“Do you know the truth will be disappointing?” Julian observed her calm demeanor. The young girl was adept at controlling her facial expressions, concealing the truth from anyone who looked at her.
“It’s just a bit surprising, really. I thought he was only looking for a well-matched lady to help him secure his inheritance, but since he wasn’t sincere, why bother finding out his reasons?” Aurora’s smile was tinged with scorn. She had long seen through Hayden’s true nature, and any disappointment was a thing of the past.
“It’s good that you think this way. When I knew he was with you, I was a bit angry and even planned to break you two apart. But then I saw how gently you smiled at him, and in that moment, I realized you had fallen for him. If I had forcibly separated you, you would have hated me, wouldn’t you? I observed him for a while and noticed that he started to care more about you. I thought it was divine providence, so I did nothing but silently support you from behind. I kept telling myself that each look at you would be the last before I left, but I couldn’t control my heart and would always watch you from afar. Even just a glimpse of your silhouette, a sound of your voice, or your smiling face made my day joyful.”
Recalling those days, the corners of Julian’s mouth lifted slightly. Unrequited love was painful, but it was also sweet. Seeing Julian’s tender smile, Aurora could no longer hold back and threw herself into his arms. She had not realized this man could be so deeply in love; she had once thought him a great devil.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Although Julian spoke these words lightly, she thought about the long years he had spent like a shadow, watching and loving her, yet unable to step forward and tell her of his feelings, having to watch her be intimate with other men. How strong must his heart have been to bear all this?
He was happy for her happiness and sad for her sorrows, all hidden from her sight. Julian gently patted her back, “Silly girl, you have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong; all that I did was willingly.”
“It was I who failed to see the truth about people and wronged you. Thinking of how you were heartbroken while I was sweetly with someone else, my heart feels so guilty.” Aurora had been very young when they first met, and her casual promise to marry him was something she had long forgotten, yet he had never forgotten.
“Silly girl, if I really blamed you, I would have done so long ago, wouldn’t I? You were young then, and it’s normal not to understand these things. And with a man like Hayden, how many women could say no? I don’t blame you at all. In fact, I should thank him. He taught you how to grow and taught both of us what it means to cherish.”
In front of others, Julian always maintained a cold, proud demeanor, but he was always warm and gentle in front of Aurora.
“Does Hayden know about what you’ve been doing secretly?” she asked.
“If he’s a man and hasn’t noticed me, then isn’t he rather incompetent?”
From his childhood to adulthood, he never bested me in anything, except when it came to you, where he found his confidence again.
No matter what his intentions were in approaching you, thankfully, his feelings for you were genuine, and he was more anxious than anyone when he found out you were ill.
Seeing him treat you well made me willing to step aside, even planning to completely leave your side after your coming-of-age ceremony.”
Julian, being a man of integrity, did not take advantage of the situation to speak ill of Hayden, but objectively recounted everything.
“Let’s put all that behind us, let’s not talk about that unpleasant man anymore. Now, you are all that’s in my heart.”
Aurora cast aside the clutter in her mind, now content just to be with him.
“Alright.”
“The meal is ready, sir,” the butler said respectfully, standing behind the two of them.
“Coming right away.” Julian took Aurora’s hand and led her toward the dining table as the sun set and night fell.
The butler had prepared fragrant candles and the table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes.
As they approached, Aurora’s mouth watered uncontrollably. “It smells wonderful.”
“This is all specially prepared for you. You must fill your stomach tonight; I bet you’ve skipped many meals at the company recently,” Julian said gentlemanly as he pulled out a chair for her.
“Of course, they look so delicious,” Aurora said as she sat down.
The elegant white tablecloth was subtly imprinted with patterns, exquisite stemware, and romantic rose petals adorned the table.
She sniffed the air, the fragrance not overpowering but rather soothing.
Who could resist such a scene? Under the flickering candlelight, Aurora’s smile was radiant.
“Are you this romantic with everyone?” Aurora suddenly asked. Hayden had been nice to her, but Julian seemed far more devoted.
Julian was the type to pamper you to the core, always considerate even in small matters.
“How could that be? In this life, I am only good to you. Maybe because I’ve lost before, now I want to treat you even better, to cherish you deeply,” Julian replied earnestly.
“Sweet talker.” Although a bit cheesy, it still made her happy.
“Have some shrimp.” While speaking, Julian did not stop his hands and had already peeled the meat from the lobster for her.
“Well, I can actually do these things for myself,” Aurora said, somewhat embarrassed.
“Isn’t it only right for a boyfriend to do these for his girlfriend? You just need to tell me if you like it or not,” Julian said seriously.
“I like it.”
“That’s good to hear,” Julian said with a slight smile.
Aurora lifted her glass of red wine, “I toast to you, for saving me three years ago, for giving me a chance at rebirth, and for saving me from the schemes of Genevieve and Ivy.”
If the scandal back then had spread, she might have fallen into an abyss she couldn’t climb out of, but thankfully Julian was there to turn the tide.
Their glasses clinked, and they drank down the wine, its sweet purity flowing down their throats.
The two of them chatted while eating, and Aurora finally opened up more, telling him about how she met Asher in America and got her start.
Julian listened quietly, his mood fluctuating with her story.
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