With the Wind, to the Sky

Aurora Lark and Lucien Frost's marriage was the juiciest gossip in old-money Boston.

One was Aurora, the unrestrained, rebellious, stunningly beautiful heiress of the Lark family.

The other was Lucien Frost, a man that was the aloof, ascetic, and disciplined CEO of the Frost empire.

Two polar opposites, bound together for three years.

The first year of marriage, Aurora was ordered to be an obedient wife

She scoffed loudly, "What era is this? Still peddling that rubbish?" Her beautiful features were etched with defiance.

It turned out she was locked in a cold, damp attic for three days and nights..

The second year, the Frosts forbade her from clubbing and her previous globe-trotting escapades.

Aurora responded by slamming her Ferrari straight through the estate's main gates.

"Stop me from going out? Over my dead body!"

That time, she got two weeks confined to her rooms, all communication devices confiscated.

The third year, the Frosts started pushing for an heir.

Aurora was escorted to the hospital for pre-IVF checkups..

As a nurse prepped medication, Aurora lunged, shoving the tray aside, barreling past bodyguards, and fled. She drove straight to Frost Industries headquarters.

She'd had enough!

She'd tell Lucien Frost sshe couldn't stand these damn rules for one more day!

If he couldn't fix this, even if she loved him, this marriage was over!

She barged into the CEO's private elevator, heading straight for the penthouse.

The office door was slightly ajar. Men's laughter drifted out.

Aurora's hand was on the door, ready to push, when she heard her own name.

"Lucien, heard your missus is raising hell again?"

A teasing male voice, one of Lucien's childhood friends.

"Gotta say, you won the jackpot looks-wise in Boston. That face, that figure damn stunning! Just too wild."

"But seriously," the friend continued, "Clearly don't like her, so why go through all that trouble years ago, setting up that whole 'hero saves the damsel' act to make her fall head over heels and marry you willingly?"

That accident where he saved her... was staged?

Three years ago, at the equestrian club.

Her horse spooked, bolting straight for the fence rails. Lucien appeared out of nowhere, pulling her into his arms.

Later, she looked into him. Knew they were opposites.

She was bright as fire; he was cool as ice. She was unrestrained; he was rigidly proper. She craved freedom; he followed rules.

Knowing they were worlds apart, she'd pursued him anyway.

Used every trick, every charm.

Finally made him say "I do."

And all along...

it was an elaborate lie he designed?

"Why else? For Chloe."

Chloe

The wife of Lucien's useless younger brother, Lucas Frost.

"Lucien's heart has always belonged to Chloe," the voice explained.

"The old madam gave her a hard time. Lucien couldn't stand it, so he decided to marry someone outrageous and troublesome to draw fire. That way, Chloe's life in the Frosts would be easier."

"Aurora? She was the perfect choice. Beautiful, pedigree impeccable, and crucially C wild enough to raise hell."

"But damn, Lucien must really love Chloe!" the first friend chimed in.

"If I had a wife like Aurora C gorgeous and that fiery? I'd be trying to knock her up every night! He, though? He even secretly got a vasectomy! Cut off her chance of kids! That sacrifice wow."

Absurd. Ridiculous. The pain was so sharp it stole her breath.

Silence hung in the office for a moment. Then his cool, clear voice rang out.

"Chloe's too soft. She can't handle it. Aurora whatever happens to her is none of my concern."

So, all these years, her struggles, her rebellion, her pain, he saw them. He just didn't care?

So, it was okay to use her?

Okay to make her a shield for another woman?

Aurora trembled, poised to burst in, when Lucien's phone rang.

He answered. His brother Lucas's lazy drawl crackled through:

"Bro! SOS! Chloe, that clumsy fool, was setting up for mom's birthday party and dropped mom's antique porcelain vase! I'm abroad right now, hanging with this new model by the beach, can't get back anytime soon. You gotta handle this!"

Lucien's brow furrowed slightly, his voice dropping a few degrees.

"If you married her, why not cherish her? Protect your own woman."

"Aw, c'mon, bro, you know me!" Lucas whined.

"I only married her 'cause she was pretty, even if poor.Gets boring after a while! Not like Aurora C stunning, dangerous, wild! Chloe's just bland. Gets on my nerves. Now she's always calling, crying ruining my vacation vibe"

At the words "calling crying," Lucien's eyes darkened instantly.

"Fine. I'll handle it."

He hung up, strode quickly towards the door.

Aurora watched his retreating back, heard him snap orders to his trailing assistant,

"Find out where Aurora is right now."

The assistant responded instantly, "Sir, we just received word. Mrs. Frost refused the IVF procedure. She left the hospital."

Lucien didn't break stride, his tone flat.

"Send people to trash the hospital. Now."

The assistant clearly hesitated, cautiously confirming, "Sir, you mean pin the destruction entirely on Mrs. Frost? Then report it to Mrs. Frost Senior, so her anger shifts away from Chloe?"

"Yes. Make it loud. Ensure Mother's attention is completely diverted from Chloe's broken Buddha."

