loving you was a mistake

The morning sun spilled through the mansion windows, casting a golden hue over the luxurious living room where Mark and Maxwell sat. A cup of untouched coffee sat in front of Maxwell, growing colder by the minute as the air between them thickened with tension.

"You said you had a hand in Jake's death, Mark," Maxwell began, his jaw clenched

."I want the truth. All of it. No riddles. No vague confessions." Mark rubbed his palms together slowly, his eyes locked onto the floor.

"I shot him," he confessed. "But that's not what killed him." Maxwell froze. "What do you mean?"

"I thought I killed him, Max. I shot him as I said earlier. I left him there bleeding, assumed he was dead. But he wasn't. Charles Brooks was also there that night . He realized Jake was still alive. And he injected poison into his bloodstream." Maxwell's brows knitted together in shock.

"You're saying Charles killed him?"

"Yes," Mark said. "The poison is what finished him off. Mr. William was the one who found out. He had Charles followed weeks after the incident. His investigator caught him confessing everything to an old associate about how he couldn't let Jake live because of what he knew. William told me everything recently. That's why I've been on edge. I've been carrying the guilt for a death I didn't cause… at least not completely."

Maxwell leaned back slowly, absorbing every word. He could see the torment in Mark's eyes, the deep-rooted guilt and the shame of keeping this truth hidden for so long. "You should have told me earlier," Maxwell said after a long pause. "I know," Mark said. "But I couldn't. Not when I saw how much pain it caused everyone especially Aurora. I didn't want to open that wound again."

Maxwell stood and walked over to the window, taking a long breath. He turned around after a moment, his voice softer.

"Jake and I were like brothers… but I know him. He wouldn't have backed down from a fight either. And Charles… damn it. He always had something against Jake."

Mark stood as well. "I'm sorry, Maxwell. I mean it." There was a long silence before Maxwell finally extended his hand. "I forgive you, Mark. But promise me one thing

I hope you get the courage to confess the truth to Aurora.

"I hope so too," Mark nodded firmly. "Thank you, Max." Meanwhile, in the Riverson mansion, Aurora was scrolling through her messages in bed, a bright grin on her face.

Girls' day out!" she exclaimed.

Angel, walked into the room with a fresh face mask and rollers in her hair. "We are doing this! I already took Maxwell's card. Told him I was buying furniture. Poor man's about to fund Dior's next runway show."

Aurora laughed. "Mark gave me his black card willingly. I told him it was a 'therapy session'." Just then, Gianna and Alicia walked into the room. Gianna wore oversized sunglasses indoors, striking a fake pose.

"Someone call Vogue," she said, "Because this beauty is about to shut down every boutique in Manhattan." "Ladies, I'm here for the fun and the scandal," Alicia added, sipping from her iced coffee.

"You know," Aurora smirked, "We might need a van to carry all our shopping bags back."

Angel nodded. "And a legal team to handle our husbands' reactions." They all burst into laughter as they grabbed their handbags and marched toward the driveway. A private limousine waited to chauffeur them through New York's most luxurious districts SoHo, Fifth Avenue, and Madison.

"I love you girls," Aurora beamed. "Let's make today unforgettable."And expensive," Gianna added. "Cheers to that," Alicia winked.

As the limousine pulled off, the energy was light, the mood bright, and for the first time in a while, Aurora felt like herself again free, fearless, and surrounded by women who felt like sisters.