Page 198 of Before Dawn

Mikkel

Money did make the world go round. Three phone calls and a few thousand dollars later, we had the perfect day at Longwood Gardens. After the tour, we grabbed food to go and settled onto the jet.

Scrolling through the pictures of her, I found myself pausing on each one—her lost in nature, breathing in the scent of flowers, her smile radiating pure joy. Her beauty was almost too much to take in. The way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up at everything, completely captivated me. Every time I looked at her, I felt like the luckiest man alive, falling deeper with each glance. I didn’t just see her; I felt her—in my heart, my soul, every part of me. It was overwhelming, like constantly rediscovering her, finding new ways to fall for her every single day.

Five hours later, the jet touched down at a private airfield in San Jose. As we descended the steps, Aurora stood by a black SUV, arms crossed, eyes scanning the runway.

When Abigail spotted her, she sprinted toward her, nearly knocking her over with a tight hug. Laughter and squeals filled the air as they clung to each other. Aurora’s gaze flicked to me over Abigail’s shoulder, her eyes assessing, before a smirk curved her lips.

“Finally decided to pay us a visit, huh, Mikkel?” she teased.

I chuckled, shaking her offered hand. “Good to see you again, Aurora.”

We loaded the luggage and made our way to San Francisco. The drive passed in a comfortable mix of conversation and music, and the light mood continued with a few playful exchanges.

“Do you know how surreal this is?” Aurora asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror as we drove. “You have a jet.”

“I bought it recently.”

“Why?” Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Abigail has flight anxiety. I thought it was necessary.”

Aurora paused, disbelief and curiosity in her eyes. “You bought a jet because my sister has flight anxiety?”

I shrugged. “Pretty much.”

Abigail, a bit surprised, chimed in, “I didn’t know that.”

I smiled. “I didn’t tell you,mi reina.155”

Aurora glanced at me sideways. “Do you have any friends? Asking for a friend…”

I laughed. “They’re all taken or don’t date.”

“Well, there goes my luck.”

Abigail’s eyes widened as a thought hit her. “Is that why it’s yellow?”

I nodded, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Yes,mi vida.156”

Her face lit up with excitement. “You’re insane.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “You’re worth it.”

When we arrived at the Asher family home, I was struck by its beauty—modern architecture, large windows, and an expansive driveway. A lovely front garden softened the edges, and a koi pond near the entrance added a peaceful touch.

But the green Rolls Royce Black Badge in the driveway truly caught my eye. Gleaming in the sunlight, its smooth curves and black accents made it look dreamlike. Absolutely stunning.

Aurora led us inside, locking the door behind us. I scanned the cozy space, my attention drawn to the picture wall—dozens of photos of Abigail, her family, and their shared memories.

Aurora smiled at us. “Mom and Dad aren’t home yet, so we have some time. Make yourselves comfy.”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “Aurora, I live here.”

Aurora shot back with a playful grin. “Lived. You moved out, remember?” They both laughed, the sound light and easy, before Aurora walked off.

Abigail squeezed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs. “Let’s go upstairs.”

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