CHAPTER 100: THEO’S KINGSLEY WIFE

The small round table was crowded with steaming bowls and plates, the kind that made the whole room smell like home. Daisy leaned back with a content sigh, chewing happily while Aurora’s mother nudged another dish toward her.

"This is dangerous," Daisy mumbled with her mouth half-full, eyes glinting. "If you keep feeding me like this, I’ll never leave."

Aurora’s father chuckled warmly. "That’s the idea."

The cheerful atmosphere was suddenly broken by the sharp chime of the doorbell. Everyone paused. Aurora instinctively rose to her feet. "I’ll go check."

She padded toward the door, curiosity laced with mild irritation. ’Who would visit at this hour?’ The moment she looked through the peekhole, her heart skipped a beat.

Standing there, tall and steady in the porch light, was Theo Kingsley.

Aurora’s breath caught, her mind racing. "Oh no," she whispered under her breath before quickly turning back. She hurried back into the dining room, her voice low but urgent. "Daisy... hide. Now."

Daisy froze, spoon still halfway to her mouth. "Huh? Hide? What for?"

Aurora’s eyes were wide, her tone sharp with panic. "It’s Theo. He’s here."

The spoon clattered against the bowl as Daisy almost choked. "What? Why—why is he here?"

Aurora grabbed her wrist, practically dragging her up from the chair. "Do you want him to see you here? With my parents? He’ll start asking questions we can’t answer. Move!"

Aurora’s mother looked baffled, glancing between the two. "Girls, what’s going on—"

"No time, Mom!" Aurora cut her off. "Just pretend Daisy isn’t here, okay?"

Her father raised a brow but kept chewing calmly, clearly deciding not to intervene.

Meanwhile Daisy stumbled along, whisper-yelling, "Where am I supposed to hide?! Under the bed? In the wardrobe?!"

"The toilet... just go! Don’t close the door, just hide behind it, so he won’t get curious." Aurora shoved her toward the small bathroom near her room.

Daisy slipped inside and pressed herself behind the door, her heart thudding wildly.

Aurora quickly smoothed her hair, plastered on a polite smile, and went back to the front door. She opened it wide this time.

"Mr. Kingsley," she greeted, her voice steady though her palms were clammy. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Theo’s tall frame filled the doorway, the porch light throwing sharp edges across his face. His gaze swept over her, unreadable, before landing on the warm glow spilling out from the dining room.

"I was in the neighborhood," he said smoothly, though his tone carried an edge that made Aurora’s stomach knot. "Thought I’d check in."

Aurora shifted slightly, angling herself so he couldn’t see past her. "At this hour?" she asked lightly, forcing a smile. "That’s... very considerate of you. The very first boss I’ve ever had who bothers to visit his staff’s home. But Mr. Kingsley, I don’t—"

"Are you going to let me in?" His eyes flickered, sharp, slicing clean through her words.

Her throat tightened. Damn it. With no choice, she stepped aside reluctantly. Theo crossed the threshold without hesitation, and in an instant, his presence filled the small, ordinary house, making it feel suddenly cramped, as though the walls had drawn closer just to accommodate him.

But that wasn’t all.

Another figure followed right behind him, and Aurora’s stomach dropped. Liam Kingsley.

Of all people.

Her eyes nearly twitched. ’What the hell is he even doing here?’

If Theo was intimidating, Liam was worse, cold, curt, and utterly merciless. Aurora had always thought of him as the most hated man in the world, and yet here he was, strolling casually into her home like he owned the place. Seeing him side by side with Theo made no sense, as if the universe had conspired to deliver her the absolute worst surprise of her life.

Despite the storm of thoughts in her head, Aurora forced a brittle laugh, hoping to ease the suffocating tension inside the tiny living room. "Uh... well... this is my mom and dad," she said, her voice unnaturally bright. She gestured stiffly toward Theo. "This is my boss..." Her hand shifted reluctantly toward Liam. "And... also my boss."

The words hung in the air, ridiculous and heavy at the same time.

Her parents, of course, were stunned into silence for a beat. Then, almost in unison, they scrambled to their feet, her mother smoothing her blouse with nervous hands while her father straightened his worn shirt.

"Ah—welcome, welcome," her father said quickly, giving a polite bow before offering his hand. "It’s... an honor to meet you."

Her mother nodded along, eyes darting between the two towering men as though she couldn’t quite believe they were real. She gave a small, respectful bow of her own, murmuring, "Please, make yourselves comfortable."

The Kingsley brothers accepted the gestures with an ease that only made the room feel smaller, their presence pressing down on the modest space like it wasn’t built to hold men like them.

Aurora stood awkwardly between them all, cheeks burning, wishing she could melt into the floor.

Aurora’s father cleared his throat, his voice steadier than Aurora expected.

"I’m sorry to ask, Mr. Kingsley," he said, his eyes flickering between Theo and Liam, "but what brings you here... at this hour?"

Aurora’s mother gasped softly, clutching the hem of her blouse as if to keep herself from trembling. Aurora, meanwhile, wanted nothing more than to shove her parents back into their seats before they accidentally provoked the most dangerous men she knew.

Theo’s lips curved faintly, though it wasn’t quite a smile. "I’m sorry for the disturbance, Mr. and Mrs. Williams but I am looking for my wife."

Aurora’s father instantly looked at Aurora, "Your wife?"

Aurora froze, her heart slamming against her ribs so hard she was sure everyone could hear it. Her father’s bewildered gaze shot straight to her, demanding answers she couldn’t possibly give.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She wanted to deny it, to laugh it off as some ridiculous mistake, but Theo’s expression, calm and unyielding, snuffed out the lie before it could form.

"Y-your wife?" her mother stammered, glancing at Aurora as though she had been hiding an entire double life under their roof.

Theo’s eyes softened, just for a second, when they rested on Aurora. "Yes. My wife."

Aurora frantically waved her hands at her parents, her voice tumbling out in a rush. "It’s not me—"

"Ah, forgive me," Theo’s low voice cut clean through her protest. "My wife is Daisy. Daisy Sinclair."

The room froze.

"Daisy?"