What more did she need to ask?

What more proof?

By the time she snapped back to reality, Lucien was gone.

She finally snapped back to reality, roughly wiping the tears that had unknowingly streaked her face.

She immediately took out her phone and dialed her father.

"Winston Lark. I'm divorcing Lucien Frost. Use every connection. I want the divorce papers finalized ASAP."

Winston, clearly blindsided, sputtered before erupting in rage.

"Have you lost your mind?! What's wrong with Lucien? Steady, capable! The Frosts are top-tier! Countless women dream of marrying him! Stop this impulsive nonsense, you ungrateful girl!"

"I'm not asking!" Aurora cut him off sharply.

"You've always wanted me gone, haven't you? So you, your mistress, and those precious illegitimate brats can play happy family?"

She took a deep breath, "Get me this divorce, and I promise, I'll vanish from Boston. Forever. You'll never see me again."

Finally, Winston's voice came through, heavy with relief.

"Fine. Since you insist. But remember your promise."

In that moment, Aurora felt her heart pierced by a thousand needles, a dense, spreading pain engulfing her body.

She tried to smile, managed only a grimace worse than tears.

"Don't worry. The sight of you sickens me too."

She hung up, slumped against the cold wall, sliding down to the floor.

After a long while, she took a deep breath, pushed herself up. She called her closest girlfriends.

hopping, splurging, spa treatments, ending at Boston's hottest club.

A friend looked at her still radiant but somehow altered profile and asked worriedly.

"Rory, you haven't partied in ages. Going this hard today... what if the Frosts find out?"

Aurora downed her shot of hard liquor in her glass.

She watched the pulsing dance floor, her voice flat as she dropped the bombshell: "They won't find out. Because I'm divorcing Lucien Frost."

"What?!" Her friend nearly spilled her drink.

"You you adored him! You chased him forever! How could you?"

"Don't anymore," Aurora cut her off.

"And I never will again."

The moment the words left her lips, the club's deafening music cut off. Lights blazed on!

Dozens of black-suited, highly trained bodyguards filed in, swiftly and efficiently clearing the venue!

"All non-essential personnel, leave now!"

Amidst complaints and panic, patrons were ushered out. Aurora's friends were politely but firmly escorted away.

The club plunged into eerie silence.

The Frost family butler approached Aurora, gave a slight bow, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Madam, Mrs. Frost requests your presence at the estate."

Aurora lounged back on the plush couch, swirling her drink, not even lifting her eyelids.

"No. Tell her Lucien Frost and I will be legally separated soon. You have no authority over me."

The butler gave a curt wave.

A bodyguard silently approached. A precise chop landed on the back of her neck.

Darkness swallowed her.

When she woke, her hands were bound behind her back. Mrs. Frost sat rigidly on a chair.

"Aurora Lark! How much longer will you defy all decency?! You refuse the IVF, fine! But you dare to trash a hospital?! Now you're carousing in that den of iniquity! Shame on you, a Lark heiress!! Even Chloe, from her modest background, shows more decorum!"

How laughable.

Aurora Lark, Boston's most dazzling, untamed rose, desired by countless men in Lucien Frost's heart, couldn't compare to a Chloe?

He'd trample her like this for that woman?!

She choked back the sob rising in her throat, lifted her head, face expressionless.

"Where's Lucien? I want to see him."

Mrs. Frost snorted.

"Lucien is occupied! He has no time for your theatrics! You've exploited his leniency! He's the Frost heir, the best of them! Instead of supporting him, you cause chaos, disrupt his work! When have you ever considered him?!"

Considered him?

Aurora laughed bitterly inside.

She had considered him!

But the result?

She'd become the ultimate joke!

Now she didn't love him.

Who could cage her?

"I want to see Lucien Frost!" she repeated, struggling to stand, only to be shoved back down by bodyguards.

"How dare you!" the old madam raged at her obstinance. "Lock her in the room! She stays until she admits her wrongs!

Aurora fought back wildly, her body crashing around! The sound of shattering porcelain and toppling furniture filled the air!

"Outrageous!

Utterly outrageous!

" Mrs. Frost trembled with anger at the wreckage. "Since you refuse reason!

Fine!

Take her out! Enforce discipline! Beat her until she agrees to go to the hospital for IVF!

Aurora was dragged roughly into the courtyard by burly men and beaten.

Searing pain instantly spread. Cold sweat soaked her clothes.

Until the agony exceeded her limit. Darkness swallowed her.

She woke to the smell of antiseptic.

She lay face down on a hospital bed. Her back wounds were dressed, but a dull ache remained.

The door was ajar. Outside, Lucien and Chloe's hushed conversation drifted in.

"Lucien thank you. Truly." Chloe's voice held gratitude and lingering fear.

"But you blaming Aurora for trashing the hospital to cover my Buddha mishap Aurora's temper you know. When she wakes will she blame me?"

Lucien's voice was its usual steady calm. "Don't worry.

