“What… what did you just call me?” Aurora’s unease deepened.
“You and I both know the truth-you are the family head’s daughter. Don’t worry, your friends will be taken care of. But for now, you need to do what you were meant to do.”
Aurora was pushed into the house. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, an aged voice greeted her from inside: “Welcome home, Miss Aurora.”
At the end of the hallway stood an elderly man leaning on a cane. He was dressed in traditional Chinese attire, his face heavily wrinkled, but his sharp eyes pierced through the dim ambiance.
Mira walked ahead toward him. “Mr. Elderstone, I’ve finally brought Miss Aurora back.”
“Mira, you promised to let me see Tina!” Aurora’s anger flared as she realized she’d been tricked. What exactly were these people planning by bringing her here?
“Miss Aurora, rest assured, the family head is currently recovering at a retreat. Once you’ve handled things here, I’ll personally take you to see her,” Mr. Elderstone replied as he approached. He bowed deeply, a gesture reminiscent of ancient servants greeting their masters.
Aurora felt a chill crawl up her spine. It was the 21st century, yet she was witnessing something she thought only existed in period dramas.
“What… what are you doing?” Aurora stammered, her unease rendering her momentarily helpless.
“Miss Aurora, please follow me. We’ve waited far too long for you,” the old man said, his stooped figure radiating no malice, though thoughts of Asher filled Aurora with dread.
Sensing her hesitation, Mira smiled. “Miss Aurora, haven’t you always wanted to know the family’s secrets? Mr. Elderstone will tell you everything you wish to know.”
“And my friend?”
“He’s probably just lost. If you’re worried, I’ll personally go find him. Rest assured, we’ll take good care of him,” Mira said with a breezy smile that only heightened Aurora’s wariness.
“Let’s go, Miss Aurora,” the old man urged.
Aurora had no choice but to follow him. Would she finally uncover the truth she’d been seeking today?
The villa’s interior was steeped in traditional elegance. The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings, many of which Aurora recognized as masterpieces-authentic works by renowned artists.
Even if this house wasn’t worth much on its own, selling a single painting from the walls at auction would fetch a fortune. Though she couldn’t be certain from this distance whether they were originals or replicas, anything displayed so prominently in the main hall was unlikely to be a forgery.
She had heard that the R family was an illustrious lineage, so owning such antiques was hardly surprising.
The old man led her to a room brimming with an ancient charm. A carved wooden desk, a screen painted with elegant court ladies, and shelves made of pearwood filled the space.
The books on the shelves exuded a classical air, and to Aurora’s astonishment, she even spotted bamboo scrolls. What kind of family was this? The mystery deepened.
On the desk lay brushes and ink, suggesting the old man had been painting moments before. A half-finished painting of lotus blossoms after rain sat on aged paper, the petals incomplete.
“You appreciate art?” the old man asked, noticing her lingering gaze. Only a lover of art, he thought, would examine his work so intently.
“I only paint in modern styles; I’ve never studied this kind,” Aurora replied.
“Don’t worry. In time, someone will teach you. We mustn’t lose our traditional culture,” the old man said, gesturing for her to sit across from him.
“Now, can you finally tell me what’s going on? Where’s my mother? How is she? And is the curse real?” Aurora fired off her questions in one breath.
“Patience,” he said, pouring her a cup of freshly brewed tea.
The teapot and cups were steeped in traditional aesthetics, and the aroma of the tea wafted into the air, calming Aurora’s nerves.
As the pale yellow-green tea filled the cup, steam rose, blurring her vision. The fragrance of the tea filled the room, and she felt her agitation slowly fade.
“Life is like tea,” the old man said. “If you drink it too quickly, it’s no different from gulping water. The true essence of tea can only be appreciated when savored slowly.”
He took a small sip, his eyes closing in contentment as he exhaled deeply, as though the tea were the finest delicacy in the world.
Aurora mimicked him, taking a careful sip. Truth be told, tea wasn’t her preference. Oswaldo occasionally dragged her to tea tastings, but she preferred coffee, especially during late nights when caffeine was a necessity.
Still, tea had a unique charm. Its initial bitterness gave way to a subtle sweetness, leaving a lingering fragrance that tempted her to take another sip.
Seeing her calm down, the old man finally spoke. “My name is Bramwell Elderstone. In the family, they call me Mr. Elderstone.”
“You’re old enough to be my grandfather. I’ll call you Grandpa Bramwell,” Aurora said.
For a fraction of a second, Bramwell Elderstone’s expression froze as she uttered the word “grandpa.” It seemed as if her words stirred something deep within him. A moment later, he returned to his usual demeanor.
“Call me whatever you like. You must be eager to learn about this family. How much has your mother told you?” His voice, like the tea, carried a soothing cadence.
Aurora shook her head. “She’s never said a word about it. When I was little, I’d ask her about my grandparents or her hometown. She always told me that she’d suffered a traumatic experience as a teenager and had forgotten her past. My father took her in, they fell in love, and then they had me.
She used to say that the past didn’t matter, that what’s important is the future. Whether the past was good or bad, it’s already gone. What matters is living in the present and planning for the future.”
At the time, Aurora was too young to fully understand her mother’s words. Eventually, she stopped asking.
“The family head is a clever woman, but also a selfish one,” Bramwell Elderstone remarked.
“No, she’s not! She’s the most selfless person I know,” Aurora snapped, unable to tolerate any criticism of her mother.
“Calm down. Have some tea. Remember, no matter the situation, you must remain composed and never act on impulse,” Bramwell Elderstone advised.
Aurora had once been excellent at controlling her emotions, but ever since her pregnancy, it felt as though her senses had been amplified, and her emotions frequently ran wild.