Recap:
The group was enjoying a rare, tranquil weekend together when an unexpected visitor disrupted their peace. Ethan arrived unannounced, reminding the group of a forgotten project and reigniting old tensions. While most welcomed him warmly, Aiden's cool demeanor betrayed his unease, sparking a silent rivalry with Ethan.
Aurora, ever the instigator, couldn't resist testing Aiden's limits, her playful actions adding an undercurrent of tension to the group's dynamic. However, a moment of lighthearted humor in the kitchen revealed something unsettling about Ethan, leaving Aurora with lingering suspicions.
Later, Aurora confided her concerns to Jace during a quiet car ride, but before she could explain fully, her unease lingered as an unspoken weight. Meanwhile, Aiden's stormy departure earlier in the day remained a mystery to everyone but Aurora, leaving her torn between curiosity and her own conflicted emotions.
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Aurora hesitated again, her gaze flickering toward the window. "Because—" she began, her voice trailing off, leaving the thought unfinished. The weight of the silence between them deepened, stretching into something almost tangible.
With a steadying breath, she continued, "When we went to grab some snacks from the kitchen, a bag of flour fell on Ethan. I was helping him clean his face when I noticed something—lines along his neck. It felt like... like he was wearing an extra layer of skin."
Jace frowned. "Extra skin?"
"Not actual skin," Aurora clarified, her voice dropping. "It was more like... a realistic mask."
"A mask? But why would he need a mask?" Jace's confusion was palpable.
Aurora leaned back, studying him. "Bro, has your dean ever talked about his son in front of you?"
Jace shook his head slightly. "Not really. But when his son joined college, he introduced him to the class. Said he completed his schooling in London."
Aurora just hummed, her mind weaving through possibilities.
Jace, however, wasn't done. "By the way, what happened in the kitchen? Aiden stormed off so suddenly." He knew Aiden didn't have any pressing work—after all, their manager always shared their schedules with him.
Aurora exhaled sharply. "Oh. He got angry when he saw me cleaning Ethan's face."
Jace opened his mouth to say something, but Aurora cut in before he could. "We're here, bro," she said, motioning toward the college gate.
Jace slowed the car to a stop. "Let me drop you at your dorm."
Aurora shook her head, already unclipping her seatbelt. "No thanks, I need some books from the library." She stepped out, throwing him a quick smile. "Thanks for the ride."
Jace watched as she walked toward the entrance, then drove off, his mind still tangled in unanswered questions.
Once Aurora was certain Jace had left, she pulled out her phone and called herself a cab. The library had just been an excuse. As the car rolled through dimly lit streets, she leaned against the window, her thoughts tangled in unease.
Back in her dorm, the silence pressed in. No distractions. No excuses. Just her and the nagging suspicion that something was very, very wrong. Ethan's guarded demeanor, the strange lines on his neck—her mind refused to let it go. What was he hiding? And more importantly… why?
Downstairs, Jace lingered near the entrance, hands shoved in his pockets. Aurora's words gnawed at him. The tension in their group was rising, fragile threads stretched too thin. He considered going to Aiden, laying it all out—but he hesitated. If there was one thing he knew, it was that Aiden wasn't the type to let things slide. And whatever storm this could bring, Jace wasn't sure they were ready for it.
Meanwhile, Ethan's sudden departure had left behind more questions than answers. The quiet streets felt hollow, an echo of his lingering unease. He walked with purpose—every step measured, his mind a battlefield of strategy and instinct.
"Thank God I stopped her in time—if she'd touched my neck, she would've known. The mask. The lie. And Dad calling? Perfect timing, but luck won't save me twice. She's sharp, relentless. I can feel it—she won't let this slip away."
His voice was barely a whisper against the cool night air, swallowed by the hush of empty sidewalks. He quickened his pace, tension coiling in his muscles. The weight of the truth pressed against his ribs like a secret begging to be exposed.
Away from all the chaos, Aiden stood near the Han River, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The city lights flickered against the dark water, but his thoughts were elsewhere—tangled in frustration, circling the same unanswered questions.
There was one advantage to the mask he usually wore: anonymity. Without it, he moved freely—no bodyguards, no flashing cameras, no unwanted attention. Tonight, without that layer of protection, he was just another face in the crowd. And yet, all he could think about was her.
