Aurora rushed home, her steps quick and deliberate. As she stepped into the courtyard, the sight before her stopped her in her tracks. Genevieve was kneeling on the ground, her face desperate, while Magnus stood nearby, his expression laced with helplessness.
Could it be that Genevieve was still clinging to her delusion of rejoining the Montgomery family?
“Dad, why is she here again?” Aurora asked as she approached them. Her voice carried an edge of impatience. If Magnus softened his heart and let Genevieve stay this time, Aurora had already resolved not to help him.
Magnus sighed, his face showing a trace of weariness. “Aurora, can you think of a way to handle this? She’s begging me to save Zachary.”
“Zachary?” Aurora’s mind flashed back to what Julian had told her that day. Genevieve and Ivy had shown up at the Montgomery family estate, enraging Tina so much that she left. Displeased by this, Aurora had instructed Alison to expose everything publicly.
Her intention had only been to punish Genevieve through Kimberly’s hand. Who could have foreseen that Zachary would be so impulsive? He had pulled a knife, ready to attack her.
Aurora had been fortunate to escape unscathed, but Kimberly hadn’t been so lucky-she was injured and admitted to the hospital.
Aurora had told Julian not to intervene any further, yet here Genevieve was again, circling back in desperation.
“Aurora,” Genevieve pleaded, her voice cracking. “I know I’ve done so much wrong to you in the past, but we’ve paid for it. You’ve already taken everything.
“There’s no one left to threaten your position. We’ve been cut off from any inheritance. Now Zachary is in trouble, and I’m begging you-just this once-to help him. Remember, he was once your brother.”
Aurora lowered her gaze to the wretched figure before her. Genevieve’s hair was disheveled, her face swollen and red. She must have already gone to Kimberly, only to be turned away, leaving her no choice but to beg Magnus.
“Genevieve,” Aurora said, her tone calm but firm, “you need to understand something. You didn’t leave the Montgomery family willingly. You were exposed for your actions and expelled. There’s a big difference between the two.
“And as for Zachary being my brother? If he had truly treated me as his sister growing up, perhaps I could overlook what you’ve done and help him.
“But if I remember correctly, not long ago at Grandpa’s birthday banquet, he tried to stab me with a knife. I already spared him once and didn’t press charges. Do you think he got out so quickly because of his own merit?
“Genevieve, I know your life is hard now, but the consequences you’re facing are not my doing. They are the result of your own actions.
“When you make mistakes, you must pay the price. That’s the way of the world. You’re an adult, and so is Zachary. Everyone is responsible for their own actions. We won’t be getting involved in this.”
Aurora’s words were steady, no longer carrying the coldness of the past. Instead, they were spoken with a measured calm.
“But the price he’s paying is his future! His entire life will be ruined!” Genevieve cried, clutching at Aurora’s pants in desperation. “I’m begging you-if you help Zach, I swear I’ll disappear forever. You’ll never see me again!”
Aurora’s expression didn’t waver. “Genevieve, as far as I’m concerned, the grudges between us are settled. I don’t hate you anymore, and I won’t seek revenge against you in the future.
“But Zachary’s situation is his own doing. He didn’t learn his lesson last time, and now he’s repeating the same mistakes. No one can save him.
“Dad, let’s go inside.”
Aurora turned and pulled Magnus toward the house. Zachary hadn’t recognized his mistakes, and his impulsiveness had led him to harm others again. Even if she helped him this time, what about the next?
“Magnus, I’m begging you-just this once! If you don’t help me, I won’t get up!” Genevieve cried out behind them, her voice trembling.
“If you want to kneel, no one will stop you,” Aurora replied coldly, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Genevieve was clever. She knew exactly how to tug at a man’s heartstrings. If Magnus gave in and helped Zachary this time, wouldn’t the next step be trying to re-enter the Montgomery family? With someone like her, anything was possible.
The closed door crushed any hope Genevieve might have had. She stared at it, despair written all over her face. Silently, she prayed for Magnus to find a shred of mercy in his heart.
Inside, Magnus looked conflicted. “Zachary’s gotten himself involved with the Blake family this time. They won’t let him off easily.”
“That’s his problem,” Aurora said sharply. “Dad, you’re not seriously thinking of helping, are you? Let me remind you-when Genevieve first approached you, if you had seen through her manipulations and put an end to it, none of this would have happened.
“She used your kindness over and over again. If you’d seen her true colors sooner, our family wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Mom wouldn’t have left us!
“Dad, if you help Genevieve this time, I swear I will never see you again.”
It was the first time Aurora had ever spoken so harshly to Magnus. She didn’t blame him entirely, but she couldn’t help feeling helpless. Magnus already carried enough guilt, and her accusations would only add to his burden.
So she had never said a word of reproach to him before. But now, if Magnus gave in to pity, it would be like pouring salt into Aurora’s wounds.
Magnus saw the coldness in his daughter’s expression. He realized that Aurora’s silence all these years didn’t mean she didn’t blame him. On the contrary, she had seen the truth far more clearly than he had.
“Aurora, don’t worry. I won’t have anything more to do with them. Whether her son lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”
“I hope so,” Aurora replied faintly. Genevieve was cunning. She had already begged both sides-what would she do next?
Whatever it was, it didn’t concern Aurora anymore. Someone like Genevieve deserved the consequences of her actions.
Outside, Genevieve knelt for an hour. The sky had grown dark, and the only light in the courtyard came from a single streetlamp, standing lonely beside her.
Autumn nights were cold, and the wind bit through her thin clothes. Her body shivered uncontrollably as she waited for Magnus to relent.
But this time, she was left disappointed. Magnus had made up his mind-he would no longer involve himself in her affairs. Even Paul couldn’t help her this time.
When Genevieve finally tried to stand, her legs had gone numb. She wobbled and fell heavily to the ground. Pain radiated through her battered body, every inch screaming in agony.
She lay there for a long time before feeling returned to her legs. Slowly, she pulled herself up, leaning on the streetlamp for support. She rubbed her knees, then limped out of the Montgomery family estate.
She knew it was over. Between her and Magnus, there was no going back. The man had truly hardened his heart.
Upstairs, Magnus stood by the window, watching her thin, limping figure disappear into the night. His eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
At this point, there was no use assigning blame. In life, one always had to pay for their actions.
“Genevieve,” he murmured softly, “goodbye.”
This time, it really was goodbye forever.