The lies We Tell Ourselves

Chapter Five: The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Aurora's pulse pounded in her ears as she stepped off the dance floor, the echoes of the waltz still lingering in her mind. She needed air. Space. Distance.

Cassian's touch still burned on her skin, his words looping in her head like a song she couldn't shut off.

"Everything I lost."

She reached for another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a long sip, hoping the bubbles would drown the emotions rising in her throat.

Julian appeared at her side almost instantly, his sharp green eyes watching her with amusement. "Well, that was quite the spectacle."

Aurora sighed, rubbing her temple. "Oh my Goodness, Not now, Julian."

"Oh, but now is the perfect time." He leaned in slightly. "Tell me, exactly how much of that was for show, and how much was real?"

She stiffened, keeping her gaze locked on the shimmering chandelier above. "It was a dance. That's all."

Julian chuckled. "Right. And I suppose the way he was looking at you—the way you were looking at him.

He held you like a precious item, never to be lost again"

"The dance floor was all for you both"

was just part of the choreography?"

Aurora exhaled, setting her glass down on a nearby table. "It doesn't matter. He's engaged. That's the reality."

" I will share in their happiness "

It's all in the past, for good.

Julian studied her for a moment, then shrugged. "If you say so."

Before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Aurora."

She turned sharply to find Eleanor standing there, her perfect red lips curved into a polite, unreadable smile.

Aurora forced herself to return the expression. "Eleanor."

"May I have a word?"

Aurora hesitated for only a second before nodding. Julian shot her a look but said nothing as she followed Eleanor out onto the balcony.

The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of the sea. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting reflections over the dark waves below.

Eleanor turned to face her, arms crossed lightly over her chest.

"I'll be direct," she said smoothly. "Why are you here?"

Aurora blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Eleanor's smile didn't waver, but there was steel in her eyes. "We both know Cassian didn't invite you just for the sake of nostalgia."

Aurora inhaled deeply, steadying herself. "If you think there's something going on between us, you're mistaken."

Eleanor tilted her head slightly. "Am I?"

Aurora's fingers curled around the balcony railing. "He's marrying you."

"Yes," Eleanor said, her voice calm. "But tell me something, Aurora. If Cassian had asked you to stay, all those years ago… would you have?"

The question struck like a slap with a sharp cut through her chest.

Aurora parted her lips, but no sound came out.

Because the truth was, she didn't know.

Would she have stayed? Would she have fought harder? Or would she have left anyway, telling herself it was for the best?

I saw everything on the dance floor in the dining hall.

"You starred at him like you would have stayed" .

"He held you like he lost you".

Eleanor watched her reaction carefully, then nodded as if she had her answer.

"I don't dislike you, Aurora," she continued. "In fact, I respect you. But I also know what Cassian and I have built, and I won't let you disrupt it."

Aurora's throat tightened. "I have no intention of doing that."

Eleanor took a slow step forward. "Then let him go. For good."

The words settled between them, heavy and unyielding.

Aurora didn't flinch. Instead, she held Eleanor's gaze and nodded once. "If you're so sure about Cassian, then you have nothing to worry about."

A flicker of something—doubt?—flashed across Eleanor's face but she needed to maintain steeze, so she smoothed her features.

"Enjoy the rest of the evening," she said before turning on her heel and walking back inside.

Aurora let out a shaky breath, gripping the railing as the weight of everything crashed over her.

The truth was, she had already let Cassian go once.

Then why did it feel like she was still holding on?

Back inside, Cassian stood near the bar, his fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey. His eyes had followed Aurora the moment she left the dance floor, tracked her every movement as she spoke to Julian, then to Eleanor.

When she returned from the balcony, something in her had changed. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a new tension in her shoulders.

Cassian's stomach twisted, he knew something happened.

He barely noticed Eleanor rejoining him, slipping her arm through his.

"Everything okay?" she asked lightly.

He hesitated. "Did you speak to her?"

Eleanor's fingers curled slightly against his sleeve. "Yes."

Cassian exhaled slowly, studying her carefully. "What did you say?"

Eleanor offered a small smile. "Only what needed to be said, no need to worry much"

Cassian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

He knew Eleanor well enough to understand what she meant. She had drawn a line.

The problem was, he wasn't sure which side of it he wanted to stand on.

Across the room, Aurora caught his gaze for only a moment before looking away.

But in that second, he knew.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.