“What bracelet?” the old woman asked when she heard about the bracelet, her gaze mechanically shifting towards Aurora’s hand. Indeed, she saw the bracelet she had longed for day and night on her hand. She knew about the Alvarez family heirloom bracelet when she married Joaquin, but she had never received it over the years. Now, seeing the jade bracelet on Aurora’s hand, she went mad instantly.
“You actually gave her the bracelet, that’s mine!” the old woman lunged at Aurora’s hand, an event no one anticipated, and everyone’s attention was drawn to Susan instead. Aurora couldn’t fathom where the old lady got her strength from, as she managed to quickly get next to her and fiercely grabbed her hand.
“Take it off, it’s mine.”
The old lady’s grip was strong, but the jade bracelet seemed to have rooted itself onto Aurora’s hand. The old lady exhausted her strength but couldn’t remove it, instead turning Aurora’s hand bright red.
“Let go, let me go!” Julian was frantic.
Aurora’s hand was already injured; she had just removed the gauze, and the healing wound couldn’t withstand such force. The old lady’s eyes and heart were fixated only on the bracelet; she just wanted to remove it from Aurora’s hand by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Aurora was in severe pain, and in the chaos, her wound reopened. Joaquin, furious, pulled the old woman away, “What are you doing! I gave her the bracelet.”
Julian saw that the slowly healing palm was bleeding again; the secondary injury had torn the flesh of her palm, making the pain even more severe than the first injury.
“Little Aurora, are you alright?” Julian saw her wrist marked red by the bracelet, and her palm bleeding profusely, which only added to his distress.
Aurora was in excruciating pain, especially since the wound on her hand was large and freshly torn, obviously more painful than a typical wound. She looked up at his anxious eyes and feigned calmness, “Julian, I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Lies, how can it not hurt? Bring me the first aid kit.”
“Yes, young master,” the butler hurried to fetch the kit.
“I’ve been with you for so many years, I’m your wife, that bracelet belongs to me,” the old lady was still not resigned. It was one thing for him to never bring out the bracelet before, but now that Joaquin was giving it to a stranger instead of her, she couldn’t accept it.
“You’ll never get the bracelet in your lifetime. Take her back,” Joaquin scoffed, disgusted at the sight of her face.
“Mom, you should go upstairs first,” Mary also wanted to secure some shares for Susan, which would benefit Hayden, but the old lady was only causing trouble here.
“I’m not going upstairs, the bracelet, give me the bracelet.”
It took several people to help her away, while Julian soothed Aurora and began to treat her wound. Joaquin looked at Aurora apologetically, “Girl, I’m very sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Aurora knew the complexities of the matter, blaming no one, as the marriages of the older generation were not out of love, making the old lady’s situation pitiable too.
“You’ve bled so much and still pretend to be strong?” Julian complained while tenderly applying medicine to her. Aurora couldn’t help but whimper softly.
“Does it hurt much? Then I’ll be gentler.”
Julian’s face was filled with pity, and his movements slowed down even more.
Hayden also felt sorry seeing the deep cut in Aurora’s palm, having noticed it earlier but not realizing how severe it was.
“All right, let’s settle the matter of the shares like this,” Joaquin brought the conversation back on track.
“Grandpa, what am I to you then? I just married Hayden and already, I’m suffering such unfair treatment,” Susan couldn’t bear it any longer, wanting to voice the injustice she felt.
“Unfair treatment? Ha…”
Joaquin suddenly turned and left, picking up some magazines on the way.
“How can you say such things? Now, the whole world knows what kind of woman my granddaughter-in-law is!” Joaquin had read all about Susan’s tarnished past.
“Grandpa, those are all lies. I never did those things. The media just fabricate stories for headlines,” Susan hurriedly explained.
“I don’t care if it’s true or not, the fact is that everyone outside thinks you did these things. Even my company’s janitors are talking about it. It was one thing before, but now that you’re married to Hayden, they’re dragging the Alvarez family into this. Do you think you deserve a share of the Alvarez family’s assets?” Joaquin asked coldly.
Susan was at a loss for words. It was all clearly Julian manipulating the media, and now she was being blamed.
“Grandpa, if I don’t deserve it, does Aurora?” Susan contested.
“After all, I am married to Hayden, and she isn’t even a member of the Alvarez family.”
“Marriage is just a ceremony, and I believe they will never part. Let’s leave this matter here; I don’t want to talk more about the shares,” Joaquin’s eyes showed a trace of weariness.
Everyone exchanged glances, recognizing this as a very bad sign. If the conversation continued, Joaquin would lose his temper.
“Dad, Aurora is ultimately an outsider. Your approach is inappropriate,” Mary insisted.
“Mom, stop!” Hayden quickly intervened.
“Why are you pulling me? I haven’t said anything wrong. Even if Aurora gets shares, she should at least be married properly.”
“If you think I’m being unfair, then give her your shares. I’m tired,” Joaquin said as he turned and left, not wanting to say another word.
The butler helped Joaquin upstairs, while the others, exchanging looks, also departed. Mary sighed, who else but Joaquin had the final say in their home?
“Let’s call it a night,” someone said.
“I’m leaving,” Susan reluctantly pulled Hayden to leave, knowing Aurora would stay the night. Hayden, aware of her presence, couldn’t bear to leave.
“I haven’t stayed here in a long time. Let’s just stay tonight, it’s already late,” Hayden stated, showing no intention of leaving.
Susan glanced at Aurora, pointing accusingly, “Are you really staying here overnight because of her?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? This is my home, is it so strange that I want to stay the night? If you don’t want to stay, go home, no one’s stopping you. I’m going to sleep,” Hayden said dismissively, turning away.
“Hayden!” Susan watched his retreating back, stomping her foot in anger.
Unlike Hayden’s indifference, Julian carefully tended to Aurora’s wound, his gentle manner as if he held a delicate porcelain that could shatter at any moment.
“I’ll blow on it, it won’t hurt soon,” he even used the method his mother used on him when he was a child.
Seeing his childlike side, Aurora couldn’t help but smile, “Julian, you don’t have to be so careful, it really doesn’t hurt anymore.”
The harmonious scene between them was like a sharp thorn in Susan’s eyes, causing her intense pain, wondering why she couldn’t have such good fortune.