I'm here. She won't touch you."He paused, then added, "Aurora is chaotic. But not unreasonable. These years Lucas has been neglectful. Failed you. As his elder brother, I failed to guide him properly. It's my responsibility to ensure your well-being."

Chloe, hearing this, seemed to touch a raw nerve. She couldn't hold back, dissolving into quiet sobs.

"Don't cry."

His voice softened slightly, carrying a gentleness Aurora had never heard. "If you face difficulties in the Frost household again, come to me directly. I will protect you."

Inside the room, Aurora watched the scene through the crack.

She couldn't take it anymore.

Snatching a glass water tumbler from the bedside table, she hurled it with all her might at the doorframe!

Crash! The glass shattered loudly against the wood.

The noise startled the pair outside. Both turned towards the room.

Lucien pushed the door open, walked in.

His expression remained unreadable, as if the gentle man outside had been an illusion.

"Awake? How do you feel?"

Chloe followed him in, clutching a thermos.

Tear tracks still glistened on her face.

Her eyes were timid, pleading as she looked at Aurora.

"Aurora I'm glad you're awake I I heard you were hurt made some pigeon soup to help you recover"

"That pigeon where did it come from?" Her voice trembled with tension.

Chloe blinked, answering honestly, "After I heard you were hurt, I wanted to make soup. But fresh pigeons are hard to find. Then I saw one in the backyard so I had it caught for the soup"

The one in the backyard

The pet pigeon her mother gave her on her last birthday before she died?

The one that had been her companion through countless lonely days and nights for ten years?!

Rage ignited within Aurora, incinerating all reason!

"Chloe!" She struggled to sit up, ignoring the tearing pain in her back.

"Do you have any idea that was my pigeon?!"

Chloe flinched back, eyes instantly welling up, tears threatening.

"I I didn't know Aurora, I swear I meant well"

"Enough."

Lucien stepped forward, shielding Chloe.

"Aurora, it's just a bird. Chloe was trying to be kind. You don't have to appreciate it, but there's no need for this rage."

Just a bird?!

Aurora stared at him, his instant defense of Chloe, his dismissive words. Her heart felt crushed, the pain stealing her breath!

"Lucien Frost!" Her voice was hoarse, ragged with despair.

"That wasn't just any pigeon!It was from my mother!It was with me for ten years! To me, it mattered more than any of you!"

Overwhelming grief and fury stripped away her sanity. She grabbed the still-steaming bowl of soup from the bedside and hurled it at Lucien!

"Ah!"

Chloe screamed, lunging forward instinctively, shielding Lucien!

Scalding soup splashed over her!

"Chloe!" Lucien's face changed instantly.

He caught the crying Chloe, his eyes turning terrifyingly cold.

"Aurora! Have you lost your mind?!"

Chaos erupted.

Lucien summoned the private doctor immediately.

After examination, the doctor's expression was grave.

"Mr. Frost, Miss Chloe's burns extensive. The depth I'm afraid there will likely be scarring."

"Scars?" Chloe wailed harder, voice filled with terror and despair.

"No I don't want scars Lucien, what do I do?"

The doctor considered. "To avoid scarring skin grafting is the only option. But finding suitable, high-quality donor skin quickly difficult"

Chloe's sobs hitched. Her gaze, timidly, instinctively, drifted towards Aurora, pale on the hospital bed.

Lucien followed her gaze, looked at Aurora.

He was silent for a moment. His deep eyes held no emotion.

"Use Aurora's."

"You caused the burns. You're responsible. It's just a small graft. Won't affect you. I know you value your looks, fear pain. I will compensate you."

Compensate?!

A wave of icy dread washed over Aurora from head to toe.

Absurdity and despair made her tremble!

"Get out!All of you, get out!"

She pointed at the door, her voice shrill with fury and agony.

"You want my skin for her? Over my dead body!"

Lucien frowned, watching her agitation, his tone hardening. "Aurora, don't be unreasonable."

"I'm unreasonable?"

Aurora laughed, tears finally spilling over.

"Lucien Frost! My feelings, my pain, the things precious to me are they worthless in your eyes? Sacrificed anytime, anywhere?"

She struggled to get out of bed. "You won't leave? Fine! I'll go!"

But the moment she moved, Lucien seized her wrist in an iron grip!

"Stop this."

He looked at her, his gaze icy, authoritarian. "Doctor. Prepare the sedative."

"Lucien Frost! Don't you dare!!"

Aurora fought, screamed, but was no match for his strength. Her beautiful eyes, once full of defiance and life, now held only shattered despair and deep hatred.

Meeting that gaze, Lucien's heart inexplicably, sharply contracted.

An unfamiliar, panicked emotion flickered through him.

Almost instinctively, he lifted his other hand, gently covering her eyes.

As if that could block the pain and hatred in her gaze that shook him to his core.

His voice lowered slightly, carrying an unintended, almost soothing note.

"Be good it'll be over soon."

The cold needle pierced her skin.

Aurora's last sensation was darkness, and the all-consuming cold and despair that swallowed her whole.