"Does she really see me as just her bodyguard? Or worse—have I been brotherzoned?" The words carried a quiet bitterness, slipping into the night air as he clenched his jaw.
The thought stung more than it should have. He had stood by her side through everything, not as a shadow but as something more—or so he had thought.
"Fine," he muttered, his sadness cooling into resolve. "If that's all I am to her, then that's all I'll be—strictly professional."
His expression, once softened by frustration, hardened into something unreadable. The river moved without care, its surface reflecting the city beyond—a world indifferent to the quiet ache pressing against his ribs.
He stood there for a while, the weight of his decision settling in—the quiet determination to keep his distance.
Eventually, he turned and left for the villa, his footsteps measured, his resolve unwavering.
Once inside his car, he exhaled slowly and pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen with a flicker of hope—maybe Aurora had called. Maybe, despite everything, she'd reached out.
But as his eyes scanned the notifications, that fragile hope shattered.
Ace. Amber. Flare. Jace.
Not her.
"Huh. What was I even expecting?" He scoffed, tossing the phone aside as he pulled onto the road. The cold silence in the car felt heavier now, pressing against him like an unspoken truth.
By the time he reached the villa, the hope had long faded. Only the emptiness remained.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table when Aiden entered, his presence barely acknowledged as he moved past them without a word. He had no intention of stopping. The weight in his chest, the cold edge of his thoughts—it was easier to retreat than to face them.
Ace, however, wasn't about to let him slip away so easily.
"Where are you going? Come have dinner," Ace called out.
"I already ate," Aiden replied, his tone clipped, his steps unwavering as he climbed the stairs to his room.
No one questioned it. They accepted his words without hesitation and continued eating—except Jace. He knew better.
Jace watched Aiden disappear down the hall, the lie sitting heavy in the air. But he didn't press the issue. Not tonight. He knew Aiden well enough to recognize that pushing him now would only make things worse.
So, he simply ate in silence, the unspoken truth lingering between them.
Once dinner was over, they all went to sleep, the house settling into a quiet lull.
The Next Day—College
Everyone was present—except Aurora.
Today was the presentation, a crucial moment for their project, yet she was nowhere to be seen. Flare had called her multiple times, but each attempt went unanswered, only fueling their growing anxiety.
Aiden sat in silence, his mind restless. He knew Aurora wouldn't skip this just because of a fight. She was obsessive about perfection, determined to score flawlessly. Missing this meant losing marks—something she would never allow.
One by one, groups presented their work. The classroom buzzed with anticipation and pressure. But just as their turn arrived, the bell rang.
"Now the remaining groups will present tomorrow," the professor announced before leaving the room.
Relief washed over them, but the unease remained.
Later, in their private room, they gathered for lunch, the absence of Aurora hanging over them.
"Where is Aurora?" Amber asked, her brows furrowed.
"No idea. She's not even picking up calls," Flare replied, frustration creeping into her tone.
"She even missed today's presentation," Jace added. "Lucky for us, our turn got postponed, but it's not like her to disappear like this."
"Should we check her dorm after college?" Ace suggested, glancing at the others for confirmation.
Just then, Aiden spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant.
"N-no need. She's probably just sick."
He knew she wouldn't be at the dorm, and the last thing he needed was for them to go looking. If they did, they might stumble upon something they weren't supposed to know—something that needed to stay buried, at least for now.
His words were casual, dismissive—but his unease betrayed him.
None of them were the type to back down easily, and after a heated argument, they finally settled on one decision—finding Aurora after college.
Aiden, desperate to stop them, dialed her number repeatedly, hoping she'd pick up, hoping she'd put an end to this before it escalated. But every call met silence. She was unreachable.
At last, they got into their car and drove toward the dorms.
Upon arrival, they wasted no time. Heading straight for the warden's office, they braced themselves for answers.
"Excuse me," Amber said, her tone polite but firm.
The warden looked up, offering a professional smile. "How may I help you?"
"We're looking for our friend Aurora—first-year student," Flare explained.
