After falling in love, nothing should surprise you anymore.
Just a few months ago, someone was demoted by the CEO right on the spot for his phone vibrating during a meeting-yes, just vibrating, not ringing.
Since then, everyone either turned off their phones or put them on silent mode during meetings, even the CEO, who was usually the most disciplined about such things, occasionally took calls with his ringtone on.
He didn’t use this phone for work; his work phones were always with Rocky. This was his personal phone.
Julian’s gentleness was almost shocking, but who could blame him? He was the CEO, after all.
For others, there were no surprises; with him, everything was possible.
Julian listened to Aurora’s brief explanation and understood what she wanted. “You’re talking about the Luminary order, right? I’ll get it for you.”
Aurora shook her head repeatedly. “Julian, I didn’t call to ask for your help, I just need some clues and information.
You’ve been in Clothville longer than I have, you have wider connections, and you can get the information I need.”
“You little girl, you could easily rely on your looks, yet you insist on proving your strength. I dream of you depending more on me, ideally waiting hand and foot, letting me pamper you.”
Even through the phone, Aurora could imagine his helpless tone, softening her expression.
“If I relied on my looks, what would I do when I no longer have them? Only my own strength can sustain me for a lifetime.”
Aurora hadn’t understood this in the past, not until that night three years ago, when she realized why she had lost so terribly.
The weak serve only as food and stepping stones for the strong. Becoming strong herself meant she no longer needed to be victimized, whether or not she bullied others.
Her life now was good, despite the frequent storms she faced, she found joy in them.
“No matter what you become, you’ll always be my Little Bunny. It seems only when you have my little Little Bunny will you truly be content by my side.”
Julian imagined what it would be like if one day they had a child of their own. Would the child be a boy or a girl, more like her or more like him?
His thoughts wandered far away, tuning out Aurora’s words.
“Julian, are you listening?” Aurora had been speaking for quite some time without a response.
“I like both boys and girls,” Julian answered nonsensically, only then realizing where his mind had wandered.
Blushing, Aurora coughed, “Who asked about kids? I’m talking about getting me the information!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll ask around right away. By the way, do you prefer a boy or a girl?” Julian steered the conversation back to children.
Aurora stared at her computer screen that had gone black, reflecting her face. She breathed out slowly, “Boy.”
Julian found it odd, thinking if he had to choose, he’d prefer a girl.
Ideally, a girl as beautiful and adorable as Aurora was when she was little, her delicate features reminiscent of a doll.
Back then, Aurora was much more lively, and for a long time, he remembered her crisp, childlike voice.
“I didn’t expect you’d prefer a boy,” Julian teased.
Aurora merely curled her lips in resignation, her mind flashing back to Alison’s fate, who once knelt before her, pleading on Paul’s behalf.
Paul finally kicked her away, calling her a whore, indifferent to whether there had been affection between them or not. Despite their past relationship, he should not have treated a woman he disliked in such a manner. Even if Alison did not deserve sympathy, the outcome she faced today was the result of her own actions.
Aurora thought of Susan, Ivy, and herself-among them were those with good and bad fortunes, yet each had their own misfortunes. Indeed, it confirmed the saying that while happy people are all alike, the unhappy suffer in countless ways. In matters of the heart and beyond, it was always the women who suffered the deepest wounds, as seen in the online forums.
Though many condemned Paul, more ridiculed Alison; a man might lose his job yet find something else, but a woman was treated like a pariah. Reflecting on her own experiences and those of others, Aurora spontaneously said, “I just feel that boys are tougher, a bit of hardship does them no harm. Girls are delicate and precious, and I wish they wouldn’t have to face any hardships, but how is that possible?”
Even with her current achievements, Aurora knew that success hadn’t come easily, and she was unwilling for her daughter to endure the same hardships. “So, it’s because of the hardships you’ve endured yourself, regardless of whether it’s a boy or girl, I will ensure our children never suffer even a bit,” Julian replied, having known a different but equally challenging childhood. He wanted nothing more than to provide a stable home for his children, to spare them from his own past.
“Children need to face some hardships; too much coddling might spoil them, just like Zachary and Ivy, who crumble at the slightest adversity,” he added. “Alright, from now on, I’ll support whatever you decide on how to educate them,” he continued. “Oh my, I didn’t call to discuss our children,” Aurora realized, almost led off-topic.
“Yes, yes, I remember now, I’ll let you know as soon as there’s any news, don’t worry,” Julian reassured her. “Okay,” Aurora ended the call, her smile fading as she thought about her children. She had been careless recently due to thinking it was a safe period, but from today, she would be more cautious. At just under 22, she wasn’t ready to become a mother yet; that was a decision for the future.
It seemed she would have to be more mindful of these matters from now on as Aurora returned to her work. Alison’s departure was a relief, eliminating a source of potential backstabbing, but it also meant more responsibilities ahead. Not only did she need to prepare for upcoming orders, but there was also a recruitment fair at Montgomery Group to manage.
Ivy and Zachary’s hair samples had yet to be collected, and her own company was in the midst of preparations, keeping her overwhelmingly busy. Another hectic day was drawing to a close; it was nearly six o’clock, and the office was almost empty when Julian called. He picked her up from work every day, and though Cameron was just lounging at home, she smiled.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“Waiting for you is never too long,” Julian said, pulling her into his embrace, having missed her all day.