Lindsay hurriedly followed, weaving through the crowd until she reached a group of people dressed in black, who stopped in front of the main table. Aurora instantly noticed the spirited old man sitting in the chair, a cigar pinched between his fingers, exuding an imposing aura.
“Mr. Alvarez, you must stand up for me. This woman claimed to be Julian’s girlfriend,” Lindsay ranted as she ran towards the old man.
Joaquin Alvarez gently patted her hand. “Don’t worry, Lindsay.”
Previously, he had only observed Aurora from a distance. Now, seeing her up close for the first time, he realized her beauty was natural, unlike those with cosmetic enhancements common among other women.
Even Lindsay, standing beside him, had undergone plastic surgery, but Aurora’s beauty was entirely natural, devoid of the heavy makeup typical of other women. She resembled a blossom in the snow, lofty and proud, her smile carrying a captivating charm.
Joaquin, having lived a long life and seen many people, finally understood why his son, who was usually demanding and never took an interest in women, had fallen for her. This woman was indeed different. Others might feel nervous or uneasy upon meeting him for the first time, but her expression remained utterly composed throughout.
“Why would you ask to see me?” Julian’s expression was cold.
Had Aurora not known that the old man was Julian’s father, she might have mistaken him for Julian’s sworn enemy because of his attitude.
“Julian, it has been a year since we last saw each other.” Joaquin’s eyes softened as he looked at Julian.
Aurora had once heard from Hayden that Joaquin had Julian late in life and had always doted on him excessively. It seemed to be true.
No wonder Hayden was so eager to marry Susan. His greatest concern must have been Joaquin recognizing Julian as the rightful heir of the Alvarez family, which was why he was in dire need of the support of the Simmons family.
Julian was unimpressed. “If you called me here just to see us, then you’ve seen us now.”
“Grandfather, I’ve brought Susan here.” Hayden approached with Susan, who was reluctant but, having chosen Hayden, had to consider his future.
Susan’s face had to remain cheerfully smiling, pretending that nothing had happened, as more and more people gathered around Joaquin.
“Mr. Alvarez,” Susangreeted, presenting her obedient facade.
“Good girl, we’re family now,” he said lightly.
“Since everyone is here, I want to introduce Aurora to you.” With that, Julian’s gaze fell on Hayden and Susan. The Alvarez family was very particular about etiquette. The newlyweds must greet all direct relatives as a sign of respect.
Hearing this, Hayden and Susan’s expressions changed simultaneously, one viewing Aurora as a beloved, the other as a thorn in her side.
Neither wanted to greet Aurora. Hayden spoke up, “You are my uncle, so I respect you, but she is not yet part of the family.”
The conversation inevitably turned to Aurora. Joaquin’s gaze darkened. “Young lady, whether you knew about Julian having a fiancee before or not, I must now inform you that Julian’s wife is Miss Gilpin.”
He left no room for Aurora to save face. Upon hearing him, others might think Aurora was overly forward, but only Julian knew how much effort he had put into pursuing Aurora.
He was about to defend Aurora when Aurora seemed to perceive his intention, gently tugging at his hand. She was no longer the little girl from three years ago who knew only to cry when things got tough. She was well aware that Joaquin’s prejudice against her stemmed from her humble origins. In aristocratic circles, pedigree often mattered, and whether he truly loved Lindsay or not was questionable. What likely mattered more was her social status.
Aurora stepped forward. “Mr. Alvarez, whether his fiancee was chosen by you or he found her himself, all I know is that Julian loves me now. Surely, you don’t harbor some outdated ideas, believing in marriages arranged by parents, do you? Nowadays, love is free, and he has no feelings for Miss Gilpin.”
Joaquin had never encountered such a bold woman, showing no fear of him. “You say he has no feelings for Lindsay, but I’d like to ask you something. I heard you were Hayden’s girlfriend before, so how come you are now with Julian?”
It seemed that only Lindsay was unaware of this, her eyes widening in shock. “What? You were Hayden’s ex-girlfriend?”
Lindsay’s gaze swept across their faces, trying to make sense of the tangled relationships.
This was indeed a tricky question, and everyone’s eyes turned to Aurora, whose expression remained unchanged.
“Mr. Alvarez, as you said, I’m his ex-girlfriend. Am I supposed to hang on to him for life just because I was dumped?” Aurora retorted.
At the mention of being dumped, Hayden felt as if he had been slapped, and Joaquin did not expect such a direct response.
“But of all men, why did you choose Julian?” he pressed aggressively.
Aurora, still calm, replied, “It wasn’t that I chose him. It’s fate.” She then gently took Julian’s hand.
Fate had brought them together more than a decade ago. She had saved Julian, and he had saved her. Their connection had been predestined.
Sharing a knowing smile, Aurora and Julian held a secret only they knew. The love visible in their eyes stung both Hayden and Lindsay.
Such undisguised, unabashed love seemed to exclude everyone else from the room. Hayden had wondered if Aurora was using Julian to provoke him, but seeing her gaze, he realized his mistake. He was familiar with that look. Aurora had once looked at him that way, but now her eyes held no trace of him.
Joaquin, challenged by Aurora’s composure, grew somewhat angry. “Young lady, let me be clear then. The Alvarez family is respectable and we seek equal matches. Only someone of Lindsay’s status is worthy of being my daughter-in-law, and those commoners out there do not deserve to marry into our family.”
His words were harsh, and while Lindsay smirked at the sideline, Susan, who knew her own status, couldn’t even feel happy about it.
Before Aurora and Julian could respond, a voice rang out. “Aurora, what are you doing here?”
Oswaldo appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and Aurora turned to sweetly greet him, “Grandfather.” People around her were stunned and confused.