The night in autumn was already quite cold, but a slight breeze in the courtyard, coupled with the eerie and ominous sound coming from behind, made all the hairs on Aurora’s back stand up.
How terrifying!
She was only wearing a thin nightgown, and whether it was the cold wind or the frightful scene, she couldn’t help but shiver.
It was then that Hayden realized something was wrong. He saw his grandmother behind Aurora, holding a knife.
“Grandma, what’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes slightly open from inebriation.
The old woman just kept repeating, “The bracelet, the bracelet…”
“She just rushed into my room and tried to chop off my hand to get the bracelet. I tried to give it to her, but for some reason, it just wouldn’t come off,” Aurora explained quickly.
Only then did Hayden let go of Aurora and pulled her behind him.
“Grandma, listen to me, calm down. The bracelet was given to Aurora by Grandpa, and it now belongs to her.”
“Ah! That bracelet is mine!” The old woman became even more agitated upon hearing this and charged at Aurora.
“Watch out, Aurora!” Without thinking, Hayden stepped in to shield her, and the kitchen knife struck his arm.
Neither Aurora nor Hayden had expected that she would strike her own grandson! And since it was his grandmother, Hayden had no choice but to protect Aurora.
Julian kicked the crazed old woman away and wrested the kitchen knife from her hands.
“Aurora, are you alright?”
“Julian, the blood, Hayden is bleeding a lot!” Aurora was terrified; the wound was much larger than the one on her hand.
“Aurora, it’s good that you’re alright, I… I’m fine,” Hayden said, his face pale.
“Don’t talk, I’ll take you to the hospital right away, just hang in there.”
Aurora, who had once hated Hayden so much, no longer bore any grudges after Julian gradually helped dissolve her resentments.
Now that Hayden had been seriously injured for her, her heart was very uneasy.
“I’ll go get the car,” Julian said, his heart also heavy as he watched Aurora support Hayden.
Aurora helped Hayden into the car, holding him tightly the entire time, watching as Hayden’s blood stained their clothes red.
“Aurora, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you this worried about me, it’s nice to see it again,” Hayden said, seemingly happy.
“Are you crazy! Even at a time like this, you say such things!” Aurora dared not look at his wound.
The wound on his arm was a gruesome sight, with blood flowing continuously. Aurora grabbed a handful of tissues to wipe the blood away.
The tissues quickly turned red with blood, staining Hayden’s white shirt and turning Aurora’s eyes a vivid red.
“Little Bunny, don’t worry, we’ll be at the hospital soon,” Julian reassured her, knowing full well how terrified Aurora was. The last time he had shielded her from a champagne tower, just a few shards of glass on his back had frightened her, let alone Hayden’s severe injury now.
Julian saw their figures snuggled together in the rearview mirror, feeling a faint sorrow.
Despite knowing it was a critical time, Aurora hadn’t thought about these things. He shouldn’t be so petty.
But knowing Hayden had never given up on Aurora, his heart grew more fearful, a sense of unease slowly magnifying within.
“Julian, he’s lost a lot of blood!” Aurora was somewhat agitated.
Julian could only comfort her, “It’ll be okay, it definitely will be.”
Leaning on Aurora’s shoulder, Hayden, numb from pain, smelled her hair and body scent, feeling that despite everything, this was the happiest moment.
Aurora held him just as she used to, her body so warm that he longed to stay by her side forever.
Hayden’s gaze fell on Julian, who was driving; his eyes deepened-by any means necessary, he must bring Aurora back to his side!
“Hold on a little longer, we’re almost at the hospital,” Aurora said, unaware of the profound light in Hayden’s eyes.
After so many years, she was no longer the Aurora of the past, nor was he the Hayden of old.
In business, the end justifies the means, whether through plots or schemes, as long as the goal is achieved.
“Aurora, don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Hayden said, taking her hand as if to comfort her.
At this moment, Aurora didn’t think much and didn’t pull her hand away; previously, Hayden wouldn’t even have been allowed near her.
Although Julian was driving, his attention was on them; seeing their hands clasped together in the rearview mirror stung his heart.
Unaware, Aurora placed her other hand on top of Hayden’s, “Yes, you will be fine.”
“We’re here, Little Bunny,” Julian quickly parked and got out to open the door for Hayden.
“I’ll help him; you go call the doctor,” Julian said, cutting off any chance for Hayden to be close to Aurora.
“Okay,” Aurora let go of Hayden and hurried toward the hospital.
Seeing her silhouette dashing away, Julian coldly warned, “I advise you not to get any funny ideas because of this injury, or I’ll leave you with nothing.”
Hayden, though pale, displayed a defiant look.
“I always thought my future was what mattered most, that one could have both beauty and power.
But you ruined it, you took Aurora away, and in losing her, I realized she is far more important than I ever imagined.
Even if it means losing everything I’ve obtained, as long as she returns to me, I can endure it all.”
A rare firmness crossed Hayden’s face, “I’ve missed the chance once; I won’t miss it again.”
“Do you think taking a knife for her will change her mind? That’s childish and ridiculous,” Julian scoffed.
“Is that so? If I’m no threat as Uncle Julian says, then why threaten me?
No need to hide it; you’re uneasy, you fear I’ll take her from you! Uncle Julian, you’ve loved her for so many years, just as I have; surely you know I understand your feelings.
Don’t blame me; blame the fact that there’s only one Aurora in the world. No matter what she becomes, I will love her.
And this time, I will never let go, even if it means dying, I will drag her down with me!” Hayden thought of Aurora nestled in Julian’s arms, and his heart ached.
He didn’t want to watch from afar anymore; he wanted to make her his princess.
Hayden clenched his fists, “Then try it; no one can take her away, including you.”
Robert quickly arrived with the paramedics, “Quick, bring him in.”
Aurora hurried along with the paramedics, while Robert noticed her anxious demeanor and Julian’s icy presence at the door.
“Trouble, I can already smell a crisis brewing…” Robert unhelpfully fanned the flames.
“Looking to die?” Julian ground out through clenched teeth.