Aurora took the box handed to her with some suspicion. Instead of a check, could there actually be a bomb inside? Given that Joaquin was considered a villain among villains to Aurora, it was unlikely he had good intentions.
She carefully opened the box to find a brightly colored jade bracelet. A closer look at the bracelet revealed its rarity: predominantly green, it also blended yellow, red, purple, and a touch of white. Such multicolored jade was extremely precious!
Finding jade with two to three colors was already rare, let alone one with five colors. Moreover, the smooth and delicate texture of the jade, under the light, emitted a soft halo, making it look warm and gentle.
Aurora, usually skilled in designing with jewels and diamonds, knew enough about jade to recognize that such a bracelet would cause a stir in the collector’s world, like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
“What do you mean by this? If you’re trying to get me to leave Julian with this bracelet, isn’t that rather extravagant?”
Aurora was bewildered. The box contained not a bomb but a beautiful bracelet. What was he plotting?
The bracelet’s value was increasing rapidly. For the wealthy, it was not just a price but a treasured collectible, not something one would part with lightly.
“Try it on,” Joaquin suddenly suggested, less menacing than before, which Aurora found odd.
“This item is too precious; I cannot wear it.”
Aurora didn’t know his intentions; what if he was setting her up to damage the bracelet? Where would she find another to compensate?
“It seems I am indeed a complete villain in your eyes,” Joaquin sighed, his wrinkled hands quickly slipping the bracelet onto Aurora’s wrist before she could react.
“What exactly do you mean by this?”
“I’ll be honest with you, this bracelet has been a family heirloom of the Alvarez family. I had intended to give it to Julian’s mother, but she never accepted it. This bracelet symbolizes the Alvarez family, and today, I am giving it to you. I had some misunderstandings about you before. Because Julian defied me, I harbored no ill will towards you. Now that he has chosen you, as his father, it’s only right that I accept you. And I should thank you,” Joaquin spoke warmly, much like a kindly old neighbor.
Aurora almost doubted whether this was the real Joaquin; her grandfather had always said Joaquin was hot-tempered. After hearing the stories Julian had told, Aurora had grown a deep misunderstanding, but now it seemed things were not as she had imagined.
“What are you thanking me for?”
“At first, before I knew who you were, I thought you were just another opportunistic woman, don’t think I am being harsh. I’ve lived long enough to see many types of people, so I initially looked down on you, even speaking sarcastically. Later, because I was at odds with your grandfather, I vented my anger on you. But one day, when Julian proposed to you, I saw something. Julian smiled! It was the pure, content smile of his childhood.”
“Laugh if you will, but since his mother left, I had never seen such a smile on him, showing that he truly loves and cherishes you. You brought him happiness and joy, and suddenly, I felt relieved. Rather than forcing him to do things he dislikes, why not let him live happily? I’ve already made one mistake; I cannot continue making them. Julian has always been a good boy, so good-hearted it hurts.”
Even if I wanted to give him the best things in the world, he ignored them. I used to know only that he hated me, but I wanted to know more about what he really desired. It wasn’t until that night that I finally understood what he wanted. He wanted you-a gentle wife and a complete, happy family. I am sorry for depriving him of his happiness. Since he loves you so much, I entrust his future happiness to you. This is my only request as a father.”
As he shed the fierce exterior he had always worn, it turned out he was just a father worried about his child. Perhaps all parents share similar concerns. Aurora saw the softness in his heart. Although the bracelet was precious, she didn’t pretentiously refuse it. Since Joaquin had already placed the jade bracelet on her wrist, it was clear that he was determined to give it to her. She accepted it not because of its value, but because Joaquin’s sentiment for his son was even more precious.
“Thank you, I will take good care of this bracelet,” Aurora thanked him. Perhaps Julian still harbored some reluctance in his heart, as this man was indeed his biological father. His resentment stemmed from what had been done to his mother, creating a conflicted feeling within him.
Had Julian truly wanted to acquire Alvarez Enterprise with his current capabilities, he could have done so already. Hayden was desperately trying to secure the inheritance rights to the Alvarez family, likely prompting Julian to start suppressing Alvarez Enterprise.
“The world is filled with such wonders; his heart holds both love and hate. This mixture has made his years quite miserable. He is calm and rational, always hiding his emotions well. To others, he appears as a perfect, aloof prince, but inside he suffers. Your presence distracted him, taught him how to love someone, and began to change him. I must admit, you changed him. My girl, did you know? Seeing him smile, I think he must want to give you a very complete family,” Joaquin said, his aged eyes reflecting a wisdom gained from a lifetime of experiences.
“I understand what you mean. I will gradually alleviate Julian’s suffering. Many things are in the past; he should try to let go now.”
“You understand, and that’s good, girl. It is you who have helped me see his deepest desires. I cannot give him all these things in this lifetime, so I leave this stubborn man to you.”
“Mmm.”
Aurora couldn’t refuse a father who held such hopeful wishes for his son.
“Even if you hadn’t asked, I would have done it.”
“This is the share transfer document I prepared. My girl, I know Julian is stubborn and scorns anything I give him. People think I hold fifty-four percent of the shares, but that’s not the case. Over the years, I’ve quietly gathered the scattered shares from other shareholders, and I still hold forty percent in hidden shares. Call me biased, but I owe Julian too much. This forty percent in hidden shares is my gift to him. And as a first meeting gift, these ten percent of the shares are for you,” Joaquin produced another share transfer document.
It was clearly written in black and white with Aurora’s name. Aurora was stunned-ten percent represented a value of hundreds of millions in real estate assets! “Isn’t this first meeting gift a bit too much? Besides, Julian and I aren’t even married yet. Aren’t you afraid that one day if we break up?”
Aurora looked at him incredulously.