Chapter 2

Aurora's POV

"Mrs. Carter?"

I spun around, heart leaping to my throat. My gaze landed on George, the last person I expected to see, though the familiar voice should have warned me. And then again, I was in Jace's company. I should have known he would be around.

Not much had changed, he was still broad-shouldered, with a boyish grin that was all sincerity and none of the corporate polish you'd expect from Jace's right hand.

"George?" I called out, the shock evident in my voice.

He closed the distance in three long strides, his face torn between a smile and a frown.

"Holy hell, it's really you. Where have you been?" His voice was a flood, questions spilling out before I could respond. "Are you okay? What are you doing here? How are you? What are you doing now? Oh, Mr. Carter is going to lose it when he sees you. He's been searching for you all this while."

There was so much warmth and confusion in that greeting that I almost laughed, my shoulders loosening for the first time since I touched down in New York. But there was no way Jace had been searching for me. He didn't care. He never did and I was very certain he wasn't going to care that I had shown up.

George was practically vibrating with excitement. I could understand because we had been a bit friendly while I was with Jace. He was one of the people I had hated living behind.

When I found out Jace's assistant was a young man fresh out of university, I was shocked but as time went on, I understood why Jace had chosen him. He did his work well and effectively.

"You look...wow, you look good." He fixed me with a serious look, softer around the edges. "I always hoped you'd come back. Me. Carter never really got over..."

He trailed off, shaking his head at his own candor. "Come on, you have to see him. He's upstairs, I swear, he'll be fucking ecstatic to see you, Mrs. Carter."

I doubted that, but the lump in my throat wouldn't let me say it out loud.

George didn't give me more time to stall. He must have sensed my nerves, because as we walked together through the maze of Carter Holdings, past the sleek conference rooms and the smell of expensive cologne, he kept talking, peppering me with questions about my life, telling me I hadn't aged a day and making jokes just to lighten the walk. Each step, my mind spun faster. How do I tell Jace about Alex? Would he even listen? How would be react?

I was so lost in thought I had no idea when

we stopped in front of Jace's office. It looked like something out of an architectural magazine with floor-to-ceiling windows, a wall of thick glass,with the city skyline stretching behind him. George's grin was back in full force. "Wait here."

He slipped inside, closing the door behind him. I stared at the plaque with Jace's name, heart hammering so hard I thought it might shatter. My palms were sweating, knees shaky. I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, willing myself to be the version of Aurora who could slay a boardroom. The stakes had never been higher.

A few seconds passed, then the door swung open.

Jace stood there.

He was taller than I remembered if that was even possible which I know it wasnt. For a second he simply stared, mouth parted, his hazel eyes staring back at me, eyes that reminded me of Alex and why I was here even with his delicious my ex husband looked right now. Then all of a sudden, as if something broke, he crossed the room in two quick steps.

He pulled me into his arms.

I froze, caught in the familiarity of his embrace and the shock of it. I never planned for this, never planned for the way my body still remembered the shape of him, or how his warmth seeped into the cold places I pretended no longer existed.

Jace held onto me as if afraid to let go. My arms just hung there, too stunned to lift. When he finally loosened his hold, he cupped my face, and I saw a flurry of things cross his eyes, hope, anger, relief, and the ache of too many unspoken words.

He spoke softly. "Where have you been, Aurora? What happened? Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

I ignored his question going straight for a private moment. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

His gaze softened even more, and he nodded. "Of course. Come in."

He held the door wider as I stepped past him into the office. The lights were dimmed low, city light filtering through the windows. The place smelled comfortingly of coffee, rich, dark, exactly how I used to like it. Jace noticed my glance and, with that uncanny precision he used to wield so ruthlessly in the business world, placed a cup before me.

I stared. It looked perfect, just the way I always took it extra hot, one sugar, dash of oat milk. A shiver ran over my skin. Had he always noticed these things and simply never shown it?

He took the seat opposite, his expression openand soft. It was so unfamiliar and fucking weird that I almost forgot why I was there.

"I'm glad you're here, Aurora." His voice was gentle, as if one wrong word might fracture the space between us. "You look... you look good."

I pushed the coffee aside with a subtle hand, clearing my throat. I wasn't here because of Jace. I was here because of my son

"We need to talk," I said, my voice coming out steadier than I even expected. "It's... it's about something urgent."

Jace nodded. "I suspected. But whatever it is you need help with I'll help you. You just need to tell me."

For a moment, I just stared at him. This tenderness, this willingness to help, where had it been before? Why now, after all these years? Why was he behaving so different?

But there was no time for old wounds. I took out my phone, found the photo I'd saved hours before, and slid it across the desk.

His frown deepened as he picked it up the temperature in the room dropping to the chill I always felt whenever I was with Jace.

"What the fuck is this?" He growled out, he face contorted in anger.

Chapter 3

Aurora's POV

The air between us turned to ice the second Jace's gaze landed on the photo.

His jaw tightened until it looked almost painful. "What the hell is this, Aurora?" He growled out. "Did you come here to show off how perfect your life is? Is that it? To flaunt everything you have? To show me your child?"

