They had just sent Tina off, and Aurora’s mood shifted from somber to cheerful. As a child, all she ever wanted was to see her parents happily together, providing her with a happy and fulfilled home. This had always been a knot in her heart. Knowing that Tina had returned, she felt both happy and excited, subconsciously assuming that her mother would come home again. It was only now that she realized this was just her own wishful thinking; she had never considered it from the perspective of the actual people involved.
Her mother had once been deeply hurt and betrayed by Magnus. Even if Genevieve had cunningly orchestrated everything, the outcome was still Magnus hurting her mother, repeatedly and devastatingly. If it weren’t for Aurora uncovering the true nature of Genevieve’s family, Magnus would still be in the dark, and the harm he caused her mother would have been inevitable.
A mistake was a mistake. Aurora could scarcely forgive what happened one night between Hayden and Susan, let alone her father bringing Genevieve back to the Montgomery family. He had good intentions, but it was his indecisiveness that led to the current situation. Her mother had given him a chance, and he failed to seize it.
Having grown up, Aurora herself had experienced similar situations and should have understood her mother better. Her mother had done nothing wrong to her father; as adults, her mother had every right to pursue her own happiness, and everything with Magnus was in the past. Emotions are like a piece of fine china-once broken, even if pieced back together, the cracks and scars remain. What had happened could not be undone, and all the hurt had become a permanent fixture.
It was only now that Aurora fully understood this; they might have once been a family, but they were also individuals. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness, and although their family was no longer together, the attitudes of its members towards her had not changed. Her mother had lived a life of hardship, but now she had John Walsh by her side, and Aurora could be at peace. What she needed to do was not to keep her mother close, but to set her free.
“Why are you suddenly in such a good mood?”
Julian noticed that the young woman beside him, who had been downcast earlier, was now smiling quietly.
“Because I realized I was being silly, getting stuck on something pointless,” Aurora said, feeling cheerful as she bit into her ice cream.
“It’s good that you’ve figured it out,” Julian obviously knew what was on her mind, seeing more clearly than anyone else.
“Julian, I’ve realized that not only are you the kindest person to me in this world, but you also understand me the best. Even if I say nothing, you know what I’m thinking,” Aurora took another bite of her ice cream.
Julian smiled slightly.
“That’s because, you see, I’ve watched you grow up. I know all your likes and dislikes, your temperament. All these years of being around you weren’t for nothing.”
Aurora’s initial touch of emotion was shattered by his words, and she chuckled, “You just know how to tease me.”
She understood that Julian did this just to make her happier.
“Alright, even though you’re past your period, this ice cream is too cold. You shouldn’t eat too much of it; this is your last bite,” Julian knew her health well, and while he wouldn’t deprive her of her enjoyment of ice cream, he had to control the portion. This was the only way he could think of to keep both.
“Julian, I want to eat it, let me finish it, okay?”
Aurora pleaded, tugging at his hand playfully.
If it were anything else, he might have indulged her whims, even plucking stars from the sky for her. But when it came to Aurora’s health, Julian had to play the villain, “No, you can’t. It’s already autumn, summer is long past, and it’s not suitable to eat something so cold. You already suffer from painful periods; it’s even less advisable to eat cold things.”
“Julian, just one more bite, just a small one,” Aurora implored, still holding onto his hand pitifully.
“Alright, last bite,” Julian couldn’t resist her playful pleading. Aurora scooped up a big spoonful and stuffed it into her mouth, just as she used to do when caught stealing treats by her mother in childhood. During the brief moments before her mother reached her, she would shove a large spoonful into her mouth.
But ice cream isn’t candy, and she only remembered the chill as she filled her mouth-forgetting just how cold it was. Both extreme heat and cold can be merciless. Seeing Aurora grimace from the cold, Julian felt a mix of helplessness and relief; such childlike moments from her were rare.
“Silly,” he muttered affectionately, and the next second, he drew Aurora into his embrace, lifted her chin, and kissed her. His tongue warmed the icy chill in her mouth. Aurora wasn’t new to his kisses, but his gestures always made her heart flutter.
Julian usually appeared aloof, but his kindness to her knew no bounds. She thought if she ever wrote a book about him, it would be a bestseller-his actions were textbook examples of affection.
After a minute, he let her go.
“Still cold?”
he asked.
Aurora’s face flushed red as she shook her head.
“Not anymore.”
Her mouth and heart felt sweet and warm, as if she hadn’t just eaten ice cream but a hot drink instead.
Seeing her flushed face, Julian remarked, “Hmm, tastes good.”
“Right? I think the ice cream was just perfect,” Aurora said, her eyes sparkling.
“No, I meant your taste,” Julian said lightly.
“Rogue…”
Aurora murmured softly.
“Aurora, I’m really hungry.”
“We just had breakfast,” Aurora countered, no longer so naive. They had just eaten steak, and she doubted Julian was truly hungry.
“That was rushed; I didn’t enjoy it,” Julian said, somewhat frustrated.
“You… Let’s talk about it tonight. Oh, I need to do something first,” Aurora suddenly remembered.
“What is it?”
“Yesterday, Genevieve and Ivy went back to the Montgomery family. I thought they would settle down, and we could wipe the slate clean, but I was naive. I underestimated their thick skin; they still dream of returning to the Montgomery family. They even disturbed my dinner with mom last night! I can’t forgive them; for such people, drastic measures are necessary,” Aurora stated coldly, determined not to let them off.
“What do you want to do?”
“I need to know where they are staying now.”
“Alright, I’ll have someone look into it immediately,” Julian assured, patting her back, determined not to let her get upset over such women.
Julian made a call, and soon enough, someone gave him the information.
“Little Bunny, Paul has set them up in a fancy apartment on Riverwalk Drive. What do you plan to do?”
“That woman really has some nerve, clinging to Paul while trying to worm her way back into the Montgomery family and coveting all the shares-she’s utterly greedy. This time, I won’t act; naturally, someone else will take care of her!”
Aurora searched her contacts for Alison’s number. That night’s events were designed to break Paul and Kimberly Blake, aiming for her own ascendancy.
“Hello?”
Alison sounded groggy, her voice husky with sleep.
“How’s it going?”
“Still on the long road; it’s never simple.”
“I have some information that might interest you.”
“What?”
“Paul has settled Genevieve into that apartment on Riverwalk Drive. Does that help?”
“Definitely, thanks,” Alison hung up.
Aurora had warned Alison, yet she persisted on this path. Kimberly and Genevieve were obstacles in her way. By sharing this information, she indirectly informed Kimberly, but it was unclear whose combativeness would prevail.