Episode 2 – The Man Behind the Name

Aurora barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the letter lying on the table.

Marry Lucien Voss.

The words echoed in her mind like a haunting melody.

By morning, the rain had stopped, but the dark clouds still covered the sky. The house felt unusually quiet.

Grace Blake placed a cup of tea in front of Aurora.

"My dear," she said gently, "you don't have to make this decision alone."

Aurora looked at her mother with tear-filled eyes.

"I don't even know who he really is."

Grace sighed.

"Neither does anyone else."

Before anyone could say another word, a sleek black luxury car stopped outside the house.

Aurora walked to the window.

The same three men from the previous night stood beside the car.

One of them rang the doorbell.

William opened the door with shaking hands.

"Our boss wishes to meet Miss Aurora Blake," the man said politely.

Aurora looked at her parents.

Her father lowered his head.

"You don't have to go," Grace whispered.

Aurora took a deep breath.

"If I don't face him, I'll never know what he wants."

She picked up her handbag and stepped

outside.

The car door opened.

Without saying a word, she got inside.

The journey lasted nearly forty minutes.

As the city disappeared behind them, enormous iron gates came into view.

The gates slowly opened.

Beyond them stood a breathtaking mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens, fountains, and ancient trees.

It looked less like a home and more like a palace.

Aurora stepped out of the car, trying to hide her nervousness.

A butler greeted her with a respectful bow.

"This way, Miss Blake."

She followed him through long marble hallways decorated with priceless paintings and crystal chandeliers.

Everything was elegant.

Everything was silent.

Finally, they stopped outside a pair of tall wooden doors.

The butler gently knocked.

"Sir, Miss Blake has arrived."

A deep voice answered from inside.

"Send her in."

Aurora's heartbeat quickened.

She slowly pushed open the doors.

The room was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the gardens.

Bookshelves covered one wall, while another displayed framed photographs and antique weapons.

Standing near the window was a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

His hands rested behind his back as he

admired the city in the distance.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"Miss Blake."

His calm voice filled the room.

"Please come in."

Aurora stepped forward cautiously.

The man finally turned.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stop.

Lucien Voss was nothing like the terrifying image she had imagined.

He looked calm.

Composed.

His sharp grey eyes carried quiet authority rather than anger.

His expression remained unreadable.

"Please," he said, pointing toward a chair.

"Sit."

Aurora remained standing.

"I'd rather know why I'm here."

For the first time, the corner of Lucien's lips lifted ever so slightly.

"You are braver than most people who enter this room."

"I didn't come here to impress you."

"I know."

Silence settled between them.

Finally, Aurora gathered the courage to ask the question that had been haunting her.

"Why me?"

Lucien walked toward his desk and picked up the black envelope she had received the previous night.

"I expected that question."

He placed the envelope back down.

"Your father owes me a great deal of money."

"I know."

"But I don't want his money."

Aurora frowned.

"Then why ask me to marry you?"

Lucien looked directly into her eyes.

"Because this marriage is important."

"Important for what?"

"For both of us."

Aurora's confusion only deepened.

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to understand today."

"I deserve the truth."

"And you will have it."

He paused for a moment.

"But not yet."

Aurora clenched her fists.

"I won't marry a stranger who refuses to tell me why."

Lucien nodded calmly.

"I expected that answer."

He walked toward the window again.

"You have two days left to decide."

As Aurora turned to leave, Lucien spoke one final sentence.

"If you refuse..."

He paused.

"I will accept your decision."

Aurora stopped walking.

She slowly looked back.

That wasn't the answer she had expected.

For the first time since receiving the proposal, she wondered if the stories about Lucien Voss had been wrong all along.

Or perhaps...

The most dangerous secrets were hidden behind the calmest faces.

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