loving you was a mistake

The sun was barely up when the black SUV pulled up to the Riverson estate gates. The guards hesitated at first, but once they saw Angel step out with little Jaiden cradled in her arms, they allowed her through. Maxwell followed behind, a man walking toward the storm of a truth long buried.

Inside the mansion, Aurora sat curled up on the living room couch, eyes swollen, blanket draped over her shoulders. Her mother had tried to get her to eat, but she refused everything. The sound of approaching footsteps made her lift her head slowly.

"Aurora," Angel's voice cracked. "We came as soon as we could." Aurora's gaze landed on Jaiden first his innocent face a painful contrast to the chaos she felt inside. She managed a small smile for the boy, who ran over and hugged her legs. But her eyes hardened the moment they locked onto Maxwell's.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, voice like ice. Maxwell exchanged a brief glance with Angel, who gently led Jaiden to another room, understanding the conversation ahead was not meant for young ears.

"I needed to see you," Maxwell said carefully. "I needed to explain." Aurora stood, the blanket falling from her shoulders. "Explain what, Max? That you knew all this time and still smiled in my face? That you let me continue marry a man who helped kill Jake?"

Maxwell looked down. "I didn't want you to get hurt. "You didn't want me to get hurt?" she repeated, her voice rising. "You were his best friend, Max! Jake trusted you with his life. And you—" Her voice cracked. "You kept his death a secret like it was some business deal."

Maxwell sighed deeply. "It wasn't that simple, Aurora. Mark confessed to me two years ago, yes… but I didn't know everything then. All I knew was that they fought, and Jake got shot. But Jake didn't die from the bullet, and I didn't know Charles poisoned him until Mark confessed that as well ."

Aurora shook her head in disbelief. "You could've told me. I deserved to know. "I was trying to protect you." No, Max," she snapped. "You protected him. Just like my father did. Just like everyone else did."

Maxwell's eyes glistened. "You don't understand what Jake was going through."

She looked at him, brows furrowed."He had stage four cancer," Maxwell said softly. "He didn't want anyone to know even me, especially not you. He wanted to live what time he had left without pity. He told me the night before he died, that he has something to tell me he was in pain, Aurora… real pain."

Aurora clutched the arm of the couch like her knees would give out. "Cancer…?"

Maxwell nodded. "And on top of that, he was spiraling over his rivalry with Mark. You remember how toxic it got. Those two never saw eye to eye. It was war always. Jake told me once, 'If Mark doesn't kill me, I'll probably end up killing him.' That rivalry consumed him."

Aurora's lips trembled, the weight of it all pressing harder. "So that night…"

"That night, Charles saw the perfect opportunity. He partnered with Mark behind the scenes, feeding off the hatred between them. Mark thought it was just about winning about removing his rival. But Charles had already planned the real ending."

Aurora felt like she couldn't breathe. "I loved him… And he was dying… and I didn't even know." Maxwell stepped closer. "Jake didn't want you to remember him sick. He wanted you to remember the strong, charming man you fell for." That's why he kept the truth from you even me.

Tears spilled again, her heart ripping all over.

"I'm sorry, Aurora," Maxwell whispered. "I failed you. I failed Jake." Angel returned quietly, placing a warm hand on Aurora's back. "We're here for you. Whatever you need."

Aurora didn't answer. She turned away and sank into the couch once more, her sobs silent but violent. The truth didn't just hurt—it shattered everything she thought she knew.

And in the midst of all that sorrow, she whispered only one thing. "I don't even know who I am anymore."