Julian watched helplessly as the car disappeared from his sight. He let out a heart-wrenching cry. “Aurora!!! Don’t go!!!”
This time was different from before. The last time, she had been forcibly taken away. But now, Aurora had chosen to leave on her own. The meaning was vastly different.
Thinking back to Aurora’s strange behavior over the past few days, Julian was certain something must have happened three days ago. Without delay, he rushed to the nursing home.
It was as if Tina had anticipated his arrival. She had gotten up early and was waiting for him.
“Little Bunny left. She said she promised someone something and had to go. Where did she go? What did she promise?” Julian demanded, convinced Tina would know.
Tina looked at the anxiety etched onto his face. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. “Julian, didn’t she tell you anything?”
“No. She only said she was leaving willingly. But why couldn’t she tell me what it was? Why did she have to say goodbye this way?” Julian’s voice trembled. If he had known earlier, he would have tied her up, keeping her by his side no matter what.
Tina sighed deeply. This was something Aurora should have told him herself. She hadn’t expected Aurora to say nothing at all.
“Good boy, sit down. I’ll explain everything to you.” Tina began to recount the events.
When Julian heard the full story, he erupted in fury. “So, you’re telling me that, in order to take over as family head, she has to inject this FT2 drug? She has to forget everything about us?”
“Julian, Aurora didn’t want it to be this way. But it’s the family’s rule. That child has a soft heart. She couldn’t bear to see me suffer anymore, so she agreed to Mr. Elderstone’s conditions.
Things aren’t as bad as you think. She’s already told Mr. Elderstone that if she can still fall in love with you after forgetting everything, and if you still love her, then she will have broken the R family’s rules completely. No one will oppose your marriage anymore. And from then on, she’ll have the power to rewrite the family’s rules.
I used to avoid these rules by running away. Aurora is different from me. She’s chosen to face them head-on, to put an end to everything at its root.”
Years ago, Tina had refused to endure the family’s rules. Her choice was to run away and escape them.
Aurora, however, had decided to confront them directly. She didn’t want her mother or her own children to suffer the same fate. She was determined to break the so-called rules and traditions once and for all.
“She’s gambling with our love. What if, after forgetting me, she falls in love with someone else? Or worse, doesn’t love me at all? Wouldn’t she lose everything then?” Julian’s anger remained undiminished.
No wonder she had been having nightmares these past few nights. She must have been tormented inside. She didn’t want to leave, but she had no choice.
“Julian, that child has already gone through so much. As her mother, of course, I want her to be happy. I had hoped she could live peacefully in this country.
But she found out about all of this anyway. You know her personality-stubborn and strong-willed. She’s always wanted to shoulder everything on her own.
I tried to persuade her, but she insisted on continuing. And with my health the way it is now, I can’t help her much. I’m sorry. I can’t protect her anymore, nor can I ensure your peace.” Tina’s voice was heavy with guilt.
“It’s not your fault. You don’t need to apologize to me.”
“I’m just afraid you’ll blame Aurora. She made these decisions without telling you. I know how hard it’s been for the two of you to come this far. If even you give up on her, then she’ll truly be fighting this battle alone.”
Julian let out a bitter laugh. “The person I can’t bear to lose most in this world is her. So what if she loses her memories? I’ll just win her over again. Together, we’ll break those outdated rules.”
“I’m so glad you think that way.” Tina’s eyes glistened with tears. “Aurora is lucky to have met you in this lifetime.”
“You’re wrong. Meeting Aurora is my greatest fortune. Besides, if she hadn’t saved me when I fell into the sea more than ten years ago, I would’ve been buried in the ocean long ago.”
Julian was a man who remembered kindness. But his love for Aurora wasn’t merely out of gratitude. Back then, she had been an adorable little girl, and he was just an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy. At that age, he certainly didn’t have any strange tendencies to fall for a child.
When they were on the deck of the ship, that little girl often played house with him, declaring that she would marry him one day.
Who would’ve thought that it would actually come true? Because of his status as an illegitimate child, he didn’t dare approach her. Instead, he watched her grow up from the shadows, little by little.
When love had become a habit, he could no longer let her go. Now, with his child growing inside her, it was impossible to give her up.
“I believe you two will overcome this and be together again. And when that happens, no one will be able to hurt you anymore.”
“I believe it too. This time, I will protect her properly.” Julian’s eyes were filled with determination. He knew Aurora was already struggling with her decision. Blaming her would only make things harder for her.
He composed a text message to Aurora:
“Little Bunny, go ahead and do what you need to do. Even if you forget me, I’ll win you back. Take care of yourself and our baby. I will always love you.”
Aurora cried the entire way to the estate. Mira, who sat beside her, couldn’t bear to watch. “Miss Aurora, you’re pregnant. Don’t cry so much. It’s bad for the baby.”
“I don’t want to cry either. But I’m scared that leaving this time means saying goodbye forever. I don’t want to be apart from him.” Aurora sobbed, her voice hoarse.
Mira sighed. “Miss Aurora, you need to stay strong.” She, too, understood how twisted the family’s rules were. Mira herself had someone she loved. So when she was asked to take over as the family head, she had threatened to kill herself.
The position others coveted wasn’t something she wanted. Her greatest wish was to grow old with the person she loved.
But if she didn’t bear the burden, someone else would have to. Aurora was the one who couldn’t escape.
When they arrived at the estate, Bramwell Elderstone was waiting at the door to greet them.
“Miss Aurora, you’re here. Good. You didn’t break your word.”
Seeing her red, swollen eyes, Bramwell Elderstone felt a pang of pity. Her appearance reminded him of how Aurora’s grandmother had looked years ago when she returned.
“You’d better not lie to me!”
“Miss Aurora, I’m not as bad as you think,” Bramwell said with a helpless sigh. It seemed he had already become the villain in Aurora’s eyes.
“Miss Aurora, let’s go for a physical examination first,” Mira interjected. “We need to ensure your health before administering the drug.”