Episode 4 – The Shadow Behind Her

The next morning, Aurora woke after a restless night.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about Lucien Voss.

His calm voice.

His unreadable eyes.

The confidence with which he had spoken.

"If you return... it will be as my fiancée."

She shook her head, trying to push the thought away.

"I need some fresh air," she murmured.

After breakfast, Aurora told her mother she was going to her favorite café a few streets away.

"Don't be long," Grace said with a worried smile.

"I won't."

Aurora walked slowly through the familiar streets. Children laughed in a nearby park, couples enjoyed their morning coffee, and shopkeepers welcomed customers with warm smiles.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal again.

She entered the small café and ordered a cappuccino.

Taking a seat near the window, she watched the people passing by.

Then she noticed him.

Across the street, a man wearing a black cap stood beside a parked motorcycle.

His eyes were fixed on the café.

When Aurora looked directly at him, he quickly turned away.

She frowned.

Maybe I'm imagining things.

A few minutes later, she left the café.

As she continued walking, she heard footsteps behind her.

Slow.

Steady.

She stopped.

The footsteps stopped too.

When she turned around, the street was almost empty.

Only an elderly couple walked in the opposite direction.

Aurora let out a nervous laugh.

"I'm becoming paranoid."

She continued walking.

Hidden on the rooftop of a nearby building, another pair of eyes followed her every move.

A man lowered his binoculars and spoke into a small earpiece.

"Target is moving toward Central Market."

A calm voice answered immediately.

"Maintain your distance. Don't let her see you."

"Understood."

The man disappeared from the rooftop.

Meanwhile, inside the Voss mansion, Dante entered Lucien's study.

"Our men have reported movement."

Lucien looked up from the documents on his desk.

"The DeLuca Syndicate?"

Dante nodded.

"They're watching Miss Blake."

Lucien's expression hardened.

"How close?"

"Closer than we'd like."

Lucien stood and walked toward the window.

"No mistakes, Dante."

"There won't be."

"She must never know she's being followed."

Dante gave a respectful nod.

"Understood."

Back at the market, Aurora wandered through rows of colorful flower stalls.

The sweet scent of fresh roses filled the air.

For the first time in days, she smiled.

She picked up a bouquet of white lilies.

"They're beautiful," the florist said.

Aurora smiled politely.

"I'll take them."

As she reached into her bag to pay, she felt someone brush against her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," a young man said before disappearing into the crowd.

Aurora didn't think much of it.

She paid for the flowers and continued walking.

A few steps later, she opened her handbag.

Her smile vanished.

Her wallet was gone.

"Oh no..."

She looked around in panic.

The man who had bumped into her had disappeared.

Aurora hurried through the crowd, searching desperately.

Then...

She noticed the same man in the black cap standing at the end of the street.

This time...

He wasn't looking at her.

He was looking at someone behind her.

Before Aurora could turn around, a cold voice spoke only a few feet away.

"Don't move."

Aurora's heart nearly stopped.

Slowly, she turned.

A tall stranger stood before her.

His hand was hidden inside his jacket.

His eyes never left hers.

Then, in a low voice, he said,

"Miss Blake... someone has paid a fortune to bring you in."

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