After packing her bag, Aurora carried it downstairs. She had always been driven to work by him before, and deep down, she still hoped to see him as soon as she opened the door.
As she opened the door, she saw a car waiting outside and her face lit up with hope. Was it him? But her expression fell the moment she recognized the Maybach-it was Cameron who had come to pick her up.
“Miss Montgomery, good morning,” Cameron greeted her politely, while Aurora stood at the doorway, slightly dazed.
“I don’t recall calling you to pick me up,” Aurora said, her disappointment not clouding her reason.
Cameron smiled warmly. “Mr. Barnet called me after five in the morning to come get you.”
“Did he say anything else?” Aurora asked, her emotions swirling upon hearing his name.
“That’s all he said, just to come pick you up,” Cameron replied, noticing the changes in Aurora’s expression but unsure of what had transpired between them.
Resigned, Aurora got into the car. The fact that he had called Cameron proved that he would have seen her messages and calls.
Yet, he hadn’t replied to her, which meant he was truly upset. Remembering how she had called him selfish the night before, Aurora bit her lip and bowed her head deeply.
“Miss Montgomery, what would you like for breakfast? I’ll take you there first,” Cameron offered.
“Anything,” she murmured, her appetite gone; Julian’s face occupied her thoughts. “Cameron, may I ask you something?”
“Please, Miss Montgomery, go ahead.”
Aurora had never experienced a cold war before. Julian allowing Cameron to pick her up meant he hadn’t forgotten her.
But his silence on her messages and calls meant he was still angry. It was clear he was wrong first, for not trusting her and following her.
“If, just if, someone is completely devoted to you, but you berate them over a trivial matter, do you think they would be upset?” Aurora asked hesitantly.
“Does this person love you?” Cameron asked while driving.
“They must,” Aurora thought of his loving gaze. If he didn’t love her, how could he look at her so tenderly?
Every intimacy was gentle, as if he was afraid of hurting her. Aurora had seen in movies how men would disregard women afterward, but he would tenderly kiss her brows and clean her up before himself, all signs of his deep love.
“If they truly love you, they will forgive you, no matter what. At most, they might feel hurt inside but won’t really stay mad,” Cameron responded expertly.
“But what if the words I said were very hurtful?” Aurora recalled how clumsily he had bought her sanitary products, how he had frantically made ginger tea in the kitchen.
He was so good to her. Even his following her was only because he feared for her safety at night. It was just his way of loving her too much.
Yet, she had called him selfish, uttering words so chilling; even if said in anger, they were deeply wounding.
Only then did Aurora realize her mistake. That person had vanished from her world, and only now did she recognize his worth.
“This… Miss Montgomery, the person you are referring to is Mr. Barnet, right? From what I see, Mr. Barnet loves you so much, how could he possibly blame you?
However, if you’ll excuse my forwardness, Miss Montgomery, you might not be fully aware since you’ve just returned.”
The number of young women who admired Mr. Barnet was immense, ranging possibly into the thousands. Mr. Barnet was not only handsome and wealthy but also remarkably scandal-free, a rarity among his peers. I once watched a financial interview with him where he discussed his humble beginnings and his rise to his current status as a CEO, a journey that commanded immense respect.
He mentioned that everything he did was for one person; no matter the challenges he faced on his entrepreneurial journey, he persevered because he wanted to present himself anew to her. Whenever he encountered difficulties, just thinking of her revitalized him.
During the interview, the host inquired whether this person was a man or a woman and if she held a special place in his heart. Without denying it, Mr. Barnet simply stated he was waiting for her return. The interview drew countless new admirers-finding a wealthy, handsome, and devoted man seemed almost unheard of by then.
Even someone like me, typically indifferent to such gossip, knew of Mr. Barnet’s story. He seemed like a distant figure to me until I agreed to become Mr. Betts’ driver and, through you, got to know him. It became clear that you were the one he cherished. Mr. Barnet is a deeply passionate man, Miss Montgomery, and you must treasure him. From what I’ve seen during our time together, it’s evident he cares deeply for you.
I’m not aware of what transpired between you two, but Mr. Barnet asking me to pick you up is proof enough that you are in his heart. He loves you too much to stay mad. Perhaps he’s just momentarily upset, and it’ll pass. After all, what couple doesn’t argue? Arguments are fine as long as they don’t go too far. Otherwise, with so many temptations around, in a fit of anger, Mr. Barnet might…”
Cameron had never been so talkative before, but today he spoke extensively to Julian, making Aurora feel even more remorseful. Even an outsider could see his affection for her, and yet she blamed him over a trivial matter.
“But now he’s not answering my calls or responding to my messages. What should I do?” Aurora was anxious. As Cameron pointed out, Julian was highly desirable, and many young women were fond of him. Other women might not need him to do much; a mere gesture could make them swoon.
Was she about to push away the happiness she had finally found? Aurora felt an inexplicable fear. Her heart was in turmoil, far more than when she had discovered Hayden’s infidelity. She couldn’t imagine what life without Julian would be like. It might have been manageable had she never met him, but how could she return to her calm life after getting used to his kindness?
Seeing Aurora’s troubled expression in the rearview mirror, Cameron said, “Miss Montgomery, don’t take my words too seriously. Given Mr. Barnet’s feelings for you, a bit of coquetry might just turn the page on this issue. As for temptations, if they were enough to lead him astray, would he have waited for your return?”
“I know what I must do now,” Aurora said, her head bowed, fingers nervously clutching her skirt. Her relationship with Hayden had been like child’s play compared to this. Meeting someone is easy, but living with and staying committed to them is the hardest part, a challenge every couple must face.