Rebirth: A Second chance at life

Aurora sat stiffly in the back seat of the sleek black car, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence. The scent of leather mingled with a faint trace of cologne, a stark reminder of the man sitting beside her. Sebastian Harper exuded a presence that felt almost oppressive—his sharp, chiseled features illuminated by the glow of passing streetlights. In two lifetimes, she had never seen anyone as dangerously handsome as him.

Unable to bear the weight of his silence any longer, Aurora spoke, her tone aloof and distant. "I could have taken a cab, Mr. Harper."

Sebastian's lips curved into a faint, almost predatory smile, his piercing gaze fixed on the reports in his hands. "That would have been unwise," he replied smoothly. "You'll be doing me a great service if you save my sister. Consider this my way of ensuring your safety."

His words carried a weight that made Aurora's skin prickle, but she simply pressed her lips into a thin line and turned to look out the window. The city lights blurred into streaks of gold and white, reflecting her own chaotic thoughts—fleeting, sharp, and just as dangerous.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, but Aurora could feel the tension radiating from the man beside her. He was a predator, wrapped in an air of civility, every move deliberate, every word calculated.

He's dangerous, Aurora mused, her fingers curling slightly in her lap. Manipulative. Ruthless. But why should I care? I'm the Luna, ruler of hell itself.

She suppressed the flicker of her power, unwilling to reveal herself—yet.

The car came to a smooth halt outside her apartment building in Astra Heights. The towering structure loomed against the rain-drenched night, its lights flickering faintly.

"We've arrived, Dr. Elena," Liam said from the front seat.

Aurora snapped out of her thoughts, quickly composing herself. She turned to Sebastian, her face a perfect mask of calm. "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Harper," she said, her tone polite but distant, before stepping out into the cool night air.

Without sparing a backward glance, she disappeared into the building.

Sebastian's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, his sharp eyes narrowing as she vanished inside. He leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable, though his mind churned with suspicion.

"Go," he commanded Liam.

As the car pulled away, Sebastian's gaze dropped back to the reports in his hands—detailed records of Aurora Smith.

The report painted a bleak picture: Aurora had never left Summer City, had no formal education, and was widely regarded as a fool. Only a few months ago, she'd been hospitalized after her husband had ordered her beaten to within an inch of her life. Yet the report failed to mention that she owned a penthouse in Astra Heights, one of the most luxurious residences in the city.

Sebastian's eyes darkened as he considered the discrepancy. Did she manage to hide her assets, or is there more to this woman than meets the eye?

"If you're a fraud," he murmured menacingly, "I'll personally deliver you to hell."

Aurora reached her penthouse and carefully stowed the herb in a secure place. After a long shower and a change of clothes, she spent the rest of the night completing tasks online before dozing off.

The next morning, she ventured out to the mall, her destination a high-tech store filled with cutting-edge hardware. After acquiring the equipment she needed, she decided to indulge herself for once. It had been three weeks since her divorce, and with proper diet and light exercise, her figure had begun to sharpen. Her old clothes no longer fit, and it was time for something new.

While browsing a clothing store, she heard a familiar, grating voice.

"Ver, did your fatty sister really get beaten up? Is it true?"

"Oh, please!" another voice scoffed. "Ver doesn't have a sister like that. Look at her—Veronica's a goddess! How could she have a sister who looked like a pig?"

Aurora's lips curled into a smirk as she recognized the voices. Veronica and her little flock of minions.

Veronica feigned innocence, raising a delicate hand to shush her friends. "Please, don't talk badly about my sister," she said, her voice soft and laced with a pitiful sincerity. Her doe-like eyes shimmered with false concern. "She's not that bad. After all, she's also my mother's child and needs care, even if she doesn't mean well."

Her minions exchanged glances, scoffing in unison. "Ver, you're too kindhearted," one of them snapped, her tone sharp with disdain. "This is why she bullies you. You're too lenient with her!"

Veronica lowered her gaze, her lips trembling ever so slightly. The perfect picture of a gentle, suffering sister. Inside, however, she relished the moment. Aurora couldn't help but scoff quietly. If there were an award for green tea bitches, Veronica would win every time.

Veronica's gaze suddenly landed on a familiar figure, and she froze. Her carefully maintained composure faltered for a brief moment as disbelief flickered across her face. Aurora? Her eyes swept over her sister's transformed figure, noting the subtle changes—had she lost weight?

A surge of jealousy twisted in her chest, only to be smothered by a wave of smug satisfaction. Perhaps the poison is finally taking effect, she mused, her lips curving into a faint, self-satisfied smile. Hmph! No matter how she looks now, she'll be dead soon enough. It must be the drugs I gave her working, Veronica thought, though unease lingered in the back of her mind.

Following the gaze of Veronica, her minions noticed Aurora too and immediately pounced.

"Well, well, well! Look who we have here. An ugly duckling shopping in an expensive store?" Sasha sneered. "Did you come here to rob the place?"

Veronica, maintaining her polite façade, approached with faux concern. "Sister, what are you doing here? Mom and I have been so worried about you! You didn't come home, and we couldn't find you anywhere." Her voice wavered, her eyes glistening with crocodile tears.

Aurora simply stared at her, unimpressed.

Sasha tilted her head, a wicked smirk playing on her lips as she closed the distance. "Well, well, Aurora," she drawled, her tone dripping with venomous amusement. "Found yourself another man to cling to? Is he as wealthy as Alexander? Or is he just pathetic enough to settle for someone like you? Tell me," she added, her voice lowering mockingly, "does he even meet your… needs?"

Her words cut through the air like a blade, each syllable calculated to humiliate, as she crossed her arms and eyed Aurora with scornful disdain.

The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the store. Sasha staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock.

Aurora's voice was calm yet cutting. "I knew dogs could bark, but I didn't realize they could be this loud." She turned to Veronica, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Keep your dogs on a leash, or the owner might end up facing the consequences of their behavior.

Veronica gasped, her hands flying to her chest in mock horror. "Aurora! You shouldn't resort to violence. Apologize to Sasha. It's wrong to—"

Aurora's patience snapped. She turned and began walking away, but she underestimated their audacity.

"How dare you walk away?" Sasha shrieked, lunging forward.

Aurora stopped mid-step, her eyes narrowing. Slowly, she turned her aura shifting. If they wanted to provoke her, they were about to learn just how dangerous she could be.