John Walsh’s eyes glimmered with excitement as he nodded firmly. “I swear, I will treat Tina well for the rest of my life.”
“Then I’m relieved. Now, you can kiss Mom,” Aurora said, easily seeing through his thoughts.
She had seen this look before-Julian used to have the same expression when he wanted to kiss her. And just now, when Tina blushed shyly, Aurora herself had felt the urge to kiss her. How could John Walsh resist?
“Little Aurora has sharp eyes,” John Walsh chuckled. Without hesitation, he turned, gently cupped Tina’s chin, and kissed her.
“What are you-mmph…” Tina was caught completely off guard. Her face instantly turned red as her daughter was still in the room. This man was utterly brazen. She pressed her fingers against John Walsh’s solid chest, trying to push him away, but he wouldn’t let her go so easily.
When Tina caught a glimpse of Aurora discreetly leaving the room, she stopped struggling. Her lashes fluttered, and with a shy but tender motion, her hands wrapped around John Walsh’s neck.
The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over the two as they embraced and kissed on the bed. It was a harmonious and beautiful scene.
After years of suffering and missed chances, the two had finally opened their hearts, thanks to Aurora’s understanding. Tina felt a wave of happiness washing over her, as if it had returned to her after being absent for so long.
Aurora, perceptive as ever, left them some privacy. Through her time with her mother, she realized just how much Tina had sacrificed for her-placing Aurora above family interests, above her own happiness. It was likely why Tina and John Walsh hadn’t progressed in their relationship until now.
Aurora thought back to the time in Clothville when she had tried to push Tina to reconcile with Magnus, believing it was the best choice. Tina must have suppressed her own feelings for John Walsh out of fear that Aurora would disapprove or feel upset.
What a silly mother, Aurora mused with a helpless smile. Yet her heart felt warm.
Looking up, she gazed at the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Her mother deserved happiness; it was long overdue. She had delayed her mother’s happiness for far too long.
“Mom, let me do something for you this time,” Aurora murmured to herself.
She touched her belly, where a tiny, forming life rested. One day, she would love this child with all her heart, just as Tina had done for her. To ensure her child could live a happy and carefree life, Aurora vowed to remove every possible obstacle in their path.
This decision wasn’t just for herself-it was for Tina, for their family, and for the little one she carried.
“Baby, Mommy will succeed, won’t she? Do you think Daddy will blame me for this?”
What she was about to do might be right for many, but it would hurt one person-the man she cared about most.
As she dwelled on this, a familiar voice broke through her thoughts. “Little Bunny.”
Hearing the urgency in his voice, Aurora immediately knew how worried he must have been. The guilt in her heart deepened.
She turned to see a tall, striking figure running toward her. Before she could take another step, he had already closed the distance, pulling her into his arms. His embrace was gentle, no doubt mindful of the child she carried.
“Little Bunny, why did you run away? Do you know how worried I was?” Julian’s voice trembled, filled with fear that something might have happened to her again.
Aurora wrapped her arms around the man who loved her so deeply. “I didn’t know before, but now… I know how much you love me.”
Julian seemed to remember something and quickly released her. “Little Bunny, did someone hurt you?”
“Julian, I’m fine. No one hurt me,” she reassured him.
“That’s good. I’m sorry, Little Bunny. I’ve been keeping some things from you. I didn’t want you to be exposed to the darker side of things again. I know it was wrong, but I was so scared of losing you. Please don’t leave me because of this.” Julian’s voice was filled with regret, thinking she had left because she was upset with him.
After everything they had been through, Aurora understood how much Julian cared for her. If he ever kept something from her, it was only because he believed it was for her benefit.
“Julian, I’m not angry. I left quietly because I wanted to find out the truth myself. I didn’t want to be kept in the dark anymore.”
Julian froze for a moment. “You’re not mad at me?”
“No, I’m not. I know you did it for my sake, so I don’t blame you at all. I just needed to know the truth, which is why I left.”
Julian had braced himself for a storm of accusations. If someone had deceived him, he knew he would have been furious. Yet here Aurora stood, calm and understanding, not angry in the slightest.
“Little Bunny.” Julian cupped her face and kissed her. She continued to surprise him in ways that made him love her even more.
From a distance, Asher watched the two kissing under the trees, a lunchbox in his hand. He stopped in his tracks, leaning against a tree as he lit a cigarette.
The smoke drifted away in the wind, much like his love for Aurora-carried off into the air.
He knew she no longer needed him. She had found someone who loved her more deeply than he ever could. But still, he couldn’t let go.
He worried about her fighting her battles alone. She was a strong woman, always charging forward without hesitation. How could he not worry?
And so, he stayed. Whenever she had an accident, he would be the first to rush to her side. When she needed him, he would accompany her. When she didn’t, he would quietly watch her happiness from afar.
This was his love-a love that protected.
Aurora suddenly remembered they were still at the crowded rehabilitation center. She quickly pushed Julian away. “Julian, what are you doing? There are so many people here!”
“I’m kissing my wife. What could anyone possibly say about that?” Julian replied, his mood much lighter now that he knew she was safe.
“Who’s your wife?” Aurora retorted.
“You will be soon. We need to start planning our wedding next month,” Julian said matter-of-factly. “The elders were right-weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime event. We have to plan carefully. Every detail must be perfect. If anything goes wrong on the big day, it would be embarrassing.
“You’re pregnant and not feeling well, so you don’t need to worry about a thing. Just tell me what style you like, and I’ll handle the rest. I’ll make sure it’s a wedding you’ll never forget.”
Julian’s face was full of anticipation. When Aurora didn’t respond, he turned to see her lost in thought, her expression tinged with melancholy.
“What’s wrong, Little Bunny? You don’t seem very happy.”
Aurora couldn’t bring herself to tell him what was about to happen-or that their wedding might not even take place as planned.
“I’m happy. How could I not be? I was just thinking about how quickly time flies. We’re getting married soon,” Aurora said, changing the subject to hide her sadness.
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