Julian had just come downstairs when he heard Susan cursing furiously. He looked at Aurora with a heart full of pity. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” Aurora hastened to reassure him.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a simple gesture many women make.
Yet, this unconscious movement of Aurora’s only made him feel more tender towards her. The charm and gentleness of this small action highlighted the biggest change in her-it was her aura.
Sometimes gentle, sometimes cold, sometimes charming, she was like a shape-shifting fox.
Seeing Aurora’s tender demeanor in Julian’s arms, which contrasted sharply with how she acted around him, Hayden had to admit that he was truly jealous.
He had never seen this side of Aurora three years ago when she was still too naive, like a bud about to bloom.
Now, she was in full bloom, displaying her endless beauty, and Julian was the one protecting her.
Aurora did not step out from Julian’s embrace but instead turned calmly to face them both and said in a composed voice:
“I indeed hated you both for what happened years ago, but now I have a man I love, and you two are engaged.
I hope we can put an end to our past. This place was just an accident; I never intended to live next to you, nor did I know you would be here. We are both busy anyway, and it’s unlikely we’ll see each other often.
In short, I have done nothing wrong to you, and I hope you will not disturb me in the future. Let’s consider everything between us settled.”
Aurora felt this was the best answer for everyone. She had no desire to entangle herself with Hayden any further.
Her words, spoken so lightly, left Hayden feeling utterly desolate. He had harbored hopes and fantasies, always believing that Aurora’s relationship with Julian, his uncle, was merely to spite him.
He convinced himself they were just playing roles, but the reality was far different.
Aurora looked at Julian with eyes full of love. She could lie, but her eyes could not deceive. She truly loved him.
The fact that they were both in pajamas and living under the same roof left little to the imagination about what had transpired between them.
Hayden had long known how deeply Julian loved this woman, and now that Aurora had committed to him, he knew he would never let her go.
Her words sounded like a final goodbye; there was no hate or love for him in her eyes anymore.
At this moment, he almost wished Aurora still hated him, as that would mean he still had some significance in her heart.
Now her tone of voice was not that of an enemy, nor even a friend; she wanted nothing to do with him for the rest of her life. To her, he was just a stranger, or perhaps even less-mere air.
The thought pierced his heart like a thousand arrows. If only he had been able to hold on to her three years ago, could things have turned out differently?
“Aurora, I…” Hayden opened his mouth to speak, but where should he even begin?
He thought about what she had said earlier-that night three years ago, she was also drugged and nearly raped and photographed by other men.
He could hardly bear to think about how that naive girl had endured all that followed. She had just faced betrayal by her boyfriend and best friend, and what kind of nightmare awaited her next?
What was she doing on that dark night meant for her? She and Susan were in the same bed. Hayden felt a deep sense of self-reproach for not being there for her in her time of need. “I’m sorry… Aurora, I’m sorry…” He finally realized that her resolute departure might not have been to avoid him, but because she had no other choice.
“Hayden, you don’t need to apologize to me; we’re even now. I don’t want anything to do with you in this lifetime. Susan, rest assured, I will never have anything to do with him again. Please leave my house, you are not welcome here,” Aurora declared, dismissing them.
“Get out, you scoundrels, you are not welcome here at all,” Mrs. Hill, wielding a large broom she had found somewhere, swept them away as if they were trash. Susan, visibly angry yet restrained by Hayden’s presence, reluctantly pulled Hayden away.
“What are you looking at? She told you to leave.”
Hayden was dragged away, and with a loud bang, Mrs. Hill shut the door. “Miss, don’t worry, as long as I’m here, that scumbag and that wretch won’t be able to come within three feet of this place. She won’t bother you or your husband again!”
“Okay… Mrs. Hill, what did you just say?” Aurora had initially found Mrs. Hill’s actions somewhat endearing but only realized the implication of her words after a moment.
“You and your husband, miss, aren’t you? I think this gentleman is much better than that scumbag Hayden! He’s more handsome, gentler, and he was so careful not to wake you when he carried you back last night. He must be better to you than that scumbag,” Mrs. Hill rambled on.
Aurora was just about to clarify the misunderstanding when Julian interrupted her, “Mrs. Hill has keen insight. I’ll give you a raise this month.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Hill beamed, her smile wide.
“If Hayden bothers Little Bunny again, just wave your big broom and chase him out, go ahead with confidence, I believe in you,” Julian, a master at winning people over, had previously won over Grandpa Montgomery, and now it seemed Mrs. Hill was readily enlisted under his command, ready to die for him.
Aurora felt somewhat helpless and no longer bothered to explain; she was planning to marry Julian anyway, so how Mrs. Hill addressed her didn’t matter now.
“Mrs. Hill, get the breakfast ready, I’m going upstairs to wash up,” Aurora said as she turned toward the staircase.
After Susan had dragged Hayden away, they had just entered the house when Hayden suddenly slapped Susan across the face.
“Tell me everything, word for word, what exactly did you do back then!”
“Hayden, don’t listen to Aurora’s nonsense; she’s just trying to drive a wedge between us with her words. Didn’t you just say last night that we’re starting over? Let’s not let these things upset us, okay?”
Susan, despite feeling aggrieved from the slap, only wanted Hayden not to blame her. They had finally gotten together and couldn’t let Aurora, that wretch, ruin it.