Aurora found herself back in the study. Perhaps because she remembered nothing from before, she felt much calmer this time, free from the uncertainty and nervousness that had plagued her during her first visit.
Since waking up, everyone she encountered treated her with respect and kindness. She sensed no malice, so her sense of security remained intact.
Bramwell Elderstone, as before, had already prepared tea. “Miss Aurora, please have a seat.”
“So, you’re the one they call Mr. Elderstone?” Aurora studied the man in front of her.
“Indeed, Miss Aurora, since you’ve forgotten everything, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Bramwell Elderstone, and you are destined to become the head of our family.”
“Our family? What kind of family are we? I don’t understand anything you’re saying,” Aurora said, utterly puzzled.
“Don’t worry, Miss Aurora. I’ll explain everything you wish to know.”
“Alright,” Aurora replied, settling into her seat, ready to listen.
Bramwell Elderstone began, “This all started a long time ago. Our family has always been…” And he repeated the same story he had told her the last time, word for word.
However, he deliberately omitted any mention of her past. After all, this was a trial, and giving away the answers in advance would defeat the purpose.
“So, my mother isn’t well, someone’s trying to seize power, and that’s why you brought me back to inherit the position of head of the family?” Aurora quickly grasped the crux of the matter, despite the long-winded explanation.
“That’s correct. Moreover, the family is currently divided into two factions-one supporting you, and the other backing Mio, who seeks to usurp the position of head of the family. At the upcoming family meeting, you might face some challenges.”
“Let’s set that aside for now. I’m curious about one thing-how did I lose my memory?” Aurora wasn’t particularly interested in the family politics. She believed she could handle whatever came her way. What she truly wanted to know was why she had lost her memory in the first place.
“That’s because, to become the head of the family, you had to follow the family’s rules and be injected with a certain serum. This serum erases all memories of your past.”
“What a twisted family. But what if I say I have no interest in being the head of the family? I just want to live a normal life,” Aurora said, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smirk.
This was something Bramwell Elderstone had not anticipated. He had assumed that Aurora, despite losing her memory, would still accept the responsibility of being the head of the family.
His expression faltered slightly. “Miss Aurora, please don’t joke about this. Before losing your memory, you willingly accepted the serum for the sake of becoming the head of the family.”
“Well, I’ve forgotten everything now. How can I possibly know what promises I made before? With all these bizarre family rules, I have no desire to be this so-called head of the family,” Aurora shrugged. Now that she understood the situation, she was even less inclined to stay.
“And another thing-you’ve been talking so much but haven’t mentioned who the father of my baby is. I couldn’t possibly have gotten pregnant by myself, could I? Your story doesn’t add up, so I won’t follow your instructions.” Aurora smiled playfully.
Sharp as ever, she had already noticed a glaring omission. While Mr. Elderstone had provided detailed information about the family, he had conspicuously avoided mentioning anything about the father of her unborn child.
It was far too suspicious. Perhaps her memory loss was somehow related to this mystery.
Bramwell Elderstone hadn’t expected her to be so astute. He realized he had underestimated her. “Miss Aurora, I am an old man; I can’t handle such shocks. Everything I’ve said is true, and I mean you no harm.”
“Whether you mean harm or not is something I can’t determine right now. You want me to take over this dysfunctional family, yet you’re hiding things from me. How do you expect me to trust you?”
“Then, Miss Aurora, what would it take for you to trust me?” Bramwell Elderstone’s composure wavered. He had already arranged the family meeting, and all the prominent family members would be attending. If Aurora refused to show up, the consequences would be dire. Mio’s chances of taking over would increase dramatically.
Unknowingly, he found himself being led by the nose, while Aurora stood firmly in control. What a formidable young woman.
“It’s simple. Tell me everything about my past, especially about the father of the baby I’m carrying. I want the truth. If you lie to me, I won’t take on this role as the head of the family. I never wanted it to begin with,” Aurora warned.
“Alright, alright. I give up. Everything else I’ve told you is true, but I did hide some things about him,” Bramwell Elderstone admitted.
“Then start talking,” Aurora said, glancing at the clock on the wall. There was still plenty of time before eleven. “You can take your time. The more detailed, the better. I don’t want any part of my past left in the dark.”
“I’ll tell you everything,” Bramwell Elderstone said, realizing the sharpness of the woman before him. To prevent her from walking away entirely, he had no choice but to reveal what he had deliberately concealed.
After hearing the full story, Aurora sat in stunned silence for a moment. “So, I have a fiance who loves me deeply? And I abandoned him for the sake of the family and my mother?”
“Yes. That’s the truth. And I made a wager with you. If, even in your amnesiac state, you fall in love with him again, I’ll never interfere with your relationship. Moreover, you’ll have the authority to rewrite the family’s rules, even abolish the ones you find unhealthy. That’s all I can say.
“But since it’s a wager, we can’t tell you who he is. Perhaps fate will bring you two together again one day. Whether you fall in love with him or not will depend on your destiny. However, let me warn you-if you fail to love him again or fall for someone else, you’ll lose the wager. The price of losing is a lifetime of solitude.”
Aurora gave a bitter laugh. “What a cruel rule.”
“Indeed. Every head of the family has gone through this. I’ve seen too much of it. That’s why I genuinely hope you’ll be the one to break these archaic family rules and abolish them altogether,” Mr. Elderstone said earnestly.
Aurora studied him intently. “How’s my mother doing now?”
“She’s in a nursing home. If you take on her responsibilities, she’ll recover much faster. But your path ahead will be full of challenges. Mr. Grant and his faction won’t easily accept your authority. Over the years, he’s changed, motivated by greed. He supports Mio as head of the family because it benefits him financially.
“Miss Aurora, whether for your sake or the family’s, you can’t say those things you said earlier. The family truly needs you now!”
“I understand. So, all I have to do is defeat Mio and become the new head of the family, right?”
“Exactly,” Mr. Elderstone nodded. Talking to someone as sharp as her was a relief.