Aurora stood in quiet awe, her heart filled with emotion at the scene before her. Julian might not have been a naturally romantic man, but ever since meeting her, it was as if he had transformed. Time and again, he surprised her, and this time was no exception. She was deeply moved.
“Julian, how can you be so good to me?” Aurora murmured, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.
“You’re my wife. It’s only right to be good to you,” he replied with a faint smile, taking her hand and leading her toward the glowing lights ahead.
The small twinkling lights resembled stars fallen to earth, and Aurora felt as if she were standing amidst a brilliant galaxy. Rising onto her tiptoes, she kissed Julian under the starlit sky. The sea breeze played with her long dress, their hair swaying gently in the night.
After the kiss, they leaned their heads together. Julian’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Aurora, let’s register our marriage as soon as we get back.”
“I thought we agreed to wait a few months?” she said softly.
“I can’t wait any longer. Let’s do it in a few days. We’ve already taken our wedding photos, gotten engaged, and received our families’ blessings, but we haven’t made it official. I want this on paper,” Julian said, his eagerness clear.
Aurora nodded, but there was hesitation in her eyes. They lay together on the beach, gazing at the stars above.
“Julian, I still think the stars in the mountains are the prettiest. The skies are so blue there, the water so clear, and the hills so green,” Aurora said, reminiscing.
“If you like it, I’ll take you to the mountains when we get back. You can stay as long as you want, watching the stars to your heart’s content,” Julian promised.
Aurora nodded silently, but she didn’t respond. No one could predict the future, and she wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring. After receiving the FT2 injection, would she even remember Julian?
“It’s getting late. You should rest. We need to wake up early to watch the sunrise tomorrow,” Julian said, urging her to sleep even though it was just past eight. At home, Aurora usually went to bed after nine, but since they had to rise early, Julian wanted her to get enough rest.
The two lay side by side in the spacious tent. Aurora closed her eyes but couldn’t sleep. She knew that after tonight, they would part ways.
Before long, Julian’s steady breathing signaled that he’d fallen asleep. Aurora opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over his face again and again.
The man beside her was the most important person in her life. If there were any other way, she would never have chosen this path.
But her mother was still bedridden, and Mio would stop at nothing to seize power. How could her mother, in her frail state, possibly fight him?
From childhood, her mother had sacrificed so much for her happiness. Aurora couldn’t bear to build her own happiness on someone else’s suffering.
She traced Julian’s features with her fingers, hoping to etch his face into her memory forever. No matter what was injected into her, she vowed she would never forget him. After all, this was the man who loved her with his very life.
That night, Aurora barely slept. Every time she managed to drift off for an hour, she’d wake up, glancing outside to see if dawn had arrived. Tossing and turning, she couldn’t bear to fall asleep, wanting to spend every possible moment with him.
By five o’clock, the sky was beginning to lighten. Aurora knew it was time to leave.
Over the past few days, she had tried to prepare herself mentally, but now that the moment had arrived, the pain was overwhelming. Leaving Julian felt like having her flesh slowly carved away, piece by piece.
Tears streamed down her face. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Julian’s lips. “Julian, I’m sorry. I love you.”
A single tear fell onto Julian’s cheek. She didn’t have time to wipe it away before he began to stir. Aurora quickly got up and left.
She took one final look at him, memorizing his face before turning away. Stepping outside the tent, the sun had yet to rise, but the first hints of daylight painted the horizon. The lights on the beach still twinkled faintly.
The chilly morning sea breeze cut through her like a knife. Aurora felt as though she were standing in an icy abyss. Normally, at this time, Julian would drape his jacket over her shoulders to keep her warm.
He had loved her so deeply, cherished her as if she were a treasure. Now, leaving him felt unbearable. With every step she took away from him, her heart ached more.
The wind dried her tears, scattering them into the cold morning air. No matter how much it hurt, she had to leave. The only thing she could do now was end everything quickly so they could be together again someday.
Julian, wait for me…
A black sedan was parked on the coastal road, waiting. A bodyguard stood respectfully by the car, and Mira greeted her with a cheerful expression.
“Miss Aurora, shall we go?”
Aurora turned back and saw Julian emerging from the tent, his eyes frantic as he scanned the surroundings. In the distance, where the sea met the sky, the sun was slowly rising. Golden rays spilled over the water, awakening the world.
Her phone rang. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.
“Little Bunny, where did you go?” Julian’s voice sounded calmer now that he’d heard her.
“Julian, I’m watching the sunrise. It’s beautiful,” Aurora replied, gazing out at the sea.
“Where are you watching the sunrise? I don’t see you anywhere.”
“Julian, I’m sorry. I made a promise to someone, and now I have to leave.”
Julian’s mind reeled. They had fallen asleep in each other’s arms just last night. How had things changed so suddenly? He couldn’t make sense of it.
Aurora’s tone wasn’t playful, and Julian’s eyes darted around until he finally spotted her on the coastal road. She was surrounded by black-suited bodyguards. Without hesitation, he started running toward her.
Aurora saw him sprinting desperately in her direction and quickly got into the car.
“Little Bunny, I worked so hard to find you. I won’t let you leave! Stay there. I’m coming for you. No one can take you away from me!” Julian shouted.
“Julian, I’m leaving of my own accord. This has nothing to do with anyone else. I’ll take care of our baby. Julian… goodbye.” With that, Aurora ended the call. “Drive.”
“Yes, Miss Aurora.”
Aurora couldn’t bear to keep talking. She knew that if she did, she wouldn’t have the strength to leave.
As the car pulled away, Julian was already closing in on the coastal road, running with everything he had.
“Little Bunny, don’t go! Don’t go!” he cried out.
The last time he had chased after her like this, he’d been forced to watch her leave. And now, once again, he couldn’t catch up.
No one can outrun a car. Aurora didn’t dare look back. She feared that if she did, her resolve would crumble, and she would abandon everything just to stay with him.