Chapter 5

Seeing my silence, Julian's demeanor darkened again.

My peripheral vision scanned the surroundings, but there was nothing to help me escape.

I hid the disgust in my eyes, then looked up at him with a smile. "I didn't realize you had a hobby of setting up secret rooms."

"Julian Thorne, it's the twenty-first century. This kind of thing is quite creepy."

Noticing my unnatural ankle, he let out a helpless chuckle, then swept me into his arms and carried me out.

I leaned into him slightly in his embrace. Julian's entire body tensed instantly. Seeing that he hadn't grown suspicious, I slowly curved my lips.

My little test just now seemed to have no effect on him.

But judging by his reaction, he was clearly very familiar with this secret room.

After that day, I learned my lesson. I stopped openly defying Julian, and instead, subtly provoked Blair Sterling from time to time.

One day, I again proposed visiting Leo.

Julian, surprisingly, didn't refuse. Instead, he dressed very formally. "Aurora, today will be a very special day."

I didn't understand. I watched him take a large handful of pills before leaving.

By my count, this should be his fifth course of treatment.

With enough external stimulation, he could be forced back to his original state.

Finally, the suffering he inflicted upon me was about to come back to bite him.

"Ms. Vance, wait a moment."

Seeing my frown, she rattled the vegetable juice in her hand. "I haven't thanked you for the drink you sent me. I love it."

"And my baby loves it too."

Her boasting was obvious, instantly sending Julian into a panic, especially since he'd kept this from me. He quickly looked at me, wanting to explain. "Aurora, about this..."

I smiled, shaking my head. "I trust you."

Perhaps it was sheer confidence, but Julian firmly believed I still loved him.

All the way, he subtly observed my expression, until we got into the car.

Since his eyes were now fine, I was driving. Following the route I remembered, I headed towards the outskirts. Halfway there,

Julian received a SnapChat call from Blair. Her voice was filled with pain. "Julian, I'm so sorry..."

"Ms. Vance definitely didn't mean to hurt my baby. My stomach hurts so much... Julian, I think our baby might be gone..."

*Bang!*

Julian's mind felt like it exploded. He glared at me fiercely.

So, that was Blair's plan.

"Stop the car!"

"Turn around right now! Blair needs me!"

I pressed my lips together, silent. This quickly angered Julian, and he reached to snatch the steering wheel.

With a screech of brakes, the car slammed into the guardrail.

Julian, clutching his dizzy head, unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out, getting into a taxi. The very next second, *BOOM!*

The car exploded, engulfed in flames.

The familiar scene sent sharp pains through Julian's head. He stared at the burning car.

Suddenly, he stumbled out of the taxi and ran towards it, collapsing to his knees with a guttural roar. "I remember everything! I remember it all..."

"The person I forgot was Aurora... it was eighteen-year-old Aurora, not Blair Sterling..."

His eyes unfocused, he walked towards the burning car. Just as his outstretched hand was about to touch it,

A cold metallic sound. Handcuffs, glinting, clamped around his wrist. A police officer's voice was frigid. "Julian Thorne, you're being arrested in connection with a murder."