Julian believed her words without hesitation. “Yes, this time last year, I was still in despair. Back then, I truly had no idea when I’d see you again in this lifetime.”
“Julian, can we not go back yet? Let’s stay here for a few more days, alright?” Aurora asked, knowing that a separation was inevitable. She didn’t even know when they would meet again. Right now, all she wanted was to spend as much time with Julian as possible, even if it was just a little longer.
“Of course! I had already planned to spend more time with you. As long as you’re happy, I’ll do anything,” Julian replied without a second thought.
The kinder Julian was to her, the heavier Aurora’s guilt became. Aside from Tina, Julian was the person who treated her best in this world. Tina had given her life, raised her, and sacrificed so much for her. But Julian-he was someone she could only let down.
“Julian, we haven’t taken our wedding photos yet. Why don’t we do it tomorrow? If we wait a few months, my belly will be too big to take them,” Aurora said suddenly. She just wanted to do something meaningful before leaving.
“How could I forget such an important thing as wedding photos? Luckily, you reminded me. Let’s do it tomorrow,” Julian agreed, his mood lifting at the mention of anything related to their wedding.
“Alright, then you handle the arrangements. Let’s do it tomorrow,” Aurora said.
“Won’t tomorrow be a bit rushed? Shouldn’t we finalize the style and location first? Don’t worry. I have plenty of time to spend with you. We can shoot anywhere you want, even in another country,” Julian said warmly, spoiling her as always. It was as if he would take her to every country in the world to shoot wedding photos if she asked.
“I’ve already looked up the style online. There’s no need to complicate things by going abroad. Just make the appointment, and we’ll go tomorrow,” Aurora said, knowing time was tight and speed was of the essence.
“Alright, everything will be as you wish,” Julian said with a gentle smile. He had waited years for this moment, to finally marry his “Little Bunny.” Now, the dream was about to come true. How could he not be happy?
“By the way, Little Bunny, how’s Tina doing? What has she been saying to you?” Julian asked suddenly.
“My mom’s condition isn’t life-threatening for now, but it’s clear she’s still in poor health. She needs a lot of rest and can’t handle any more stress,” Aurora said, her voice softening as she recalled Tina’s pale face. Her heart ached at the memory.
Seeing the pain in her eyes, Julian felt guilty. “Little Bunny, I’m sorry. In the past, for my own selfish reasons, I was so scared of losing you that I hid the truth.”
“It’s alright, Julian. It’s all in the past now. I’ve never blamed you. Come with me to see my mom, okay?” Aurora said, taking his hand.
“Of course,” Julian agreed. In truth, he had been in contact with Tina more than Aurora realized. After all, Tina was his future mother-in-law, and he had always treated her with care. He frequently shared updates about Aurora with her and sent thoughtful gifts during holidays. In Tina’s eyes, Julian was an exemplary son-in-law. How could she not like him?
As the two turned to head inside, they spotted Asher standing under the shade of a tree. Aurora’s heart sank with guilt at the sight of him.
As long as Asher remained single, her guilt would never go away. Every time she was in trouble, Asher was the first to show up by her side.
Some debts could be repaid, but emotional debts were the hardest to settle.
“Ashy,” Aurora called softly.
“There’s a restaurant nearby that you used to love. I bought your favorite dishes. Let’s go inside and eat,” Asher said, his tone calm, as if he hadn’t noticed her guilty expression.
He had chosen this path himself, and it had nothing to do with Aurora. Deep down, he had thought about drawing a line between them and moving on with his life. Maybe then, he wouldn’t think about her or miss her anymore. But every time he heard anything about her, he couldn’t ignore it.
Julian treated Aurora as if she were his entire world, but Asher was no different.
Aurora had once said that during those three difficult years, it was Asher who had been there for her. He had been a significant influence in her life. But in truth, Aurora was just as important to him.
When Aurora entered Asher’s life, it was during his lowest point. Two broken souls had come together, leaning on each other, encouraging one another, and eventually finding the strength to start anew.
That bond was irreplaceable. It was so deeply etched into his heart that he could never forget her.
The group returned to the house, where they found Tina. She had just parted ways with John Walsh, and her face still carried a faint blush of unease.
“Tina,” Julian greeted her warmly.
“Julian, you’re here,” Tina replied.
“Yes, I just arrived,” Julian said, studying her face. “Are you feeling better?”
“These past few days have been more stable than before. The doctor said I’m not in any immediate danger, but I do need to avoid any major stress. I’m sorry to have worried you all,” Tina said with a gentle smile.
Having recently reunited with her daughter and been nourished by love, Tina radiated warmth. She was no longer the cold, distant figure Julian had first met at the airport.
“I’m just glad you’re okay. Tina, you have to get better soon. In a few months, you’ll need to attend mine and Aurora’s wedding,” Julian said cheerfully.
At the mention of the wedding, Tina’s expression faltered slightly. Julian was still unaware of certain things, and she couldn’t imagine how heartbroken he would be once he found out.
After a brief hesitation, Tina forced a smile. “I will. Everything will turn out fine.”
Julian noticed her fleeting hesitation but assumed she was keeping something private. He didn’t even consider the possibility that it had anything to do with Aurora.
The group spent the entire day at the rehabilitation center with Tina. Aurora seemed determined to make up for all the lost time from the past few years. That evening, she even took Tina out for dinner. For one day, none of them thought about their troubles. Everyone smiled and laughed, cherishing the moment.
If they had to face the storm ahead, at least they could enjoy these fleeting days of happiness.
Julian had already arranged for a professional team to take their wedding photos. The next morning, Aurora woke up early.
Julian glanced at the clock-it was only seven. He kissed her gently on the forehead. “Why not sleep a little longer?”
Ever since her pregnancy, Aurora had been sleeping late. On most days, even if Julian left for work, she wouldn’t wake up. She usually stayed in bed until ten or later. Waking up this early, without an alarm, was unusual.
“I’m awake now, so I might as well get up. Maybe it’s because I’m excited about the photos today,” Aurora said. She didn’t tell him the real reason-her heart was heavy. Knowing she was about to leave him, she just wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.