Chapter 23

• [Flashback]
• “Shut up, Aurora! You’ve gone too far!” he shouted, tears welling up and his fist clenched tightly. Vladimir, the boss of a ruthless crime syndicate, had never experienced such intense emotions before—feelings of weakness and guilt.
• “Why? Because I’m telling the truth?” Aurora snapped, looking away and trying to calm her own frustration. But his loud voice only made things worse. “Come on, Mir! Wake up from your fantasy. I was never yours and, just so you know, I never will be,” she said harshly. Her words cut through him like a sharp knife, piercing his skin and hurting his heart.