What the fucking hell? Has Jace always been this dumb? This wasn't about us at all.

"Jace, calm the fuck down." My voice was harsh like his and steely. "That's not a family photo as you can see very well. That's your son. Our son. His name is Alex. And he needs your help. He's very sick, he needs a bone marrow transplant. I'm not a match."

He slammed the phone down with a scoff, disbelief painted on every part of him. "My son? Yeah...that's not fucking possible. You know why? It's because we haven't had contact with each other for years We haven't spoken in years. You vanished, Aurora, you slipped out of my life without a trace and never looked back. Do you expect me to believe you just kept my child secret all this time?"

"Did I ever tell you I kept him a secret?"

"Then why am I just finding out about him now especially when he is sick huh?" He asked me.

"Oh mighty one, why don't you ask yourself that question? I called you, idiot. I reached out to you. I sent emails to you so you could learn about your son." I screamed at him.

That's a lie. I mean not really a lie since I only sent one email after all my calls left unreturned with only one answered. But he had no fucking right to be mad at me when he was the one who wanted nothing to do with us.

"You can stop with the lies, Aurora." be told me. "I did every fucking thing for you and you just left. So stop the lies."

"And you can stop with the stupid matyr act. You were never hurt. You did everything the way you wanted to. Everything you did..."

He surged to his feet, rage simmering hotter than before. "Every fucking thing I did was for you!"

"Cheating wasn't for me!" I screamed at him. "That was for you."

He stared at me with a frown. "What the fuck are..." but I didn't let him speak.

I couldn't even bear to listen to his pathetic excuses whatever they may be.

"You did everything you wanted. Not what I needed. Not once did you ask what would make me feel safe. All those parties, events, headlines...you mean to tell me you did all those for me? Who the fuck are you kidding?"

He braced his hands on the desk, knuckles white. "Everything I did was to protect you. Every thing I did was for you. I did it to protect you."

I laughed manically. He really was insane if he thought I was going to fall for his stupid tricks. There was no way that was going to happen.

I took a slow breath, pushing down the tide of old, aching memories. "That's not what this is about," I said, more tired than angry now. "This is about Alex. He needs your help, Jace. He has leukemia. The doctors said his only hope is a bone marrow transplant. We're running out of time, and you're his father. You're his only chance."

He shook his head once, hands trembling before he hid them behind clenched fists. "Go to your husband, then. You look like you're doing fine. Your rich, perfect man can buy any treatment. Why come here?"

I paused. God knows where he got the gist that I was married...oh, I turned to the ring I always wore on my finger. It was a way to make men stop coming after me especially since I only needed to care for my son. I didn't need another man who would wreck my life. It wasn't real. I was not married but Jace didn't need to know that.

I let out a bitter laugh. "That's not how this works, Jace. Alex is your son. Money can't buy a matching donor. If you don't help, and something happens to him, it'll be your blood I wipe off my hands. Your legacy, your pain, not just mine." I slid a slip of paper with my number across the desk. "If you care about anything, you'll call. Get tested. That's all I need from you now."

"Get out, Aurora." he growled out in anger.

"Oh, and just so you know, we are not on any terms where we call each other by our given names. You refer to me as Miss. Thompson." I said to him cooly, walking out of his officem

I didn't look back. As I reached the door, I paused, there was no way I was going to leave things as they are. So I gave him the middle finger. Petty, yes but I wasn't going to cower in his presence. If he wanted to be an ass then that's on him.

The elevator doors closed around me, and by the time I'd sunk into the backseat of a cab, the tears came, silent, hot, unstoppable. I pressed a shaking hand to my mouth, willing my body to stop gasping with grief.

Nothing has gone as planned. Not even a little bit. I mean I knew we were going to exchange words. I knew this was fifty-fufty but I never thought that it would end up like this. Seeing Jace reminded me of what was. What had been and was no longer and I was disgusted with myself for even feeling something for him when he had behaved like I hurt him. But that was all a lie. I could never hurt Jace. When it came to our relationship, I was the only one hurt. It was always me never Jace.

I had failed Alex. I should have at least gotten him a father that loved him not one that wanted nothing to do with him.

Fuck.

If Jace wanted nothing to do with our son, if he didn't want to get tested, then how was I going to save my son? I couldn't go back to my family because they didn't want me. They disowned me when I divorced Jace. And with the attitude I received back when I called them...no. I couldn't even think about it.

What the hell was I going to do now?

Chapter 4

Aurora's POV

I didn't know how I made it to the hotel, just that when I did, I locked the door, sank to the floor. My whole body shook. I pressed my palm to my mouth, trying to quiet the sound so the walls wouldn't echo with my failure. But I knew deep down that I wasn't going to do anything.

My phone vibrated across the table, breaking the silence. I stared at it, the name "Kels" dancing on the screen. I was sure she was calling to know if the meeting with Jace had gone well. And fuck! She was on time. It was like she knew there was something wrong somewhere. I quickly wiped my cheeks and answered, trying to steady my voice.

"Aurora?" Kelsey's voice came through with concern.

"Yeah?"

