Chapter 101. Better Person

Aurora’s POV

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I watched Riley furrow his brows in concentration as he scribbled away on the worksheet in front of him. The room was quiet except for the sound of his pencil scratching against the paper and the occasional frustrated sigh he let out. I chuckled softly and nudged his shoulder.

“You’ve got this, Riley. Just focus. The answer’s simpler than you think.” He glanced at me, his lips pulling into a half-smile, and nodded. It felt nice, moments like these, just the two of us, where I could guide him and feel like I was making a difference in his life. Riley had always looked up to me, and I wanted to be the person he could rely on, no matter what.

But then, out of nowhere, a sharp, piercing pain shot through my chest. It wasn’t subtle or gradual—it hit me like a bolt of lightning, making me gasp. My hand instinctively went to my chest, and for a second, I thought my heart had stopped. Riley looked up, his face immediatel