That day, it had been nothing more than a whimsical remark, something she said in passing. Aurora never imagined Julian would actually build an island for her.
This extravagant birthday gift far surpassed anything Hayden had ever done for her-not in terms of cost, but in the depth of Julian’s thoughtfulness.
“Julian, have you been keeping track of everything I said back then on the boat?” Aurora wondered aloud. They had spent only a short time together, yet Julian had already given her so many surprises.
Most of these surprises stemmed from the idle words she’d spoken as a child-words she’d long since forgotten. But somehow, he still remembered them all vividly.
“Yes,” Julian replied. “At the time, I thought your world was so pure, so simple. That purity was something I always wanted but never had. From that day on, I wanted to protect your innocence, your simplicity. Even if it meant you lived in a fairy tale forever. But I lost you. I let you walk out of that fairy tale and into a reality that left you scarred.”
When Julian had walked away from the Alvarez family, he had nothing. It was only later, after painstaking effort, that he began to accumulate his wealth. Back then, he had been consumed by his own struggles. He couldn’t have possibly known the kind of torment Aurora was enduring in the Montgomery family.
“Julian, fairy tales are just stories. Even though I went through so much, looking back now, it all feels like a dream. A dream that helped me grow. I don’t regret it, not one bit. Those hardships and trials shaped who I am today,” Aurora said with a faint smile.
“Yes, the storms have passed. From now on, we’ll be together, for eternity,” Julian said as he held her close.
As they spoke, the plane descended from the sky, kicking up a plume of dust as it landed. Outside, security personnel were waiting to receive them. Someone approached to help Aurora disembark, but Julian swept her up into his arms instead.
“Julian, I… I can walk,” she said, feeling a bit self-conscious as she curled up in his arms. She worried what others might think of her.
“We’ve been up all night. Aren’t your legs weak?” Julian whispered teasingly in her ear. Embarrassed, Aurora buried her face in his chest, afraid anyone might see the blush spreading across her cheeks. This man-he had no filter at all!
Once they stepped onto the tarmac, the helicopter’s propellers still roared behind them, and the wind whipped around them. Aurora, however, couldn’t wait any longer. She was eager to see the island Julian had prepared for her.
She quickly slipped out of his arms and onto the grass. Their departure had been rushed-Julian’s last-minute idea. He had thrown a white dress over her, wrapped her in a blanket, and carried her onto the plane. Now, barefoot, she ran across the soft grass, her excitement palpable.
Julian watched her figure dart away and rubbed his temples. He wondered if he hadn’t been “thorough” enough the previous night. How did she still have the energy to run around like that? Clearly, he had underestimated her stamina. Next time, he wouldn’t hold back.
Unaware of his musings, Aurora ran across the lawn, her bare feet sinking into the soft earth. The grass prickled her soles slightly, but it didn’t bother her in the least. Her heart was too full of excitement. She had forgotten all about Julian as she continued her sprint forward, eager to uncover more surprises.
When she reached the edge of the forest, she gasped. Standing before her was an enormous, centuries-old tree. Beside it, nestled among the branches, was a treehouse made entirely of transparent tempered glass.
The design was straight out of a fairy tale. Aurora stood there, stunned. This man had truly created an entire fairy tale world just for her.
The cost of reclaiming land to build an island was astronomical. And beyond that, every detail on the island-the flowers, the lawns, the trees-would have required immense resources. Julian must have spent a fortune on this.
Back then, there had been no guarantee they’d end up together. Yet, simply because of a throwaway comment she’d made, he had gone to extraordinary lengths to bring her dream to life.
Aurora’s mind swirled with emotions as she stood beneath the tree, motionless.
Julian approached her and noticed her standing still. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to take a look-”
Before he could finish, Aurora turned abruptly and threw her arms around him. Her lips found his in a sudden, passionate kiss. How could this man possibly treat her any better?
Julian was caught off guard by her spontaneous kiss. Little Bunny, what’s gotten into you?
Soon, he felt something damp on his face. Pulling back, he realized she was crying. Alarmed, he quickly released her.
“Why are you crying? Was it not what you imagined? Tell me what you want, and I’ll redraw the plans, tear it all down, and rebuild it,” he said hurriedly.
Aurora placed a finger against his lips, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. “Julian, you did everything perfectly. When I was little, this was the kind of house I dreamed of. You brought my dream to life.”
“Then why are you crying?” Julian gently wiped the tears from her face.
“I’m just… I’m just so moved,” Aurora said, wiping her own tears like a child.
Julian couldn’t help but smile at her expression. “You’re unbelievable. Do you know how much you scared me? I thought you didn’t like it.”
“Julian, I just… I just feel like you’re too good to me. It doesn’t feel real. What would I do if I ever lost you?”
Happiness often comes with a shadow-a fear of losing it. Aurora’s heart ached at the thought of a life without him.
“Silly Bunny, you’re my treasure, my second chance. If I’m worried about anything, it’s that one day you’ll run away from me again. But don’t worry. I’ll never leave you,” Julian said as he tenderly wiped away her tears.
Aurora blinked up at him. “Julian, if-if one day I lose you, what should I do?”
“First of all, you won’t lose me. And second, even if we were separated temporarily, you have to believe that you’re my lifeline. No matter where you are, I’ll find you. How can a man live without his lifeline?” Julian pressed his forehead to hers, speaking with quiet seriousness.
“Then promise me we’ll never be apart in this lifetime. And if we are, you have to find me,” Aurora said, holding out her pinky like she had when they were children on the ship.
Julian chuckled and hooked his pinky around hers. “Alright. But this time, you have to keep your promise. Don’t disappear on me again.”
Aurora finally stopped crying. The overwhelming feeling of happiness was almost too much to bear. Just the thought of being apart from him filled her with pain. She resolved never to let him go.