. Well, too bad. I already ordered bubble tea and got us matching keychains at the mall. I even booked a spa appointment for you."
Aurora peeked up at him. "You booked me a spa?" "Well, technically, Mom booked it. I just said I'd deliver the product you." She gave a weak chuckle. "You're annoying."
"But I'm persistent. Now let's go."
To her own surprise, Aurora had fun. Zayn was a whirlwind of chaotic energy. He insisted they take photobooth pictures, tried on ridiculous hats at the boutique, got them both kicked out of a perfume shop for spraying too many testers, and made her laugh so hard she had to clutch her stomach.
"I haven't laughed like this in a long time," Aurora admitted as they sat by the fountain, sipping smoothies. Zayn nudged her with his elbow. "Good. You look better when you smile. The grumpy face? Not flattering."
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Thanks… for today. "My pleasure, sis."
It hit her then how natural that word sounded. Sis. For once, it didn't feel forced. But they weren't alone.
From a black SUV parked discreetly across the street, Mark sat in the backseat, jaw clenched so tightly his driver was tempted to ask if he needed a cold drink. He watched as Zayn handed Aurora a shopping bag. She laughed, placing a pair of goofy pink sunglasses on his face. The way she looked at Zayn carefree, relaxed burned Mark like acid.
It should've been him.
It was him before everything fell apart. Before Zayn, before the truth, before the trust shattered into a million pieces. Zayn was stealing what little of Aurora's light remained.
No he wasn't stealing it. Kim had given it to him.
Mark's hands curled into fists.
Back at the mansion, Kim peeked from the window as Aurora and Zayn walked up the drive, arms full of shopping bags and grinning like high school besties.
"She's smiling," Kim whispered to herself, tears glistening in her eyes. "God, she's finally smiling again."William came up beside her. "You did the right thing." She needs joy," Kim said. "Not more pain. If Zayn can give her even one day of peace, I'm grateful."
That night, Aurora lay on her bed staring at the photobooth pictures they'd taken. She chuckled at the one where Zayn made a fish face, while she looked horrified. Her phone buzzed. A message from Mark. I hope you enjoyed your little outing today.
Her heart skipped. She hadn't seen him… but now that she thought about it, some parts of the day felt… watched. She didn't reply.
Instead, she turned her phone off, curled under the blanket, and whispered to herself:
"Maybe peace… doesn't have to come from love."