The warden nodded, fingers clicking rapidly across the keyboard. Aiden stood rigid, his heartbeat drumming against his ribs. Please, let there be a mistake. Let this be nothing.
But then—
"I'm sorry, there's no one named Aurora staying here."
Silence.
"What? That's not possible," Ace interjected, disbelief lacing his voice. "Is there another dorm nearby?"
"This is the only dorm for the college," the warden replied matter-of-factly.
Confusion settled over them like a thick fog. Where could she be? And more importantly—why wasn't she here?
To make matters worse, their presence hadn't gone unnoticed. Students were whispering, eyes widening as they recognized Horizon among them. The attention was growing, so with no leads and too many distractions, they reluctantly left.
Later, at the café, they sat in restless silence, minds still preoccupied with one thing—where was Aurora?
Aiden, on the other hand, was still calling her—again and again—but it felt like she had vanished into thin air.
"Why don't we go to the college and check her records? They might have information on where she lives," Jace suggested.
The group agreed instantly. Aiden, though reluctant, knew how stubborn they were. There was no stopping them now. With no choice left, he followed.
But their search only led to more frustration. The records showed the same dorm they had just visited—no new leads, no hidden addresses, nothing.
Exhausted and drained, they finally decided to head back to their villa.
At the College Gate
"Guys, I have some work. You all go ahead, I'll meet you at dinner," Aiden said, forcing his voice to stay neutral.
The others, too worn out to argue, got into their car and left.
Aiden, however, remained behind. He knew where Aurora was, but he couldn't let them find out. Yet despite his efforts to maintain his cold exterior, concern gnawed at him.
She had never been unreachable before.
Even if they had fought, even if she wanted space—this wasn't like her. A rare flicker of unease stirred within him, something close to fear.
Was she alright?
Aurora stood on the balcony of her room, a silent observer of the world she controlled. The sprawling estate below hummed with restrained tension, every movement within its gates unfolding under her unwavering gaze. She was aware—of Aiden's arrival, of his frustration, of the battle he was destined to lose before it even began.
The sleek car rolled to a stop, its presence almost insignificant against the looming gates that separated him from her domain. "Open the gate," he commanded, his voice sharp, cutting through the quiet. The guards, unwavering in their stance, remained still.
Irritation flickered in his eyes as he stepped out, posture rigid with intent. "I said, open the gate."
This time, a response—a single statement, void of hesitation. "Madam has refused to let anyone enter."
Aiden's jaw tightened. "What nonsense," he muttered, taking a step forward, his frustration manifesting in unrelenting defiance. But the moment he moved, the guards pushed back, their stance unwavering.
His gaze lifted, searching for answers he already knew he wouldn't find. And there she was—Aurora, standing above it all, watching without reaction, without concern. Her expression unreadable, her silence heavier than words.
"What's going on in your mind?" he thought, trying to decipher the woman who never made herself known unless she chose to.
As if reading his unspoken thoughts, she moved. A single gesture—calm, effortless, absolute. Leave.
There was no need for words. No need for confrontation.
Aiden hesitated, a flicker of resistance in his stance. But it was fleeting. He knew what this meant. He turned, walked back to his car, and Aurora watched him disappear beyond the gates of the empire she ruled.
"In my world, everything has a price. Happiness demands sorrow. Strength demands struggle. Love demands loneliness. And power? Power demands control—absolute, unwavering, undeniable. They think they search for answers, but they are only chasing shadows. I do not run. I do not hide. I watch. I wait. And when the time comes, it is not I who will be caught—it is they. Let them fight ghosts. Let them drown in uncertainty. In the end, freedom is the price of dealing with the devil."
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Preview of next chapter:
Aiden stepped into his home, expecting tension, expecting the weight of the previous night to linger in the air.
But instead, there was nothing.
No confrontation. No resistance. Just silence.
And yet, silence didn't mean peace. It meant something far more calculated.
The next day at college, Aurora shifted her focus—to Ethan. But this time, it wasn't about intrigue, and it wasn't about curiosity.
It was about something else entirely.
Every word, every glance, every moment held an intention he had yet to understand.
And as the pieces fell into place, as the game unfolded exactly as she had planned—one thing was certain. Aurora never moved without a reason.