"Alex wants to speak with you."

A moment later, my boy's soft voice, small, sleepy, came through.

"Mama?" he called out softly.

I breathed in, clinging to the strength his voice gave me. "Hi, baby. How are you? Have you eaten?"

"Yes. Aunty kels made something for me. We watched Moana too but it's a girl's cartoon." He grumbled.

I laughed. "You love it. And who said Moana was just for girls?"

"It isn't?"

"Nope. Moana is for everyone. I watched it and I'm an adult."

"You and Aunty kels are both weird." He said to me,

"Right? Did you paint today?" I asked him.

And that was a more interesting conversation because my son was obsessed with painting and drawing. He babbled, telling me about his spaceship crayons and a drawing he was doing for me. To be sincere, his drawings weren't good, but they also weren't bad and I knew with time that he was going to get better. As he spoke, I could hear his voice getting weaker. It took strength for him to do this and the only reason why he was at home after months in the hospital was because I insisted on a break.

He needed a change of environment and besides, I set up the best nurse I could find for him. Just so he wouldn't be burdened with sleeping in the hospital which was making him fucking anxious. But he'll have to go back soon. It was almost the third day already. And besides, I still had no solution to making him better.

I swallowed the ache that threatened to spurt free. "Are you tired?"

"Uh huh."

"Then go to rest okay? Mama loves you. I'll see you soon, okay?" I told him.

"Love you too mama."

He handed the phone back, and I heard the gentle shuffle as Kelsey picked up again. "So? What happened?"

The pressure in my chest felt like it would split me open. "It didn't go well at all, Kel. Jace... he doesn't believe Alex is his. He doesn't want to help, not even to do the test. It's like he's pretending our son doesn't exist."

Kelsey let out a sharp curse, "Putain!" so fierce I almost laughed through my tears.

"How can he be so damn sure? He hasn't even seen Alex! The boy could be his clone. How can he look at you and not see it? Merde, Aurora, I should go to his damn office myself-"

Her protective rage was a lifeline, even as I shook my head sadly, tears drying into exhaustion. "Words won't convince him. Maybe nothing will."

Kelsey's voice softened. "You're not alone in this, ma chérie. Tell me, what are we going to do next?"

I let out a bitter, trembling sigh. "I guess I'll try to reach my family. Maybe there's someone willing to be tested. I... I have to try. For Alex."

There was a pause, then a spin of disbelief.

"I'm sure I heard you wrongly right?" She asked me. "Arr we talking about the same family who left you? The same people who turned their backs when you divorced Jace, and again when you told them about Alex's diagnosis?"

I pressed my lips together. The first time we got Alex's diagnosis, I had reached out to my family after finding out I wasn't a match. None of my calls were returned except one from my father who cursed and told me I wasn't family and to take my spawn elsewhere. Kelsey had been with me and was struck with shock when she heard him. From then on, she developed a hatred for my family but I was struck right now.

"Yes. But what else do I have? If they slam the door in my face, at least I'll know I did everything." and I was willing to beg just so they could help my son.

When she didn't immediately respond, I rushed on, "Thank you for everything. I know you already got tested for a match, you did more than any sister ever could..."

She cut me off. "Of course I did. Alex is my family. He is my fucking nephew blood d damned. I'll keep calling everyone in Paris, anyone I know in New York, anyone with the right blood type. You are not doing this on your own, understand?"

A wave of gratitude left me shaky. "Thank you. Really."

She promised to keep Alex safe, to keep my phone on no matter the hour, and to call with any news, good or bad. Our call ended with a whisper, "Don't give up, Rora, I'm not giving up either, " the one thing she always gave me courage, even in the dark.

The room was silent again. I peeled my clothes away and stepped into the bathroom, letting the hot shower run until the mirror was clouded with steam. It did nothing to erase the ache, but maybe it cleansed some of the fear. The main issue with finding a donor for Alex was that he had a rare blood type. I had no idea if anyone in my family could help but I was willing to try.

Afterwards, wrapped in a soft robe, I dried my face and picked up my phone. I stared at the blank screen, then, fingers trembling, typed a message to my brother:

"Please. I need your help. It's Alex."

I stared at the message for a long time before finally pressing "send." I didn't expect a response, but maybe just maybe he would reply. We were never close when we were young but we never hated each other either. At least I think so.

I padded back into the room and tossed my phone on the bed, more exhausted than I'd been in years. I barely had time to sit before it began to ring. My heart leapt. Who could be calling? Was it a hospital number? My brother? I grabbed for it, answering with shaking hands.

"Hello?" I breathed, bracing for more bad news.

There was a pause. Then a voice low, steady, and unmistakably Jace's, filled the line.

"I'll do it," he said quietly. "But only on one condition."

Shock bolted through me, and all I could do was whisper, "What condition?"

He didn't hesitate. "You come back."

I frowned, unsure I heard right. "Come back...where?"

His response was a single, loaded word: "Home."

I frowned, confused as to what he was saying "I don't understand."

He paused, then he spoke, "You come back to me. As my wife, with my son. We get to try again."

Um...what the hell?